7 Long years......come to an end

When Craig decided to go back to school to get his PhD we thought we had the big plan all figured out. He'd go to school for 4 years, graduate, get a job and we'd live happily ever after.

The reality was we lost our income from our business in OR when it shut down. I had to go back to work, Craig had to find other income(including a paper route for a time) and both Brendon and Kyla graduated from high school before Craig graduated. Although Craig ended up employed with Western Washington University even before he graduated but it still took 3 years longer then we had hoped. Craig had said the last few years he was not going to walk in graduation and I said he was. Guess I won. It was pretty cool. Each of the PhD students had a short write up about what they had done their studies in. Most of the group had done their PhD in some kind of medical research, but Craig was the only one that was business related.

We were also lucky enough that graduation was American Thanksgiving week-end and Kyla was able to come home. We sure wished that Brendon could have been there too. Maybe next time.....oh wait, there had better not be a next time for Craig just the kids!

I'm glad he went back to school but I'm also glad he's done. Farewell UBC!

Long or Short???

I was recently at a church youth activity Kyla mentioned to me in front of a couple men in our ward that we needed to hurry home to cut her hair. The one guy said "Your not going to cut it short are you???" We were going to just cut her bangs a little shorter. This prompted a discussion on whether or not women should have short or long hair.

Since I do cut hair I've always been bothered by men that think all women should have long hair. I have nothing against long hair but a lot of factors go into any hair style. Age, height, lifestyle, if your hair curly or straight and amount of hair a person has have a lot do do with what style a women can wear.

My other opinion is the woman should decide how she wants her hair not her husband. He's not the one that has to wear and style the hair. Besides that I loved it when I heard on "What Not To Wear" that hair is an accessory and it should be changed just like jewelery.

So what is your opinion? Long or short?

Girls Camp

We had a very fun week at camp. I didn't know I was going until only 2 weeks before. Much like the first time I went only about 2 months after we had moved to WA. At least this time I knew the girls and many of the stake and ward leaders. The first time I went at the last minute was because the ward leader had some medical issues and couldn't go.

This time it was because I have been asked to be next years stake camp director. Big job! I've been told this already many times. But I'm very excited about it! I feel very blessed to have grown up with good ward and stake camp leaders that gave be a very positive attitude about girls camp. Many of the years I went were not so ideal. One year we had a bear very close to camp, another year we had rats in the lodge and another year it poured rain the entire week. I think our leaders still made camp fun and I learned a lot. The program has changed but ideas and values learned have not.

M was a YCL (youth camp leader) and I think she had fun too. I'm sure it was good for her to practice some leadership skills. This will be her last year. So I'll be going to camp by myself. I've been lucky enough to spend several years at camp with my girls.

I feel really blessed to have such a beautiful place to go to camp, fairly good weather and great group of girls and leaders to go with!

Hair cut time.

I have had my cosmetology license for about 25 years now. I had always planned that I would teach my kids to cut hair to save money, and the boys could use it on their missions. Well so far I've not done a very good job. Mackenzie mentioned a few weeks ago she wanted to cut someones hair. Who would be the best person to start on....Kaden or Jensen were great options. Jensen refused.

Now I started too on one of my siblings. My sister. Go back around 30 years, we decide that I could cut Melanie's hair. We asked our mom and she said fine but if I messed up she would not be paying to fix it. I must of been ok because I don't remember any tears or trips to the salon to get it fixed. That was my beginnings of cutting hair. I don't think I've stopped since.

Mackenzie did a good job and Kaden doesn't have much to complain about. I think we'll have to pin down Jensen soon.

Real view

Day 3 we had much better weather and so we were lucky enough to drive back up the mountain to see a much better view... talk about beautiful. I'm sure it's even better on a completely clear day. We would have been able to see Vancouver Island, the Olympic Peninsula, Mt Baker and Mt.Rainer, and the Canadian Rocky's. Just with our limited view I can see why they say it's so beautiful. We really didn't have a lot of time so I didn't get too many pictures. Maybe next time.

Cutest Girls Ever!

In April my nieces came to visit for about a week. Craig's brother and his wife took a trip to New Zealand on business. Lucky for them. I really forgot how much work little ones are. We spent time at the park, trip to the pool, played with and made new friends (thanks Jayme, they had a blast!) and of coarse M's favorite activity crafting. She told me several times "My mom doesn't do crafts but you do Kelly." They went to bed great, enjoyed the animals as long as someone held their hands. I think we could even to it again....although I think I'd like to be the one going to New Zealand

Top 10 views in the world???

I was lucky enough to go to girls camp this year. We were able to go Orcas Island which is a part of the San Juan Islands just off Bellingham Bay. We drove to Anacortes which is south of Bellingham and then took a ferry to the island. We stayed in a state park that has a number of cabins, although we were not able to stay in some of the cabins because of a pine beetle(fear of some tree falling on the cabins and squishing sleeping people) The stake leaders got to stay in tents.

As a family we went to the San Juan Island and to Orcas Island about 10 years ago and so it was fun to go back and stay awhile this time.
Day 1 was overcast but still comfy temperatures. Day 2 was hike day, we woke up to rain and misty drizzle. I didn't have a problem with this expect that we were told the hike to Mt Constitution ends at what is said to be one of the top 10 views in the world. When we came as a family 10 years ago it was locked in with fog and rain and we didn't end up seeing a thing. Well it must be something about a Wednesday because it looked exactly the same when we got to the top 10 years ago. I was a little disappointed to say the least. Weather in WA can be difficult at times!

What busy time of life!

Blogging has not been a priority because life has gotten in the way. I don't think I'm more busy the usual it's just that I have not made my blog a priority. My friend let me know the other day in not too many words. So I'm really going to try and go back to blogging every Sunday evening.

The past few weeks have brought a lot of changes. I was release from my calling that I served in for the past 3 years and 1 month. That was the longest I've ever been in a calling! Now for whats new....Nursery Leader and Stake YW camp director. I'm excited about both! This year the girls are going to Orcas Island in the San Juans. What a bunch of lucky ducks including me! I just hope for sunshine on Wednesday because we are hiking up Mt. Constitution and I'm hoping for a good view of the islands and the mountains. Pictures to come.

Our 23rd Anniversary

What a fun day! We got to spend it with our friends Kyle and Amanda at the Vancouver BC temple. More to come about our adventures to Friday Harbor and Vancouver to celebrate!

Trip to San Juan Islands

We have had to pick-up all of our animals from somewhere other then Whatcom county (with the exception of 2 ewes)and everyone seems to come with a story.

Our first flock of sheep came from Montana. We sent Brendon off to the MTC and left 2 days later to make a 9 hour drive, spend the night, pick up the sheep and drove to my parents spent the night only to have a mother and lamb get out at our friends house the kept the sheep over night.

Our first batch of pigs came from Texas when a friend made the trip in about 72 hours only stopping to get 3 different litters of pigs. Then Craig had to follow suit and went and got about 24 pig from eastern S Dakota in about 5 days. Our last trip was to get more pigs from Walla Walla over Thanksgiving only to have a major flat tire on the suburban that turned into a four hour ordeal in 20 degree weather with my kids and 3 extra kids that belong to my sister.

We had been looking for a ram to breed with out Cotswald/Lincoln ewes. Craig found one at a monastery on Shaw Island (On of the many islands in the San Juans) The past 2 years we have gone to Whistler for our anniversary and thought why not kill to birds with one stone. Craig called the bed and breakfast made a strange request to see if we could bring a extra guest for the night-our lamb that we were picking up on another island. They were happy to help. We were pretty lucky that he was easy to get into the back of the suburban and thought he was going to be ok until he about jumped over the seat. I crawled into the back to try and keep him calm the rest of the ferry ride. Turned our keeping him in a pasture for the rest of the day, the night and part of the next day was just what he needed and we were able to ride home with out me in the back seat.

Notice the lovely heaving breathing on the back window. I did a thorough cleaning of the car when we got home! He's a really sweet ram and is already checking everyone out!