Thursday, May 28, 2009

First and Last

First Day of School

Last Day of School

Today was Jack's last day of preschool.  I can't believe the  year is already over and how much he has grown.  I took the day off work to be able to go to his year end 'performance' and picnic.  Even though he sings the songs at home, you can tell from the pictures his reaction to singing with a group. I do not think performing arts is in his future!  

Singing for the Parents

My Graduate!


Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Things They Say

I have a journal where I try to write down the things Jack and Micah say. Sometimes they are so funny I can hardly stand it.  Unfortunately, most seem to revolve around bathroom humor, which may not be the most appropriate.

I did have a very proud moment this weekend when my 4 year old said to me "Mom, today I will put on my make-up myself" and then "I have to look pretty for Father's Day".  Yes, that is my boy.

Today, though, we were sitting outside for dinner when he started in on his 'Are you a Grandma?' routine. We go through this every few days and I always tell him that I am not a grandma.  

This time I changed my tactic and replied, "No, I am a mom, aunt and sister". 

"Who is your sister?"

"Ocho and Aunt Lisa are my sisters"

Then I smile at Jack and ask, "Who is your sister?"

He starts to say he doesn't have one and then stops and replies: "In your tummy!"

Oh, baby, I wish I knew!  I think you might be shocked to find out you are getting another brother. 5 more weeks and we should finally know!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Top 10 Things I Love About Seaside

2005
10. The beach - it is the only time we really go to the beach and I love sitting there watching the waves.

9. Norma's Fish and Chips - hands down best fish and chips ever. You have to order the full meal, otherwise you leave wanting more.

8.  Swimming - okay, that isn't really true, but I know my boys will love to swim in a pool.
2006
7. 1$ Ice-Cream - even though you have to smile at the cheesy line the Candyman says with each scoop, it is good cheap, ice-cream.

6.  The Snacks - even though we are trying to eat more healthy this year, it is the one time I shop for chips and candy. We always end up with too much food and slightly sick stomachs, but it wouldn't be Seaside without nachos, Uncle Dan's and tubs of licorice!

5. No Men - sorry, honey, but this is girls (and kids) only.  I love that we take our kids on this crazy adventure, where we eat candy and ice cream, lay in our pajama's reading (okay not so much with the young ones now) and sit on the beach even in the pouring rain.  No man is there to say "So, what are we going to do now". This is it, this is all we do.
2007
4. Pizza! - I love the pizza restaurant we go to the 2nd night, loud, family friendly, and yummy pizza. Now, if only I don't lose Jack this year, it will all be good!

3.  Tilt-a-Whirl - for 7 years I have taken my niece and nephew on the tilt-a-whirl, it is our tradition. We started when we barely had enough weight to make it spin once, to being able to spin until we puked. Unfortunately, I can not do the tilt-a-whirl this year and it is devastating to me!

2. Salt-Water Taffy - this year I will have to get a bag just for the boys, I don't share well.
2008
1.  Sister Time - the whole reason we started in the first place. The one time we do something just us, some of our best stories are about what happened at Seaside.
Seaside, here we come!

Friday, May 8, 2009

"Stamp Out Hunger"

Tomorrow is the 17th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, supported by your local post office. Yesterday I had a blue plastic bag left in my mail box. I brought it in, but it somehow ended up laying in the middle of the floor all night. I knew where it was because I could hear the dog walking over it as I laid on the couch watching ANTM.  

I knew I had some cans in the cupboard I could put in there and be done. But then today I was reading the Seattle times and came across this article.  The Bible study I have been in has been going though the book of James, as is our Sunday school class. We talk alot about how to help others but can get caught up in the realities of life.  We tend to focus on all the obstacles in the way (time, kids, opportunity) of truly being able to have faith and deeds work together.

Now that I have become a Costco member I actually have a pantry stocked with dry goods.  Yes, they are for my family, and yes, I plan to use them, but do I have to have 12 cans of soup in my cupboard today? Not really, instead I went though and pulled out alot of the 'bulk' canned items I have saved up. I can go to Costco next week, the people who are standing in line for the food bank can not.  

I encourage you to fill your blue plastic bag with food and leave it outside tomorrow. The line for the food banks is growing, please, do what you can to help put food on the shelves for those in need.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Why Does it Always Rain on Me?

Well, it doesn't actually rain and that is the problem. For the past several weeks I have been slowly planting seeds both in my flower beds and now in my new vegetable beds, and transplanting flowers to different parts of the yard. Every sunny afternoon (and some chilly) we are outside weeding, planting, and getting our yard ready for summer. It has been very exciting to see the yard take shape this year.

Unfortunately, with all the planting and transplanting I have been doing I need rain. I hate to start watering this early in the year, especially when I know we will be watering alot during the summer months.  Each day I check the weather and hope for some rain.  This week it showed 2 days of rain. I was excited, not to be trapped inside, but to know my plants would get some much needed moisture. The rain did not come, some showers did, but the ground did not get a good soaking. Then we had 2 really nice days of sun. It was lovely but back to my water dilemma.

Last night I looked out at my recent transplanted flowers and realized they were not looking so good. All of the stems and leaves were on the ground looking very wilted. I knew I needed to get out and water them but I wasn't feeling so good.  I either have the swine flu or a sinus infection, it is hard to tell the difference. I rationalized my laziness by knowing it was going to rain today.  They only had to make it one more day.

I got up today all ready for rain. I knew we wouldn't play outside or take a walk. I had a very mellow inside day planned with the boys because it was going to rain. At 10:00 I asked my husband where the rain was. He checked his high-tech phone and told me it was at Greenlake, would be here soon. And he was right - not long after it did start to sprinkle. I was so happy. I kept checking the window, watching the rain, looking at the ground, not too long later it stopped. I went outside to check and the ground was barely wet. The area under the trees was still dry. It is early, I thought, and went back inside to wait for more rain.

Several hours and a nice nap later, I looked outside to see SUN! This was not expected and not necessarily a happy surprise. My oldest son was happy but I knew what this meant. I was going to have to break down and water my plants.  Outside I went, in my fat pants and slippers, and watered all the plants in my front yard and the new vegetable garden in my back. I even got to say "hello" to the neighbors on a walk, who were probably wondering why I was outside dressed like that and watering my plants on a 'rainy' day.

I finished up, came inside, and started dinner.  As I was cooking I realized it was getting darker and darker. I went to the window to see dark, gray, storm clouds, filling up the sky. My husband walked in from running an errand and just laughed. It's raining now, he said, and it was just starting to really rain. No sprinkles or showers here. Hard rain you can hear hitting the window and soaking all of my freshly watered plants.