April Showers

We found ourselves with a completely free Saturday day today. An early summer graced us this week with temperatures in the 80s, and we planned to spend the day in old youth-group fashion at Kings Dominion amusment park. But we awoke to grey skies and rain and decided we were not youthful enough to do roller coasters wet. So it's been a Saturday of tooling around our condo. I like it. It's sort of like an unexpected bonus.

Right now the rain is coming down so hard that I think the swimming pool outside our balcony is going to overflow. But rain makes good music, so we are sitting with tea and candles as Jason decides which game he is going to beat me at tonight. It's a special treat for him when I offer to play games, just the two of us--I suppose I should begin getting used to losing, since I have apparently chosen to do so for the rest of my life!

Last weekend we drove down to Roanoke, VA, to see my dear Oxford friend Krista walk down the aisle on her father's arm. The drive was beautiful, the bride stunning, and the reception just right--Jason said that if there had been a comedian it would have been his ideal wedding reception (he got kicked off the wedding planning team when he suggested that about this time last year--I think that was his goal). Krista and Scott came to eat Lebanese with us in January, and what a treat to be there to share their special day.

I'm about to start adding pictures to our new online album, so feel free to check them soon. In the meantime, I really hope that Jason left the tv on NASCAR on accident while he ran down to the laundry room (my husband is the best)...

Jen's Birthday in Grams' room

Jen's Birthday in Grams' room
Originally uploaded by jmsmall2005.

Here is one of the pictures mentioned in the blog below. When I get home I will try again to post the pictures on the actual blog entry, but for now blogger is being difficult.

Back on the Ground...for now

The latest delay between blogs was due to traveling on two counts--Jason east (Nigeria), Missy west (Idaho). Much was accomplished for the good of the nation on both sides, plus Missy got to spend some time with family (major perk of the job, not sure what will do when job ends in T-minus 8 months).

Jason's trip to Nigeria was hot and actually cut short, and if you want more details you will have to ask him because that is basically the extent of the report I got. We had successfully (we thought) planned to be gone at exactly the same time, rather than the usual "one of us leaving as the other one's flight is hitting the ground in Washington" fiasco we have experienced many times in our relationship. Of course, Jason ended up leaving Nigeria five days early, but it was closer to success than we've ever been.

As for my trip, I've attached a couple pics--one of me with the soon-to-be-newly-weds (I had a chance to hang out with them for a couple evenings while I worked in North Central Idaho--they are finishing up at the University of Idaho), and one of the rest of the family with Grams, now in rehab. It was great to spend time with Casey and Kim, learning wedding details, seeing each of their new houses, playing games, and basically talking with my brother for hours (one of my favorite pasttimes). And it's always good to see Grams and how she's getting along. For the first part of my trip she was able to speak really well, which makes it all better (she told me the most hilarious story of the doctor bringing in his little dog and making it kiss her. Grams and I share a less-than-love relationship with man's best friend, and she said, "And here I was, lying here helpless with that squirmy little thing on my bed..."). We also went up to McCall, where my parents are building a cabin (read: lodge) and checked out the progress. Sooo exciting, and can't wait for it to be done (but not as much as my parents can't wait...)

Note: I've updated the photo album attached, being less impressed with gfoto and willing to try flickr. We'll see how it goes, but for now you get better quality when you look... Pics of my birthday and a recent springish bike ride included.

The One With All the Big News

Oh! I'm such a delinquent blogger that no one is even going to read this exciting entry! So many things keep happening in our extended lives that I can't even keep up. Here we sit, happily, quietly, normally in our little Virginia home, while the rest of the family (my family, anyway) has nary a moment between momentous occasions!

To sum it up, the family is growing. Jason and I may have our little family of herb babies and pansies, but pretty soon we will also have a niece or nephew to spoil rotten, as well as a new sister-in-law to love and adore (except that we already love and adore her). Shaanti and Adam have decided to make us Uncle and Auntie sometime around the end of September, and I am ecstatic, having already purchased the first of what I'm sure will be many, many adorable baby outfits (left). Hee, hee!

And only a few weeks ago Casey, with teeth chattering and knees knocking, made his girlfriend Kim's day by proposing on a freezing beach in Oregon (he said it may have been much more secluded than Jason's crowded Waikiki proposal, but that was only because they nearly got frostbite and most people wisely stayed inside). Am so excited, as believe Kim to be a fabulous human being and I'm glad that we can officiall call her sister soon. They are getting married in July. Many trips to Idaho in our near future!

As for us, we just had a delightful Saturday morning breakfast pondering the growth of the herb babies (rosemary sprouted overnight) and drinking tea in pjs on our balcony. It was almost 70 degrees at 7 this morning, and while that bodes very poorly for prospects of a bearable summer in DC, it is delightful for the first day of April.

Oh, and really, this is all true, no April Fool's.