I Made The Grade 2013

I did the "I Made The Grade" bike ride again this year on the Lewiston Grade.  This is my third time participating in it.  Last year I couldn't do it because I had just had my hysterectomy, but this year I was excited because I have my new bike and I was curious to see if I could improve my time at all.  

I did beat my last time by 10 minutes!  For me that's pretty good.  I made it up the hill in 1 hour, 44 minutes. Eric went with me and he beat me by 20 minutes.  I expected this because he's so stinking fast.   Can't wait for next year...

1st Weekend Spent At The Cabin

We spent our first full weekend up at the cabin.  The weather was pretty good, still a little chilly, but we made the most of it.  The kids fished a lot and we had some fun campfires.  Unfortunately Fay got really sick and spent half the weekend in bed.  Hopefully that doesn't ruin it for her.  It was as always completely crazy with the Benson's, but that's the way we like it.

Kelly and Avery at Owens Grocery Store in Newport

Keith and Eric with their crazy fire made w/o any gasoline.  Impressive!

Keith snuggling Eric.  What can we say, they're close.  Toby was jealous.

Crazy face swapping.

Keith and Eric all mixed up.

Gorgeous Diamond Lake Sunset

Keith being reflective at Diamond Lake Store.  Actually he's just being a dork!

Eric has A LOT of energy in the morning.

He also has a really BIG fire poker

They don't mess around 

We ate really well!

Kelly fished a lot, Avery slept a lot.

Pretty Easton.

Lots of fishing.

This was a crazy fun weekend, and I'm super excited to make more and more memories up there.  

No Words Required

April Visit With Chris and Carl

We were lucky enough to have Chris and Carol visit over spring break.  I love my in-laws.  I could not have asked for a better Mother-in-Law.  My Father-in-Law Chris (Steve's Stepdad) is about as nice as they come.  We always have fun when they come to town.  We smoked a lot of meat.  Did some shopping and ate out at some fun restaurants.  Can't wait for their next visit in August!  This year we get to have them here twice.  Yay!

A Week Of My Favorite Things #5

I just realized I never completed my 5th favorite thing.

                                      

I know this will sound silly, but it will have to be my Lord, family and friends.  Really all this "Stuff" doesn't matter much when you get down to it.  Life is about relationship.  It's about your relationship with the Creator, and then those that He puts in your life.  Someday all my other "favorite things" will go bad or break.  The one thing that will last are the eternal spiritual things in your life.  So, I'll put some pictures of those that mean a lot to me and know that there are many more that mean a lot to me even if you don't make it on the photo list.

Way To Go Keith!

Keith has his very first job interview in about 20 minutes.  He was all dressed up in slacks, dress shirt and tie.  I love it.  This is an exciting time in a persons life.  It can also be scary.  I'm proud of Keith and who he is becoming.

Right now his plans are to take one class during the summer of 2013 and 2014.  This will lessen his load in his Sr. year.  He also plans on attending running start.  I wish I could have done that in H.S.  To graduate with your high school diploma and your Associates degree would have been great!  Plus two year of college would be paid for!

He is still talking about going into a Pharmaceutical career, but that could change.  Whatever he does, I hope he is a light in this world for the Lord.

Hope he remembers to breathe during his interview and I hope the manager at Carl's Jr. can see that Keith would be a good employee.

Way to go Keith!  I'm proud of you.

A Week Of My Favorite Things #4

Amazon Kindle!

I love this little devise!  I love to read and this saves me from having to go to the library or buy books.  I've downloaded 458 books and most of them have been free off Amazon.  They have a great selection of free books, and I keep a wish list of my favorites I'd like to have and check often to see if they're on sale or free.

I have the basic keyboard kindle.  Unfortunately, I left it in my bed one night under the covers and when I went to get back into bed, my knee came down on the screen and turned half of the screen black!  I was so upset.  Amazon said there was no way to fix it and it no longer was covered under warranty.  Lucky for me, my Dad had gotten my Mom one for Christmas one year and she had never used it, so she just gave it to me.  I have such a sweet Mom.

I've been eyeing the new paperwhite.  It still has the great screen that looks like the book, you can still read it in the sunlight, but it has a built in light which would be great on nights I can't sleep but don't want to wake Steve up while reading in bed.  One day I may upgrade.  We'll see.

Probably the only thing I don't like about it is the pictures when it's in sleep mode.  One is of a half naked man and I always turn it back on and then off again when that one comes on.  You can't change them or put your own on there.  I think that's my only complaint.

If you're thinking of getting a Kindle or the Nook, I will say I have the Nook on my iPad and look once in a while at their store and I am much more impressed with Amazon's book selection than Barnes and Noble.  But I know people who have the Nook and really like that one too.