Interview with the Birthday Girl

1. What is your favorite color? Pink!

 2. What is your favorite toy? My pink baby.

3. What is your favorite fruit? Vegetables.  (Yes, she seriously said this)

4. What is your favorite tv show?  Sail Boats! (Wonderpets....we've seen every episode imaginable. God help us.)

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cheeseburgers!
6. What is your favorite outfit? My princess dress!

7. What is your favorite game?  When me and Bowie play cooking.

8. What is your favorite snack?  Cheese & Cwackers.

9. What is your favorite animal?  A Giwaffe.

10. What is your favorite song?  (Singing at the top of her lungs) "I won't let you, close enough to turning tables..." (Yes, that is Turning Tables by Adele)
11. What is your favorite book? Olivia!

12. Who is your best friend? Junie!

13. What is your favorite cereal? Pink Cereal! (Sensing a trend with the exclamations?) (Pink Cereal = Frosted Shredded Wheat)

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Walk to the guckies. (The ducks at Whitman)

15. What is your favorite drink? Hot chocolate.

16. What is your favorite holiday? What's a holiday?  (Clarified the meaning of Holiday) Hadley's Birthday! (Then started singing Happy Birthday to YOU!)

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Almonds. (No lie, kid takes a cup of raw almonds to bed with her every night....she doesn't eat them, just likes to have them sitting on the floor next to her bed.  And if those almonds aren't a fresh batch, she makes us get her "NEW ALMONDS" before she will go to sleep.)

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon Toast.

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Steak! (Totally her father's daughter)

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Bal-ner-ina! (Ballerina :)

So as you can see, our little three year old has quite the personality.  She's a ball of energy, quite particular about getting dirty (has to change her clothes from a mere speck of dirt), talks up a storm, loves to play with Jamie (provided he isn't stealing her favorite toys), is totally potty trained (hallelujah!), loves her Daddy like none other and is becoming such a fun little person.  Can't wait for what this year will bring - love you Hadley Rose Block!

Frama Great: In Loving Memory

Dick & Joyce on their wedding day: February 12, 1949

Andy's Grandma (Frama Great as Hadley called her) passed away last week from a broken heart.  As you may remember, we lost Andy's Grandpa just a few short months ago.  In a way, this makes my heart smile to know their love was so strong, she didn't want to be on this earth without him.  They started a beautiful legacy of love and family, and I am so blessed to call this family mine as well.  You will both be remembered so fondly and will live in the stories the family will pass down through the years.  I'll always look at Hadley, who was born on their 60th wedding anniversary, with a special reminder of the love of two people.

Here is the beautiful obituary written by Andy's mom, Vicki.

Rest in peace, together again...

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In Loving Memory

Joyce Marie Boldman

March 27, 1932 ~ January 24, 2012

Joyce Marie Boldman, 79, passed away at her home surrounded by her children on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, due to complications of MSA compounded by a broken heart. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard “Dick” Boldman, on September 30, 2011. A memorial service to honor them both will be held at 12 Noon, Saturday, February 4, 2012, at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, Washington. The Rev. Ron Alexander will be officiating.

One of nine children, Joyce and twin sister Janet were born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1932, in Kahlotus, Washington to William Cecil and Florence Alma Young Watson. Her father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and they lived several places before settling in Walla Walla where she grew up attending local schools. As teenagers both twins worked at the Liberty Theater as usherettes and the Triple XXX Drive-In as carhops which at times created some confusing, comical situations. Janet preceded her in death February 27, 2000.

Joyce met Dick Boldman, the love of her life, while working at the Liberty Theater. They were married at the Catherine Street home of his parents, Ray and Nellie Hill Boldman in Walla Walla on February 12, 1949. Their 62 year marriage was a source of great pride and admiration for their family and celebrated every year with a special anniversary dinner and family gathering. Both were very proud of their large family and Dad would often look at Mom with great pride and say, “Just look at what we started!"

Joyce was meticulous with numbers and an excellent bookkeeper who had beautiful handwriting. She began working for Sears Roebuck & Co. as a sales clerk in 1959, but quickly worked her way up to the office. After 31 years with the company, she retired from her position as Audit Manager in May of 1990. Joyce was a member of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority where she served two terms as president and many more as the treasurer.

Mom & Dad enjoyed camping, mushrooming and traveling with many of their life-long friends. Although
Dad did most of the cooking, Mom was also a great cook and made “The World’s Best” fried chicken and potato salad. She used to enjoy crocheting and was an excellent seamstress. In more recent years, her favorite activities were family gatherings and special occasions, watching Millionaire, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and lunch out with her “Thursday Lunch Bunch” whenever she could.

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Kid update.

File under man I haven't done a kid update in forever!

Some shots from today...

this child is ALWAYS dirty. yes, that is dirt between his teeth.

goofballs.

Noel.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a small Block was stirring, not even a delivery guy from amazon 'cause we done bought them out;

The stockings were hung on the mantel with care,

In hopes that the presents soon would be there;

they were!

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-highs danced in their heads;

And mamma drinkin champagne, and I a nice cab,

Had just settled down for a long winter's...marathon of Entourage season 8.

We had such a nice Christmas Eve.  Spent with the Block contingent (Grampa Larry and Grama Jo, Ryan, Michelle, Wyatt & Ros)...Presents galore and then a nice fondue for just us two while we wrapped presents and got ready for Christmas morning.

cuzins

 

Wrapping paper flying, dump trucks & princess outfits all over the place, peppermint hot chocolate, pancakes...and I'd say the kids' Christmas was all they could hope for and more.

will surely have this bottle til he's 10.

santa pulled through and brought a "pink baby"!

nothing like a kid in a tool belt :)

Christmas afternoon we had a delicious Prime Rib fiesta at Vicki & Bruce's with the whole family, and more presents...

mr. wyatt

4x block

caramel corn...mmmmm

We were missing our time with Frama Joyce & Frampa Warwen, but their presence was found in a big cardboard house that entertained them through the whole day.

welcome to my home.

Then fastforward to New Years Eve, we celebrated our third Christmas with dinner with Grama & Grampa Gingell and TONS more presents (definitely hit the jackpot this year). 

New year's eve found Shan in bed by 8:30 (whoops, long year). But January 1, 2012 was full of the promise of a fresh new year ahead.  Brunch with the Garratts, Hess' and McFarlands and the mimosas were flowing.  I even made my first quiche!

2011 was not the easiest year we've had, personally or least of all professionally.  We lost family members, young and old, we've raised two crazy toddlers, we've worked our butts off (mostly Andy's butt) and a heap of other things big and small have made this year a challenge, to say the very least. 

But if they never should have bitter, they could not know the sweet.

Cheers to a very sweet 2012!

The Big Bad Dog.

Doesn't he look sweet and innocent?  Sweet he is as long as he is by my side 24/7...innocent, he is not when left alone.  He has run away upwards of 7,000 times.  The whole neighborhood knows him.  He has destroyed the 'Gorilla Tough' crate (crate number 4 by the way) that claims to hold even the most stubborn of dogs. He has destroyed expensive doors, my shoes, the kids' toys, barked incessantly, and he can't be alone...he is in a sense, troubled. 

To make a very long story short, we have been to hell and back with Dublin, and this is his last chance!

Bring on Ceasar.  Milan, that is.  Starting next week, Dublin will be attending doggy boot camp at Gun River Labs in Oregon.  With any luck, he will come back just slightly more normal.  He will be gone for two to three months and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready for him to be on vacation for a while.  This means, I'll be able to leave my house without a 'third kid'.  Amazing!

Wish him luck, he's going to need it!

Farewell furry friend.  We have loved you.  Mostly.