Wii decided that this years' present would be a Wii. There wasn't a lot else under the tree, and we wanted it to be a memorable occasion, so we did a treasure hunt.

The last present under the tree had an envelope inside. The rest ensued as followed...

While breakfast is cooking, you need something to do.

When you open the closet, can you see even one shoe?

Hang the coats, stuff the shoes, keep all the boots stowin'

When you are all done open the boot of Rowan. (Rowan is our mini)

PJ's pillows and blankets so neat,

Gifts from your grandma are always a treat.

Write a letter of thanks, meant to inspire.

When your cards are all done, look where there is fire.

You've completed your duties, you are alomst done.

Just open each present and get ready for fun!

Several months ago, Lisa and I decided that we were going to start quilting. We got started with the church quilt group on one design, and then went and started on our own designs as well. On December 23, we both finally finished our first full quilts. I wrapped this one up for David. It is going to be his "Snuggle on the couch watching TV" quilt. Lisa made hers for Keven, her hubby, to deploy with. They are both Patriotic, and obciously a different pattern. I think it is so cool that they turned out so nicely.

Dave and I decided last year, that because we have to do so much driving to get Reiley to see his mom for visitation, that we just don't want to travel any more. It is hard for our van, and our kids. We also thought that it would be nice to have our house to ourselves for Christmas, but would also like to be with our extended family...so last year we met in burlington...it is a little less than half-way for us (a little more for my family) at Chuck-E-Cheese. The kids have a blast, as do their parents. We get fed, and there is barely anyone there, so we totally get to spread out.

Great Grandma Muriel got all the kids a guitar. Can you tell they are excited!

This is the kids putting on a show. Aren't they cute!

We have been going through the crud in our home. Amira had it on Sunday, I had it yesterday, Dave, Arami and Reiley had it today. Maybe Maira will get lucky and skip it...anyways...Dave felt like taking a bath today. He thought it might help him feel better. Not so sure.

I was talking to a friend on the phone and he came and laid his head on my lap. I pointed out a new scratch that he had under his eye, then I noticed one on his nose and a goose egg on his forehead. Then he showed me how he split the inside of his lip from his teeth.

He remembers starting to stand up and feeling dizzy, so he sat back down, then, feeling it had passed got up again. The next thing he remebers is hearing a huge THUD, and thinking, "wow, this is a vivid dream, I can even feel it...it hurts" then he opened his eyes and noticed he was bleeding.

My poor husband totally fainted in the bath! I am sure that he is going to have a black eye in the morning, so don't believe him when he tells you the kids attacked him!

After reading a friends blog, I have decided to (finally) do a thankful list.

There are many many things in my life for which I am thankful, and I am sure that I will not mention them all here, but this is at least a start.

1. I am thankful for my husband. He is the most caring, compassionate, fun, loving man in the world. He loves me unconditionally, and supports me to be a better person. He definately fills in the gaps at home. He is always willing to help anybody in need and is the best dad in the world, just ask our kids. I am the most blessed woman on earth to have him and I feel so lucky that he feels the same about me.

2. My kids of course. I have four wonderful, loving children. Reiley is so kind and compassionate, always ready and willing to offer a helping hand. He has the most tender heart. Maira is such a nurturing soul. She is the one to call when you need a "mother hen". She is artistic, creative, and most of all, enthusiastic. She also has a very clear image of what is wrong and right (in her view at least). Arami is my snuggle bug. To quote her this morning at 4am, "Daddy, can I snuggle with you, I want to snuggle but Maira is asleep?" How do you say no to that? She is inquisitive and loving. She is one of the most engaging persons i have ever known. For such a small person, she has a huge spirit. Amira is the sweetest one year old in the world. She is always ready to give a hug and a kiss (just ask any baby smaller than her). She is funny and energetic. She loves to read and dance. I can't wait for her to talk, so that she can express herself even more. I love them all so much for different reasons and feel so blessed that I get to take care of them while they are here.

3. Adding on to the previous...I am thankful to not have to work outside of my home, and because of that I get to homeschool my kids. It is so gratifying to see the things that they are learning and to be such an integral part of that.

4. I am thankful to live in the most beautiful part of the world. Oak Harbor has the best of everything...nature, quant small town life, it is secluded yet close enough to big civilization.

5. I am thankful for my family and friends.

6. I am thankful for my body, and how it serves me. I am healthy, I can do whatever I want with it. I can taste, smell, see, hear, feel.

I really could go on and on, and maybe at some point, I will continue with more things, but I feel like, just as the original post by my friend stated, this is the season we should be paying more time and attention being grateful for what we have instead of being wistful for what we don't.

We had some portraits taken by some friends of ours from church. Aren't they great!

This week we have the opportunity to dog sit. Some of you loyar readers already know Jack Jack, but for those of you who don't...He is a black Lab / Great Dane mix. He is a great dog, whom we have decided to keep. You are not getting him back Jensens!

I know that all of you who read my blog just sit around on pins and needles waiting for me to tell you what I ,dream about...well, today is your lucky day. David offered to let me take a nap today after church (I know, he is the best).

Anywhooo...I dreamt that I was at some sort of outdoor place, and decided to go on a hike with Arami, Maira, David, Sarah Weibling (I don't get it either Sarah) and Robert Pattison (AKA Edward Scissorhands, I mean Cullen). We were trotting along a nice path and I have this sudden intuition that if we continued on said path, we would get to see some large animal wildlife, so we continued.

Then, I saw this field, it had hay in it, and I suggested that we go turn on the lights (Yes, in the field) and pretend that we were at a photo shoot. Of course I was bummed that we forgot our camera...I know that never happens to Dave and I, but then the awesome and amazing Sarah, proclaimed that she had hers, so Maira and I started prancing around like a couple of 8 Year olds.

Next thing I know I am waking up in the field with the lights out ALONE. Can you believe they all abandoned me?

That was it...only in real life I woke up in my room, but it was dark.

Now you can all sleep better knowing what I dream about.

On another note, my original view of the Twilight movie has softened a bit. It really wasn't as...cheesy as I originally thought (I reserve the right to change my mind if I watcch it again, which would only happen if Dave wanted to see it after it comes out on DVD). I think I understand what the director was trying to do, which didn't translate to me in the moment.

A - Attached or Single: Attached

B - Best Friend(s): My sister Joan!

C - Cake or Pie: Yes Please

D - Day of Choice: Sunday

E - Essential Item:

G - Greatest Accomplishment - My blended family

H - Hometown - um...I'm a military brat, but home is in Oak Harbor

I - Indulgences - That would assume I control them from time to time, right? None.

J - January or July: July

K - Kids: 4, unless you are counting Dave, then it is 5.

L - Life is Incomplete without: Family

M - Marriage Date: September 9, 2006

N - Number of Siblings: 4 sisters and one brother, plus one sister in AR I haven't met

O - Oranges or Apples: both

P - Phobias: Tidal Waves

Q - Quotes:

R - Reason to Smile: My hubby lets me sleep in on Saturdays

S - Season: Autumn, it is just so pretty, and I love to wear sweaters.

T - Tag 5 friends: Joan, Genevieve, Mom, Tara, Julie

U - Unknown facts about me: I am a recovering extreme sport participant.

V - Very favorite store: Imaginarium (I know it doesn't exist anymore, but it is where I met Dave)

W - Worst Habit: I eat too much and drink too much diet coke

X - x-ray or ultrasound: I've had several of both

Y - Your favorite food: See W...

Z - Zodiac Sign: fishies (AKA pisces)

These were literally the third steps she took. Can you tell that we were excited.

Did I mention how fun this game is! It was very much a successful evening, which I intend to do again, hopefully sooner than later.

Reiley had spent the afternoon at a friends house before our church party, so we didn't get to take pictures with him. David was a redneck. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of hime with the mullet...it was classic. Arami is a flower, the prettiest!

Without getting into political issues, or preferences, I just have to say, that I am surprised at our ability as a nation, despite all of the hatred we still carry around, to elect a black president. It is a good kind of surprise. I didn't think that it would happen in my lifetime at least.

Now to halfly quote my sister "nobody, including ANYBODY could come down to become our president and do it without pleasing everyone"!

I have my tickets. Friday, the 21st, at 7:15 in Burlington. I plan on leaving Oak Harbor at around 5:30, grabbing a bite and catching the movie. The more the merrier.

Well, it is done! I had surgery today, it was fairly uneventful. I was "out" for about 1 1/2 hours and then in the hospital for another hour after that. They took out the cyst and my ovary, which was the size of a softball. Needless to say, I am quite sore, but doing well otherwise.

I have some super duper friends who brought us dinner so that Dave could take care of the kiddos and I could rest. THANKS!

I am a little loopy from pain meds, so I can't think of much more to add at the moment, but wanted to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers on my behalf, and let you know that all went well.

Dermoid cyst of the ovary : A bizarre tumor, usually benign, in the ovary that typically contains a diversity of tissues including hair, teeth, bone, thyroid, brain, skin, cartilage etc.

This is one of many definitions I found when I googled the term. I have one of these in my left ovary. It was discovered when I had my 20 week ultrasound with Amira last May. It was about pea sized at the time. I had another ultrasound in January to see if it was still there, and it had grown to the size of a tennis ball. I haven't had another ultrasound, but chances are it has grown since then as well.

Tomorrow I am having an outpatient surgery to remove the whole ovary. Yes, the whole thing! Anyways, I went in to see the doctor on Friday morning for a pre-op appointment to receive all my do's and don'ts. I will be "under the knife" for about an hour, and then in recovery for a few more after that.

I am not at all concerned, my understanding is that this is fairly easy, and common enough.

BUT...

I spent the whole time during my appointment and have been obsessing since then about the fact that the stupid scale that they MADE me stand on, said that I gained 10 pounds!!!

WHATEVER.

It better be gone after they take that thing out of me!

I'll keep you informed!

It appears as if the 30th is double booked for some...myself included, so I (being the host of this event in particular) had made an executive decision and changed the date to the following Thursday, the 6th of November. Additionally, I feel that 7:30 may be a more apporopriate time for several moms to get their kiddos off to bed first.

I hope that this doesn't change the availability for those of you who have already booked the date, and hopefully a sister can still come!

I said I was gonna do it, and now I am.

Thursday, October 30th, how does 7 sound? All the ladies need to come on over to play Rock Band. There will be at least 2 systems set up!

Ooooh, I can't wait. Bring some munchies to share!

I have sent out an evite for those whose emails I could find, but apparently don't have current ones for everybody, and I prudently want to express that nobody is being left out....

We are hosting a Christmas Party on Friday the 19th of December. Please save the Date!

Every fourth weekend, we gather our family and head out for a trip down to King and Pierce Counties. Why, you may ask? Well, we have to share our children with their other parents and to make things fair, we do half of the driving. Fortunately my parents live there so we have a nice warm (free) place to sleep. Additionally, I used to live down there, and since David and I have been married, I have continued to work on the weekends that we head down. It is really a winning situation, as we have to be down there anyhow, why not take advantage of the fact that I have an opportunity to earn some money to contribute to our family budget.

To the point now...I was in Costco this weekend picking up a couple of things for the office and did some of the usual browsing that accompanies a trip to the ginormous "store". I saw a really cool serving platter / lazy susan, and thought "hmmm, that would be kind of cool to use if I had one." The thought ended there though, as $39.99 was not burning a hole in my pocket, and it was not on the list of things that I needed for my office. The thing is, it would take more than one of my hands to count the number of carts being occupied with that neat tray. Now don't get me wrong, it was a super cool platter, but I highly doubt that a single one of those people went to Costco with the intention of purchasing a lazy susan platter. Which leads me to my title question, "when do you think we will get it?" The economy is crashing around us, unemployment is on the rise, houses are foreclosing like crazy, and there really isn't any indication that these circumstances are going to change anytime soon, so...what is the deal with thoughtless spending?

I am not judging, I have a bad habit of spending unnecessarily all the time, and it is something that takes a lot of effort to control, but I am scared of the financial future of our country, and it has effected the way I "shop"... in fact, I don't really do that without a list, and leave with only what is on the list (yes, I am currently patting myself on the back). I just wonder what it will take for the affluenza bug to be realized as a whole!

Any thoughts?

We had Chinese Chicken Fried Rice for dinner tonight, (bear with me, this leads up to the story) and so I steamed some rice earlier in the day today so that it would be cold tonight when it was time to cook. I cooked too much (better than not enough) so I decided to make some rice pudding for desert. I haven't ever had this before, so I am not sure if it is normal for it to be quite runny, not unlike rice-y milk, only really sweet and yummy. We ate it with cinnamin...YUM! Back on to the point now. Reiley said that it reminded him of egg nog, which was his favorite drink (of this conversation anyhow) and then Maira added her two cents. This is how it went:

"V-8 is my favorite drink. It is made by the Power Juicer Deluxe, because there is no food in it at all when you drink it."

This is entertaining for those of us who remember the infomercial brain washing from early in September. If you didn't get to see that post, please refer back so that you can properly appreciate Maira's quote of today.

Arami's quote of today....

"Brooke, did you know that blood tastes like metal?"

hmmm, who knew. I have a Twighlight fan in the making!

This is one of the best purchases we have EVER made. All of the kids love it and I can see the love continuing for years to come.

When I saw this from inside, I was a little worried that she didn't like it, but then I saw her face, and she was having the time of her life.

...on the apricot Tree. This was caught "behind the scenes". Those are the best kind!

I watched part of General Conference today. It is a semi-annaul conference where the leaders of the church speak to us. Having children in the home and life, makes it difficult for me to watch all of it, added to the fact that we have to download it from the internet, but I have found that it seems to me, the talks that I do get to hear are definately the ones I need.

In particular today, there was a talk about how to respond to negativity in regards to who we are. It really was an answer to prayers.

My favorite though was by our prophet, Thomas Monson. I absolutely loved that he was speaking to young families about the importance of being present with our children. Loving the laundry and the toys all over the place, because not too long from now, we will miss them.

This isn't a new concept for me, but one that I needed to be reminded of.

Nell, you are on top of it!!! I had intended to do this a couple of weeks ago as a result of talking to a friend of mine from school. This post is in no-way intended to surpass yours, but to included those people who I know from other circles!

So, as mention in the mysteries blog, the movie comes out in middish November, and I think that we need to fill the theatre with a bunch of middle aged women!

Let's do it.

We read a lot at our home...to ourselves, to each other, in a group, you name it, we probably do it. So, it does not surprise me to see how much Amira enjoys story time. This is a book we got from Grandma Bonnie. It is a series about a boy named David, who is amazingly similar to my David.

You can see in this video when she looked up and saw me sitting there. This was close to bed time, so she is a bit fussy and seemed to think she needed to be with me.

I have used basic sign language with all of my babies. It is a testament for anybody who doesn't think that babines are smart, to see them express plainly what they want and need before they have the physical ability to speak. It has been a life saver for me several times.

Anyways, I don't do anything major, just the basics, you know, more, water, change me, please, thanks et cetera. With Maira I started when she was about 14 months old and she picked it up super quickly. I don't really remember with Arami, but I know that it happened.

Well, I have been using some signs for a few months now with Amira (11 months today), just to get her used to seeing them, and on last Saturday, she started to sign. All we have really gotten from her is More, and that is just for ice cream, but it is a start.

Let's just say that she is her father's daughter, sweet tooth and all!

Brooke, Arami and I made a really cool snack today that correlated with our theme this week in preschool. I had intended to take photos of the process, but my lovely husband seems to have removed the photo card and didn't tell me!!!

The girls peeled the bananas and removed all the stringy thinGs...then they cut them in half. In the mean time, I melted chocolate chips (I added a little bit of milk to make it runnier). Then we stuck the bananas with popsickle sticks and dipped them in the chocolate. They then had their choice of 6 different types of sprinkles to douse them in. Lastly, they were placed on a wax-paper covered plate and put in the freezer.

We are anxiously awaiting the time when we get to eat them.

Arami is such a cutie! She is extremely creative. A few moments ago, she was sitting at the piano plunking away at the keys, which is a normal activity for her. She often creates songs, names and all. For example, figaro, as you can imagine sounds a bit like the opera, just the 3 notes mind you. Chingalana is a four key repeat. Well, just now she has another, it doesn't have a name, but it does have a story. The high key is the good guys, the medium key is the bad guys, and the low key is the crocodile....it is quite ominous, the crocodile is the key player and gets the most play time.

I know, this isn't really news for anybody who isn't in a coma, but I am reminded by all the new blog backgrounds that it is official. Autum is definately, without a doubt, unequivicably, my favorite season. I love the crisp, blustery air, the way that the earth naturally cleanses itself by getting rid of the old and making space for the new. There is something very exciting about school starting and the days getting shorter...oh wait, that isn't fun, but it does happen in the fall.

I used to live in New Hampshire...for all you non-geography gurus, that is the state to the east of Vermont, of beautiful leave fame. Maybe that is why I have such an affinity for the season, becauase we had just about all the same trees and leaves, but not as much traffic to see them.

Dave and I went to the mall the other day. We were down south in Tukwila at what was formerly known as Southcenter. (Yes, this is the same mall that the two of us met and worked together in 13 years ago.) We went there because Maira and Arami met with their biological father and his wife for about an hour for the first time in over a year (That is a completely different story though, and its not going in this blog, but...as a woman, I would love to vent, so if your curiosity strikes you, please...give me a call and I will talk you ear off.)

OK...enough bird walking! So...Dave and I were at the mall that is now known as Westfield Southcenter shopping center. They have done some MAJOR upgrading, for example, the dining area was previously called "Rainier Court" and it is now called "Rainier Dining Terrace" and it even has an outdoor balcony should if fancy you to eat outdoors. Amira needed to nurse, so we found the "family restroom". Holy Moly, let me tell you something! This place had 5 couches in a circle around the "up-to-three year old appropriate play area. This particular area also had a 52" plasma tv on the wall, should you be in there with older children, or a husband, to keep them entertained. It had 3 seperate nursing stalls with nice curtains, a lounge chair, and your own personal television, complete with, like, 100 different cable network channels to choose from (because who doesn't want a tv 1-1/2 feet from their face when they are nursing their baby?). The changing area was a huge (like 20' x 10') counter with 3 seperate sinks and the diaper changing spots were built into the counter next to each sink. They were actually sunk into the counter, so escape was out.

As you can imagine, the price of anything inside the stores was astronomical, but I guess they didn't really have any choice, if they are going to make rent on their spots, they have to pay an arm and a leg after the hugemongous (no, there isn't a spelling error there, that is my new word) upgrade.

Anyways, I just was kind of beside myself and even said to Dave while we were there, that I was going to have to blog about the room, to which his responce was "Too bad we don't have a camera!"

Maira and I made bear claws on Saturday. it's been a while since she has shown any interest in working in the kitchen with me so it was a lot of fun.


For those interested in th recipe...

2 Tblsp yeast softened in warm water
sift 4 1/2 cups flour, 4 T sugar and 2 teaspoons salt
cut in 1 cup butter until fine (i just did this with my hands)
add 1/2 cup evap milk, 2 unbeaten eggs and 1/2 cup raisens
add softened yeast mix weel and chill overnight or at least 2 hours.
Filling:
cream 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar. You can add 1 cup chopped nuts if you want.

After dough is chilled, divide into six balls. Roll eac ball into rectangles. Spread filling in center of each and fold over. (fold small ends first, just enough to tuck, then the long sides, both to the center") Then flip the entire thing over seam side down. Lay dough in a half moon shape on cookie sheet and cut slits along outer side about 1/2" apart. Then twist the "toes" so that the filling side is up. Let rise 45 minutes and bake at 350 until just brown, about 15 minutes.
Glaze:
2 T melted butter, 1 cup pwdr sugarm 1/2 t vanilla, stir in 1-2T evap milk. pour over top. ENJOY

For those of you who don't know, or maybe those of you who may have forgotten, I homeschool the kiddos. We are trying something new this year...The Story of the World...It is a history book that has an optional workbook that is just what its title says, the story of the world, from the beginning. We started last week and talked about how we know what happened. We learned about how important it is to keep records and journals, so that our posterity can learn from our lives. We all made little family books, where interviews of each member of the family occured and pictures were placed. Then we talked about Historians and Archaelogists. The class culiminated in a dig for "bones". I was going to use chicken bones, but kinda got grossed out at the idea of it, so I found some nice plastic dinosaurs and jungle animals and buried them in Plaster of Paris. This kids LOVED IT! Reiley checking the progress of everyone else.

Some friends who are doing the class with us...Alexander (on the left), Maira (not a friend, but needed to point her out as she is in the photo) and Jules. Arami and Brooke (in the front). Brooke is the little cutie I get to take care of everyday. She and Arami are good friends, and they help each other (and me) stay on track with pre-school.

Amira has never been interested in Baby Food, neither were her older sisters for that matter. I beleive that part of that is the texture, and the oterh part is simply the need to be independant and feed herself. She is slowly picking up on the "fuller tummy for longer periods of time if I eat the stuff they give me" mentality. One of the things that is definately a keeper in her diet is fruit. The plums she is eating in some of these photos are from the tree in the back yard.

We had a birthday party for Arami on Saturday. She will be officially five on Monday the 15th. She decided that she wanted a Dora party...so I put on my Creative Hat (and did some internet research) and came up with some fun ideas for a party. This first picture is Dave, Reiley and my nephew Balthezar working pre-party on one of the activities. We did a typical Dora adventure with the map and all. Stop number one was to Pin the Tail on Swiper. Maira was the hostest with the mostest. She is going to be the best teacher some day!
Stop number two was the most popular. THE PINATA! The kids all loved this part, the question then is....is it more fun to hit the thing, or run for the candy afterwards?
Stop number three and the destination was the cake. I did decorate this cake, thank you very much. This was my very first attempt ever, not bad huh!
Overall, a fun time was had by all, especially the birthday girl who got lots of fun presents and a weekend with the grandparents.

Ok, I'm not really in the mood to try to figure out these pictures and how to put them in order, so you all will just have to figure it out on your own!!! These are the life of the clothesline to date. We had to bury the pole in cement in a cinder block, then dig a hole in the ground and bury it as well. It was really exciting! No, I am not being facetious, this is just the life of a mom!!! Needless to say, I LOVE it. The photo with the clothes is a king size load...and I can't be for sure, because by the time to put a third load up, the first is dry, but I think that I could get at least three full loads up there.

So...my trick is to use fabric softener in the wash and then, when they are done outside, I throw them in the dryer for 10 minutes to give them a little fluff, then they aren't stiff.

Boy o boy do my clothes smell good!

This is a 10 quart bowl full of really yummy plums from a tree in our backyard. I didn't even know what kind of fruit it was until this year, because they never did more than become hard green thingys. We actually thought they may have been apples, but this year, they ripened all the way. Our Japanese pear tree didn't make any fruit this year though....I wonder why?






















Here is the tree they came from.

Yep, that is right. Baldrick is gone. We sold him to a nice David look alike, who was thoroughly impressed with the description of him, so much so, that he drove here from Kalispell Montana to pick him up, sight unseen.

The idea is that we learn to be a one car family, cuz that is just more responsible financially. We didn't get any money for him, just got out from the car payment. Now the real test is whether or not we are responsible about the extra money we will have each month as a result!

So...I heard the other day that somebody I know had the chicken pox in their home. I know that this isn't the most PC thing for me to say these days, but if anybody gets them, or knows of someone who gets them. CALL ME, we are coming over for a play date!!! Now now, don't get all worked up if you are a public health nurse or something, I am not totally irresponsible. It's just that I would so much prefer that the pox get done and over with while my kiddos are in their youth. If, by chance, we don't have any friends who want to share the wealth, then I will of course get that dreaded shot when each of them reaches the ripe old age of 15.

We all went down south this past weekend so that I could work, we could take Reiley to his mom's and to visit family. We went to JC Penneys to get family portraits. The girl who took our pictures did a super job, we got all kinds of different combinations, including kids only, mom and dad only, whole family, and of course, Amira only.

Some of you who have had the privelage of spending time with Amira may have notices how she always has her tongue moving, either sticking out, or twisting or turning. Well, as you may guess, photo time was no different. EVERY SINGLE ONE of her pictures has her tongue sticking out, with the exception of the ones where she is sticking her finger up her nose. Yep, that's right, she has discovered a whole to place her finger in.

It was so cute, we couldn't help but ordering one in particular. I can't wait to get them and share them with everyone!

I figure since this is a good outlet for me...I love to type, and this gives me an attempt at spoken (written) creativity, I am going to write about people and or things that I am currently thinking about.

Joan is in Mexico right now and I miss her terribly. I have tried numerous times over the past week to call her, one time the call went through and I spoke briefly to her mother-in-law, who I know personally, and the other, the connection was so bad that I told her I would call right back, and of course I didn't get a connection. (Joan, this part was meant for you so you know that I am still trying and not being a total lame-o).

Joan is exactly one month shy of two years younger than me and probably the most similar to me. Granted she is a smidge more synical. She also has the great blessing (I think it is anyway) of being able to cry, loudly, sobbing even. It is such a great outlet for our bodies and minds, and I wish that I was able to do it more freely.

I have some great memories with Joan, including in the Hurricane, sitting for hours eating fried goodness and other such things. Partying with all the exchange students, whether at Lake Washington swimming or at the Space Needle on New Years, or at our home for a birthday.

Joan has two great children, Balthezar and Edith, who have at times in their lives been best friends with my children, but we live far away and school friends change things as well as the whole boy/girl thing.

I know that I am rambling, probably incoherently, but I want to tell the world (or at least those who read this) and most particularly Joan, that I admire, love and respect her and can't wait for her return so that we can talk regularly again and see each other.

I love you JOAN!