Hey, because a number of my friends are not on social media, but I'd love to share my adventures with them, I'm considering ressurecting my blog. What do you think? Would you visit? Would you leave a comment? Let me know!

Our trip to Washington, July 2012

We took a trip to Washington state this summer to see friends. We had driven to WA once before, but this time I decided to do it as an airplane trip, to maximize the time we could spend there.

We flew out of Long Beach, and I have found my new favorite airport! I loved the waiting area - a big, open air patio (this is also the baggage claim area) with a coffee/ice cream kiosk, umbrellas & tables. There was even a man sleeping on a bench in the sun! Probably not a good place during inclement weather, but in July, it was fantastic. And pick up & drop off is one lane at the curb. We arrived early for our flight, so the girls and I sat under an umbrella and they ate ice cream. The airport is under construction, so to get to your plane, you walk a really long way, outside under wooden breezeways. The girls really liked that you have to walk out onto the tarmac and go up a ramp or stairs to board the plane!

Our first stop in Washington was in Yelm, to see our friends Jennifer & Bryan, and all of their children. They have cows, pigs, chickens, geese, a turkey, dogs, and a kitten. Add to that a trampoline, climber, a firepit for s'mores, and some woods, and you have kid paradise! My girls each had several playmates in the family, so they did not have to play with each other, and they were so busy and happy that I was able to visit with the adults.

Abigail loved all of the animals there. Several times each day, she would ask to go to "the farm." Five-year-old Micah was always willing to take Abigail to collect eggs, touch the cows' noses, and look at the pigs.

We were so blessed to be able to stay there at our friends' house, in their yurt. It is a 750 square foot dwelling, separate from the big house, that (although it is basically a permanent tent) has electricity, plumbing, heat (important even in the summer up in the Pacific northwest) and is snug & weather proof.

Jennifer had arranged a reunion of most of our "team" from the volunteering trip to China in May 2011. It was terrific to see them again, and we feasted on tacos and other yummy stuff! We found a new favorite chip: Juanita's Gluten-Free tortilla chips. I am grateful that they are not sold here in southern California...

Abigail and Micah are the same age, and were great friends during our trip. They did everything together. Both of my girls enjoyed riding in the cart, pulled by Bryan on the tractor!

Family Camp, 2012

I bought a new computer mid-summer, so I have to find the photos from camp before I can post them! I think they are on one of the six flashdrives in my purse.... But here are the Bushnell girls on our last evening at camp, out on the fairway before dinner. We were in a tent this summer, and as always, it was a truly blessed week. After we had been home about a week, Abigail surprised and delighted me by rattling off the memory verse, unprompted! Of course, Frances had been the first kid at camp to learn it, because there was a prize involved. Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength. These commandments I give to you today are to be upon your heart. Impress them upon your children, talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Mother's Day, 2012

Who says roses are hard to grow?

I think I bought these rose bushes at Big Lots, for just a few dollars apiece. Brought them home, stuck them in the ground, and left them alone. My across-the-street neighbor trims them occasionally, and that's all the care they get.

Easter 2012

Unlike last year at this time, I am not going to travel out of the country and lose my camera with all of the Easter photos on it, so this year, I will post Easter photos.

We went to Grandma & Grandpa Hunter's on Good Friday to color eggs. This year, Abigail was much more careful. No recklessly tossing eggs into the cups of dye, but instead considering carefully which color and shade she wanted for each egg. I think only two or three eggs accidentally got cracked this year!

Frances tore herself away from the cable television programs long enough to color two eggs. She is a cable TV junkie, and at our house, there is only "free" television, like PBS.

We went to an Easter egg hunt at a church with friends. Abigail and her friend Emily love to mug for the camera!

Easter morning, the girls woke up and found all of the hidden eggs at our house. Some of them had money in them! Then we put on our nice dresses and went to church to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Lunch was at the Hunters', with a second basket of goodies for each girl.

Sisters at Knott's

One afternoon after school, Frances did not have homework, and both girls wanted to go to Knott's Berry Farm. We have annual passes. Always before, we have gone with our friends who have 4 children, which included a buddy for each of my girls. I would take the older kids on the extreme coasters, and the other mom would take the little kids to Camp Snoopy for the more tame attractions. However, our friends did not renew their passes. On this particular afternoon, the girls really wanted to go, and agreed to go on rides that they both liked. They also agreed not to bicker about not getting to go on their favorite rides.


Abigail really likes the "little kid" roller coaster, and I reminded Frances that when she was four years old, she loved it so much that one day she rode it 12 times in a row! So that was the girls' first ride. They also decided to do the Snoopy Bounce House. Most kids Fran's age are too tall for it.... but Frances is still really small for her age. The girls had so much fun! Abigail is thrilled to do things with her big sister, and they were getting along well, with Fran willing to do the "little kid" things, since no big kids were around to see her.

We ended our afternoon with the Log Ride, which Abigail really does not like. I think she agreed to go on it because she realized that Frances had been gracious in going on some little kid rides. We got a little wet and it was a chilly afternoon, so were ready to go home. We picked up some Mrs. Knott's chicken and headed home. I love it when the girls get along this well.