November 18, 2008

Today we celebrate the life of a much loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother....As a tribute, I thought we could share stories, thoughts, memories.. anything you want to add, just send to me (Robin) ..

From Debbie:

I remember the time when I went down to California and I stayed at their
place and Grandpa said hey Debbie how would you like to go to SanDiago and I
said sure so we went and had the best times of our lives and this was in
1985 and I went down on the Bus and that was an adventure I well never
foreget. I remember we went and me and Grandpa went on the sky ride and
Grandma stayed on the ground and watched us go up in the skyride and we had
a lot of laughs going up and seeing Grandma sitting and watching us go up
and then down and we enjoyed the ride, I enjoyed that time because that was
the last time that I saw Grandpa and so I well never forget that time.


From Robin:

What sad news to come home to today. Chris and I have talked often of trekking out to Idaho to see you all. We thought maybe this last summer was the time to come, but with gas prices so high, and then Nana and mom coming here, and so many boy activities, we postponed it. Just goes to prove you should never put off to tomorrow those things which are important today.

The last time I saw Grandma was right after I married and Chris and I went to visit her. We went to the cemetary to see if the new headstone had finally been put in for grandpa. I will always regret I did not see her again, and that the boys never met her.

I do have many fond memories of her though. She and Grandpa were our mysterious grandparents... we did not see them often, so they came bathed in an air of mystery. They seemed to be from a slower life... they had time to sit on the porch, and feed the squirells, and drink an evening aparatif. They talked of their travels and visits with friends. They always seemed to know enough neighbors for a good card game.

But Grandma also taught me something I have enjoyed the rest of my life - how to knit. In those early years, it seemed as soon as she left I would get knotted into difficulties, and had to wait for their next trip to take it up again. But the skills taught then have been the foundation for many hours of pleasure and stress relief. I wish I could have one more knitting lesson with her, see one more dishcloth made by her.. talk with her of patterns and stitches.

But those days are long gone. Her legacy lives on in my love of card games, the sweaters of hers I still have, and the knitted things I have made for my own kids. Their love of nature lives on in my own kids who bird watch and request birdfeeders for presents. I cannot see a peanut without thinking of Grandpa. They were both special people, and I miss them.

I can hear her laughing now, eyes tearing up at some funny joke...she could laugh and laugh and laugh... she had a great sense of humor.

Cooper's 8th birthday party

We hosted Cooper's class for his 8th birthday.. he had fishing and trampolining and pot painting and leaf pile relay races... the leaf piles were the big hit... giant piles and the dads threw the kids into the leaves. They loved it. It was a lovely, if a bit brisk, afternoon.

Wooops... where did October go?

Highlights from October... Autumn hit with a chill. First hard freezes seemed early. Trees have turned and peaked last week, and this week started the big fall. But in between we have had Halloween and Cooper's 8th birthday.

They are going to STATE!!!!!

Here is the news from Uncle Jim.....

Hi gang. Well they did it. Becci and the girls Twin Falls soccer team get to go to state. They won their second game in sudden death overtime by what they call a golden goal. That's a goal made by drawing the defenders to you faking a shot and letting the ball roll to another player who puts it into the net. So they play in Boise next Thursday. This is their first state tournament so naturally they are excited. Will keep you posted. Everything else in Idaho is good. The weather is good. Take care, love, Jim.

Weekly update from North Carolina....

Cooler weather here. Homecoming was this week, so we enjoyed and crisp Friday night football game (we lost) wearing sweaters.

Cooper is all better, pnuemonia knocked out and cough all gone. He also lost 2 teeth this week.

Scuppernong grapes are ripe on the vine, so we are making a grape pie this weekend. Never made one before, so we shall see if we like it. Scuppernong jelly is quite lovely. Real grape flavor.

Pears and figs also ripe. Too much to do in the time allotted.

Eli is enjoying cross country. Big meet this past week. He was 41st out of over 80 kids. He was discouraged, but we reminded him that he is only in 6th grade and competing against 6, 7 and 8th graders, which is a huge difference in strength and skill. The important thing is to keep beating his individual best, and then he will know he is getting somewhere. He is also working on his physical fitness merit badge for boy scouts.

That's all from here!

First snow, and going to state - NEWS from Idaho...

This week, Uncle Jim writes in as a proud grandpa yet again. Here is the latest on Becci's soccer team:

TWIN FALLS 2, MADISON 1
Allie Webb' scored the golden goal in' the 92nd minute as Twin Falls advanced to the 'Region Four-Five-Six championship game with 2-1 wins at Madison on Friday after­noon.
The Bruins (11"4"3) went ahead when Madi Worst struck in the third minute, while the Bobcats equalized in the 48th.
There was no further scoring in normal time so the game went to sudden-death overtime, during which Webb was played through with a delicately chipped lob from Alexin Clark.
Webb did the rest, setting off delighted screams and joyful tears on the Twin Falls sidelines, head coach Katie Kauffman said.
"I've beep with this team for six years in one way or another and they've never made it (to the region cham­pionship game) as long as 1 can remember," Kauffman said. "It was chaotic, and the girls were crying and screaming ... it was just awe­some.
"They've never experi­enced that. And to come through in such a clutch game is so big. I think it's going to do a lot for their confidence."
Becci Smith had 18 saves, keeping the Bobcats to just the lone goal long enough for her team to find the winner.
Twin Falls will face the winner of Tuesday's game between top-seeded Highland and No. 5) Idaho Falls in the championship game.
"We're planning on Highland '" but stranger things have happened," Kauffman said. "It's the one team that I haven't seen us beat, but if we're going to beat them this might be the time we do it."

Congratulations Becci, and keep us posted! We will be routing for the Bruins all the way from North Carolina.

Here is the rest of the news from Uncle Jim. SNOW!! I cannot believe snow already anywhere!

Hi gang. Hello from the Idaho gang. Everything good here. Well, it looks like Becci and her high school soccer team are headed for state. they played their first of two games and won. If they win the second game they will go to state. I said before I was going to get some pictures, well, the only game they played at home, it rained and I didn't think they would play so I didn't even go. Dumb me.
I sent you the clipping of the game they played yesterday. Good thing. Last night and today we got over 2" of snow. The earliest we've ever got snow. More fun. I'll keep you posted on the team. You guys take care, we love you. Jim.

What's Up in NC?

Well, Autumn is here. Crisp evenings,with a sweater and long pants. Warm sunny days. A lovely time of year.

Lots of these:



And so we have to cover the pond Eli built, to prevent it being filled with leaves and nuts.


Cooper has been home sick part of this week. He has run a fever and had a cough. He gets pneumonia every other year about this time... so we are watching him closely.

Eli continues to run Cross Country and enjoy it. Zach has joined the Robotics team at school. He is also enjoying his videography class, and spent Friday night filming on the sidelines of the football game. He is making a video of a student being recruited for his kicking skills. I sold tickets at the game as part of my Teaching duties, and only got to see the last quarter. But I kept worrying he wasn't going to see the team coming his way through that lens. Fortunately, noone tackled him.

Work and work and kids and work is about all going on here.