Hello, everyone. It's been a very slow time around here. Hope everyone checks in, especially anyone in the South that has been affected by the tornadoes. Hope everyone is safe.

Things are chugging along here. Had the world's most boring spring break. One of my boys "S" was recovering from surgery. My oldest was studying for AP tests. The other two were just bored. We did get to Sacramento yesterday to see my sister. Had an early Mother's Day celebration with the family. Tomorrow, back to the school grind and the start of swim team season.

May is going to be busy. Swim season, water polo season, end-of-school stuff and Senior Prom for my oldest. Lots of stuff! My dh and I will be celebrating 21 years of marriage next week, too!

I have entered the 21st century this year and am now on Facebook. If you want to reach me there, look for Sharon Whaley.

Here are a few questions to get us going this week.

1. Have you started any spring planting where you are?

2. Do YOU have your tonsils? It seems like it was a common surgery when I was younger but not anymore.

3. What's the weather in your area?

4. What natural disasters are common in your neck of the woods?

5. Do you have a hybrid car? If so, what type?

Have a great week everyone!

Sharon
14 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

I haven't posted much here in a while, but wanted to check in from tornado-ravaged Alabama. We are all safe. Our area was under six tornado warnings last Wednesday, but thankfully, they did not hit us or our city. The tornadoes have devastated communities all around us, with tremendous loss of life and property. We were without power from Wednesday afternoon until this morning, which was a minor inconvenience compared to the losses that so many have suffered. Power was fully restored to our city today, but there are still hundreds of thousands of people without power. The destruction of property will take years to recover from.

Please keep the victims of these terrible storms in your thoughts and prayers.

Heather, BBBB (two identical, two fraternal) 28 1/2 weeks, now age 18!

Hello Everyone!

1. Have you started any spring planting where you are? No. The weather has been so fickle. We had a tornado hit a few blocks from our house and then 9 days later we had a snow storm. Go figure.

2. Do YOU have your tonsils? It seems like it was a common surgery when I was younger but not anymore. No.

3. What's the weather in your area? Crappy. Cold. Cloudy. Rainy.

4. What natural disasters are common in your neck of the woods? Tornados. Not as common in the south, but we've had our share. Flooding has been somewhat of an issue with the rain and recent snow storms.

5. Do you have a hybrid car? If so, what type? No.

Not much significantly new in our household. Same old stuff. Hopefully it will stay that way.

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

Dh and I were just down in Mississippi from Thursday until Sunday morning. The mood down there was pretty somber. It over shadowed my ds's college graduation a bit. A lot of sadness. But my ds now has his masters degree and will be working as a TV Meteorologist. That is exciting.

1. It has been so cold here that we still keep getting snow flurries. No planting yet.

2. I had my tonsils and adnoids out when I was 8.

3. Weather is %$@(&@% here!!! Cold, snow, rain, cold, cloudy, cloudy, cloudy.

4. We get tornadoes and floods.

5. No hybrid vehicles here yet. Maybe some day.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!

Hello everyone!

I had the boys for the second half of the Spring Break. We had a short camping trip to the mouth of the Mattole River (Lost Coast, CA) and we took a hike to the old Punta Gorda Lighthouse -- a 3.5 mile (oneway) hike along the coast. http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/CalLts/PntaGrda/PntaGrda.htm

We had a good time, a fire in the evening after exploring the beach and the river mouth. A light rain in the morning that cleared up nicely for the walk to the lighthouse.

I went to a friend's home for their annual May Day party. I was late due to working in the gallery, so I missed the may Pole this year...but arrived before all the food was gone! A wonderful Humboldt County gathering. Unfortunately my boys could not come, but there were almost as many kids as adults. A very lively gathering!

1. Spring planting -- none

2. Do YOU have your tonsils? Out at 14 years old.

3. Weather -- quite nice. I think Spring was finally sprung!

4. Natural disasters -- earthquakes, tsunomies, major storms coming in from the Pacific Ocean, bad hair days.

5. Hybrid car -- I use to kid about my "hybrid" commute. I'd put my bike on the roof rack of the minivan, drive the boys the one mile to their elementry school, and then ride the bike to work (~ 9 miles). Then ride the bike back after work in time to meet them coming out of school.

I plan on riding the bike to work tomorrow -- it has been too long! It was been a wet Winter/Spring! I am having some problems with my ears and went to the doctor on Thursday. I do not have a scale at home and was not happy with the 258 pounds they weighed me at (lots of clothes on and shoes, of course!) Even stretched out over a 6'4" frame that is way too much!

I am planning a couple of one-week solo backpack trips this early summer -- which will help! And I need to get in good hiking shape for our family reunion in Yosemite this August -- we have our reservation/permits for the hike to the top of Half Dome and I will be taking the boys up there -- along with some of the younger cousins and other extended family members. A 16 mile round-trip day hike, rising about 4,800 feet from the Yosemite Valley floor to the 8,800 feet elevation of the top of Half Dome. It has been 17 years since I last did the hike.

I need to get off my butt (and away from the computer!) and start cleaning the house for company arriving Friday -- family and friends.

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks