Get- Away

So grateful we had the chance to visit my  inlaws on Whidbey Island this weekend. Sand, sun, family...really felt like we got away for a before-school-starts adventure. Hooray!

Happiness

Happiness is sitting in the sun poolside watching your kids have the time of their lives.

Day dreaming

After a long week of working crazy hours I sat on the porch tonight letting my mind wander.  I day dreamed about the kids getting older and what was in store for us.  I day dreamed about travel and where I would like to go... Where I wanted to take the kids some day.  What would our family be busy with in another 5 years? Then later tonight I came across this quote of some motivational speaker I know nothing about.  Fitting, I thought.

Round and round

With the warm weather this summer I have huge gratitude for our bedroom ceiling fan. What a difference it can make when you are trying to fall asleep in an old hot house like ours !!

Sleepy...not just a name of one of the Dwarfs.

Last night was not a good one for any of us in this house. Between feeling hot and sticky, kiddo bad dreams and just plain insomnia none of us got a good night sleep. Today I brought the kids to Seattle on my way to work to stay with a friend on Capitol Hill.  Dominik fell asleep on the way there in the back seat and he was utterly adorable. This reminded me of when the kids were tiny and could hardly stay awake anytime we got in the car.  Looking in the rear view mirror and seeing those peaceful faces in a deep sleep was such a great parental experience....still is.

Art wins again

Art and Nature was the theme of last week's day camp attended by both Alice and Dominik at the Tacoma Nature Center.  On their last day they brought home all of the projects they had worked on. The children made dream catchers and tribal masks. They tie-dyed fabric with products they found on a hike, and learned how to weave a basket of their own.  My favorite of the pieces was the tile work that involved rubbing alcohol applied before acrylic paint was dripped on to make the coolest of designs.

Winding it down

Thankful for this amazing weather we have had all summer and will hopefully continue to enjoy through September.  How lucky we are!

A little something for me

It was a back-to-school shopping kind of weekend and my wallet got a serious workout. While I waited for my sweet Alice to finish up making choices in the changing room at Old Navy...I wandered by the cheap jewelry section and picked out some earrings for myself.  I've said it time and time again...parenting is not for wimps.  This gift to myself was simply a token for making it through another year. In a week or so I will have a 3rd grader and a 5th grader attending the first day of school.

Dining out

It was a very nice day, beautiful weather and lots of time outdoors.

To top it off Brent and I got to take our two favorite kids to one of our favorite Vietnamese joints for dinner. Nice!

Annie

I started the workday with a to-do list a mile long and this the Friday of a really busy week.  It was clear that there was only one thing that was going to get me through the list...the amazing vocals of Annie Lennox.  After all these years she is still going strong, and still one of my favorites.

Lost kitchen utensils

When we stayed with WACAP Family Camp a few weeks ago in Sun Lakes, we inadvertently left behind the utensils we had been keeping in the kitchen drawer of the cabin. My favorite red rubber spatula, and a great pair of tongs we use for everything were among them. Today we received in the mail a package from Sun Lakes Resort and inside were all of the utensils that we had left behind. What a nice gesture that was!  We were so glad that they went the extra mile that I put a check in the mail to cover shipping and a tip for being so courteous.  Hooray!

Art makes everything better

After a much too long, and stressful work day I was completely content just sitting in my overstuffed chair watching this sweet boy of mine paint pictures.  All my cares just slipped silently away, and I got to pick my favorite picture to keep.

Mildred Pierce

I started watching a mini series Mildred Pierce on my kindle before bed each night. Kate Winslet in the lead, set in early 1930's California. If it weren't for the lack of women's rights, the whole depression thing, and undeveloped medical technology of that time I really feel it would be one of the most fun eras to live in.  The women 's outfits were just so smart and perky and the men walked around in black suits.  And there were hats, lots of hats.

Yerdle

I discovered this app a while back...Yerdle.  Now the kids are hooked.

On Yerdle you post items you want give away.  Someone bids points on the item and if they are the highest bidder, they get it...and you get the points.  Use your points to bid on other items and if you win the item you pay $2 for shipping and it comes in the mail.  The kids love it because it is like online shopping, and I love it because it is teaching the kids about the world of commerce and the value of stuff.  The fact that they are clearing the house of unwanted clutter is surely a bonus.

Baby steps

Sugar joined our family only 5 months ago and with slow baby steps she has really come so far accepting us as her new family.  She now cries for attention and pets, rubs up against our legs when she is looking for love...

She has not been a bed cat, or even a bedroom cat until a few days ago when she started sleeping at the foot of Dominik's bed. 

Tonight she chose the foot of our bed and ventured up toward the pillows to get some head scratches. 

I love this cat. She is bad-ass on so many levels, but a big 'ole mushbucket at heart.

Pop and Buba

Alice and Dominik are so very lucky to have two great sets of grandparents.  To Alice & Dominik, Brent's folks go by Pop and Buba...and we got a chance to spend the afternoon with them today. I couldn't ask for better inlaws, as Pop and Buba are both kind, smart, funny and great storytellers.  They are hard working, well-travelled, and so very caring of their grandchildren.  Alice and Dominik are always excited to see them when we get a chance. Here is Pop and Buba (Dave and Joyce) with all of their grand kids today. Fun to see all of Brent's family in one place!

In the " things that make me smile" category.

I popped into a chicken joint near my office tonight to grab some dinner to bring home to the family.  I noticed an elderly man and his wife dining at a table near the door. The gentleman's back was toward me as I snapped this photo.

Egg-in-the-hole

I recently taught Alice how to make egg-in-the-hole (sometimes referred to as Birdsnest) for breakfast because she loves eggs and toast. I have noticed recently more independence from both kiddos in the kitchen, especially in the morning when I am busy working in the dining room.  This morning I was surprised to see Alice in the kitchen working on this breakfast she had made.  Hooray for the little things that make my job easier! In the Fall, I think we are going to start teaching them how to make us dinner...

Cosmos

We started watching the Cosmos series with the kids in the evenings. It is a big hit! There is much about science I have yet to understand and I love that the host Neil Degrasse Tyson is a fantastic teacher.  I am learning along with kids about space, the universe, history of human existence...you name it.

Great show that initiates great couch conversation !!

Blackberries

Puttering around the garden this evening felt so good. The temperature had cooled about 15 degrees from the 90 something we have had for several days (first out of town, and then upon returning home).  The humidity, though, was dense and even brought some sprinkles of rain while I was out there.  As I rounded the edge of the back patio I spotted my bin of blackberry plants and it was clear we officially had ripe berries! This was our 2nd year for these plants, but first year for berries.  By the time I had shared these around our living room, my palm of my hand was stained purple from the juice. I didn't care, because I was still savoring the tart, sweet flavor of the last two that had been left for me.

Lemondrop Melon

To try something new on an ordinary Monday is exciting even if it is simply a new fruit.  I bought a melon at the grocer today and sliced it up to accompany dinner. It was called a Lemondrop melon. 

Wow, what a treat!  Like a sweet lemony dessert.  Great way to sweeten this summer evening.

A watched pot doesn't boil

Leaving the garden alone for 5 days without water in early August is always a little nerve racking...I always expect everything to be dead when I return. 

I got home today and things never looked better...lesson learned...they don't need to be fussed over every day.  As many times as I have tried, I have not been able to get my clematis to climb or bloom, but yet here it is in all it's beauty.

Grateful for nice surprises.

On the last night of WACAP camp all the families get together for a kid's talent show.  There is no competition...each child that participates gets an ice cream cone. As imagined almost every kid gets up and performs something, whether it be a 3 yr old singing Grand Old Flag, a 13 yr old playing violin, or a 7 yr old telling favorite joke.  This camp is about bringing kids together from all over the world who have adoption in common. It's beautiful to see them all together playing in the sun, seeing no color, oblivious to the differences.  Lots of great fun, but this is my favorite night.

The art of doing nothing

I found myself several times today sitting, thinking, and doing nothing.  It was marvelous. With no cell reception or internet being off the grid is inevitable, and a welcome reprieve. I have to walk down to the camp office here to log into wi-fi and publish this post. 

For several hours today we swam in the pool, and now I am just sitting pool side watching the kids swim...and absolutely nothing else.

Gettin' outta dodge

I always surprise myself at how good it feels to get out of town and hang out somewhere warm and beautiful. Last night we arrived at our destination, Sun Lakes, for the annual Adoption Family Camp we love. It's hot here...I won't lie. Somehow with the AC, the pool and the lake we are not bothered by it. The cabins are surrounded by amazing rocky cliffs. Picturesque.

Ace

This morning as I was tossing kale into the bunny house I was met with great sadness to see my Ace lying lifeless on the floor.  It happened sometime during the night. My guess is heart attack or something similar.  My heart is heavy for my favorite bun, who had the softest blue-grey fur and curliest whiskers of any pet I ever knew. So glad I had the little time I had with him, as he will not be forgotten.

BBQ bird

What is better than a slow-roasted whole chicken on the grill? Nothing comes to mind.

Harvest

Grateful today that I was able to pick our first blackberries from the plants I started growing last year...and the pear tree is loaded too!

Ribbon-worthy ?

As some of you know Alice loves to bake. When her Foods Group in 4-H decided to make entries for the Pierce County Fair coming up, she jumped on the chance to bake something and she settled on a coffee cake.  Since we will be unable to attend the fair, our friends offered to bring her coffee cake and enter it for her.  Alice also made a rocket which we launched yesterday and she is entering her still intact rocket at the fair as a technology project.  Thankful for 4H to give Alice (and next year Dom as well) the nudge she needs to be involved in extra-curricular activities she enjoys.

Debbie

My sister is who I am thankful for today. Debbie lives in Spokane Valley so we see each other once or twice a year...this last week I was able to visit with her and her two super cool sons while they were on this side of the mountains. Debbie works hard at her job, and at raising her two teens. My sister has had her share of life challenges along the way, but when faced with an impossible situation she always seems to land on both feet. Perhaps it is her positive attitude and sense of humor, or maybe it's the supportive crowd of friends that she surrounds herself with and who adore her.  Maybe it is her strong sense of faith that gets her through.  Whatever it is, she is an inspiration.  Also, I love to read her 365 grateful blog because after reading the stories I always feel like I know her a bit more.  

Night out with my Sweet

So thankful to have a night out with my Alice tonight. One of her favorite films is Fiddler on the Roof, so when I saw that a theater company was doing Fiddler on stage in a town nearby I got a tickets for Alice and I.  We had a fun dinner at a pizza parlor then checked out a really cool tropical fish (another one of Alice 's dreams is to have a tropical  aquarium) store before the show. It had been too long since I had seen live theater, as it was something I enjoyed regularly as a younger person.  I vow to make it a more regular activity for Brent, the kids, and I...such a great experience for the family.