Well, I thought I'd better blog a bit since I read a lot but have been bad lately on actually writing!

First, as I was just reading the latest Brooke input on Beecher I thought I would include some parts that would be of general interest for those who don't look at the Beecher (Bennett) blog:
We have had several beautiful sunny days this week and I am so happy. I really think I have that seasonal function disorder. I was ready to jump on a plane and head to Virginia until word was sent that the sun had appeared in Germany. ... Maybe I'll be a snowbird because nothing is better than Washington from May to September. I have to say that. But I have spent the past little while daydreaming about Georgia. We were looking at pics on Mike's computer the other day and it dang near broke my heart. I'm excited to be out and about here though, now that the weather is good. You have to understand, I love Germany, but on a day to day basis we are on post and it takes getting out and exploring to enjoy living in this beautiful area. Also, I really miss the convenience of the U.S. sometimes. Maybe it's because I am pregnant but I also daydream about Sonic on warm summer nights, walks down to Burgerville for milkshakes, going through the drive-thru at Taco Bell, Pizza Hut pan pizza...you get my drift.

Yesterday was a great day. The sun was shining, even though it was a bit windy, and Mike got out all of our bikes and got us all set up. The clamp that keeps the seat in place on my bike is broken, but he thinks he'll be able to find a clamp here for it. I drove to the commissary and Mike and Jane rode their bikes with the little girls in the bike trailer. They loved it.

Today we are going to listen to yesterday's session(s) of conference and then my friend Holly is coming over for dinner. She is nineteen and her husband is gone for three weeks and we try to have her over as often as she wants. Well, I'm already feeling little flutters about once a day. Funny how quickly you feel baby once you know what it is you are feeling.

Back to Mom/Barb

We are really excited about leaving for Germany this Friday. I know we'll have an outstanding time! In the meantime, Dad is working and I am home working and "supervising" the kitchen being taken apart. I got my exercise yesterday walking up and down the stairs to move all the contents of the bottom cupboards and about half of the upper ones up to the back bedroom (where Brent and Buffy were). It should be torn up by tomorrow afternoon then the granite people are coming in on Thursday morning to measure the template. I"m going to go and get a bunch of TV dinners...Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones so we don't have to eat out ALL the time. Fortunately, the countertops, sink and stove will be back in by the 19th...3 days after we get back from Germany. The upper cupboards will have to wait until after we get the backsplash done which I haven't even chosen yet. I think we'll be in chaos for several months, because after the backsplash we are going to get some painting done. I'm still debating about the bookcases.

On Saturday night we had the annual Million Dollar Party that Dad gives for his Willamette clinic every year that he exceeds a million dollars in production. It went well. The weather picked up right before it so that we were able to use the deck a bit although it was still pretty cold! People would go out a bit and then come in to warm up and back and forth.

Yesterday, we watched conference and then D & A and kids and B & B came over to enjoy the leftover steaks and salmon and appetizers. It was good except that I didn't remember how many cups of rice that I put in for the consomme rice and put too much consomme in so that it had about an inch of liquid on top when it should have been done. I then put another cup of rice in and cooked it some more but the "new rice" was still pretty crunchy. My advice to all if you do such a thing is to just pour off the liquid instead of trying to rescue it We also celebrated Taylor's birthday with a great Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake. Adina had forgotten candles (I must be rubbing off on her) so we finally found three long squiggly ones. After they left, I was emptying the cupboard underneath the "junk drawer" and found a full pack of the ones that keep lighting again! Oh, well!

Grandma is doing all right, I guess. She has a very bad sore on the outside of her right foot which is causing her a lot of pain especially when she has to get on her feet to transfer. They are trying to minimize the times they have to do it which frustrates her since she thinks she has to go to the bathroom really frequently. Each visit is an adventure...never knowing what to expect or what she will say. Lisa, Meredith and Lisa's two boys are coming up tomorrow just for the day. I hope it's a good day for Grandma! Insurance has determined that they are going to discontinue coverage for home health to come treat her sore since it doesn't seem to get rid of the sores. We're going to a physician this Wednesday who is supposed to be a wound specialist. It will be interesting to see if he has a different opinion!

Well, I need to get busy on the bills and my Columbia Basin work.

I love you all!

Mom