A Getaway

Jeff and I enjoyed an overnight getaway in Sacramento. BIG thanks to Granny & Papa for tending the 3 kiddos while we escaped.

Friday morning we drove to Rancho Cordova and hit the American River Bike Trail. We biked up to Folsom Lake and back, about 24 miles roundtrip. Jeff cruised like it was nothing but I was pretty pokey. It was humbling to realize that my body isn't as capable as my brain thinks it is. And then I remembered that I had the flu and was surviving on a couple of motrin to escape the pounding headache and major body aches ... and then I didn't feel so bad.

A wild turkey. Never seen a turkey so big and close-up and looking just like Thanksgiving.

Friday night we ate dinner at TGIF (haven't been there for years ... major lack in the vegetarian choices) and went to a ComedySportz show. It was
fun to get a few laughs in. A nice cheap date for you Sacramento locals...

Saturday morning we went to the Sacramento Temple for some unrushed time. The session we attended was in Hmong so we got translation headsets. Jeff listened in Spanish and I in English. We even stayed to do some family sealings.


So besides that, we spent a lot of money at the Folsom Outlets. It could have been a very economical little getaway if it weren't for the shopping frenzy.

Fun, fun time! It seems like we spend half of the chatting time on these trips dreaming of all the other places we want to explore together...

A Great Grandma

Happy Birthday, dear Grandma Carlston! We miss you and treasure your memory. I happened across this video last night and loved hearing her voice ... This is Grandma on her 94th birthday, bonding with baby Eliza.

Vegetables to Be

We are preparing for our very first real vegetable garden. We planted experiments over the years, but we have this beautifully perfect side yard and are envisioning quite the spread of vegetables and fruits.

Here's the so far:



Jeff and his dad worked hard to build the sturdiest planter boxes to last the centuries. They are good at that kind of building =)

I finally got the irrigation in place. I'm much slower than Jeff on my assignments, but then, who isn't slower than Jeff on assignments?! Jeff gets credit for the trench digging, though.

Nine years ago... (plus a week or two)

... Ethan was born. He was born 10 pounds and continues to tip the growth charts. He follows the trajectory of the growth curves, just maintains a constant distance from them =)

On his birthday we had the Jeneveins join us for dinner and cake. Here are the kids (minus Ben):

Ethan's friend spent the night and then we went to Hidden Lakes in Martinez for an exploring excursion. We love this secret hiking spot -- bridges, streams, marshes, lakes, hills, caves, even a giant rope swing. Perfect for young boys (and wanna-keep-up little sister):

The boys then went to Chabot Science Center for the Dinosaurs Alive! movie.

On Sunday we enjoyed birthday brinner (breakfast for dinner) with grandparents & cousins.

Here's Grandma Joan and Ethan with another birthday cake:


I guess when your birthday is on a Friday, that makes for a birthday weekend, not just a birthday. Happy Birthday, dear Ethan =)

April 2

Some moms have a child or children with disabilities and say they wouldn't change anything... that the disabled child is their greatest gift. I honestly have to say that I'd remove my child's disability in a heartbeat, if I could. Autism sucks.