Colin's Mini-Donut Day at Moscow Farmer's Market

The organizers of Moscow's popular Saturday Farmer's Market opened some space for children to sell their crafts, food, and plants this year.  Anne helped Colin do the research and determine all the items he would need to have a successful day selling mini donuts.  My sister, Marilyn,  passed this yard sale donut maker on to him earlier this year and he figured out a process that would work.  Colin and I practiced at home and decided that a variety would be nice - some with cinnamon-sugar, and some with frosting and sprinkles.  I also made some mini maple bars to give the customers some variety.

Colin determined that two people could walk two blocks to Duane's office and make fresh donuts every hour or so.  We used a white cake mix, which made about 50 little donuts.  Anne stayed back and helped Colin at the booth in front of the Breakfast Club (which was the Knobby Inn for years where my sister Carole worked).  We used walkie talkies to communicate with each other!

 It was a lot of work to get everything set up and ready for customers by 8 AM.

 Other kids were selling jewelry

And a whole family made rubber band bracelets to sell.

Colin made the decision to sell the donuts or mini maple bars for 30 cents each, a dozen for $3.00.  He figured out all the math did a great job making change.  He had to take $5.00 out of his profits to pay for the table space.

Our little table was right next to the Aichele Farms, Hermiston, Oregon, table selling berries.  They had long lines all morning and sold out all their berries by noon.  I bought some raspberries and they are  so good, especially with a little ice cream!

I'm a proud grandma!  Proud of Colin's entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to sit patiently waiting for customers and then greeting them and making the right change.  I'm also grateful to sensitive adults who stopped by and engaged in conversation with us.  One gentleman asked Colin how he planned to spend the profits and Colin told him he was saving for his own computer and the man handed him a $5 bill.  Priceless!

Mary Lou's Birthday Celebration

My 4th Day Reunion Group honored Mary Lou on her 75th birthday.  We invited guests from her book club, her Oblate Group, her neighborhood, her former co-workers, and of course all of us in her prayer group!

Mary Lou enjoying a morning Mimosa.  

Marcia loves to decorate her home with gorgeous bouquets of flowers

Regina drove to Pullman and picked a bouquet of Peonies

Of course, we all prepared wonderful food!

Kathy added a bouquet of lavender to the card bowl.  We offered this prayer as we gathered to celebrate:

Lord of Life,
as we celebrate this traditional feast
in honor of the day when Mary Lou
was Your gift to her parents and to the world
we ask of you a blessing.

Bless Mary Lou and each of us with wisdom.
Make us younger on each birthday
Awaken within us the child
who is so often asleep
Open our eyes to wonder and awe;
delight our hearts with amazement and playfulness.

 Colorful Cindy and Jackie

Kathy and Mary Lou's sister in law, Karen

Our guest of honor with dear friends Liz and Betty

 Guests visited around an inside table - Jack, Jim, Don, Charlene, Grace, and Pat.  We were overjoyed to see Don and Charlene because Don's had some health problems recently. 

 And out on the deck - Kerry, Betty, Kathy, Tom, and Mary Lou's brother, Bill, who drove all the way from Bonner's Ferry to celebrate with us.  

Karen, Mary Lou, Anita, Kathy, Liz, and Christine

One final picture of the last of us to leave.
I've already received a lovely thank you note which read in part,

Thank you...the praying together just warmed my heart
and made me so grateful for such wonderful friends.

Father's Day on the Coeur d'Alene Bike Trail

Colin had a special surprise for Duane and I got to watch him open it.  He'd typed a personal note on the computer, printed it, and pretended he was going to send it to Aunt Joan just to add to the drama.

  He wrote several sentences about why his Dad is so special.  And then Colin mentioned that Duane's real Father's Day gift was in the garage....

The Mini-Cooper cannot haul four bikes so we packed them in the back of the truck that has been banned to the side driveway!

Clouds threatened to make our bike ride to Harrison miserable.  I certainly wasted a good worry.  We all dressed in layers and actually the temperature was perfect.  Anne planned the day to give Colin and Duane some special time together.

The first time (August, 2011) we all rode this trail we packed a picnic lunch and stopped lots of times so Colin could rest.

Three years later the ride seemed so much easier.  We rode from Heyburn State Park to Harrison in less than an hour - just in time  lunch.






We enjoyed a nice lunch and some tangerine beer!  Colin and Duane played Darts while we waited for our meal to be prepared.






I watched, with amazement, as Colin played as if he'd been playing for years.  Only a few broken tips!

Our big reward came at the ice cream store - yummy flavors and great service.  We'll definitely be back.

I couldn't resist taking pictures of the flowers surrounding the city park.

And some blooming  wildflowers on the trail.

I love the blue Bachelor Buttons!

Probably the best Father's Day ever!  

Bradleigh's High School Graduation

What is it about Pomp and Circumstance that brings tears to my eyes?  The march, composed by Edward Elgar in 1901, is played over and over again at most graduation ceremonies.  The title comes from Shakespeare's Othello - "Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump....pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war."  The march elicits many emotions in me....pride, relief, sadness, apprehension, and accomplishment.   It just doesn't seem possible my first grandchild is already graduating from high school, when it seem like just a few yesterdays that she came into the world.  My heart swelled with pride all evening as I thought about her accomplishments.  She's just a beautiful person, inside and out.

CHS Graduates walk to pre-arranged chairs on the football field.  Some years parents and students feel tense when clouds form because the ceremony then moves inside the auditorium.  The sun warmed us as we sat on the bleachers!  John and Karen like to arrive early and they snagged the upper seats with a nice backrest.  Jacob played games on his phone while we waited.  

 Bradleigh marched in with other class and ASB leaders, she being Class Public Relations.  

The dignitaries listening to the Star Spangled Banner.

A proud moment for us hearing her name and watching her walk across the stage!  She, as an ASB officer got to read a long list of names.  I liked what Paige Frazier, the teacher-speaker, said.  "Create your own Hall of Fame - be awesome whoever you are and whatever you choose to do."  Mrs. Frazier teaches English and told cute stories about the seniors and their antics over the past four years.

 Mom, Dad, and brother Jake!

The Grandmas - Theresa and Delores

The Aunts - Jerri and Kathy

 Proud grandparents

 Jacob and Bradleigh

 Bradleigh and her namesake, Bradley Kime

 Classmates - Bradleigh, Zoe Knopes, Kayla Dice, Kianna Arthur, Breanne Norland, Kierra Ryan, Amber Leavey

Bradleigh's Graduation Party

Bradleigh wanted to celebrate the week before graduation so she could go to the parties of all her friends.   Grandma Delores spent hours on the memory board and surprised her with this lovely banner.

Grandmas helped make salads, deviled eggs, and fruit pizza.  I loved the cute cake pops that Karen's co-worker, Paula, made to surprise Bradleigh.

 Karen took the picture on the left the first day of Kindergarten and Bradleigh re-created it recently with her first back pack!

 Cousin Riley.             I took this picture of Jake and Karen to prove he is now taller than his Mom.

 Great Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Dan came from Spokane to celebrate!

 Guests Orie & Lisa Kaltenbaugh, Karen, and Paul MacKay.

Grandma Delores, Aunt Kathy and Great Aunt Betty Witters.  The tables were covered with white linen and decorated with black and red napkins, the school colors.  I told Bradleigh this party looked more like a wedding reception than a graduation party.  She totally agreed!  I overheard John say to Jacob, "when you graduate,  we are taking all your friends to MacDonalds because this is just too much work."

I thought it was so worth it because Bradleigh engaged with all the guests, welcomed them, and explained her plans for next year.  I got to brag a little about her DECA team that won third place in the National competition for their community service presentation on "Spike for the Cure."  She still has the dream of going to Seattle University, but will take core classes at the Clarkston branch of Walla Walla Community College, work a little, save some money, and spend time thinking about a career.  I'm proud of her accomplishments and grated for the gift that she's been in my life!