What’s Up ~April 2025

Grandma Lynda on April 16, 2025

Hein-Baker Trio

Garth and Bethany: Garth spent two days in Moab, Utah, biking and camping with his friend, Jim, from Winter Park. They also hosted Bethany’s niece, Zephone and her friend, Lilah for a weekend of spring skiing at Winter Park.

Chance is having a good time in Tokyo. He likes his host family, although dealing with a toddler is not always easy. He’s taking three classes ~Japanese, Environmental Policy and Food Value Chain (his favorite class). He rides three separate trains to get to campus, for a total 1 1/2 hour commute each way. The campus building is a huge twenty-two floor skyscraper with two cafeterias, gym, and a 7-11, where he gets lunch almost every day. Although he’s only been in Japan a short time, Chance is already becoming more proficient in Japanese language and culture, including using chopsticks for most meals. 

Jason and Erika’s Family

Jason and Erika ~ No news

Devon Last month Devon was looking forward to spending time in her favorite city, New Orleans, with her favorite friends and colleagues, and with good friends, Wolf and Kerry, who currently live there. But, she got “put on a jury.” (Crazy right?) Devon stayed home to do her civic duty. Send her a private message if you want to know about the experience. She has “a lot of feelings.” Since then, she’s been working hard to ramp up for #birthday month. She’s starting off strong at Jackie Robinson Day at Dodgers/Rockies. Devon notes, “#42 is killing it!”

Tyler landed a summer internship at Adobe in San Jose, one of her top dream companies! She’ll be on their Digital Experience Marketing team as an Internal Product Manager. This is a super competitive and prestigious MBA role, and she’s really grateful. (And we, her family, are so proud of her!) Over Spring Break, Tyler became an Advanced Open Water Certified scuba diver on a life-changing school trip to the Bahamas, where she lived on a boat for five days and saw sharks (including a rare hammerhead!), turtles, stingrays, and more. Right now Tyler is focused on wrapping up the semester, balancing coursework, launching her business (LifeQuest), leading a few clubs, and planning Yacht Week in Croatia for her class this summer!   


Connor was recently laid-off from his new job at Boxcar Coffee because foot-traffic has decreased tremendously. He is actively seeking other jobs in Boulder and hopes to find something else soon. In the meantime, he goes to the gym five times a week. He was recently promised a free electric bicycle from one of Grandma’s friends and he very much looks forward to having a bike to ride around Boulder this summer. Connor’s other news is that he has a new roommate, Grace, starting May 10th. Grace was previously a Resident Assistant in one of the dorms.


Max has decided he wants to go to college next year to study kinesiology, with an eventual goal of becoming a physical therapist. He’s deciding between CU Boulder and CSU Fort Collins. His senior year is winding down and he’s looking forward to attending Prom at Coors Field in two weeks. He’s applying for a summer job now. Max would love to work doing auto mechanics, maybe at a car dealership

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa continues to deal with medical issues, including pain in his hands and feet. He notices that the usual flock of robins in missing from his North Aurora neighborhood. He’s hoping to start feeling better, so he can spend more time outdoors now that the weather is better.

Grandma is delighted with the warmer weather. She has more than thirty yellow daffodils blooming in the front and back yards. Her new pear tree is full of blossoms and bright red tulips are beginning to open up, as well. She keeps watching for robins, but so far, no luck. Again this year she’s following the Osprey Cam from Boulder and hopes there will be chicks this spring.

What Advice Do You Have For Max?

Grandma Lynda on April 16, 2025

Grandma: “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Grandpa: Work hard and be happy!

Devon: Be kind, courageous, and open to trying new things! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, other than making the mistake of not putting yourself out there! You’ll never know what you’re capable of or what’s out there for you until you try.

Tyler: Keep being your amazing self – it’s rare and powerful. My advice? Just do it. Go on the trips, go to the parties, say yes to things that scare you (in a good way). College was the best four years of my life, and I want yours to be even better. Take risks, have fun, and don’t stress if the path isn’t perfectly clear – but also stay focused, because school is key to building the life you want.

Connor: Everything that has to be done eventually, needs to be done immediately.

Jason: Just because you can, doesn’t always mean that you should.

Erika: Listen to your inner voice. You have the gift of being keenly aware of your environment and the people you interact with. You are wise beyond your years, and make good choices when others don’t. You are the voice of reason within your group of friends, showing maturity beyond your years. Know that you are loved and have a family who will go to any length to stand with you. I can’t wait to see the life you create. It’s going to be so good!

Chance:  Above all, make your own choices and follow your heart. If college is your choice, then go. If not, and you feel like you should go because everyone is telling you it’s important, then absolutely not. Do what you know is going to make you happy.

Garth: Date the nerd girls.

Bethany: Don’t be afraid to change your mind.

What’s Cookin’

Grandma Lynda on April 15, 2025

Chocolate Croissant Hack

A decadent dessert with only two ingredients? That’s right, you can believe your eyes! These Chocolate-Filled Crescents are flaky, fluffy and sure to satisfy a sweet tooth. Serve chocolate crescents as easy weekend breakfast treats, or bring a batch or two along to your next gathering.

INGREDIENTS

1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count)

1/2 cup mini-chocolate chips

Powdered sugar, if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Heat oven to 350°F. Separate dough into 8 triangles.

Step 2: Place tablespoon of chocolate chips on wide end of each triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side of triangle, rolling to opposite point. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 3:Bake at 350°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

TIPS

TIP 1:Before baking your chocolate crescents, line your cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper for easier cleanup.

TIP 2: I like to use miniature chocolate chips for this chocolate crescents recipe to make it easier to roll up the crescent triangles.

TIP 3: Serve these Chocolate-Filled Crescents for brunch, mid-day snack or an everyday breakfast.

Meet The Ancestors: Grandpa Jones

Grandma Lynda on April 13, 2025

My earliest memory of my father happened when I was about four years old. My family lived upstairs, above my grandparents, in a small home across from the local Catholic church. I remember sitting on the edge of the sofa, watching my father sleep next to me. My brother and I were eating an orange and we methodically put the orange seeds in my father’s ear. By the time he woke up, my father’s ear was over-flowing with discarded orange seeds. That event is significant for two reasons. It established that my father could sleep through anything and that he allowed us children tremendous leeway. Adults in my family have always claimed that the ability to sleep anywhere is the sign of a clear conscience. In my father’s case, that was certainly true.

I miss my father tremendously. He taught me to fully appreciate comic books, holidays, gardening, Alfred E. Newman, horse-racing and music. He was the only father I knew who could click his heels and wiggle his ears. Who would play Sousa marches on his trumpet on the Fourth of July and taps at night. The last piece of music I heard him play was Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I never heard him play so well, or so sweetly. That was in July. He died four months later, on Thanksgiving Day, 1996. He was the most honorable, kind, gentle man I’ve ever know.