Reorganization

Last year we thought we would sell the house and move but we had so much junk and so many projects to do that it just wasn't going to happen. So we tackled some of the projects (there are still two bathrooms to remodel, painting to finish inside and carpet to replace) and maybe we'll be here until the house is paid for in another 5 years, who knows.

So... the last de-junking we had to do was the attic...mission accomplished. Anyone want to come play up there now? We have costume boxes and toys, a few rugs and it lighted on both ends and in the middle now. Eric nailed up a lot of boards for more stable flooring and it's a nice place to hang out... if ...you like attics.

We have a section of Bart's stuff...
aquarium, books, star wars toys, records,
boxes of old memorabilia...











And a section for Anna's stuff...

We have dress up clothes, Barbie dolls, My little Ponies and house, two doll houses and more.

Come mplay!!!

Another cake Request

Hunter turned 6 and asked for a Kungfu Panda Cake with a vanilla head and belly, Chocolate arms and legs... so even though it's frosted... that's what he got.

The end of 2008

Another year!!!

Christmas has come and gone...
and of course I didn't take any pictures

Here are Frodo and Pepper wearing
their antlers... But this is not all I will remember from this Christmas.

On Christmas day we had the whole family under one roof, except for my sister's husband.
Barbara ventured out on the bad roads to come for dinner with us and brought our mother whom the grandchildren lovingly call "GG". The guys lovingly lifted her wheelchair up to the livingroom and it was heartwarming to have everyone here.
These are pictures Barbara took for us...

GG...Eleanor... mom is in the red and white
in the first picture are Eric and me and our four children... Ben and Bart in front...
Heidi and Anna in back with us.

Every year we say this might be her last Christmas with us and here we have had one more to share with her.
she has been such a great example to us all
on how to live gracefully
and endure gracefully to the end.

The week before christmas...

I got the chance to break all the rules with Bart and Leslie's children. They went to Mexico for a week so I had their three for 5 days and then the Planks will have them 5 days. That's a long time for children to be away from their parents...
Sooo...

We ate whatever we wanted including junk food for breakfast...
Watched movies... a lot...
Played the Wii for HOURS
even though the boys each earned their ten minutes reward for good behavior.
Indiana was an angel. We got a lot of cold and snowy weather and the kids had coughs so they didn't get to play in it here...
Yes... we did read books, play, eat healthy food and get sleep too.

You don't really know your grandchildren until you've had them over night and all day for days in a row... their true colors shine... the bright ones and the dark ones.

SNOW and ICE!!!
Our h0me teacher from across the
street spent an hour shoveling
the driveway and steps for me
on the 18th. WE had about 3 inches
and I couldn't get the car up the driveway.

Today, the 20th we got at least 7 more inches... pictures to come.

Ben is outside playing in the snow... it's 10 at night...
He got off work at 7:30 and the drive home on the free way was fun, he said, because he was one of very few cars out and he didn't have to worry about anyone else hitting him, or him hitting them.
Weather predictions have swung from ice storm with 30 mph winds to gentle snow up to 12 inches. We'll see what we really get. The roads are ice underneath the snow so it will be a long time before this all melts away. It would be nice to get some warm temperatures and some RAIN!!!

busy,busy,busy

Not much goes on here usually...but lately we've been very busy.
Eric has been on his last international flight in the 777 with a great trip to Japan followed by one to China.
I've been involved in the decorating for one wedding and three receptions, three of which happen this week.... look for photos later on the receptions.

Heidi will be helping me set up a website and Eric will help me set up a business plan for a future business in wedding decorating. My inventory is getting better each wedding I do...maybe the investment will payoff someday.

Here are a few photos from yesterday... the Ferris wedding at the Nisqually Chapel...


It was a private wedding... family and bridal party only but I caught the flower girl at the drinking fountain...she was almost as cute as the bride.

Later

ME

Changes...

President Eric P. Coppin

New Lacey Stake President
In nine years when he is released

he will probably be totally grey.

Ben has been experimenting with hair styles.

LONG is the latest one.

He has just started college classes again...
Forensic Science
Japanese and
Social Problems

Some day he'll go to a socially troubled Japanese province and solve crimes...

We finally finished our kitchen remodeling.

Tiled the window counter

and replaced the lights.

fuzzy pictures????
New Couch and Lamp
We're going for a new look and finally have a real living room couch. Come visit and have a seat!

For the second year Heidi went to girls camp and Grandma stayed with the boys. We decided we should do it every year. Grandma should have a week every year with each family with the parents away... we'll have to think about that... I had Ruby in the spring... The Marshall's in the summer. I suppose I need to spend some time in Seattle with Beren, Asher and Indy.

We created a poll at the end of their slip and slide.