Missionary Monday - August 30

Elder Coffey is in Fiji!

After a month's delay, Ben left for the islands early Sunday morning.  He is now at the mission home.  He'll travel with the mission president and wife to New Caledonia on Wednesday.  At last! At last!

This photo was taken by Brother and Sister Jackson who accompanied Ben to the San Francisco airport.  That smile says it all, doesn't it?

Missionary Monday - Aug 23

Been so amazing to hear about Ben's experiences in San Francisco.  It can't possibly be coincidence that he's teaching a part-member family from New Caledonia, can it?  I didn't think so.

Mission President Wade has won some votes lately as Ben is able to have his iPod, albeit filled with uplifting music.  That was one of Ben's big struggles was envisioning two years without his music.  Sam is doing the honors of filling the iPod before we send it off.

And can I just say, I love missionary e-mails.  I was on the computer when his e-mails popped in this week.  It's like a nearly real-time snapshot of what's currently going on in his life.  Waaaaay better than waiting three weeks for snail mail!

Happiness is...

...a working microwave.

...a pantry full of homemade jam.  This one is banana bread nut butter.  Yum!

...someone willing to pickle their nose to help me make pickled beets.  Thanks Carin!  You are awesome!

Pumpkin Preview

We have really enjoyed having a pumpkin patch over the years.  And so have the children and grandchildren.  Thought I'd share a little peek into what's in store this year in the patch.

This is currently the biggest of the bunch.  I'm surprised by how orange it is already.  Cool!

This one is hiding in the zucchini plant.  It's roots are actually half way down the bed.  A rebel at heart!

This little guy is growing in the middle of one of the butterfly bushed that line the back fence.  He's not looking so good.  Hope he makes it!

This one is actually dangling from the fence!  There's a companion a little further up the vine, too.  I'm going to have to think of a way to support them or they'll succumb to their own weight and fall off the vine too soon.

Hard to tell in this light, but this little one is going to be a Lumina or ghost pumpkin...white on the outside, orange on the inside.  I love those!

So, I really have my work cut out for me.  Weeds don't grow well in the tangle of vines and cornstalks, but it is difficult to keep everything adequately watered and fertilized.  And, of course, I have to appease the frost demon so that he doesn't come too early!

I'm in Heaven

gOf course, the big news at our house this week was the arrival of Tristan and Nickolas.  While we were so glad that they are doing well, Mike and I have had our hands full hanging out with Joey while her mom and dad were at the hospital.  Today, Grandpa and Grandma Hadley took Joey for a little while so that we could go to the NICU and visit the boys.

I actually got to touch them in their bassinets!  Their skin is so soft.  Each boy had to show off just a bit for us.  Tristan had a big meal while we were there.  Nickolas had to demonstrate his lung power with a couple of good shouts.  We also spent some time comparing them...so many differences in addition to the obvious similarities.  And as always with the new members of the family, it's so much fun to see little flashes of likeness to other people that we love.

Welcome to the clan, Tristan and Nickolas!

Joe's Toes

I've spent this week hanging out with my buddy, Joey.  We've played in the pool and worked in the yard and watched Dora the Explorer.  Today, she really tested my grandmothering skills by wanting 'purple toes'.  We found the perfect purple polish while we were shopping.  I've never been great at pedicures, but I've got to admit.  These are some of the cutest toes around.  Don't you agree?

Missionary Monday - August 2

Got another phone call on Thursday from Elder Coffey.  He was headed off to San Francisco for about a month to work while waiting for his visa.  He was very excited to be getting to work at last.  I had to laugh as I had written him a note (that he hadn't received yet) saying that I thought they should send him to San Francisco so that he could spend part of each day pestering the French consulate.  *snort*  Based on his e-mail today, he's got better things to do.  He's serving in a triple with two other elders who are working hard.  They had a baptism on the weekend.  Great example for Elder Coffey!