He's turning TWO!

Lute is turning TWO next weekend. I can hardly believe it. This is probably the last picture I'll post of him while he's still only a year old. Oh, I just love this little guy! He brings me such joy! He says the funniest things now...what a crack up...being a grandma is the BEST!

And, I'm so proud of my daughter and son-in-law. They are such great, great parents. I have the BEST family!

Procrastination...

This is what it looks like when you put your walk off until it gets dark...and then have to go in the dark and the snow...well, you can't see the snow but it was snowing :) And, the wind was blowing at least 150 miles an hour. And, my husband wouldn't go with me. Oh poor me.

And I Keep Walking...

This walking thing is getting to be quite a habit. I have managed to find time every day to get outside and enjoy the sun. Not that my life is so important or busy, but I'm a good procrastinator, a really good one. And usually I don't have time to do the things I have to do or should do but don't want to do because I'm really good at putting them off. So, I'm actually surprised at myself for doing this every day. It's been so cold here, but sunny, except for when it's snowing :)

This was taken last week after a little snow shower...brrrrr....it was cold that day!

Last weekend I wanted a change of scenery. And, I wanted my husband to go walking with me and maybe get a dinner out of the deal. So, I got on the internet and looked for some short trails in the area and here's what I found...

Now, I live in Washington, a really, really beautiful state. And we have lots of woods and lots of trails and lots of places to hike, most of which I've never experienced because I'm not a hiker. But, the intersting thing about this place is that it is right in the middle of a major metropolis...Tacoma...yes, right in the heart of the city. Who knew??? I think this trail was about a mile and a half and it was just beautiful.

Then, we drove a mile or two and saw this...

The last one is my favorite. Not because of the bike but because of the writing on the window..."Tacoma's premier cupcake bakery". That was right down the street from where we had dinner. And, the whole time I was sitting having dinner I was thinking of the cupcake bakery. Not that I'm obsessed with sweets or anything...

But alas, they were closed when we left..so I guess I'll have to make another trip to the city...

Through Rain or Hail...

What was that I said the other day? Through rain or snow or hail or whatever...today I was tested.See those itty bitty white dots...yes, it's hail. Not a lot of hail, but hail nonetheless. And it was falling during my walk today.

I don't have a lot to say about my walk except that it was hailing, windy, and it was garbage day.

But, I still never cease to be amazed at God's beautiful creation.

Lent...

I have never observed Lent before this year. But, I think I need a good season of soul-searching and reflecting. I know the purpose of Lent is preparation of the believer - through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. I'm doing something a little different, or putting a twist on the self-denial thing. I am walking every day during Lent. So, I guess you could say I'm denying myself days without exercise. For those of you who don't know me well, I hate walking. Hate it. But, I'm doing it...every day. Rain, hail, sleet or snow. So far I haven't encountered any of those...thank God. But if I do, I'm still going to walk. And, I'm not going on any sissy walks. I'm trying to do two miles each time I head out. Two miles is a lot for me.

So, since I'm not feeling real chatty lately, I'm just going to be posting pictures of my walks...and I hope you enjoy them!

It's a plane...It's a train...It's a bus!

When Lute and I talked about his big European adventure, I was telling him about how exciting it was going to be because he got to go in an AIRPLANE!!!! And, I told him how fun it was going to be to get in the plane and go waaaaaaaayy up in the sky!

He looked at me...and clearly had something that could top an airplane...he told me he was going on a TRAIN! Which, by the sound of things was going to be way more exciting than an ol' airplane. Gee gra-ma, don't you know?

But, then he told me the most exciting thing...and that was...he was also going to go on a BUS!!!!! Which, according to Lute, tops any form of transportation on the planet. Except, of course, a bike.

Here's Lute, the day we gave him his very own 'bike'. The kid's a natural.

So Lute, this background is in your honor. Until it comes down.

I see London...I see France...

I took my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson to the airport the other day. They decided to make a quick, spur-of-the-moment trip to Europe. Who does that? Certainly not me. My husband thinks going to Seattle (30 miles from us) is something you need to plan at least a week for. I mean, after-all, that's a 'trip'. And, you don't just go on a trip without preparing. You know, you have to map out the quickest route. You have to find out what the weather will be like. You know, all the important stuff.

A friend of my daughter is getting married this summer. They had thought about going over then but the tickets were way too expensive for summer travel. And, since Lute doesn't turn two until March, they didn't have to buy him a ticket. So, it made perfect sense. I think it would have made more sense if they had taken me, you know, to be a nanny. A granny-nanny. But, they talked their best friends into going with them with their two boys.

I hope they have a wonderful time. I hope they see everything beautiful and wonderful in London and France. After all, I live vicariously through them and I will want to hear every detail when they return home so I know exactly what London and France are like. I hope they go to the Louvre. And, I hope they have a glass of really good French wine. And, I hope Lute sees London Bridge and learns the song. Is there really even a London Bridge? I don't know!

Anyway, Carina, Nick, and Little Lutie...Je t'aime!