Quote of the Blog


Monday, December 27, 2021

Christmas

 Christmas Eve we joined the Hancocks in their family tradition of hiking. Short hike, confusing trails, and amazingly blue juniper berries.



Kids posing for their "weird" picture


Our first speckled egg, thanks to Willadean. The other two are still pondering laying.

Mexican Chocolate Cake baked and iced

Christmas Day

Fun opening gifts with family, cheering on Anjuli during her 20 mile training run (for upcoming marathon) as she passed nearby our home, games, food, good times.




Playing with the drone Rhys was gifted later that week.


Thursday, December 23, 2021

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

 I finished my Christmas quilt just in time!

Mom gifted us each Christmas ornaments this year. She found me this banjo while in WA and the chicken while visiting TX. Neal got a beekeeper ornament. Sophie got a "How many days I have to be good" countdown ornament. Rhys got a trombone. I am only showing mine because I am selfish.

A Star Trek related ornament to honor a fan, my Uncle Rick.
Fun with Oma and Opa seeing the lights! One street had was so traffic jammed we parked got out and walked and really enjoyed it.


A special request by Rhys was to make gingerbread houses this year. I let them go solo for this activity and provided everything but he wall and roof and moral support. Wailing and gnashing of teeth. Finally they took a break to let the icing dry and the emotions calm. They turned out pretty good in the end. I don't know if they will request this again but just wanted to prove it's not always fun and games at the van der Upwich home. We experience real life, baby!


Sunday, December 12, 2021

Couple's Getaway Weekend

Neal and I planned a weekend with each other and were able to pull it off with the help of Opa! We headed down to San Antonio after dropping the kids off to school on Friday. Do you know how I know I married the best man in the world? He let me listen to Christmas music ALL THE WAY there. We stopped for breakfast in West for kolaches, and lunch in Austin for Interstellar BBQ (rated in the top 10 this year). We stayed at the Hilton San Antonio Hill Country for a relaxing spa weekend. We hit yummy restaurants, ran into Santa AND in reindeer but in two separate locations (go figure), walked, got massages, played cards, ping pong, and corn hole. Stopped in the historic market square for Mexican hot chocolate and baked goodies for the family.



Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Christmas Concert

 They played great and we have to say the trombone player in the green Santa hat is our favorite!


Wednesday, December 1, 2021

New Addition

 Mom gifted me this awesome addition to our Christmas lights display this year!




Saturday, November 27, 2021

Fall

 What is she doing, you ask?  Being Sophie. We were racking and sacking the leaves. I left to get something from the garage and upon my return, I find my daughter arms crossed in her leaf bag chute casket. Don't worry. She was revived by shared laughter.

We took no Thanksgiving pictures with Oma and Opa or the Hancocks. But I got pictures of my chickens! They were curious about our Halloween pumpkins but they eat better when I make oat/seed/pumpkin balls for them.

But since I did not take any pictures here is a little story from a newpaper clipping many, many years ago, about turkeys featuring my paternal grandmother, Lena:

"Missing Fowl Indicates Some 'Foul Play'

At least two families will be having turkey for dinner tomorrow, but at the expense of one Colton family.

Mrs. Donald A. Percy, 430 East F St., bought a 12-pound turkey at a local market yesterday, but after she put the bird in the car it flew the coop or rather coup.--assisted by a thief.

Mrs. Percy stopped to have a hamburger at a drive-in restaurant with a friend.  She remarked to her friend while they were waiting to be served that she hoped no one would steal her turkey. The car was out of sight while the two women were eating their hamburgers. When they returned to the car the bird was gone. The other groceries in the car were not touched."
 

This is my favorite picture of me and my best girl, Willadean.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Keri Visits WA Family and Vise Versa

Relaxing time with Mom at her home, lots of walks in "her" forest with Maggie, fun with Jolene, Shawn, and Mom seeing the sights, visiting Jolene's land in Sequim, beautiful fall colors, weird ice cream experience.



Mom walking in her forest



One one of the bridges of the Olympic Discovery Trail




Fungus find!
Jolene and Mom ordered Thanksgiving dinner flavored specialty ice cream from Seattle for us to try! They were pretty spot on flavor wise but it was wierd. The butter rolls tasted like licking butter. We all like certain ones. Needless to say none of the pints were finished.


Carmelized Turkey and Cranberry Sauce
Mom and I flew back to Texas together so the grandkids could spend a few days with her. We took it easy when we weren't shopping and Mom got several trips in to Taco Casa before her return home.


Monday, October 25, 2021

Fort Richardson State Park

 First, Neal finally decided to cut his Covid hair!

Before

After
We took off to Fort Richardson State Park. Nice little campground with not too many sites, dear, hiking, a VERY windy lake, good times with friends. Could hear coyotes at night.


Camp towels make great capes! Anders, Rhys, Elena, Brendan, Sophie, Coralie

Old train bridge moved to this location

Flour Mill ruins in background

Checking out the kites people brought to take advantage of the wind.