Ready to tangle with a hurricane?

I'm not sure I am.  Actually there's only a 5 percent chance Tropical Storm Flossie will turn into a hurricane.  It just goes to figure that the week we are Island bound, there's a tropical storm cutting a direct path over the islands. 

 

Anyway, I'm sure all will be fine (barring any flash-floods!) and we'll have a great family vacation.  We're looking forward to it.  We've got some things planned like doing some snorkeling at the beach, hiking some back hills and maybe through some jungles, and checking out some pineapple plantations.  We're also hoping to get to see the U.S.S. Arizona while we're at Pearl Harbor.  Last time I checked, the ferries out to the Arizona were all sold out - but we may be able to get a walk-in pass if we're lucky.

 

I don't know if I'll be able to post pictures while we're there.  Keaton will have his tablet, so if I can download on that I'll post pictures.  Regardless, I'll try to keep in touch and share our adventures.

 

Good news!  Winston will not have to entertain strangers on the plane.  He got put in the seat right between his two lucky brothers!  Woo-Hoo!  Lucky brothers they are!

 

ALOHA!

Chickmas 2013!

This year's Chick family reunion was at Mom & Dad's house.  Winston and I came a couple of weeks early so we could get more than a one-day visit in.  It was a lot of fun to be there with my sisters and their kids.  It was wonderful to get to be with Mom and Dad again, too.

The temperatures were so HOT, I thought I was going to melt!  The kids spent a lot of time in the pool and hot tub.  They also got to be on Grandma's Library float for a local parade.  There was lots of cousin time!

My favorite part of the visit was this:

Kendall and Melyni having a Karate-Kickbox moment.

Which followed with a super fun rummy game where they were playing their favorite music and showing off their cool moves.  They got Skillz!  I laughed so hard I could hardly breathe.

The pool stayed pretty busy.  I tried to hop in it, but only lasted for about five minutes.  That water was soooo cold!  Sometimes I wish I was a kid again and could stand the cold water.  It would have been a nice cool off.

Here Preston and Emily are trying to make big waves!

One of the kids' favorite games in the pool is 'Marco Polo'.  Winston really surprised me this year by swimming all by himself - without a life jacket - from the shallow to deep end of the pool and back.  It's so nice to not have to worry about whether he can swim if he falls in.  He was a regular fish!

  

The kids also spent a lot of time in the hot tub.

It was all fun and games until someone - or someones - contaminated the hot tub (I'll step up and recognize the possiblity that my son could have been the culprit... ewwww!) .  Then the hot tub party was over for the rest of the visit.

Dad and Nels cleaning out the hot tub.

Sorry girls, party's over.

What?  Wasn't me!

Dad had a project that he was hoping to get done by the time everyone showed up, but the weather and paver delivery had other plans.  Melyni, Nels and Rachel pitched in and really helped Dad out.  He was extending his patio out to a fire pit.  I think they were able to get about half of it done by the time everyone came.  They did a great job on what they were able to do.

 They had a bit of fun while they were at it, too!

During the reunion we got to play games - including the 'Funny Family Photos' game that Mom made.  We also got to visit with Grandma Chick, along with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Keith.  Grandma Chick brought some of her treasures to give to each of the grandkids.  Thank you Grandma!

We also had the traditional egg hunt.  I don't think the chocolate candy fared so well in the 100 degree weather.  But the kids had fun anyway.

Uncle Levi helped the kids find the eggs

(maybe to make up for scaring them?)

Keaton and Dad taking a breather in the shade.

Counting up the bounty!

Everyone got a little of something.

That's a big egg, wonder what's inside?

This looks like a serious discussion.

As always, our time together went way too fast.  It was so good to spend the weekend with all of my favorite people in one spot.  I love my family!  They're the best!

Until next year, Chickmas!

Happy July 4th!

HOME SWEET HOME

We sure enjoyed our time visiting family in Idaho, but there's just something about coming back to your own sweet home.  Tom and the boys did a really good job of keeping the house clean while I was gone, but there was still things that needed attention - like dusting and toilet scrubbing, bleck!  So I spent a day or two working on just things that needed done - and finishing up laundry.  Then my garden needed my attention.  The weeds took advantage of our being gone.  Some of the plants went crazy too!

First Pickings:

My first harvest from the garden consisted of one large head of cabbage - several beets - loads of lettuce - some dill weed (which I had to pick because it was dying), basil and cilantro.  Then I had to completely harvest the spinach because it was going to seed.  So I cleaned it up and filled three freezer bags.  I'll use it for homemade lasagne and soups.

On Tuesday Winston and I went to our good friend Jackie's house.  They have a large pond with a paddle-boat and lots of fish, frogs and turtles in it.  Jackie and I visited while Winston went crazy catching turtles.  He caught six little turtles and one really big turtle.  He brought two of the smallest home to put in our little pond.  We're starting small so they won't eat the goldfish.

He's a happy camper!

Tom took a walk with the animals the other day and got some beautiful pictures.  The wheat is just starting to turn.

Yes, that's Hope leading the trail.

Today we are going to the home of our good friends, the Drakes, to celebrate the 4th.  They have a pool and volleyball court set up.  It will be nice to spend the day with their family.  So I made a wonderful oriental cabbage salad out of that cabbage from the garden.  I just threw it together (yeah, I don't follow recipes) and it turned out so good I have to share the recipe:

Oriental Cabbage Salad

1 Head cabbage - shredded
1/4  Sweet onion - chopped
1 C. Almonds (roasted/salted) - chopped
1/4 C. Sunflower seeds
2 pks Dry Ramen Noodles (Chicken Flavor) - chopped into chunks
               (set aside seasoning packet for dressing)

Dressing:
3/4 C. Vinegar (white)
3/4 C. Canola oil
3/4 C. Sugar (You can probably get by with 1/2 cup)
1 pk. Chicken seasoning from the noodles.
1/2 tsp. Ground ginger
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Shred cabbage (I shred as fine as I can with a sharp knife) then place in a large mixing bowl.  Add the chopped onions, almonds, sunflower seeds and dry Ramen noodles.  Mix the dressing in a separate bowl (I used my food processor which whipped it up into a nice froth) then pour over the top of the cabbage mixture.  Mix well and put in a smaller bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour.  The noodles take in the moisture and get softer the longer it sits. 

That's it for now.  I'll try to post more about our trip to Idaho soon.  It was tons of fun.  Tom and I have the best families ever!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, EVERYONE!