I give up!

I have tried on numerous occasions for the past 3 months to load photos with captions to this blog. For some reason or other I cannot get it to cooperate! The best I can do is change my background for this month and share a quote:

"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance."

Ocean Shores

A couple weeks ago Leslie and I had a nice overnighter to visit my dear friend Janet in Ocean Shores. We didn't have much sunshine, but that didn't stop Leslie from playing in the sand and water. Today was the last day of this school year. We are hoping for some summer sunshine to arrive in Washington soon!

Building a sandcastle

My dear friend Janet

Saying goodbye to Leslie

Nathans Birthday

We went to Oregon to celebrate Nathan's 1st Birthday on April 2nd! Heather made it a Baseball Theme and we all wore baseball or sports apparel. We played a Baseball WII tournament and Heather made "baseball" cupcakes.

Our beautiful baby grandson is growing up!

After we got home on Saturday we dyed Easter Eggs with some of Jesse's friends and Kevin's friend Aleesha. Leslie won the prize for most creative egg which she made look like a carrot!

We're still here!

I have just been overwhelmed with life in the past month! Although I didn't get anything posted for St. Patrick's Day I actually got some cards sent this year and of course we had corned beef and cabbage.
All 5 of us in the family at home got the flu the week before St. Patrick's Day. It was just like a domino effect. Heather also got sick when she and Nathan visited for a week, even though we thought we were all over it. Thank goodness Nathan stayed well.
Rick had a business trip to St. Louis for 5 days. He missed Leslie's first Violin Concert which was wonderful. Jesse is hanging in there with school and I am busy driving him over to friends or to other activities. Kevin only has one more semester and one class before he graduates with his AA degree.
We are seeing signs of Spring and looking forward to Spring Break this week. We will take off to Oregon for a few days to celebrate Nathan's 1st Birthday then return home for Easter Sunday. It is hard to believe he will be a year old. Time flies!

For the love of Jennifer

I can't believe that it has almost been a year since my dear friend Jennifer passed away on Valentine's Day. It's hard to find the words that express the gratitude that I feel to have been friends with her for 25 years. We never "get over" anyone's death - we just learn to live without them here on earth.
I have little reminders of her in lots of places. Cards she sent me in the past are still on my desk. Perfume, jewelry or clothes she gave me as gifts. The gardening tote she had for me, but didn't get sent Christmas 2008. Holiday decorations, photos, gifts to my kids etc. The most special reminders of all are of times together and her words to me. Don't wait until it is too late to say "I love you, I know you can do it, your amazing or thank you dear friend." I wish I'd had the time to say those things one more time to her.
Many years ago she sent me a photo of herself in a picture frame that has these words around the edges: "Hey Girlfriend, We may not see each other for ages, but we never seem to miss a beat? Our friendship is a never ending conversation..."
Today I have a more recent photo of her in a frame that says around the edges: "Love all those around you, live life to the fullest, and laugh as often as you can." This is what she did.

Ward Family Photos

I felt so fortunate that my friend Debbie offered to take family photos while we were all together for the holidays. They turned out great! It is so fun to have memories of time spent together as a family. It was so fun to have the Bartrons and our son Ryan home for Christmas and New Years this year!

This was also Nathan's first Christmas and first time in a family photo. No one can ever really tell you how wonderful a grandchild is! What really matters most in life is family and friends.