From a kid's point of view...

Last Sunday morning Anastasia walked into the kitchen and saw James. She made a face and said "There's James - he's the mean one." I reminded her gently that we are only supposed to say positive things about people. To that she replied, "Well, I'm positive - he's the mean one!"

Later that day she was telling me about her mini golf outing with some family friends. I asked her if she got a "hole in one". She looked at me and said, "I got a hole in ALL of them!"

Birthday Boy

Tomorrow is William's 17th birthday. I was thoughtful enough to give birth to him on his Grandma Tippery's 75th birthday. That makes us both pretty special! She was delighted to hear we had a boy - after 3 girls. William was also the first Tippery grandson - someone to carry on the name and all that. He's a great kid. He was born smiling I think. When he was little and in swimming lessons the teacher kept telling him to stop smiling and close his mouth. Even when he did naughty stuff - he had a little grin on his face. I'm pretty proud of my son. He's hard working, honest, thoughtful, tender hearted, tall, handsome and loves his Mama. Couldn't ask for much more.

Families Are Forever

Grr. If I hear about one more family who adopts a kid from overseas and then decides to "unadopt" him because they are all having difficulty adjusting - I will scream!!! I believe firmly that adoption makes a child YOURS - just like giving birth makes a child yours. I haven't heard of too many families getting rid of one of their birthed children when they went through a difficult phase. If people aren't willing to stick it out - then they should think long and hard about bringing a child home. They should understand the risks and uncertainties that go along with adoption. They should understand that the child has likely been through some pretty traumatic stuff. GRR That's all I have to say about that right now.

A Cat With Nine Lives

Victoria (the resident animal lover) brought home a cute orange cat a couple of months ago. Just until she could find a home for him. Uh huh. Sure. Well, Fritz moved in - pretty permanently. We all actually fell in love with him - except Socks - Ally's somewhat senile feline. She wants to beat him up. Night before last, we got a phone call from a neighbor who hit Fritz with his car (by accident). Bruce and Victoria spotted him in the yard but then he disappeared into the bushes. We called and called and looked and looked. Finally, we decided that he must have had severe internal injuries and crawled off to die. Anastasia was very heartbroken. Yesterday, she was sitting at the computer, and had made a little slide show of Fritz pictures, set to lovely music. (How she figured out how to do that I will never know.) Anyhow, last night - there was a little noise at the front door -and low and behold it was Fritz! He has a cut on one leg and some grease stains on his back - but seems his old happy lovable self. Since he was a scrawny stray when a friend of Victoria's first took him in, we figure he's used up more than one of his nine lives. Hope he's around for a while though. He's a keeper.

Changes

Fall is in the air...feels like change. Maybe its some old instinct we have to squirrel away food and hunker down for the winter. For some reason I feel compelled to do something with every growing thing that our lush property produces! Right now its apples. Before that - blackberries. I have however, learned to ignore the crabapples. They are just like decorations on the tree. So - apple pies, apple sauce, sliced frozen apples, dehydrated apple rings have been keeping me and a couple of the girls busy for the past few days. There are changes in our family too. Elizabeth and Daniel are an old married couple of one year! Victoria is getting married in 3 months!! Alexandra is living in Oregon and going to college. I miss my big girls. The boys are going to high school full time - and involved in some extra activities that keep them out longer. Some days it's just me and my two "little" girls. Who aren't so little anymore - 12 and 8. It doesn't seem very long ago at all that my days were a whirlwind of diaper changes, couting the hours til naptime, and Barney videos. Back in the day - buying the giant box of diapers at Costco seemed like a big expense! Boy - kids are expensive I'd think. HA. Now, kid expenses include private school, college, weddings and car insurance - to name only a few. But, you know - its all good. We are rich!! Rich in family, love, a home, good friends - those are the riches that matter to me.

The Rest of the Story

Okay - the ring is on the finger!! It's officially official and the big day is New Year's Eve. We are all very excited and happy for the giddy in love young couple. Her ring is beautiful - I'll get some pictures soon - as soon as someone can tell me how to do it! So - back to the night they met earlier this summer. When he dropped her back at my friend Karen's house they chatted a little about the good time hey had and then Victoria said "last time you asked me I said 'no' but I changed my mind -can I have a kiss on the lips?" And apparently he didn't have to think about it for an hour. Then she sent an email to a girlfriend that said something about how flustered she was but she knew if she didn't do it (ask him) she would regret it for the rest of her life. (She really didn't think she would see him again - he does live in Tennessee after all.) But somehow - the text got sent to Zachariah instead!! Anyhow...that was the beginning. So now they are engaged!! It is so awesome how God has blessed us all and answered our prayers above and beyond our wildest dreams.

Toilet Paper Boy

When Victoria was 9, a family from Tennessee stayed with us for a couple of days. Their youngest son was 11 and the kids seemed to have a good time playing together. Well, many years later I found out that he wrote on a piece of toilet paper "can I have a kiss on the lips?" Apparently, Victoria had to think about it for a whole hour before she told him "no". Why anyone would want to kiss her on the lips when she was 9 is beyond me! Fast forward......11 years. Victoria is now 20. A couple of months ago she was telling me that she wished she had a house of her own, a yard for dogs and gardens. I told her that she wasn't going to have that kind of life anytime soon - she needed a good man first. And then.....a thought came to me! I contacted the family in Tennessee to see if their son was still single and what he was doing with his life. I hadn't heard from them for about 6 years. They would have a lot of common I thought. Both are from families with 7 kids, their dads are in the newsletter business, they have grown up with animals and were home schooled. So, I made plans to go visit another friend in Nashville, and asked Victoria if she wanted to come along. She said yes - so the plan was in motion. (She didn't know I had talked to the family) They ended up seeing each other when we were out there - 3 times. It was pretty much love at first sight!! They even talked about the toilet paper incident! A month of 3 hour long phone calls. Another trip out there for her in August. Another trip in September - and now he is here for 4 days. He wants to talk to Bruce about something. I wonder what that's all about??

Life is Changing

Life is changing in the Tippery household. One daughter is married - one is (almost) engaged and one has headed off to college. Two boys are busy in high school . That leaves me home schooling 2 girls - only 2!! It seems pretty quiet on some days. I was just thinking that if we were a "normal" family (with 2 or 3 kids) we would be done by now! I don't think I'm ready to be out of a job just quite yet though. But when they are home - and usually with a few friends - it is quite lively around here! Tonight there were 10 for dinner - plus 2 friends showed up a little later. Lots of dishes, lots of messes and lots of laughter. I love it.

I'm Back!

I started this blog because I always have lots going on with my family and stuff to talk about. But, I found that I was getting "tongue tied" when I went to write a post, because I thought it had to be pretty significant. Well, I'm back - and am just going to ramble about random things. Okay - Victoria got a snake and it was living at a friend's house. I said that snake could NOT come here - "over my dead body" were my exact words. Well, apparently I had a near death experience because that creature, Lucille AKA "She Who Must Not Be Named" moved in. Fortunately I can't see her and she doesn't make noise. Her "food" however did make noise. And one day the "food" got loose and were at large in my house. Bruce came in one morning and said the cat had an unusual colored mouse in her mouth. Bingo. Food# 1 (AKA Scotty ) accounted for. Food #2 (AKA Herman) still at large.

Summer Fun

I'm not very good at this blog thing. I have so much rattling around in my head - but I'm not sure how to get it down "on paper". Or even how much I should write. So, the title is Summer Fun - today is HOT - even I have been in the pool - and if you know me - you know it must be hot. The house must be 90 degrees inside. I went down to the basement to cool off and ended up cleaning the bathroom (which was disgusting), rearranging some furniture and vacumming! So much for cooling off. Bruce and James are off on the boat - Bob - and having a wonderful time. I am enjoying some fairly lazy days at home. So much has happened in my little world lately. The unexpected death of a 4H mom I know. Left behind a husband and 5 kids. A local family I know just lost their 23 year old son when he drowned in the river. It's a lot to figure out. So, in the midst of my summer fun, my heart goes out to these families whose lives have been changed forever.

Orcas Island

One of the most beautiful spots in the whole world is Orcas Island. It's a horseshoe shaped island in the Juans in Puget Sound - that's in Washington State (for you out of state people who might think we are in Puerto Rico or something) I haven't really seen much of this big world - but I really can't imagine anything much better than this. The water is cold - it doesn't get much over 50 degrees year round - but that doesn't keep my kids out! They have been swimming and riding logs out here their whole lives. Right now there are three giggly girls out there in wet suits bobbing up and down like seals, singing at the top of their lungs. I hope they don't get eating by an orca. The water is calm, the beach is full of very interesting rocks, madrona trees provide nice shade and the sunset is incredible. A little slice of heaven - and I am very thankful that we can enjoy it.

4H Fun

We have been involved with the same 4H group for about 15 years now. It has been a lot of fun to watch whole families grow up and meet new people every year. This group of kids is full of energy, let me tell you! Sweet mild mannered little girls turned into warriors when holding a Super Soaker water gun. Nice young men lost all respect for unsuspecting moms when racing with a garbage can filled with water. There were games, contests, and prizes! I am pleased to say I won a prize for....(I will never tell) My lips are sealed. We are looking forward to being the grooviest club at the Northwest Washington Fair wearing our tie dyed shirts while scooping poop.

On Dying

Seems like a lot of people are dying these days. The latest is the "Oxy Man". I don't even watch TV and I know who he is. And only 50. Sobering, really. Victoria worked this morning at the home of an elderly woman for the last time. This sweet lady has been a pleasure for Victoria to care for, but today her body was shutting down in the final stages of life. My daughter actually requested an extra shift (after working 24 hours for someone else) so she could see this woman one more time. With tears in her eyes Victoria told me how "Lily" looked right at her and squeezed her hand. Victoria told her goodbye and that she would see her in heaven. And then cried. And cried. This is not a job that a lot of people would want. I am very proud of my girl.

Howdy from Franklin, Tennessee

Well, it is like 95 degrees here with 95% humidity! You melt when you are outside but freeze inside because the air conditioning is going full blast. Victoria and I had a great trip and are enjoying visiting with old friends in their wonderful 1903 home in Franklin. It is so fun to walk right downtown and visit cool shops and restaurants. Victoria enjoyed a light Southern breakfast of biscuits, gravy and grits! Missing my family and so SAD I am not there to see the last performance of Honk Jr. Way to go Kathryn and William!

Costco to the rescue....again!

Hurray for catering - a la Costco. William informed me that he was having a "couple" of friends over (like 12) and could maybe I feed everyone?? So, a quick trip to Costco and a giant pack of hamburgers, polish dogs, chips, watermelon and icecream bars - and we have a menu fit to please any young teen. I am leaving in about 10 hours (!!) to drive to Seattle with Victoria for our Nashville trip. I still have to finish laundry and pack. The music is blaring, games are all over the kitchen table, the badminton set is spread all over the lawn, a campfire is burning...and the night is still young.

Pico de Gallo

Just finished a tasty dinner on the back deck with the whole family. Yes! All the kids (7 plus 1 spouse) here at the same time - plus 3 friends! Anyhow, made a delicious batch of pico de gallo. Here's the "recipe"

4-6 Roma tomatoes - cut into small chunks
3 cloves garlic - chopped finely
1/2 onion - chopped
1/2 jalapeno pepper - cut into tiny pieces
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 lime - squeeze the juice
big pile of cilantro - chopped
1/4 red or yellow pepper - chopped

This is very yummy!! We had to make 2 batches tonight.

Dog Paws and Cat Claws

Victoria, bless her 20 year old heart, lives at home. I don't mind that at all (except when she uses up all the hot water and steals my toilet paper) but she works strange hours and stays at friends' places a lot - so we get stuck taking care of her pets. Duke (elderly lab) needs special food and pills once a day. Fritz (orange cat that isn't allowed to live here but somehow has found his way into our home and hearts) is always getting chased by the dogs. Yesterday, while sitting on the patio sipping iced tea with a couple of my friends, all hell breaks lose on the Funny Farm. Dogs are barking, children are screaming, cat is yowling and being tossed in the air by 3 crazed dogs. Fritz manages to escape up the old Maple tree - after I ran out like a screaming banshee and loosed him from the jaws of death. He spent the next 8 hours up the tree, until his Mommy came home and got out a ladder. The dog paws belong to me. My feet are horrible!! I scrubbed and buffed and even went to bed with lotion soaked feet and socks. I really need a pedicure before my trip to Nashville on Thursday. I might even pay "5 dollah mo" and get a flower.

A Great Value - paintball supplies and sprouts

Day 2! So far so good. And I have one reader - thanks Mom! Last night James (13) and Bruce went to look at a paintball gun James found on Craiglist. They came back an hour or 2 later with: 4 paintball guns, 6 masks, 2 extra barrels, 4 hoppers, 1 vest, several CO2 cartridges and a partridge in a pear tree. And, best of all - it was an AMAZING deal! Yep - I quote "An amazing value." So, who can argue with that. I am also very thrifty and am making sprouts this morning. I had been making them in a small canning jar with holes poked in the lid. But, yesterday we found our "Sprout Tray". Which is a handy dandy plastic box thingy with holes in it.

Blog 101

Well, I've never done this before! I'm amazed I've made it this far by myself. I will add pictures and fancy stuff when one of my kids is home to help me. My mom always told me I should write a book about my life and all the crazy things that go along with having a big family. I've never gotten around to a book - but maybe I can share some thoughts and tell a few stories here.