friends

E collaged a fish and told Nana about it on the phone in detail.  We visited our friend Ms. G. she used to love hot wheels cars, pulling them around the house with yarn.  she is so nice to remember us even though we don't live across the street anymore.

Visited our friends the B family.  they fought the infertility battle and won on their last IVF.

Mission nutrition family night at the Y.  R joining us straight from the airport.

Our first dinner guests prompted us to unpack and clean out more boxes.  so now there are only a few left - in each room.  btw everyone enjoyed black bean brownies!  hoorah for a good keeper recipe.

Love Ms E for many reasons.  she's a favorite work colleague and friend.  here is her gorgeous and yummy kale, riced cauliflower, purple cabbage, balsamic vinegar salad.

R is fantastic to do so much of the electrical work himself.  We didn't have a lot of lights working at this point, so the kids especially enjoyed playing with light sabers and flashlights. 
Below is R working on some of the trickier lighting, crawling on plywood teeter-totter seesaws in the attic.

E looking sharp in a suit coat for church.

working on things

we're back to Seattle and our routine. we try to eat healthfully and get out on hikes.

 welcome to my life blendtec.  this was the first of many green smoothies.

 back to family nights Fridays at the Y

 a special afternoon treat smoothy bowl.

 healthy cookies made of mashed ripe bananas, oatmeal and dried mangoes.

 cabbage soup.

continuing the West Seattle mom's health challenge.  mom is supporting me this round. signed up for a weight loss group at the Y.  optimistic about 2017 for us.  life is good.

New Years day drive

  Well, we woke up to fresh snow on top of the snow packed roads of Boise.  we bought some chains for the subaru and then headed out.  we didn't end up having to use them, but carrying them was required.  I will remember the multiple times we saw 30 trucks lined up on the side putting on their required chains.  I took a few pictures, but then no more once things were more stressful.  said lots of prayers of gratitude for times when it wasn't snowing, for making it through the five different mountain passes, for our safety.

farewell for us, homecoming for M&D

Everyone came to M&D's ward and we sang between their talks. it was a lovely meeting.

after church, E&I started our trip back to Seattle.  drive to Boise was totally manageable, and even pleasant when we saw some sunshine. 

 this area 1 hour to the east of Boise is gorgeous with flat plateaus and a deep canyon.  J&R told me of many nice places to visit when the driving weather is good in central ID.  i think we'll do it one summer. 

 so glad that E is a road trip trooper.

 J is one of the two Martha Stewarts that i have in my life who always make me feel not quite wifely/hostessy enough.  she had a fantastic Italian themed meal ready for us when we arrived, complete with two fresh sauces, homemade pasta, and Italian sodas.

E and E both use go noodle in school for exercise.  they had fun showing the parents how the website works.

new years eve

Gma always so strong in her dedication to eating healthfully.  here raving about sweet potatoes.

An afternoon playing with cousins at the A's house.  E loved going to teacher G's "school".  they had frozen blueberries for a snack afterwards.

 The B family hosted a big New Years eve party with lots of food and dancing.  kids playing in the hallways.  welcome 2017!

 I invited myself on Gma and Gpa's London trip in the summer.  exciting!!