NANA & GRANDPA

The Roderick gang down in Carlsbad for the afternoon. Lovely day of laughing, eating, driving, eating, chatting, eating and just enjoying each other.

Nana and Grandpa took us to their favorite Italian restaurant and Matt and Anthony said it tasted like the real thing. High praise from boys who know what authentic is when they taste it.

Those New Jersey boys are so much fun to be around. I so wish we all lived a little closer and could spend more time together. Anthony decided he is going to set up a family reunion on the east coast next summer. We'll be waiting to hear the details.

For now, we are enjoying every moment of the time we're spending together. We plan to send them home as honorary California Roderick's.

PADDLE BOARDING

Yesterday the girls introduced the boys to the hottest new sport in SoCal these days. It's called paddle boarding and it looks to be quite fun . . . if you are young and fearless. Check out the pics and a big shout out to the guys on PCH in Sunset Beach for hooking us up big time.

UGSFAW WEEKEND

There are very few weekends that I do not attend church somewhere. This is one of those weekends. My responsibilities for UGSFAW are complete. And so here I sit, my two little dogs beside me, relaxed, enjoying the quiet of the morning and blogging. I wanted some time to think and be alone with my thoughts. Decompress, meditate, maybe even a nap.

Scott, Hope, Anthony and Matt, however, are at church taking in the festivities. The whole worship essence this weekend is UGSFAW so they will have a spiritual experience not soon forgotten. Even Hope, after being there all week, was looking forward to church this morning. Ultimate, Gnarly, Super, Fantastic, Awesome, Week was exactly what it was for almost 900 kids and volunteers. Adults will get a taste of it this morning. God is good and it was evident all last week. Volunteers, staff, parents, kids. All were blessed. I am so happy to be a part of a church where everyone pulls together to further the spiritual journeys of all.

I think I'll go have another cup of coffee.

SCARED SHAE

I was checking on a cobbler in oven earlier this evening when Shae comes up and says "Look at my face." As I turned towards her I scream in sheer terror (hey, you know I love scaring my girls, you've heard the stories). She jumps back, does a two step kind of thing, screams back at me, flailing her arms around and runs toward the vegetable sink. Here's the thing . . . she does all of this at the same time. I am not kidding.

We laughed so hard we created snorting, silence, wetting of one's pants and sheer delight.

By the way, the cobbler was yummy. A Roderick recipe.

Peach Cream Cobbler

2 cups flour 8-10 ripe peaches or 3 large cans

2 tablespoons sugar 1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup butter 4 egg yolks

1 pint whipping cream

Sift flour, sugar and salt together. Cut in butter until crumbly. Pat into 9x13 pan. Peel and slice peaches and cover crust. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over top. Bake 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Mix egg yolks into whipping cream. Pour over peaches and bake another 30 minutes or until firm and a toasted light brown. Serve with whipping cream drizzled over top or ice cream works well too. Serve warm.

JERSEY SHORE

Did you know that in New Jersey they charge you to go on the beach? It's like $7.00 per person to step onto the sand. Who knew? Matt and Anthony can't believe what a deal we have here in SoCal.

The boys and Hope went down to dog beach today with D&D and watched the pups frolic in the surf. Dakota spent most of her time swimming and dodging waves, a first for our dainty gal. Diesel kept the family safe by barking at every dog that glanced his way.

After the beach our sweet pooches went to the doggie spa where Hope works, for a bath to remove all that sea water from their fur. Matt and Anthony watched Hope do her thing and now all are home for a yummy dinner and movie tonight at the local theater with the girls.

Tomorrow's adventure . . . Nana and Grandpa's.

VENICE BEACH

Today the New Jersey boys went to Venice Beach and Santa Monica with Addison. We live in Orange County and LA County is like on a totally different planet. Like seriously. Like totally LA.

For instance, you will see like pot stores in LA County, like as in marijuana. Yep. Right there on the street you can buy like some weed and like smoke it. Like for medicinal purposes. Or you can have a listen to like an up and coming rap artist. Like earphones and all. Or you can run into all kinds of people . . . like all kinds.

Like Matt and Anthony ran into a man who asked them for some like spare change. You see his mom and dad were like killed by seagulls and he like needed money to buy a like BB gun to take vengance on the like unfortunate gulls.

The stories those boys will have to tell will be endless when they arrive home. I just hope their moms and dads will allow them to come visit the Roderick's again someday.

IN-N-OUT

We just got back from enjoying a Southern California favorite. In-n-Out burgers are the best and no vacation is complete without stopping by for a try. Everyone thinks so, look at those smiling faces as they throw them down, burgers and fries. Anyway you want it.

The kids ate outside and, well, those of us who are a little older chose the easier route inside. Hmm. I think it's summer in HB, but Matt and Anthony said they were cold while enjoying the evening breeze. Must be the low humidity here in Roderick land.

Earlier in the day the boys went to have bagels, checked out Newport Beach, dropped into the Jack's Surf Shop, had some pizza with Hope and Daisy, did some errands for me and now are enjoying a "chick flick" downstairs with the ladies. I think they're having a good time down here.

Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Matt and Anthony, New Jersey Boys hanging with the Rodericks.

BEACH BONFIRE

Jump in a car and drive to the beach. Pick out a firepit. Walk down to shore. Do some body surfing in the Pacific. Walk back to the firepit. Roast up some hot dogs. Drink a soda or maybe a water. Chat up the relatives. Laugh a lot about all kinds of crazy. Do some planking. Go back to the firepit. Toast some big ol' marshmellows. Eat a s'more. Sit around the firepit and watch sun set over the pier. Drive back home. Take a shower. Go to McDonald's. Drive home again. Watch a movie. Go to sleep.

The beginning of the Jersey boys vaca. Roderick style.

REALLY CONTINENTAL

Do airlines really think that kids are going to carry credit cards? Credit only, no cash. Those New Jersey boys that flew into SNA today were starving by the time they hit the tarmac here in sunny SoCal. Addison scooped them up at baggage claim and went straight to Arby's.

And do airlines often fly with uncomfortable seats that do not recline on coast to coast non-stop flights? Those New Jersey boys had to sleep sitting erect. Good thing they're young.

Yes. The New Jersey cousins have arrived and are staying at the Roderick hotel for a week of California girls, maybe a wee bit of California church and a whole lotta fun.

Matt and Anthony do not realize what they bargined for but they will soon learn. Remember, we are Roderick.

SURF'S UP

Yup. Shae took her first surf lesson this morning. She told me she got up on her board several times, the water was a comfortable temperature and she LOVED it. Michael, Addison's bff, is teaching her. He teaches private lessons for the Hyatt and is quite a surfer in his own right.

A side benefit. Salt water is very good for the skin. Shae is hoping her pesky eczema will clear up fast. Exfoliate is another skin healthy option for sea water and sand. All in all a varied experience. Exercise. Eczema. Exfoliate.

Makes me wonder why a Roderick didn't do this before.

BUFFS

The UGSFAW Blue Team has always been close to my heart. I was the captain of that team for many years. Buffs, the UGSFAW answer to tee shirts, are given to each child as they register on the first day.

This year we decided to sell buff's for $5.00 each. We also ordered camo, pink and black. Team colors go on sale tomorrow. Black buffs will never go on sale because they are the administrative buff (indicates people on staff/people with need to know status).

Kids are in a buff buying bruha. They are collecting all the colors of UGSFAW. You know me, I love to collect too.

Hmm. I may need to buy some buffs tomorrow. UGSFAW represent.

FORGOT MY KEY

Hope came home from UGSFAW earlier than I did today, and alas, she forgot her key. She was patient for awhile because she had Caleb to entertain her. However, Hope can only be entertained for so long and her brain was sent into challenge mode. Never a good thing.

She, along with her young sidekick, decided to "break in" through the front window. She jimmied the screen and had achieved her point of entry. Apparently Hope was to big to fit through so she generously offered the deed to Caleb. He went through in a flash and unlocked the front door so that Hope could now gain entry. When I arrived home a few minutes later Caleb could hardly contain his excitement concerning the felony that had just been committed.

My apologies to Caleb's family for introducing him to a life of crime. Those Roderick's.

ADAM

I was upstairs this afternoon decompressing after an UGSFAW morning. Adam (our student life intern for the summer at church who is residing at the Roderick compound) came in and didn't realize I was home. He let the dogs out of the kennel and, of course, D&D book it upstairs knowing that I am up there. I heard Adam at the bottom of the stairs softly calling them. He had a decision to make.

You see at the Roderick's the dogs nor boys are allowed upstairs. Adam chose to follow the house rules even when he thought no one was at home. A character building moment for him and a respect moment for me.

I like that in our summer honorary Roderick.

OREGON COAST CRABBING

Our small group and a few other friends decided to go crabbing on the coast for the weekend. Fun stuff when you live in Oregon. We all got rooms at the same hotel and it was a big party. Kids and everything in between.

We woke up the next morning and us moms took all the kids to the beach. Yes I had all four girls and Hope was in a backpack. Marybeth had 3, Lydia had 1 and there were a bunch more of those little hooters running around in the sand.

The dads went to the dock with the crab traps. We had huge crab boil planned for the evening and we were all ready to eat us some fresh crab.

Greg and Dave had planned this fun weekend not thinking of the possibility being skunked. The thought of not catching any of the succulent sea dwellers didn't cross their minds. Then they started to panic. What are we going to feed these people if no crabs are trapped? Oh well. Might as well take your best shot.

The guys threw out the traps, left them out for about 15 minutes and started pulling them in. You will not believe this but they caught an abundance of crabs. These guys grew up in Oregon and went crabbing a lot and they never had seen anything like this.

When we gathered for our crab feast we actually got tired of cooking those babies and we all actually got sick of eating crab. Seriously.

Again, a God thing.

FRACTURED

Did you ever have a kid identically fracture both upper arms and right clavacal by being crushed under a ride at a small amusemet park? We did. Hope was 3 years old.

It happened at a birthday party and I was there to witness the whole incident, there with the paramedics, there in the ambulance and there in the emergency room. Just me and Hope. Scott finally walked through the curtain at Hoag Hospital and I fell apart. Hope never lost conscious but was in a pain and on a back board and begging us in that tiny 3 year old voice to take her home. I can not put into words what Scott and I both were feeling. Four agonizing hours of MRIs, X-rays, needles and conversations with several doctors. We were told about the fractures and assured there was no evidence of head trauma or internal bleeding. Face and hip lazerations and bruising that did not require any attention other than pain management.

The medical staff kept asking us what happened. As I shared the story they could not believe she didn't sustain more serious injuries after the kind of trauma she had suffered. They kept asking me to repeat the story. And of course I did.

Hope and I spent the night in the hospital for observation and once she was able to use the bathroom the next morning, Sunday morning, we took her home.

Scott and I both realize God's mercy in Hope's accident as well. She was back to her old self in about 3 weeks. Again, a God thing.

We have so much more to share about this story. So if you see us walking around just ask. Many other things happened that could solidify your personal Jesus journey and we'd love to share more with you.

You would never know when you look at that crazy blond Roderick who loves life today that any thing out of the ordinary ever happened to her. God is good.

Chalk another one up for the Roderick's.

SERVING TOGETHER

Thanks John for taking the awesome picture :).

It has always been important to Scott and I that our girls understand how critical it is to not only have a relationship with Jesus but also to serve Him. Over the years that has included UGSFAW as well as many other areas where their inidivdual gifts can be used.

Today we were all together at 6:30am. Scott and the girls were preparing to serve breakfast to over 100 UGSFAW volunteers and I was in a UGSFAW leaders meeting with more volunteers. We were all there. The only thing missing was our sweet Seattle Kelsey.

We're Roderick's. It's what we do.

SHAKESPEAR

We were fortunate to be able to score tickets for a play in Will's town, Stratford upon Avon, even though it would not have been one a mother would choose. I can't even remember the name of it now but it did have some adult content. Content that a responsible mother would not reveal to her high school daughters on the big stage.

The play was about battles, love and gay soldiers. In one scene, a very long scene, two of the adult male actors embraced in a somewhat lude fashion as well as deep, sloppy, sexy kissing. Yea, I know. Bad mom.

Addison and Megan could not contain their eruption of laughter and booked it out of the theater. Kelsey, of course, was engrossed, her English major showing. Shae was gaping in observance of something never seen by her virgin eyes. I kept beating myself up about what kind of mother I had become. All in all a normal Roderick reaction. Leaving Shae in Kelsey's capable hands, I quietly exited the play to retrieve the run away girls.

As I stepped out I saw Addison and Megan being scolded by a matronly English woman who adored Shakespear and was not tolerating their reaction to what can only be decribed as one of her favorite plays. "Do not return to the theater if you can not behave."

Being properly informed the girls returned to their seats and were quiet through the rest of the play albeit bored out of their minds.

Do you think they knew we were Americans?

UK TRAIN

After a busy day of sight seeing through the English country side we boarded a train and headed back to Oxford. It was late, maybe around 11:00pm and we pretty much had the car to ourselves.

Kelsey and I sat across from each on one side of the aisle and Addison, Shae and Megan sat across from each other on the other side of the aisle. We were a big across from each other mess.

We were talking and laughing and just being Rodericks when two drunken Brit's sat down behind us. They could tell we were Americans by our accents and frankly we all look very American.

The gentlemen, and I use the term loosely, started talking loud so that we could hear. Politics, jokes, attitudes, expletives. They became bolder and bolder and stood up and stared over our seats. They proceeded to ask us questions and make comments.

Now Kelsey had lived in England for several months and had time to learn to understand the English humor and accents. The rest of us, not so much, so we kept looking to her to translate. I did understand the cussing, curious, but not much else. All I could do was grin and smile. Again, Addi and Meg were laughing at nothing because they couldn't understand a word either.

Shae. Our poor little Shae was scared to death. No smile. No grin. Sheer terror in her eyes. The men were right behind her and she could smell the alcoholic heat of their breath. I felt bad for her but I couldn't stop laughing at her sweet innocent face. I know. Bad mom, again.

Fortunately the two weren't on the train long and as they got off they left me with a comment. Hear this in your best drunken English accent. "Mummy you are not going to have any trouble marrying any of these gals off."

Wow. I love an honest drunk.

SLEEPING

Scott has a hard time falling asleep when a laptop is being used or I am reading or a fan is blowing etc. He is a no light or sound sleeper. Here's his answer.

To much Roderick information, I know, but we love our satin leapard sheets. Grrrrrr.

UGSFAW PLANKING

Yeah. This week at UGSFAW we're gonna see a whole lotta planking. It's the newest nerd craze and Addison has started throwing it down. Be careful. You may be her next victim. She's already planked the 50 gallon slime drum, the jumper in the Fun Zone and the offering pillar in the Auditorium.

Beware. We are Roderick.

WAY TO GO HALEY

This morning I had a mini-volunteer helping me in the Treehouse.

Haley was more than willing to do what I asked of her this morning. She's one of those kids who is around this place for 3 services a weekend. UGSFAW starts tomorrow and Haley helped me haul crates, clean tables, set-up the patio and pick up trash. She was my personal assistant and helped quiet my heart. I believe serving is not taught, it is practiced.

Thanks Hales. See you tomorrow.

Now go back to the Beach House.

IT'S A 50'S THING: #23

One of reasons I love to blog is that it keeps these fingers moving. Back off arthritis. Another is putting memories in print will someday help me remember. Take that alzheimers.

I enjoy being proactive.

IT'S A 50'S THING: #22

I checked out and grabbed my brown paper bag. In doing so, the top of the sack clipped me just under my nose. Yep. I got a papercut. Who knew brown paper bags could pack such a punch?

I am so old.

TAILGATE

Addison and I were driving down a local road when we stopped at a red light. Across the intersection, a truck slowed to the curb. A frantic man jumped out and ran through traffic to pick up a lost tailgate. He ran back to his truck. I assumed he would throw the fractured piece into the back of said truck, a treasure to sell at his next garage sale. No, no, no.

I felt like I was being punked. Where were those blasted cameras? Where was the TV crew? This guy actually held up traffic while he hammered, screwed, cussed and reattached the tailgate to his ride. He then jumped in the truck and took off in what can only be described as a scene from the Fast and the Furious. Seriously.

The only thing missing was Paul Walker.

MOCHA

Every morning Scott gets up and brews a pot of espresso and makes us both a steaming, hot latte to get our day off and away. Today was no different other than Shae was celebrating her 20th birthday.

He asked her if she would like him to fix her a cup. She replied "Yes please, only could you not put any sweetner in it and make it a mocha with chocolate syrup." He did as requested and placed the delightfully steaming cup in front of her.

I said "What a great dad" to which Shae replied "Who?"

Happy Birthday Shae. Love, Dad

GREG'S FISH

Here in SoCal we have a fish called a grunyun. They spawn with the moon. True story.

Scott was telling Greg, Marybeth's husband, you've heard me mention her, about grunyun. Greg, being a true guy's guy was all up for going out with Scott and searching for the tiny creatures. All they needed was a bucket and a full moon.

They left our house about midnight and headed for the beach. Now normally our beach closes at 10:00pm, but not while the grunyun are running. They arrived on PCH and Scott decided to park a couple blocks from the pier and avoid the "crowds".

The boys took it to the shore line and waited. Grunyun come in with the tide and the female sticks her tail in the sand and lays her eggs and the male swims around her fertilizing them. Greg and Scott saw a few fish swimming in and they started grabbing them and putting them in their bucket.

Their good time was interrupted by a stray lady who told them to leave those fish alone because they were the scouts and those particular fish needed to swim out to tell the others it was a safe beach. Really.

She also told them the grunyun were really hitting the shore by the pier. So the boys emptied their bucket and headed for the pier.

Once there, they did find lots of fish . . . thousands of fish . . . millions of fish swimming and flopping and fertilizing in a huge fish frenzie. Scott and Greg started grabbing handfulls of the unsuspecting sea dwellers, putting them in their bucket.

Greg stopped "fishing". Scott was concerned and asked him why he no longer chose to grab the ocean delights. Apparently, Greg realized they were going to have to clean all those little 4 inch creatures when they arrived home.

They started grabbing handfuls and throwing them back. Catch and release.

JUST EATING DATES

Kelsey just called her dad in somewhat of a panic. Kelsey has taken a liking to eating everything raw. This has been working out well for her until today.

She bought some dates and was chowing down on them while enjoying the Seattle life. Now as most of us do, we finger the crumbs and eat those as well and she was doing this exact thing. There in lies the horror. Her next bite produced the realization that bugs were in the dates she was consuming. To add further insult, Kelsey thinks she was eating said bugs excrement, mistaking those morsels for crumbs. Eww.

I am signing her up tomorrow for X-factor.

KELSEY QUOTE

Scott and I were going to Hawaii and explaining to the girls about our upcoming trip. Kelsey had just gotten her license and was eager to have the car all the time. She stuck out her lower lip and said "You're not taking the car are you?"

I don't make this stuff up.

WEDDINGS #1

My sister got married in Texas so the whole family flew down for the big day. It was a gorgeous, small, intimate affair and our girls were the only kids in attendance. The only people we knew was our immediate family. Shae was a baby and can't remember it. Kelsey thought it was better than ice cream. Addison, well, you know.

One of Shelly's husband's uncles grabbed Addison in his arms and was talking to her as he wandered around the reception. He walked over to enjoy a conversation with another relative and Addison was having none of that. After all, she coveted all attention. As he was talking she grabbed his tie and pulled his face down to hers and stared him down. He was dumbstruck. And laughed his head off at this tiny little dynamo.

Me, I was mortified.

ADDISON & GRANDAD

My dad and Addison were talking one day when Ads was about 4. She got real close to him and looked up his nose. She very seriously said "Grandad I think your hair fell off and is in your nose."

Gotta love her. She's a Roderick.

TRANSPORTING GOATS

Summer time with Roderick's is always a adventure and several summers ago was no exception. Let me share a story about Scott's VBS program in Oregon one year.

We were doing a farm theme and Scott thought it would be oh so cool to have some live animals around for the kids. Now, that in and of itself is not hard. Lots of folks in Oregon raise livestock. The difficulty is transporting them to said destination as he soon found out.

Scott went over to our friends to pick up the goat. Dan, who was not there at the time and owner of livestock, said it was a small goat and Scott could borrow his old van to put the goat in and bring it back to the church.

According to Dan's instructions, Scott went out to the pen where the "goat" was kept and found not only one goat but a herd. Not a problem he thought. I'll just grab a goat and be off.

Now you may think this sounds easy enough. No, no, no. When a gate is opened on a farm chaos ensues as every living thing behind that gate flees to freedom. Goats ran everywhere and Scott was trying desparately to round them up, not calmly I must add. Chase one down, put it back, chase one down, put it back. Time was running short. He had to get that one captured goat back to church.

Finally he had accomplished stowing the "church" goat in the van. However, this van was empty. No seats, no net. Just bare, rusted floor and a drivers seat. This goat is on his own. So Scott threw him in the back and off they went. I imagine the sound was deafening as goat hooves and horns skidded over the metal floor. Slamming into the sides of the van was probably loud as well. But the goat did make his appearance and the kids adored him.

That's one goat Scott made a memory for.

NO KIDDING

I did a little birthday shopping this afternoon for the girls and stopped by to grab a Starbucks. As I came out of the store with bag in hand, I glanced at a parked car directly in front of me. I laughed out loud.

There on the roof of the car was a weiner dog laying on his side on a beach towel with sunglasses catching some SoCal rays.

Only in HB.

CINDYISM #1

My dear friend Marybeth taught me this one. As you load dirty dishes in the dishwasher let the dogs like the door. They clean up the drippings from all the dishes and thus are hydrated and nourished on a budget. Be sure to run the dishwasher after!

EARRING

Those of you who are familiar with the Seattle area are sure to understand this next story. It takes place in the small community of Fremont.

We had attended church this fine, blustery Sunday morning and then unanimously decided to take a crack at the open air market in Fremont to grab a late breakfast.

Kelsey, Shae and I went strolling through all the booths, enjoying the aroma of many foods cooking, taking peeks at the variety of wares for sale and yes, spending our hard earned cash on an ecclectic array of goods. The people watching in this place was incredible. Very vegan, many dreads, kick back to the sixties types very granola. So we scored vintage tee shirts and jewelry and I even absconded with a fabulous tribal poncho.

We found a quaint little eatery and sauntered in, sat down and looked the meno over. We placed our order and as my eyes took inventory of this cozy cottage I caught an array of photographs containing dogs. All kinds of dogs. All kinds dogs that had passed on. It was some kind of shrine to canines past. Dates accompanied each picture and as I pulled on my earring, which I am known to do while in deep thought. My hand slowly searched for my other earring . . . all I caught was lobe. Had I forgotten to put the other in that morning before we left? Why hadn't the girls told me about this? Did I lose it somewhere during our journey? What was to become of my lopsided head?

As soon as I had made my discovery I immediately asked the girls all of those questions. They replied "We thought you were just being you Mom and trying out something nuts. You know living in the moment that is Fremont."

Oh how I love my girls.

SNOT

Kelsey, Shae and I were driving home from a lovely day in Levinworth, WA. Chattering and laughing as we're heading down the highway, Shae sneezes. She starts looking around saying "I know I sneezed something out. Where is it?"

I glance out her window in the front seat and to my horror a huge snotty glob is rolling down the glass. I yell "There it is" pointing toward the side window.

The following event can only be described as hysterical chaos. Shae is screaming "Get me a tissue, get me a tissue" while leaning across the seat toward Kelsey (as if the globbuous mass is plotting an attack on her). Kelsey is screaming "Get it off my window, get it off my window" shoving Shae back into her seat (as if the slime is attaching itself permanently to the glass). I am laughing my hind quarters off, unable to breath while watching the scene play out.

That was the best ab workout I've had in a lone time.

LIVING RODERICK STYLE

Our house is a hotel in the summer. We love it. Let me share with you about some of our cherished guests.

Adam, our Student Ministries Intern, is staying with us until August 15. He has the downstairs bedroom and bathroom. He is testosterone starved since moving in, but he is maintaining his strength until he heads home to Michigan.

Next week, Scott's cousin's teenage boys are coming to stay with us for a week. They are going to enjoy the U.S. Open of Surfing and hanging out with the girls. They are flying in from New Jersey and are bringing some "guido" with them.

Kelsey comes on the day that they jump on their flight home out of Orange County. Kels flys in to Long Beach for a weekend wedding of a college room mate and of course, to spend time with her loving family. Right. We may touch bases with her as she comes and goes. Transportation may be a problem.

Mom, Dad and my niece and nephew fly into to Long Beach the day after Kels arrives. Addison leaves for Palm Springs that same day for the weekend with a special friend.

Adam, Shae and Hope leave for camp on the day that Mom, Dad and the cousins leave. Addison comes home early that day to spend time with the extended family.

Kels leaves the next day.

Don't cha wish you were Roderick!

SUMMER CRAZINESS

It starts next week. UGSFAW. Our biggest program of the year. Nine to noon all week the FCCHB campus will be crawling with kids of all elementary ages. They will be slimed. They will jump in jump rooms. They will eat junk food. They will create. They will participate in a game show. They will watch "Church Rats". They will learn about what it means to have a relationship with Jesus.

Let the craziness commence.

GRADUATION 2011

Hope went to HBHS Graduation 2011 and came home with a surprising assett to the car. It appeared someone without rear view mirror capabilities had backed into our parked vehicle. Fortunately the gentleman wrote a very detailed note and his insurance covered damages without question. Lanzini auto took care of the auto and it looks brand spanking new, at least for a 2004 Toyota Highlander.

I remember backing into poles, trash cans, parked bikes and curbs. It took some time to learn how to use those blasted mirrors. Now, of course, I am a stellar driver. At least in my own mind.

It is the beginning of the end for teenage driving at the Roderick's.

UPDATE

Shae graciously, perhaps mercifully, updated the look and feel of the "family" blog. Her major at the University of Oregon is Public Relations and she has blessed us by spending her summer at home. So what was a mother to do but put her daughter to work doing what she loves. You know it's great practice for her upcoming career. Now for some summer blogging.

We're Roderick's . . . it's what we do.