A Seattle Job

Quite a few months ago, daughter Jessica asked me to spend 9 days with her kids while she and Chris went on a trip to Europe.  Gemma is 18, Miles is 16 and Peyton is 14.  They didn't really need much from me, except to be there while their folks were so far away.  Committing to dates that are far away is pretty easy.  Several months ago my September calendar was quite empty.  So I quite happily committed myself to this happy errand. 

Of course the month filled up around this commitment.  Scott and Jessica stayed until my departure day almost two weeks ago now.  Here they are about to begin their drive to Rexburg and BYUI.

Then Allegra and Isaiah arrived for a few days visit the evening of my departure day.  I captured them at the airport, but otherwise missed their visit altogether.  Audrey came later that week and I missed her too.

But I loved spending time with my three Gendreaus.  I walked with Gemma almost every day.  We got some good conversation in.  She is feeling better about leaving home for college.  She was such a great helper for me, anticipating most of what was required of me and offering assistance.  She has become a beautiful, good hearted girl. 

Miles is a problem solver.  One evening he told me some of his ideas for solving everyday frustrations.  His mind automatically goes to that, it seems.  He spends his open time coming up with creative solutions for these kinds of things.  Such a great mind! 

Miles has the interesting habit of getting up early, eating a quick bowl of cereal, then crashing on the couch until time to leave for school.  Here he is in his usual morning location.

I was able to watch Peyton play at one of her soccer games.  She's a good player so it was fun to see her in action.  All told, it was a lovely time.

In the meantime, Chris and Jessica toured Copenhagen with friends, then Berlin.  They sent regular messages and pictures.  Looks like they are having a great time!

Seattle is a beautifully green place, with things growing everywhere.  Abundant rain is the price of that.  There were lots of grey skies and rain while I was there.  But most days were also full of sunshine.  Summer brings less rain than the other seasons.  Still, everything was green except...most of the lawns.  People in the local neighborhood as a rule do not water their lawns. So they turn brown.  There they are, a brown swath surrounded by lots of greenery.  Why?  It seemed so odd to me since our Idaho area has the greenest lawns in summer.  Because we water them!

Here's the green.

Here's the brown.

In spite of a sweet time, it was good to be back home.  Our gang here seemed to do just fine without me.  Except for searching out missing items or misplaced ones, all was much as I left it.  Layne was so glad to see me.  I noted that at the airport since he actually came inside to find me instead of picking me up curbside.  So sweet! 

I am feeling more settled with Seth and Angelica here.  I suppose I have adjusted to their presence without even noticing it.  Things seem to flow more smoothly this year.  I am enjoying them more.  Gerald and Frances will soon be here for another visit.  I always love that.  October brings more family birthdays, including Layne's.  The days are growing cool and crisp.  Early signs of fall are in the air, with the trees just beginning to show their fall colors.  It is a wonderful time of year.

Bear Lake, Labor Day and More!

There are some periods in my life that are very ordinary.  I usually don't write about those.  Then there are times when my life is full of activity and people.  All of it often keeps me so busy and engaged that I also don't write about those.  Until life returns to normal.  It isn't quite normal today, but I'm writing anyhow.

I have wanted to visit the town of McCall for awhile now.  So many of the local folk go there for fun and relaxation.  It sounded like a great place to visit.  But we haven't gone.  Until now.  Our friends, Mike and Lisa Young, invited us there to share a day with them in their beautiful trailer.  So we went, with Gerald, while the kids were in school.  It is a two hour drive, so we started out early.  It was beautiful all the way there.  The winding road was framed by woods and the Payette River most of the way.  We found McCall to be even more charming that I had imagined.  Although we were there for just a few hours, we loved what we did see.  Here we are with Mike and Lisa.

Our friends, the Wintersteens, are often cooking up some event or trip to engage us with.  I love them for that.  I am married to a man who much prefers staying home to just about any alternative.  But Larry and Carol embrace us into various adventures.  I think Layne enjoys them once he is pressed into service.  This time they invited us to join them in a trip to Bear Lake.  It involves about a 5 hour drive as it is located at a spot between eastern Idaho and Utah.  It is a lovely place.  Carol's brother, Roger, has a cabin there.  We have stayed there before so we looked forward to this current trip.  Gerald was here to be with Seth and Angelica, so we were free to roam.

We spent three days there, during the week before Labor Day, sharing the preparation of meals, relaxing and visiting.  Bear Lake is known for its raspberries.  They offer them most commonly in the form of ice cream, milkshakes and jam.  We indulged in all of those.  We had a lovely time, getting to know each other even better and playing our favorite game...Mexican Train.  Roger's friends, Clell and Linda joined us part of the time.  Here we are in inside Roger's cabin:  Carol, Larry, Clell, Layne, Roger and me in front.  Linda took the picture.

We hurried our drive home on that Thursday before Labor Day to prepare for the arrival of daughter Audrey and her daughter Rayne, and husband Dominic.  I love their somewhat frequent visits.  They drove all night on that Thursday to arrive early Friday morning.  We had such fun with them.  On Saturday my Jessica and her Miles and Peyton arrived.  Adding Gerald and kids to the mix made for a large but happy group.  We enjoyed various activities together, including sorting through some of my Mother's stuff that I brought back from her home in Cedaredge.  I love it when I can pass on family stuff.  I personally enjoy using some of my Mother's kitchen gadgets.  They remind me of her, and I like to be reminded.

We celebrated Rayne's birthday a little early while everyone was here.  Here she is, with her birthday pumpkin pie.  We have raised our family right...preferring pie to cake!

We flew our flags for the last time this year and spoke a little of the purpose of Labor Day, and the weekend passed quickly by.  By Tuesday everyone, including Gerald, was gone.  I'm always sad when family leaves.  So I busy myself cleaning up.  It helps.  Here are all of our visiting family:  Audrey, Gerald, Jessica, Miles, Peyton, Seth, Angelica, Rayne, Dominic.

Gerald has been here for some three weeks, helping to get the kids settled in once again with us.  I really enjoy having Gerald in my life.  He is such a good man, and a positive influence on us.  This time he found some hopeful ideas for getting work here, adding to my hopes that he and Frances will find their way here for a more permanent stay, sometime soon.  I hated to see him go.  But he promises to return in October.  I hope it works out that way.  Here he is, on his way to the airport.

By Thursday we were welcoming company again.  Grandson Scott and his new wife Jessica (#3) arrived.  They will be with us until Monday, when grandkids Allegra and Isaiah arrive, on their way to school at BYU Idaho.  Wow.  Can you believe our luck at having so much family, almost all at once?  

Our first full day with Scott and Jessica was Friday.  Layne pressed to take them to Idaho City.  So we did.  Once again we visited the Galbreaith House located there and, once again, we took pictures in front of it.

Scott and Jessica are a great couple, well suited to each other.  Their influence on our household is positive and sweet.  Sometimes I feel so full of joy over the people in my life.  This is one of those times.