Last July 29, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.
Well, “celebrated” might be a little strong. Our family was between houses (i.e. homeless) and less than a week away from moving across the country. So we had dinner and a movie, and we agreed on a mutual I.O.U. for a weekend getaway to mark the big day.
We thought about many places we could go – we’re close to New York City and Boston and many other great places we’ve never been. We’ve always wanted to go to Nashville or Austin or New Orleans together, or go back to Chicago or to the beach in Delaware.
After some of the most stressful months of our marriage (a new job, new relocation, and everything else that comes with it will do that), we were finally able to get away. But rather than go to one of those locations, we went to one of our very favorite places in the world: the Piets' house.
As far as friends go, they don’t come any better than the Piets. Our families have grown so close over the years, and we’ve always appreciated the memories and experiences we've shared.
After four months away, it was great, even for a too short weekend, to be together again. We snuck into town for fish tacos at Rubios, a hilarious show, a movie with the kids, In-N-Out Burger, seeing old friends at church, and lots of time with just the four adults catching up and scheming for the future. We didn’t sleep much (it was a short weekend), but we laughed a lot – easily the most laughter we’ve had since the last time we were at their house…in August.
While life goes on, it’s a great reminder that great friendships do, too, despite the distance.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Winter arrives
When we moved, everyone told us we would enjoy the four seasons, after living in the desert for so many years and basically experienced two or three seasons (and in some years, one and a half seasons).
The season we haven't experienced a lot of recently (except on trips to Idaho) arrived on Saturday, as a wet snow fell for most of the day and the temperature dropped into the mid-twenties. The low temps had been building and we knew snow was coming, so we were kind of prepared (the kids have received pre-Christmas presents of coats and gloves in an effort to catch up a little). We enjoyed seeing the white stuff fall from the sky anyway.
(The photos are our yard on Thanksgiving Day, then during and after the storm.)
As you can see, the snow didn't intimidate the boys; they couldn't wait to get out and into it.
We are hearing "ice storm" in the forecast for today...
The season we haven't experienced a lot of recently (except on trips to Idaho) arrived on Saturday, as a wet snow fell for most of the day and the temperature dropped into the mid-twenties. The low temps had been building and we knew snow was coming, so we were kind of prepared (the kids have received pre-Christmas presents of coats and gloves in an effort to catch up a little). We enjoyed seeing the white stuff fall from the sky anyway.
(The photos are our yard on Thanksgiving Day, then during and after the storm.)
As you can see, the snow didn't intimidate the boys; they couldn't wait to get out and into it.
We are hearing "ice storm" in the forecast for today...
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A picture from Thanksgiving...
Jason writes:
I love this photo -- it summed up Yvonne's Thanksgiving day morning very well. She worked very hard (as she always does) to make sure we had a good meal...and we did. This brief and quiet respite was well deserved, even though it wasn't far from the site of her labors. It was just us this year, as family is a long, long ways away, but the seven of us ate well and enjoyed the day .
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Melissa and the shotgun
On Thanksgiving Day, the kids (Melissa, Colin, Carson, and Dylan) went to a local park to play in our ward’s annual “Turkey Bowl” football game.
It was a great day for football – cool, damp, with a dense fog sitting up in the hills. The kids had a great time together and with those who came to play. When they got home, we heard about the game, and Melissa told us that she got to play quarterback for her team. That was the end of it…until Sunday.
A quick back story: on our first Sunday at church in Maryland, Jason was asked to introduce himself in priesthood meeting. He said that he had four boys, including Colin and Carson, who were in the room. Then, in a room full of men and 12-years-old-and-up boys, he said he also had a 17-year-old daughter…and a shotgun. The men laughed – and the 12-and-up boys tried to determine whether or not he was joking.
So back to last Sunday. In priesthood meeting, the bishop’s counselor talked briefly about the Turkey Bowl and how they all had fun. Then he said:
“I remember when the Bohnes first moved into the ward, and Brother Bohne said that he had a 17-year-old daughter AND a shotgun. He didn’t tell us they were the SAME THING.”
He then told the men and the boys in the room how their team went through three quarterbacks – including him – who couldn’t get it done. And then they let Melissa do it, and they finally had a quarterback who could make the tough throws and move them up and down the field. His words: “let me tell you, Melissa can throw.”
Jason, ever the proud dad, chimed in: “Aw, she throws like a girl” (which, in our house, is a high compliment). Melissa has walked a little taller this week after hearing that all the men and boys are talking about her throwing arm.
It was a great day for football – cool, damp, with a dense fog sitting up in the hills. The kids had a great time together and with those who came to play. When they got home, we heard about the game, and Melissa told us that she got to play quarterback for her team. That was the end of it…until Sunday.
A quick back story: on our first Sunday at church in Maryland, Jason was asked to introduce himself in priesthood meeting. He said that he had four boys, including Colin and Carson, who were in the room. Then, in a room full of men and 12-years-old-and-up boys, he said he also had a 17-year-old daughter…and a shotgun. The men laughed – and the 12-and-up boys tried to determine whether or not he was joking.
So back to last Sunday. In priesthood meeting, the bishop’s counselor talked briefly about the Turkey Bowl and how they all had fun. Then he said:
“I remember when the Bohnes first moved into the ward, and Brother Bohne said that he had a 17-year-old daughter AND a shotgun. He didn’t tell us they were the SAME THING.”
He then told the men and the boys in the room how their team went through three quarterbacks – including him – who couldn’t get it done. And then they let Melissa do it, and they finally had a quarterback who could make the tough throws and move them up and down the field. His words: “let me tell you, Melissa can throw.”
Jason, ever the proud dad, chimed in: “Aw, she throws like a girl” (which, in our house, is a high compliment). Melissa has walked a little taller this week after hearing that all the men and boys are talking about her throwing arm.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday Night Boys Club
Tuesday nights are busy for our family. Melissa goes to mutual, while Colin and Carson go to Scouting activities. Dylan's meets with his Cub Scout den, and Yvonne helps with the Cub Scouts.
Jason and Levi, meanwhile, are free. So Tuesday night is their night. They are the Tuesday Night Boys Club. Mostly they just hang out -- they'll do the dishes after everyone dashes off, maybe finish some laundry or clean up somewhere to help out, then play a game and watch a little television together. Sometimes Jason chooses, and sometimes Levi does.
And while Levi is generally an unabashed momma's boy, he belongs to Jason on Tuesdays -- and vice versa. And while Levi seems to act older during their time together, Jason gets younger...
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween!!!
Fall colors, a chill in the air, and a annual serving of sugar in one day. Time for our kids' favorite holiday...Halloween.
Our good friends Kyle and Amanda drove up from Alexandria, Va., in the afternoon. It was our first time together since we moved -- Kyle and Amanda moved to the East Coast from Las Vegas over a year ago. It was good to catch up with them during the afternoon and pizza dinner.
The kids split up for trick or treating. Melissa and her friend dressed as the Super Mario Brothers; Melissa hosted Mario and some other friends for scary movies (she was counting on some of her brothers' candy haul ending up in her hands -- and it did).
Colin, with a dark mullet, horn-rimmed glasses, soul patch, and black t-shirt, looked like a roadie from the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd tour. He went trick-or-treating with a friend decked out in a Ravens jersey and giant afro wig. They scored a lot of candy.
Carson dressed as a nerd. And yep, we had a lot of fun with that one. But Carson had the last laugh, going to a party with friends, then trick-or-treating with not one, not two, but six girls. I guess chicks dig nerds. He also got the most candy.
We were fortunate to get a photo of Dylan, our resident ninja. After dinner he disappeared (as ninjas tend to do) with some of his friends.
And Levi was (shhh) Batman. He got stuck trick-or-treating with Jason and Yvonne and Kyle and Amanda. It's been a long, long time since it was Jason and Yvonne with one kid. And it was a blast. Levi marched up and down the block, going to most doors on his own (unless it was scary, in which case Yvonne went with him).
At one point he was out of gas, ready to go home, but we were concerned that he hadn't gathered enough candy to sustain the four adults escorting him around.
In a scratchy voice he said, "If I just had a drink, I think I could go more." We all convinced him that a Starburst candy was as good as a drink. He chewed slowly on a cherry Starburst we luckily found in his bag, then stood up straight and announced he no longer he needed a drink -- he was ready. He got plenty of candy...
Jason and Yvonne did't dress up, sort of. Since Yvonne helped Levi/Batman, we figured she was Lord Alfred. And after Levi's long hike around the neighborhood collecting candy, Jason carried Levi home on his shoulders, making Jason...the Batmobile.
Our good friends Kyle and Amanda drove up from Alexandria, Va., in the afternoon. It was our first time together since we moved -- Kyle and Amanda moved to the East Coast from Las Vegas over a year ago. It was good to catch up with them during the afternoon and pizza dinner.
The kids split up for trick or treating. Melissa and her friend dressed as the Super Mario Brothers; Melissa hosted Mario and some other friends for scary movies (she was counting on some of her brothers' candy haul ending up in her hands -- and it did).
Colin, with a dark mullet, horn-rimmed glasses, soul patch, and black t-shirt, looked like a roadie from the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd tour. He went trick-or-treating with a friend decked out in a Ravens jersey and giant afro wig. They scored a lot of candy.
Carson dressed as a nerd. And yep, we had a lot of fun with that one. But Carson had the last laugh, going to a party with friends, then trick-or-treating with not one, not two, but six girls. I guess chicks dig nerds. He also got the most candy.
We were fortunate to get a photo of Dylan, our resident ninja. After dinner he disappeared (as ninjas tend to do) with some of his friends.
And Levi was (shhh) Batman. He got stuck trick-or-treating with Jason and Yvonne and Kyle and Amanda. It's been a long, long time since it was Jason and Yvonne with one kid. And it was a blast. Levi marched up and down the block, going to most doors on his own (unless it was scary, in which case Yvonne went with him).
At one point he was out of gas, ready to go home, but we were concerned that he hadn't gathered enough candy to sustain the four adults escorting him around.
In a scratchy voice he said, "If I just had a drink, I think I could go more." We all convinced him that a Starburst candy was as good as a drink. He chewed slowly on a cherry Starburst we luckily found in his bag, then stood up straight and announced he no longer he needed a drink -- he was ready. He got plenty of candy...
Jason and Yvonne did't dress up, sort of. Since Yvonne helped Levi/Batman, we figured she was Lord Alfred. And after Levi's long hike around the neighborhood collecting candy, Jason carried Levi home on his shoulders, making Jason...the Batmobile.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday afternoon at Harpers Ferry
With the sun finally breaking through the clouds after a week of dreariness and cold (extreme cold to us desert rats, but just cold to those here who expect autumn), we decided to get out of the house and enjoy some of the fall foliage. So after church we ate lunch, changed our clothes, and headed to Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
Jason often describes Harpers Ferry National Park as one of his favorite places on earth – a picturesque and historic small town that sits nestled in the hills where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. He has visited many times, first on his mission and then at times when he was working in D.C. Fortunately for us all, it’s now only 25 miles from home.
The drive was nice, as autumn is turning the leaves to brilliant shades of crimson, orange, and yellow. Some trees appear to have burst into flames as the sun illuminates their leaves from behind – and others simply seem to glow.
When we pulled into the parking lot, we were surprised by the number of people there. Before long we realized we had stumbled into a special event: a commemoration celebrating the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s Raid -- an abolitionist's stand against slavery that was a precursor to the Civil War.
That’s one thing that is very cool about this area: important moments in American history happened all around us.
Harpers Ferry is one of those places – from being the place where Thomas Jefferson liked to go think (no visit is complete for us without a hike up the Appalachian Trail to Jefferson’s Rock) and George Washington ordered the United States Armory; to its importance in the Civil War (including Brown’s raid) and site of numerous battles and skirmishes.
We had a great time listening to the Marine Corps band play a series of patriotic numbers before a ceremony to honor the Marines who stormed Brown’s fort and captured him and his raiders.
The Park Service hosted a series of activities for the kids, including Civil War-era games, an area to put on disguises (we first thought Colin’s disguise was funny, then we thought it was hilarious when we found out a woman used that disguise to hide from federal law enforcement), and a display of Marines memorabilia (including weapons from the Revolutionary War through today).
All the while, people in period dress walked amongst us – soldiers, shopkeepers, townspeople. We enjoyed stepping back in time to the 19th Century, walking through the streets, up the hills, and across the bridges that make Harpers Ferry special.
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