Happy Birthday Dad!

Grandpa Jerry and Jia Tai

Jia Tai likes anything that you can eat off a stick!

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Melina helping herself to some greek salad

Our dinner




Today we celebrated Dad's birthday. His birthday was actually March 23rd but since it was Easter we decided to celebrate later in the week. We had a great greek themed meal with-- lamb kabobs loaded with garlic, humus, tatziki, pita bread, traditional greek salad (tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumber and feta cheese) and roasted potatoes. My brother, Stephen, did most of the cooking but it was a team effort at the end. It was an excellent meal bursting with flavor and leaving a wonderfully refreshing taste in your mouth. To finish the meal, we had a blackberry dessert, which did not mix into our greek theme but it was delightful. A sweet tart crust with a thick layer of vanilla pastry cream and topped with little wild blackberry sauce. Wow!! What a meal!

Later we took a stroll down the street as the sun was setting.

Zona Calda to play at 7th Street Theater!

Come one, Come all... to a magnificent concert of Zona Calda!
This is going to be a really fun night... you can just sit back and enjoy! Zona Calda is a jazz quartet known for entertaining audiences of all ages with their swinging grooves and fresh takes on classic songs. The group is comprised of Boston native Doug Senibaldi, now of Aberdeen, Lew Chapman of South Bend, Doug Backholm of Aberdeen and Melina Backholm of Bellingham. Performing “Boho Jazz”, a term coined by the group to describe their eclectic repertoire, they cover tunes from jazz’s golden age, classic bossa nova, Motown and soul hits and current favorites from artists like Norah Jones and Diana Krall- in short, anything that the band loves. “We select as we go and anything a band member brings to the table is fair game”, says Melina Backholm, the group’s singer. “There have been some times that we tried a tune that just didn’t work, but through the process we allow ourselves to be creative. We’re usually pretty excited about the end result.” The band has years of pro experience with horn player Lew Chapman, retired from a career in the U.S. Army’s Jazz Ambassadors and Doug Senibaldi, a drummer who studied at Berklee School of Music and played sessions in L.A. and New York. Doug Backholm has built a loyal following of fans as well though he jokes that most of them are his kids; he’s the happy father of 7 children and one grandchild. Zona Calda (Italian for “Hot Spot”) has been playing together for nearly two years.



They will be playing at the Historic 7th Street Theater at 7:30pm March 29th, doors at 7:00.
So tell ALL of your friends and come and have a great time!

I'm an aunt again!

I proud to announce that my brother, Stephen, and his wife, Paige, are going to have their second baby in November! I am so excited for them and pray for a healthy pregnancy. God Bless this new little one!

What would you do?

Okay.. so I don't have much to write about... so I thought I would ask a question:

If you could do anything in the world, money being no object, what would it be?

Jia Tai sings the alphabet

Jia Tai and I have been going over and over the alphabet and finally he got it! For the first time this morning he sang the alphabet all the way through by himself and we managed to capture this precious moment on video. :)

Yeehaa!

The days are getting longer! I love having more time to be outside bike riding, gardening, camping, sailing and yes... gently toasting gooey marshmallows over a big bonfire. Ahh... it really is wonderful, isn't it?

Watch out state... here comes Laurel!

Last night Laurel played in the Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA) districts competition. She played outstandingly,there were a few brain bubbles, and she stopped a couple times but she hung on for all she was worth.(because a true muscian does not leave the bench until she or he's finished") Like the judge said, "it's not the person who plays all the right notes or doesn't mess up, it's the person who can get across what the composer was trying to say through the piece." But praise God she placed first! And will now go to the state WSMTA competition in June. I will try an upload the video of her playing sometime soon.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Country Dancing!

This Friday, March 7th,from 7 -9pm, Miller Junior High we are having our bimonthly homeschool family Country Dancing! We do haymakers jig, virgina reel, posties and lots more.So if you are looking for some good fellowship and some fun dancing, grab a waterbottle and your favorite skirt or pair of blue jeans and come have some whole family fun! We usually go to Dairy Queen afterwards to get a refreshing treat!

See you then!

Claire

A quote

A neat quote...

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."

-- Mark Twain

Surprise!

Pear Zinovia born on February 13th 2007

Just minutes before we were going to seat down to dinner we had a great surprise. My brother, Stephen, his wife, Paige, and daughter, Pear came waltzing in the door! We were so happy to see them and we had no idea they were coming (they live in Bellingham, Wa.) After we got back from the benefit concert, we ordered some food from a local restraunt and exchanged cheerful conversation until.. oh.. about 12 midnight. My eyes where so heavy I could hardly keep awake, I had been up since 5am.") But It was a wonderful night.

My niece, Pear, is absolutely adorable! She has the cutest little curl right in the front of her head. Each time I see her she is talking just a little bit more and she is almost walking. She is such a joy and her giggles have no end. ") Isn't she a cutie pie?

Jia Tai's Charm

Just look at that smile... Jia Tai ,3, is the youngest in our family. He is really talking up a storm since his his second surgery last May. He is quite a charmer and loves to have you hold him and dance around with him. I am so glad he is MY brother and that God had him in store for us!

Claire