Our Week in Review Monday-Sunday

This is late a few days since I just got back from California. But, here a little bit about our last week...

On Monday, the skies in Oregon smiled on the sport of track, but frowned on the sport of baseball. It was pouring rain when Lowden started his first day of track. But, that didn't dampen his excitement! Luckily by the time they started running, it had stopped raining. Lowden and Parker got dressed for baseball practice and then it started pouring rain….it kept raining till the coach decided to cancel practice…then as we drove away the rain completely stopped. Funny spring weather...sure keeps us on our toes. But, I will take it over snow or ultra-hot weather anyday.

Lauren has decided not to become a book writer after all. Now she wants to be a teacher like her first grade teacher at school. She also insisted I take this picture...

Bennett had a bit of extra social time when we attended a church lunch group this week. He learned that sharing is hard work on both ends. But, he gave he managed to share his Sun chips with Whitney and Emily without complaint.

In other news, the sun came out. The kids were so excited that they insisted on having blankets to sit on and ice cream cones. How could we say no to these faces?

On Friday, I headed to California to see my parents and attend my dad's retirement dinner. It was so fun to meet up with my mom and have some time together. We had a great time on Friday shopping in Sacramento and eating at our favorite mexican restaurant across the street from the Arden Fair Mall.
I also got to see my grandparents who recently moved back to Lodi. You can see from this picture that I didn't get my height from my grandma's side of the family. But I love her just the same! Grandpa talked and talked....it's fun to listen to him. They have a newly remodeled home they are living in next door to my Uncle Frank and Aunt Norma. I have so many fond memories with them from my childhood. Grandma taught me how to play King's Corners (a card game) and makes the best garlic spaghetti next to my mom's. And grandpa always made us laugh.

Back on the home front, I left Greg with a charge to take pictures of the boys' opening ceremonies for Little League. He turned this charge over to Lauren and I got this riveting video... WARNING: If you are affected by motion sickness, you may want to reconsider pressing play. The good news is there is no height restriction for this ride. And, pregnant women who have stable stomachs are welcome too!

On a less twirly note, the boys had a great time! Here they are with their friend, Chris.

They were especially excited to sit in "reserved seating" at the Eugene Emeralds Civic Stadium. Here they are running out on the field. Lowden is number 12 and Parker is number 10.

Then, they line up all the players across the field and do the national anthem and some other baseball ceremonial stuff. I wasn't there...I'm just trying to remember from the last few years what they did. But, the word is they had a great time. Oh...I just asked Lowden and he said "We ran across the field. They introduced all the teams. And some other stuff." So, there you have it...the word straight up.

Greg told me that Bennett was having a hard time sitting so he had to bribe him. When I got home from California, Lauren spilled, "Yeah Bennett was crazy so dad bought us a bear claw, a big cinnamon roll, a long chocolate bar, and a nut doughnut." She is always good for the scoop.

Later that day, they had their first game. There are no pictures due to a cranky Bennett and an exhausted father. But, the boys each got a run and got to play a few positions 2nd base, shortstop, outfield and benchwarmer (apparently their coach calls that a position...and there are 13 boys on the team so they rotate that honored place near the field.)

Back in California, I got all dressed up to go to my dad's retirement dinner put on my the Deputy Sheriff's Association. Here is me and my step sister, Michelle! It was so fun to be with her.

My dad looks pretty happy about retirement, doesn't he? I had to harass him to get this smile out of him....this is rare photographic evidence that my dad can be coerced into a smile. It's a cop thing.

Here he is with his wife, Mindy. Doesn't he look sharp? Mindy and I discovered two hours before the dinner that my dad didn't have an outfit that was fitting for his special night. So, she and I drove to Mervyns (20 minutes away) and bought him this suit jacket, tie, shirt, and belt. It was a lot of fun to buy something for my dad to wear. And, he looked very sharp! Mission accomplished. This dinner included all the men and women who retired from the sheriff's department in the last two years. Also present was the County Sheriff and the President of the Deputy Sheriff's Association.

Mindy has two children, Michelle and Robby. It was great being together with them! I haven't seen Robby and his wife, Melissa, since they lived in Oregon. He is in the US Navy and recently moved to Monterey from the base in Hawaii. He and Melissa have a ten month old daughter named Bridget. She is a beautiful baby and is a little angel. They tell me she cries sometimes but I haven't seen or heard any proof of that. I do not have a picture of her here ,but I'm hoping Robby will send one soon.

The Sheriff's Department gave my dad a special retired sheriff's badge. He served 35 years in law enforcement. Five of the years were with the California Highway Patrol and the rest were served as a County Sheriff. I'm very proud of my dad's accomplishments. And, I know that if his mother and father could have been there, they would have been very proud too!



I love this picture of me and my dad. This is out in front of his home in California.Here are my dad's other kids, Champ and Buddy. My dad has always had a thing for large dogs. He has had a labrador retreiver ever year of my life. My dad and Mindy in front of their yellow country house.My dad has always liked to go to breakfast. When I was younger, he took me often. He always knows all the server and cook's names. Going to breakfast with my dad is a tradition.It was so fun to be together with them all. I had the belgain waffles with fresh strawberries. It was yummy!

And there you have it our week in review.