Run to the Hills

Justin and I like hiking. Hiking is something Justin did often during his childhood. It's something I never did during mine. I wouldn't say we're hardcore hikers, but maybe we will be someday! If we keep it up this summer, we're thinking of trying an overnight hike where you walk into your campsite.

We have experienced those so called "walk-in campgrounds" around these parts...but this time we're talking a real walk-all-day-to-the-site type walk-in campground...something we're prepared for going into it.

Last weekend we headed up to the hills west of Palo Alto for a quick hike. It was sunny and warm in San Jose so we were surprised to find fog and the weather to be about 20 degrees cooler in Palo Alto...that's the Peninsula for ya! I'm glad I grabbed my sweatshirt on the way out the door.

 

At he peak of the hike

Lunch break

Suddenly the fog rolls in like crazy!

Here's a video of it coming in...

Then the backdrop is completely covered in fog

We found a cave!

Giants in the fog

Gumdrop tree in the fog

The end of the trail.

Got Brown Bananas?

Why make banana bread when you can make Aunt Barbara's banana chocolate chip cookies?

They're a family favorite. They're especially a Joe favorite.

Here's the recipe:

Aunt Barbara's Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

• Melt 1 cube butter or margarine (I use butter. Why not?)
• Mash 2 or more ripe bananas (I usually use 2)

Stir together and add:

• 1 unbeaten egg
• 1 cup sugar

Mix well and add:

• 2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (my advice...don't ruin these cookies with nuts. I've never used nuts.)

Stir well. In a separate bowl, mix together the following and add LAST to the banana mix:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. cloves

Mix well. Bake in 350F oven for 8-10 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. 

Gold Star Moms Memorial Dedication

A little Friday trivia for you:

Families with immediate members active in the military are called "Blue Star" families. It's something that started during WWI.

Families who've lost an immediate family member who was active in the military are called "Gold Star" families.

If you look closely in windows of your neighborhood, you may see a flag that looks like either of these, noting the home of an active or lost military family member.

My parents have a Gold Star flag in the window of their home. We were also each presented with Gold Star pins at Matt's funeral.

The Legion Park in Grandview is being rededicated this weekend. During the event, the City of Grandview will also dedicate a Gold Star Mothers Memorial located at the park -- the memorial has been created by a local Boy Scout for his Eagle Scout service project. You can read more about it in articles from the Grandview Herald and the Sunnyside Daily News.

The Sunnyside Daily Sun article includes more info and is more of a community spotlight feature on Nicholas Denchel and his project. It also notes there are 35 Gold Star Moms in Grandview. 

My mom and other Gold Star Moms, from all current and previous wars, in Grandview have been invited to attend and participate in the dedication. I'm always humbled by the military community and the hometowns of military families; their generosity and support of families and the honor bestowed on both active and lost members is unwavering, no matter how much time has passed. 

If you're in Grandview this weekend, you should check out the rededication of Legion Park and the dedication of the memorial. If you go, give my mom a hug for me :) You can hug my dad, too, but be gentle because he had hernia surgery just yesterday.

PS - Yes, my dad had surgery yesterday. He's home already and recovering nicely. They used his same heart surgery scar as the entry point. Convenient, right? He was [sort of] hoping for a new scar so he could have 11 signs of all 11 of his surgeries. The man is stitched together like a scarecrow! A very lucky, brave scarecrow.

The Old Gray (grey?) Mare

So...I've discovered I have some gray hair on the ol' noggin'. They're starting to pop up with more frequency, and I'm noticing them more lately because, much to our disappointment, Justin and I discovered our lemon tree only grows lemons, not money, so I haven't been to the beauty salon in quite some time.

What's more disturbing about the gray hair is that the gray strands resemble spiral macaroni.

I have a bit of a wave in my hair, but I do not have spiral-curly hair. Not yet, anyway.

The next time you see me I might look like Miss Frazzle!

I'm not ready to start more regularly scheduled dye jobs...nor am I ready to have spiral macaroni gray hair! Help!

Gold Bond Girls Reunited

And it feels so good!

Sarah came to visit Team Thompson a few weeks ago and she brought Baby Grace along to introduce her to the sun. Ol' Monroe hasn't had many days of sun since BG made her debut last July.

Alright. I'm going to come right out and say it first thing in this post. No beating around the bush this time:

Team Thompson was quite taken by Baby Grace.

Ohhh my goodness is she ever a cutie with a happy demeanor and contagious giggle.

Grace didn't think so much of me the first time we met...probably because I just really wanted to hold her and, in doing so, awoke her from her slumber. That and I could do nothing for her hungry tummy.

Grace was unhappy with me at our first meeting and wasn't shy about letting me know. 

This time, though, Grace and I became fast friends. Just about as fast as Sarah and I became friends our freshman year at WSU. If you're wondering why this post is titled Gold Bond Girls Reunited, it has to do with our freshman year at WSU, Gold Bond powder and towels used as superhero capes. But that's another story for another time.

Ok, so it looks like she's more excited about her socks in this pic than she is about me, but we were having a jolly good time together...well, until she remembered she had socks to take off. Then I became chopped liver.

I picked Sarah and Grace up at SFO on Friday after work and we headed down to San Jose. Justin and I learned a few things that night.... 1). Our bathtub doesn't have a plug (good thing babies can fit in our kitchen sink!), 2). Pack & Plays aren't as easy to put together as some experienced moms make it look, 3). If Sarah is going to sleep in the same room with Grace, Grace would prefer Sarah hold her instead of letting her stay in the Pack & Play, 4). Our bedroom door slams with severe force when the windows are open, and 5). Slamming bedroom doors wake up sleeping babies!

Justin had to work Saturday so the girls took to the mall so Sarah could look for a dress to wear to her brother-in-law's wedding. Afterward we went to a nearby specialty foods shop for dessert ingredients (and to spy on the competition). It was at this time that we discovered one of the most delicious things we've ever encountered: Marianne's Red Raspberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.

Now, I know you Washingtonians can't get this ice cream in Washington; it's local brand made in Santa Cruz, but know this...when you come to visit, you will be served Marianne's Red Raspberry Cheesecake Ice Cream. If you're lactose intolerant, we would prefer you come to visit more often so Justin and I can have bigger scoops when we serve it.

But I digress...

Sunday morning we hit up the Egyptian Museum -- an exciting destination for us, especially anything-Egypt-loving Justin and history-major Sarah. They told us, after we got inside and were nearly all done paying, that it wouldn't be a smart idea to bring the stroller. It wouldn't have been a total inconvenience to bring the stroller in, but I won't complain too much because we all took turns carrying Miss Grace around and, since Grace and I are friends now, I enjoyed it.

 See a pretty tree? Take a picture by it!

 Baby G and me enjoying the museum.

 Baby G and Justin enjoying the museum.

 

 Baby G wonders, "mom...why is that creepy-looking dude in a glass case?"

King Tut...kinda

It was also nice and sunny on Sunday, so after we got home from the museum we set up shop outside to soak up some vitamin D. We also found it to be an appropriate time to introduce our lemons to Baby G. They also became fast friends:

And for good measure, here's a video.

After a soak in the sun, Sarah treated me to a pedicure. There's nothing like a good pedicure with a good friend to make for a fun ending to a fun weekend. That night we ate the rest of the Marianne's ice cream and turned in early knowing that we had to get to the airport early Monday morning :(

We had a great visit with Sarah and Baby Grace, and hope to see them again soon, along with Sarah's hubby Eric and 2-year-old son Eli, too!

Thanks for coming to visit, ladies!!

Wee, Wee, Wee...

Justin surprised me a few weeks ago with a ticket home to see my family. He knew I was feeling homesick so he worked it out with my parents, my boss and my friend Linsley to get me home for a long weekend.

Linsley and Gavin picked me up at SeaTac Thursday night and we headed up to my old hood, Lake Forest Park, to meet friends Tara and Erin at the Lake Forest Bar & Grill. You'll have to take my word for it...I forgot to take a picture of the group.

Friday we headed out early for Eastern Washington to surprise my parents who thought I wouldn't be in Grandview until  much later that evening. I'm glad I made it home earlier because mom and I were able to join Brianna on a very successful wedding dress shopping outing (she found "the one!!").

On Saturday I got fitted for my bridesmaid dress and then I got to meet this precious little tatertot:

This is Miss Emmalyn, baby daughter of my friends Erin and Mike. It was so heartwarming to see my friend, a friend I've known  my entire life, and her hubby looking at and loving on their baby girl. I was so happy to get to meet Emmalyn and spend some time snuggling with her!

Later that evening we had more family join us at my parents' house for a family BBQ. Family came from near and far and it felt so good to see everyone! Family get-togethers happen regularly back home, and they're something I realized, during this last trip, that I take for granted. It'd been a while since I attended such a gathering that was held for no particular reason...well besides the fact that I was visiting. Seeing everyone together made me feel happy and sad at the same time, for all sorts of reasons. It's hard to replace the feeling of being in a room full of people I love and who (I'm assuming...we're family, after all) love me in return. It's probably what I miss most about being closer to home.

 

Joe and Dad chattin' by the BBQ

 Mom brought out the fancy cake for the occasion

 

Donald and Joe at the gun show

 

 Brianna and her entourage :) The kiddos love her!

 

Nanny and me

I went to church Sunday with my parents, and Joe & Brianna came too. They wanted to scope out the church because that's the venue they've chosen for their wedding ceremony. Mom and I made the loop with Brianna through the church after the service to point out all the different areas used for wedding prep. Of course, because there were more girls than guys in the house by the time we got back home, wedding talk continued into the afternoon where we talked over food options, yard decor for the reception, timing, photos, etc. It's cute to watch Joe & Brianna talk about wedding plans because they're both so excited! It makes a big sister happy to see her little brother in love.

My friend Heather came over Sunday afternoon with her baby girl, Makiya, who turned 1 in February. We spent most of the time trying to get Makiya to take a few steps, but she was happier flipping through books and playing with some of the toys my mom dug out of the old toy cupboard. It was great to spend a bit of time with Heather -- I've missed that girl! Some of my favorite high school memories involve Heather! I missed the opportunity to take a picture of the ladies, but I hope to have another opportunity to spend time with them again soon.

Monday came too fast, but at least I was able to spend most of the day in Grandview before mom and dad took me back to SeaTac. Before we left town, we stopped in Sunnyside to fulfill my only request: to go to Burger Ranch.

God bless Burger Ranch's fries and fry sauce.

I landed back in California late Monday night. As the plane touched down I was overcome with a strange feeling. It was a feeling of comfort and relief, a feeling of happiness and familiarity -- these were feelings I've never felt before when landing in California. It seems that I missed this place -- this place I've refused to call home for the last two years appears to be growing on me.

As Justin zoomed down the 101 towards San Jose I realized the feeling that washed over me was a wave of senses saying, "you're home!"

What's happening to me??!?!!

I guess all the "bloom where you're planted" advice is finally starting to sink in, eh? I shouldn't really be so shocked that I'm starting to be more comfortable with the fact that I'm living in California -- becoming more thankful and happy with where I am in life has been a prayer of mine since the day I found out we were moving. Sometimes it's hard to remember God has a plan and there is nothing I can do to predict, control or change it. I shared this "home" revelation with my girls bible study last time we met -- the majority of the girls in the group moved to the Silicon Valley with their tech-savvy spouses, so most are in a similar situation and rejoiced with me as I shared my story as a praise vs. a prayer request (keep your prayers coming, though!).

I had a wonderful time in Washington and can't wait until Joe & Brianna's wedding in July when we'll celebrate the newlyweds with more friends and family. I promise Justin will be with me next time. He does exist.

So, that was an earthquake

I just felt my first earthquake. I definitely felt a jolt while sitting in my chair and soon realized what had happened when my co-workers all quickly tried to decide what we should do if it continued to shake.

Thankfully it was just a jolt, not continuous shaking.

You can rest assured, though, that Team Thompson has a disaster kit and an emergency plan in place should something horrible happen. My friend Heather and I decided to get 'er done a few weeks ago and hit up Costco for some emergency supplies.

Too bad the kit is at my house...22 miles away from my current location. Smooth. We can only hope that both Justin and I are at home if that time comes.

This is me with my disaster kit. Classy, right?

According to the USGS, this earthquake was just a 3.8 magnitude, centered near Pacifica. I know this because a while back I decided I needed to terrify myself daily, so I download the Earthquakes app on my iPhone...it lists all earthquakes all over the world and will alert me to earthquakes over any certain magnitude around any certain radius I choose.

The green pin notes the epicenter of today's earthquake.

I don't advise downloading this app. It's given me gray hair. It was a bad idea, especially since Jesus says, "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34). That's one command I certainly struggle daily to remember!

One last note. Today is the 105th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake that registered at 7.9 on the Richter scale, destroying much of the city of San Francisco and killing more than 3,000. Here's an article from the Mercury News reporting that a group gathered today in San Fran to commemorate the anniversary and to hold a moment of silence for those suffering from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.