The Emerald City

Dave and Gretta spent last weekend in the Emerald City, Seattle, with seven of our very favorite people, the Flindts. Kyle was in Washington, D.C., at a conference, but everyone else was home and ready to party. First stop was a visit to the gardens of Lisa's friend, Cara, who has "gone green." We were fascinated by the cold frames and beds of lettuce, asparagus, beets, peas, and a half dozen other vegetables, as well as the raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry bushes and a compost area. Cara has even reserved a spot in her yard for "city chickens." Lisa is a great gardener, too, and has lined her backyard with beds full of vegetables. We can hardly wait to hear about Lisa's produce this summer, although we can wait on the city chickens.
Alyssa was so excited to have Grandpa and Grandma visit that she stayed home from nursery school to go hiking with us. We took a trail through moss-covered trees in the Cougar Mountain Reserve, within half an hour of Lisa's home.

We watched Inglewood Junior High vanquish its rival, Evergreen (as usual), with the help of Michael and Spencer running the two-mile, 1200 meters, and 800 meters races.

And we celebrated Alyssa's fourth birthday with a shopping trip to Target to buy an armload of her favorite things. Those are "pink shiny shoes" on Alyssa's feet (all covered with sequins). The sequined pumps were her favorite gift, although the pink running shoes, white patent Church shoes, and pink sundress were close runners up. Might I add that Alyssa really enjoys being a girl?

We spent Saturday taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island, 30 minutes from Seattle, and spending the afternoon on the beach. Of course, as children of an engineer, the young Flindts constructed a fort, hauling big and small logs across the beach.
Other family news:

The Eberts: Olivia Ebert (name subject to change) will be born May 22, with Grandma Gretta tending the kids. Camille knows her mother's love of sightseeing, even when she should devote herself to work and service. "Sorry, Mom, but I'm not going to feel up to anything that weekend," Camille said, "but I do recommend a whale-watching tour for the rest of you."

Michael Spendlove: Michael leaves for Tokyo this Friday. His mother is already mourning his absence, and has taken him to dinner for four straight days this week. She asked if she might visit him in New York City this summer and he responded, "Just you and me? I think that would be a little odd."

Jonny and Jenny Spendlove: Jenny finished her last day of clinicals this week, which was cause for celebration--joining Gretta, Michael, and Jonny for dinner at Cafe Rio. Jonny is buried beneath editing 120 pages of articles for the Hinckley Journal of Politics. Jonny is seriously considering New York University law school, and Gretta said she has already checked out the coming exhibit schedule at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When Jonny winced, Gretta quickly said, "Of course, I wouldn't think of coming to visit you without an invitation." And Jenny graciously added, "Gretta, you can come visit me anytime."

Grandpa and Grandma Spendlove: Grandpa is in tough straits, pinned under an oxygen mask that he can't take off to even speak or eat. Dave and Gretta (and maybe Jonny) will visit him in St. George this weekend.

Grandma Calder: The hospice worker visited Grandma this week and arranged for two extra CNA (practical nurse) visits per day, a nurse visit every week, and three two-hour blocks per week of volunteer visits. Nubia will, of course, continue to come every day. Grandma seemed vastly relieved to have that extra care, as she moves into a phase of her life in which she sleeps longer and longer, has less and less appetite, and is so fragile that it is hard even to stand up and sit down. Grandma tells all who will listen that "Jonny and Jenny are good kids--just as good as kids can be." She will miss them, and wants Jonny to make sure Jenny keeps getting enough food.

The Golden Years

Dave's dad has been in and out of the hospital in St. George for the last two months. He had open heart surgery with complications, went through rehab, and was finally sent home. Less than a week later, he was back in intensive care, and is now the subject of a medical balancing act. Add a high sugar diet to avoid kidney disease, but risk diabetes complications. Remove the heparin to avoid bleeding in the lungs, but take a chance on strokes and clots. Through it all, Dad has not lost his sense of humor. He posed for a "before" picture, looking as sick as could be.

Then, he immediately perked up, to show his true self!

Gretta's mom has had some tough times, too, as she's shuttled between eye and ear doctors, as well as internists. She is now fitted with new hearing aids. A new wheelchair and some extra home health care are in the works. On Easter, Dave, Gretta, and Michael gathered at Mom's house for an Easter dinner of ham, sweet potato casserole, fresh asparagus, and even a strawberry tart for dessert. All the worry and hassle of aches and pains and prescriptions was forgotten, for the moment, in celebrating the joy of Easter.

Gretta is trying to keep a nice house, after Jonny informed her that his memories of growing up in the Spendlove home are of "filth, fighting, and frivolousness." This photo of last week's drooping floral arrangement shows that Gretta has not been entirely successful.

Other family news:

Spencer Flindt has completed his Eagle project. His proud dad submitted a photo of a wonderfully sturdy and straight fence that Spencer and friends built for the Sammamish park. As this blogmaster improves her skills, she may yet upload that fence photo. Dave and Gretta will fly to Seattle this Thursday to see The Fence, as well as to hike the trails near Snoqualmie Falls, ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island, and just enjoy being with the Flindts. Kyle will be in Washington, D.C. at a training conference for the MIT Entrepreneurship organization, for which his is a director of the Seattle branch.

The Eberts are off to Williamsburg for spring break. Emilie has been learning about Jamestown and Yorktown at school, and all the kids are ready for the rides at Busch Gardens. Camille has promised Steve they can do the whole trip for $1000 or less (not including food and ___ and ___ and ____).

Michael spent the weekend reading the 700-page Oracle software manual, in preparation for his summer internship in New York City. He will be working on a financial software project. "The manual is slow going," he volunteered.

Jonny and Jenny flew to San Diego on a private jet for Jenny's nursing job. Jonny went along as the driver, and had his own room at an elegant San Diego hotel, with a view of the beach.

Santa and All That

Dave and Gretta spent a lot of time on the phone, since Lisa, Camille and their families celebrated Christmas at home in Seattle and Boston. We missed them, but understood their hesitation to brave icy roads and crowded airports, as storm after storm pelted Utah and turned our world to white.

We enjoyed the Spendlove Christmas party on December 23, Christmas Eve at Grandma Calder's house, and breakfast Christmas morning with all the grandmas and grandpas, Michael, Jenny, and Jonny.

All of Scott's kids were home for the holidays, and it was fun to talk, on Christmas Eve, with John and Jacquelyn about Philadelphia and thier new baby due in May, with David and Vanessa about their move to San Francisco next spring, and with Grant and Jamie about the major remodeling to their condo overlooking the city. Tara was in Oregon visiting family, but Scotty was at the party with a new, bushy beard. Elizabeth was just back from the BYU Center in Jerusalem, and told about visiting Bethlehem, sealed off from Israel by a 30-foot concrete wall. We got together at 8 p.m., and everyone was having so much fun that we didn't head home until 11!

Grandma read the Christmas story from the Bible, Scott's family sang "Hang Up the Baby's Stocking," and Jonny read an original poem on lust, heritage, his facial hair, and the American dream. He had composed the poem for his East High friends' annual Christmas party. Jonny was appropriately dressed, to create ambience for his poem, in tight jeans, huge silver belt buckle, beige vest, and turtleneck sweater.On Christmas morning, we didn't have the entire living room filled with Christmas gifts, as when the Flindts and Eberts are home, but we still had plenty.

To foster the Christmas spirit, Dave made a fire and bought a new ornament for the mantle.Jonny made crepes, which we filled with nutella and berries for a Christmas morning feast.We relaxed and just enjoyed each other's company!

Starry Seattle

The Flindts didn't make it to SLC for the holidays, so Gretta went to them. The big event was Michael K's 15th birthday on December 13. Gretta, Kyle, and Lisa took Michael to dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant, where he ordered a huge plate of enchiladas and fried ice cream. We also celebrated at a family dinner, with a chocolate cake and candles.

While Kyle and the big boys completed a Scout project, Lisa and Gretta took Kirsten, Bryce, and Alyssa to the Museum of Doll Art in Bellevue. There were rocking horses, dollhouses, and room after room of dolls from many countries and ages.


We also stopped at the Bellevue Art Museum, with craft displays inside and an irresistible metal sculpture outside that we could stick our heads through!
Kyle and the boys joined us Saturday night for a trip into downtown Seattle to see a collection of gingerbread houses with the theme, "Superheroes."
We then had treats in a downtown plaza lighted by the Christmas star on Macey's. Kyle and Lisa took Bryce and Alyssa for a ride on the carousel, while Michael, Spencer, Grant, and Kirsten all had "elephant ears," fried in an outdoor stall and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Our adventure filled us all with excitement for Christmas!