Hide, Seek, and Panic

A few weeks ago, Carolyn was in the bathroom. When I heard her open the bathroom door, I went to see if she needed help choosing clothes.

But she wasn't in her room.

"Carolyn?" I called.

I glanced into her bathroom on my way past to check the living room, but didn't see her in there.

There was no answer to calling her name repeatedly as I looked in the three other rooms in our house.

Heart beating faster, I went out on the porch, wondering if she'd decided to go for a walk by herself, which is not okay.

Nope.

Called her name again.

No answer.

Heart racing, I ran back to her room and looked in her closet and on the far side of her shelves.

I couldn't see her anywhere.

"Carolyn?"

I almost passed her bathroom again as I wondered how long I should wait to call the police. Then I decided to go inside the bathroom, just to check, and look who I found standing behind the curtain?

She was delighted that I finished the Hide and Seek game that she hadn't bothered telling me that we were playing.

It's an adventure a day around here! I love this baby sister of mine.

 

Carolyn's Got Talent!

For Carolyn's most recent talent show, she COLORED PICTURES, princess pictures, of course, since she's Princess Carolyn in a sparkly red dress and classy black and red sparkle jacket!

There were so many pictures that her friends Sam and Brailey helped hold them up.

In past years, Carolyn has sung a song, but she's so talented she chose a new one this year.

What's one of your talents?

Adventures Of Carolyn

As a Special Olympic Cheerleader, Carolyn rode in the Washington County parade with style.

If you know Carolyn, you know that she loves anything tropical, or Hawaiian, and especially loves pineapple, so she had a blast at a Special Needs Mutual Polynesian Dance with lots of friends and sparkly pineapple dealy boppers on her head.

Carolyn was also happy to have pictures taken with me at the tropical island setting...

...but didn't take kindly to me "eating" her pineapple.

We have housecleaning jobs that Carolyn loves to do, but sometimes it takes her longer to finish than others.

When we're not working, we like to walk in the Tonaquint Nature Park. This time, Carolyn was excited to find a swan sitting on a nest! Because there was a barrier, this was as close as she could get, but it was close enough.

We found a bridge that offered a great chance for a sister picture.

We had to stop at the end of our walk to get pictures of Carolyn with a wall of her favorite colored flowers.

What's your next adventure?

 

Eat a Cloud

Do you like fluffy white clouds? Do you see shapes in them, like teddy bears, race cars or grumpy old men?

Do you see shapes in this cloud picture?

There is a shape there...it's called a "Boba Cloud."

It came from "The Orange Peel" restaurant that sells bubble tea. (Thanks, Bethany McGarry, for introducing me to those things.) Carolyn likes the tea (smoothie) WITHOUT the tapioca "bobas," so I just make her chocolate peanut butter smoothies at home.

The cloud looked like so much fun that I got one, but it turned out that neither Carolyn nor I wanted to eat it!

So we played with it instead.

I have never understood why people tell other people not to play with their food. Why not? It's interesting!

Do you like cotton candy?

Do you like to play with your food?

Planting People

'Tis the season to plant gardens!

Bob and Carolyn are the gardeners in this household. Bob built raised planter beds last fall, which makes it so much easier to reach the dirt and put in the seeds and weed the plants and pick the produce.

They'll grow them...I'll eat them!

Do you like to eat vegetables?

Do you like gardening?

 

Shark Feet

When Carolyn and I were in the store, we saw some slippers that we couldn't believe.

Then Carolyn got too close...

...and the slippers caught up to her!

Ahhhhh!

Shark bites!

It looks like they're smiling. What could it hurt to go closer?

Would you enjoy sticking your feet into these mouths? 

Or do you prefer a more subtle kind of footwear?

Birthday Girl

Carolyn likes bread so much that she bought herself a loaf at a festival.

She didn't care that it's bigger than her head. She assured me she could eat it all.

She did, too, once I sliced it up and put it in the freezer, taking it out a slice at a time.

I also gave some to Bob, but Carolyn didn't mind. She's a sharing kind of girl, even on her birthday.

She wants to give treats to everybody!

Happy birthday, Carolyn! You don't look 54, but you are certainly a good example to be so proud of your age.

Not Just Any Old Ice Cream Sandwich

Valentine's Day traditionally generates gifts of sweet chocolate.

Carolyn happens to be a loving chocolate connoisseur who knows what to do with a plain bar of chocolate, or even a simple chocolate ice cream sandwich. 

A coating of creamy peanut butter, a bed of juicy sweet peaches, and an artful swirl of chocolate sauce on top makes for a dessert treat worthy of the Ritz.

And Carolyn would be happy to make one for you.

Does this treat appeal to you?

What's your favorite feel-good food?

Gotta Get Wet In August!

While out riding around, we came across an easy access to the Santa Clara River.

Even better than wading in the water was a trapeze swing that sailed right out over the flowing stream! Carolyn lost no time in taking advantage of a fun way to cool off in the August heat.

 I told her she looked like Jane.

 We didn't find Tarzan, but who needs him when you've got your own water hole in the desert?

Do you like to get wet in the summer, whether it's walking past sprinklers and sticking your hand in the spray, or white water rafting? What's your favorite water sport?

Party Girl

Before her birthday month is completely over, here are some snapshots of Carolyn's birthday bash.

 She's had 53 years to get this celebration thing down.

 She made the most of seeing her family, including oldest sister, Melinda (also Biddee or Auntie M.)

She even had great nieces and nephews there to celebrate! (That makes her a great aunt!)

 Big brother DellRay got (and gave) a hug.

 Bob was there, too.

 All but two siblings were there to party hearty! (Back row: DellRay, Shirley, Gregory. Front row: Rebecca, Melinda, and brother in law Paul. Middle: CAROLYN!

 Nephew Brian and his wife Aspen were happy to have made it to the party.

 One of Carolyn's special friends, Jill, loved every hug she could get.

 Oh, yeah, and there were even a few presents.

 Brother Greg, sister-in-law Judi, and niece Alana converged in a group hug!

 Sisters Penny and Deanna came to kick up their heels...or keep them on the floor. (Their choice!)

Nephew Hayden gave Carolyn celebration birthday flowers. You won the race to age 53, Carolyn. Now you're in the race for the age 54 finish line. We look forward to seeing how you make age 54 rock and roll!

Reluctant Carolyn Ends Up Having Fun!

Carolyn and I got to go on our first cruise last fall! 

(THANKS Jeff and Jamie and family, and Brian and Aspen!)

Since Carolyn has a birthday coming up, and since she LOVES her birthdays and LOVES to have fun, here's a picture from one of her adventure times, even though at first she didn't think it would be any fun.

When we first climbed the ladder up, up, up to the platform, she said she didn't want to go. But thanks to holding hands with my daughter-in-law, Aspen, as they flew along on parallel zip lines, Carolyn decided it was a thrilling adventure after all!

(Brave Brian and Awesome Aspen)

Here's to many more adventures, Carolyn!

How about you? Would you go on a zip line?

Or would you rather watch someone else ride one?

On the Road in Dallas!

I've had a chance to travel the last couple of weeks! I've most recently been in Dallas, Texas, with my lovely sister Bev and her hunky husband Mark. 

Bev played the flute in school, and she's still got it!

 Bev's friend, Sara, and Sara's daughter, Alison, loved the performance!

My traveling companion was my other sister, Carolyn.

We had a rockin' out dance on Saturday!

 (Macarena, anyone?)

When Carolyn was little, she used to fall asleep doing the spraddle splits. Guess what? She can still do it!

 We loved seeing family, like Bev, Jaren, Mark, Curtis, and Iveth. 

As my old hometown newspaper used to report of social events, 

"A good time was had by all."

Do you like packing a suitcase (or personal item only if you fly Spirit airlines) and going places?