Only Two More 5 AM Wake Ups!

This is really happening. My retirement. This Tuesday, February 28th is my last day at Boeing, after 28 years. This date has been my goal/plan for about 3 years now. I always said it depends on what I'm doing at work, how our health is and how the finances are doing.

I've frequently told people that retirement is a lot like divorce. You don't go into it lightly. It takes a lot of decision making, listing the pros and cons, and planning.

Last fall I met with our finance guy, he has a fancy software program that runs all the numbers and he can tell me how long our retirement money will last. That was an eye opener. It required me gathering up all our monthly expenses. You know how much fun budgets are.

Besides babysitting as a teenager, I've basically worked since I was 16 years old, with 3 and 6 months off when I had my kids and another 6 months off when I married Wally and moved to Washington. That's a lot of work! Yes, I was a working Mom. I know it's not for everyone but it was necessary for me. Especially as a single parent and then in a second marriage with his kids and my kids. But we made it work.

Some of the jobs I have had over the last 40+ years are: animal hospital/boarding place, fast food place (Red Steer), hair salon receptionist, lots of retail work, Castleton's, Ernst, Pay n Pak, a children's clothing store, and of course Boeing.

I've sold lingerie and I've sold lumber. I loved working at Ernst when my kids were small. My favorite departments were the paint department, helping people pick out paint and mixing it and the garden shop. I loved working outdoors, watering plants and getting paid for it!

I went back to college at the age of 40. I had an associates degree and Boeing paid for me to go back and get a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. It took me 4 years taking just one or two classes a quarter while working full time. I met some fun people in the classes and really liked being in school. I attended City University. I wasn't very good with on line classes so most of my classes were in Renton, Bellevue and one class in Everett.

I started school in April and my Dad passed away in June of the same year. I was happy that he knew I was going back to college. Natalie got her bachelor's degree just a couple of months before I got mine.

How do I feel about retiring now? Well, over the last couple of years, I've worked through all the emotions. I'm super excited and looking forward to the next phase of my life. I could work longer, but Wally has been retired and home alone for the last 12 years, so I think it's time.

I'm one of those people with tons of hobbies and love to do volunteer work so I definitely will stay busy. And I have also mastered the art of relaxing in the living room with a book, or watching Hallmark movies.

It will take Wally and I some time to get into our new daily routines. My 5 am alarm is because I choose to go to the gym before work instead of after work. I've been working out in the mornings for about 5 years now. I will continue to do that but now at a more normal hour of the morning, like 7:30 or so. And I won't be rushed to get home and get to the office.

The commute is something I have definitely witnessed a change in over the years and won't miss too much. But I will miss the beautiful sunrises and views of Mt Rainier that come with the commute.

I'll get out more to take pictures and hope to explore new places that we still haven't been to even though we've lived here a long time now. Turns out I've lived here in Kent now for more years than I lived in Utah or Idaho. And for now we're staying put, (just with more trips planned to Utah and Idaho).

Utah Trip December 2016

I had the opportunity to go visit my son and his family in the St. George area after Christmas. We had so much fun. The weather was beautiful and the sunshine was a real treat. Natalie and Scott took a break from their snow in SLC to join us for a couple of days.

I flew into Vegas on Wednesday, December 28th. Wayne, Avea and Amoura picked me up at the shuttle office. Avea is such a good interpreter for Amoura. After a few hours I could start to understand what Amoura was saying.

We went over to Ted and Grace's house for a tamale lunch. Andrea's brother was there with his family and they had a little Christmas. They have a new baby boy, so that was fun having a small baby around.

I stayed from Wednesday until Sunday afternoon. We spent time outdoors walking around parks, feeding ducks, enjoying playgrounds. And saw beautiful sunsets.

We played with Wayne's Virtual Reality glasses, watched movies, enjoyed treats. New Year's Eve was spent at a fun center where the kids got to play laser tag and various games as well as the balloon drop with prizes for the kids.

Amoura loved it there. The older girls had their cousins with them so they all had a lot of fun. The highlight of NYE was when I won the raffle and the prize was a giant, I'm not kidding, giant stuffed monster. We could barely get it in the car.

Annelise and I made an amazing Oreo Cheesecake for New Year's Eve. It was so much fun having a Christmas tree in my room.

I helped the girls make the craft that I had given them for Christmas, cute little hand sewn stuffed animals. Amoura entertained us with her love of dancing and singing.

Wayne, Annalise and I were able to visit Aunt VeLois in her home. That was a very special visit since she passed away 3 weeks later. She was my Dad's youngest sister and the last sibling.

It was a really fun way to spend the holidays and greet the New Year.

Oreo Cheesecake

Huge, I tell you, huge!

Visiting with Aunt VeLois

Natalie and Scott enjoying some winter sunshine.

Happy, smiling Amoura, age 2 1/2.

With my kids, Wayne and Natalie, love these two!

Annelise, Amoura and Avea, love these three!

Selfie with Annelise, the day I completed caked red clay all over my Nikes!

Super fun playground.

On the move!

With Aunt Natalie

Christmas 2016

It is so hard to believe January is almost over. I thought I'd do a short Christmas post before next Christmas is here! Christmas just sneaks right up on us so quickly after Thanksgiving. We had Wally's family over on Christmas day for a nice afternoon of dinner, gift exchange, desserts and visiting.

This is the best picture of the bunch. Someday I'll round up all our Christmas family photos and put them all together. It's fun to see who is home for Christmas over the years.

This is just our second year with our artificial tree and I have to say I love it! It can be put up earlier and as was the case this year, taken down later! And no more spilling water on the carpet.

Catching Up

It's the day after Thanksgiving. I'm getting ready to go pull out the leftovers for tonight's dinner. I did manage to go out and do some Christmas shopping today at the Super Mall. I did a quick trip to Hobby Lobby and that was really fun. Christmas was 50% off.

The Super Mall was busy, and I had to stand in the check out line at Carter's for probably over 20 minutes, but it was worth the sale.

Summer has flown by and I sit here now with our Christmas lights turned on outside. No tree up yet, maybe next Saturday. In the summer I did a quick trip to Utah the end of July. I was able to attend the temple with my college room mate Susan, take a trip up the Manti canyon to the family cabin, go four wheeling in the mountains with my cousin's son-in-law and his kids, and celebrate Natalie's birthday by having brunch at Stein Erickson Lodge in Deer Valley. It was a really fun weekend trip.

With Aunt Margaret at the Manti Cabin July 2016

In September I went to the fair with my coworker and her brother and his friend. We went to the Tim McGraw concert. It was great. I love sitting outdoors in the late summer at the fair.

Work has been keeping me busy. Wally had back surgery in mid-September. Successful surgery I should add. Looking back we now realize that a lot of his pain and limitations weren't from his arthritis, but from the pain of his pinched nerve. He's back to climbing ladders and full activity around the house.

Also, in September we had a super fun visit from my niece Serene and her family. They drove up from Sacramento. We did a fun trip up to Snoqualmie Falls. Seneca and Levi were really fun and loved watching my squirrels out the patio door.

I recently lost my Aunt Margaret. She was one of my Dad's sisters. He was the oldest of 7 and she was the second to the youngest. Living this far from family, I was unable to attend her funeral with airfare being too expensive. I really wanted to go but just couldn't make it. My cousin sent me the program and stories that were shared. I'm fortunate that I got to see her twice this year.

I love this time of the year. We had Wally's girls over for Thanksgiving dinner along with Tim and Gisele. Gisele will be turning 16 in December, it's hard to believe it's been that long. Now it's countdown to Christmas. I'm planning on enjoying the next four weeks of this holiday season.

I love the lights, the sounds, the colors of Christmas. I already have bought my Christmas cards and my Christmas postage stamps. I have things that I can start wrapping now. Next week kicks off concerts, Victorian Country Christmas and a fun filled December.

I'm excited to start making my chocolate covered caramels for the season as well as mint patties and truffles. It's a fun time of the year. We have been enjoying pretty decent weather. Some rain and lows in the 40s in the mornings.

I'm really enjoying the hummingbirds in the front of the house at the feeder. If I keep the bedroom door open, I can look out the window while standing in the kitchen and watch the cute tiny birds.

I'm taking photos when I get a chance. There have been some gorgeous sunrises on my way to work since the time change.

Here's hoping you can enjoy the next four weeks, whatever they have in store for you.

Summer Family Vacation - Henry's Lake 2016

I just love our annual summer trip to the cabin. This year both of my kids and their families were able to come for some of the time. We started out on Saturday morning, June 18th. As always we stopped, in La Grande for a late lunch (breakfast for Wally). We discovered the Smokehouse Restaurant a number of years ago. They are famous for their smoked meats but also for the flapjacks.

Saturday evening we spent the night at my sister's new town house in Boise. My nephew, Bart and his family from Oregon joined us there. We had barbecued hamburgers with sister's son and his family. The kids had a lot of fun playing together. After dinner we walked through the grade school lot to a really nice city park and let the kids play and watched the sunset.

Boise sunset

Sunday morning was Father's Day. We always go to McDonald's for breakfast before getting on the freeway. On Father's Day, Dad's eat free. We arrived at the cabin on Sunday afternoon. Joe and Nikki with Kali and Taylor were already at the cabin in their new trailer with their two dogs. They spent Sunday in Yellowstone Park. Sue and Dennis arrived on Sunday, as did Bart and Autumn. Over the next week we had Becky, Dave, Nancy, Emily, Katie, Kylah, Eli, Scott, Natalie, Scott, Wayne, Andrea, Annelise, Avea, Amoura and Andrea's parent's Ted and Grace from St. George.

It was so much fun having so many kids there this year. They had a lot of fun playing together. Wayne and Andrea stayed at Mack's Inn with her parents in a rental cabin. They loved being there near the river. They had dinner with us one night and spent many afternoons hanging out, playing, canoeing and boating.

Our Dad's cousin Frank Peterson was driving a semi from Montana into Idaho and he was able to stop for a short visit and meet Wally.

During the week there were trips into West Yellowstone, some groups went into the park, we thoroughly enjoyed the new deck at the cabin. Jim came over and visited with us. And then there was the kayaking down the Henry's Fork of the Snake River.

It was going to be Natalie, Scott and I, then when we went over to the rental place we ran into Wayne and the family so they joined us. I started out in a tandem kayak with Natalie and Scott was by himself. Wayne and Andrea each had one girl with them. Amoura stayed behind with Ted and Grace.

At the beginning where we get in the river, it was very shallow. I had to keep getting out of the canoe and pull us. Eventually I talked Scott into trading with me. Then I was solo in a kayak for the first time ever. And I loved it. It was beautiful scenery, very relaxing. There were other kayakers and rafters on the water.

Then as we got closer to where we would be getting out we got a big treat. A mother moose with her baby drinking in the river. Natalie and Scott got awfully close to them. I stayed a little bit behind some people in a bigger raft, just in case I needed to get out of their way as they crossed the river. It was so much fun.

During the week at the cabin we had some really good food. I made bread twice for dinner. We ate white chicken chili, chicken haystacks, enchilada casserole, Emily's chicken, chili and a baked potato bar. We also had caramel corn, fudge and other treats.

My new quilt. Pieced by Sue and quilted by me.

Scott and his hammock.

Eli.

Great Uncle Dennis with Amoura. She always knew right where she was headed and it generally involved a dog.

Annelise and Kali.

It was a great week and it was nice to have the five of us siblings together.

Beautiful Kali. I could take her picture for days.

Grandma Becky with Taylor

Uncle Scott with Eli. Or as Eli referred to him one day, "that guy".

Joe and his fish

My grand daughter Amoura. She turned two on July 6th.

Aunt Natalie with Amoura.

This was our attempt to get all the cousins together. Nine kids, oldest 11, youngest not quite 2. This is one of the better pictures.

My grand daughters Annelise and Avea.

Scott and Wayne (cousins) these two have entertained us at the cabin for many years. I think my favorite was the video with Wayne and his gloves in his best Crocodile Dundee voice extracting a bat from the cabin. But then there was the time they got decked out in Grandpa's hats and jackets, or the time they walked in the dark outside the window with the axe and pretended to be One-Eyed Henry.

Carry on you two!

Katie with Elsie and Kylah

Having a little fun.

Siblings

Getting ready to go home.

It was a great week. Wally and I drove I-90 home in one day. We stopped for breakfast in Ennis, Montana. They have fry bread on the menu. Yay!

Thanks Mom and Dad for the cabin and all the great memories it holds.

See you all next year!