This morning I took Annaka outside with me as I worked around the house. I started cleaning up the shop area of my garage. (I havent organized it since we moved in.) Our garage door was open so that Annaka could play outside and I could still keep track of her. She was quite content in her playing so I had to peek at what she was doing. What I found made me chuckle. Annaka had found scrap blocks and a couple smaller pieces of wood from the wood pile and turned them into her custom set of blocks. I had to go and get the camera. The first picture is of Annaka and her castle that she built. The other two are of the boat that she made after finishing her castle.

The game plan was to set ourselves up with a wonderful weekend of food and family and fun. With this weekend being the last time Haden and Lauren would be able to so easily visit from Spokane it seemed appropriate to make it special. Haden and Lauren will be moving off to Denver this Tuesday back to Lauren's home town. It is depressing to see them go and know we will not be able to visit as often as we would like. It has also started sinking in with Naomi that the Barkley kids have been spread out in the last year. It is sad to see two uncles and three aunts be far enough away that an afternoon dinner or even a couple day trip is near impossible.

With those depressing thoughts covered It was a joy to have H and L over. We were also happy that Haden was officially done with his job at Whitworth. With no job constraints and the chaos of living from boxes meant that visiting and staying with us made it easier for them to stay longer. Laundry, unpacked kitchen, and a semi-undestroyed living quarters for the win! (Though Annaka and Adelyn may have had just as much pull as those amenities) On a side note just glancing at the two girls and their pictures that I have on this paragraph... they are starting to really look like sisters.

On Friday night we stayed in to enjoy a nice home cooked Korean meal. Naomi made a wonderful spicy kimchee soup. It was delicious. Haden and Lauren were able to enjoy some football and see the girls. I know Annaka enjoys being visited by her aunt and uncle. She and Adelyn even were able to talk with uncle Will over Skype. Annaka got a kick out of it and Will was able to see Adelyn's huge, baby fat covered, legs.

On Saturday we crossed our fingers that grandma Wha-Sun would be able to join us. We were sadly disappointed to find out that she would be out on a fire until Sunday evening. (Flash backs to when April had only a couple days before leaving for college with Wha-Sun on a fire were swirling through our minds) We went all out on breakfast and after weighing our selves down with the typical American fare of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and golden brown biscuits we set off on enjoying our Saturday. We snuck in a trip to the local European bakery enjoying their bread and pastries before grandpa Bill arrived from Curlew. We also enjoyed a pleasant walk to get our mail. Oh... and a tiny tiny bit of football :D In the pictures above our princess Annaka has utilized one of moms skirts as a dress and Lauren is giving her lips a once over with her favorite lip gloss.

I also started up our dinner about noon. I had found a good recipe for ribs and was determined to give it a try. It was my first real attempt at cooking ribs but I had no fear! One of the pictures has Annaka helping me prep the babybacks on Friday evening with the dry rub. When all said and done and the time had arrived for the true test of the ribs... all looked well. They were cooked on time. The sauce was wonderful. The meat was tender. Caleb gets and A+ for finding the right recipe and executing it quite well.

We all enjoyed our weekend to say the least. Though in the end it was bitter sweet. Our prayers go with Haden and Lauren. We hope we will be visiting with you in Colorado soon.

The finished product.







This picture is all that was left of the ribs... Two lunches later those were gone as well.






Annaka being attacked by by Haden... the ribs were that good!







We ended the evening with a nice Canadian cake that Bill brought. It was good "it wasn't too sweet"!!

Like in my previous post Annaka decided she wanted me to lay down with her. How can you say no to "daddy... can you lay down wiff me for a widdle bit..... just a widdle bit?" I dont know many people that would be able to say no to such an adorable request... I know I failed. Annaka=WIN:Daddy=WIN :D

My daughter never ceases to amaze me. Annaka has taken to always wanting either Naomi or I to snuggle her in her bed while she goes to sleep. Every once in a while I will. Though I usually tell her "Only for a little while". She usually agrees and then snuggles up (one of my favorite parts). The humorous part is that in the process of snuggling she always takes her hand and latches onto the top of my shirt collar. Only then will she try to get comfortable and close her eyes. This can often mean quite a bit of tossing and turning for that perfect position... but she never lets go of my collar. She apparently has to know precisely when I will be trying to sneak out and go to bed myself. About the only way I have found to make it out of there when she is not quite asleep (without a lot of whimpering) is to kiss her little hand, remove it from my shirt and then give her forehead a kiss along with a "good night". For some reason that works well enough for her to finally accept the inevitable and drift off to sleep.


Leg Update: This last week I have started going to physical therapy to better the flexiblity in my ankle. My knee seems to have retained it flexibility and only has some minor swelling after any prolonged weight or movement. I can still feel the fibula click every once in a while but the Dr. said to not worry it will heal. This past weekend I was even able to mow the lawn fully, do all the trimming and other maintenance jobs. I even cut a small truck load of firewood on Sunday. The full heal with take some time I will no longer be a burden... definitely a plus.