Easter

I went to Kansas for Easter. Everyone on my mom's side was there at Grandma's house. Scott drove down from MN. Paul and Jaime drive up from TX. It was great having everyone together. Here we are, the cousins, with Gma.

Mike and Alice got a puppy too - at the same time my parents got Susie! Plato is an adorable long-haired miniature Dachshund. We were thoroughly entertained watching the two puppies play.

Leslie Gulch

Here's why I won't take any more videos with my camera rotated. I can't figure out how to rotate the video. Still, it's an interesting perspective.

I have always heard Leslie Gulch is a great place to go in the spring. We were too early for the wild flowers, but it was still fantastic.

Pocket Beagle

Mom and Dad got a new puppy. A pocket beagle.

Appliances...

We got a new washer and dryer last week. Awesome.

Palm Springs

My parents rented 12 La Ronda at the Sunrise Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA. It's the same magnificent oasis they rented last year. We were so fortunate to be able to stay a week with them this time. If I had spent the entire week doing nothing but sit on their patio with this view, I would have been perfectly content.

But we did so much more. The highlight for me was golfing with my dad and Rick. We played the front nine at Sunrise three times. This photo is on the 8th hole. It's the one that goes by 12 La Ronda. If you look closely, you can see a small figure in dark pants and a white shirt standing at the top left of my dad's head. That's my mom preparing to video our game as we pass by the patio.

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We ate well - at home and out. So well that Rick and I are already spending extra time on the StairMaster and skipping meals now and then. Here we are after dinner at Arnold Palmer's restaurant.

We rode the aerial tram to the highest nearby peak. We arrived just before sunset, and we stayed for dinner. Here's a view of the city lights.

We also visited Joshua Tree National Park. What a striking change of landscape. It was really neat seeing the trees.

My mom and I shopped nearly every day. And we did puzzles - lots of puzzles. My parents had completed at least three by the time we arrived. We must have completed at least three more by the time we left. Mostly that was Rick's doing. He is the self-proclaimed "puzzle master."

But now we're back in Boise. And somehow we must find the strength to weather the rest of winter here. Palm Springs - the perfect winter getaway.

Dinner With Good Friends

My wonderful friends Jen and Brandon came to our house for dinner last night. They have been living in China for a year now. It was so awesome to see them again and hear their stories. Next week they return to China and will be there for another 7 months. I miss them!

Christmas In Kansas

On December 21, Rick and I headed to Kansas to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with my family. It was also our second wedding anniversary. My parents were planning to take us out for dinner in Wichita, but a storm blasted Seattle and delayed our arrival by several hours. No worries though since we would be in Kansas until January 2.

Our stay was packed with the usual Christmas things, like Christmas Eve at Grandma's house opening presents. Here is a photo of me with my Uncle Mike.

We spent that night in Topeka at Grandma's and then had Christmas dinner at Uncle Jim's. The turkey and stuffing were as delicious as ever.

After the rush of the holidays, we settled into our routine in Ark City: wake up around 8 and have coffee, spend the morning reading by the fireplace, have lunch, spend the afternoon reading some more, napping, or shopping, happy hour at 5...and then the highlight - watch the deer. My dad started putting out cracked corn right near the house for the deer to eat. Almost every night five of them would arrive to eat and even frolic in the yard!

I caught the sun just before it disappeared.

We did a puzzle.

We watched OSU lose and KU win.

Rick painted the bathroom.

We visited my Aunt Wilma, and she made me my favorite chocolate meringue cookies.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with some of my old high school friends.

Mom cooked a crown roast of pork.

I love spending time with my parents.