Mt. Rainier

We went sort of went camping in July to Mt.Rainier. One of these summers we will get it right, I just know it.  It started out as an incredibly gorgeous 80 degree day when we set up the tent and into the balmy evening where we toasted marshmallows.
In the middle of the night we woke up at different intervals, absolutely freezing. An unexpected cold front had blown in, dropping the temperature to the upper 40s.  That was a 40 degree difference from the daytime. We were not at all prepared for that, since the weather was supposed to be in the 80s the entire time.
Huddling under every blanket and layering our clothes on top of our pajamas, we stayed around the fire ...hoping the clouds would blow away as quickly as they had come in.  Midday we decided to call it quits and pack it up. The ranger station reported that the weather was going to hold until the next day (when we had to leave).  We did not want to "suffer" through the cod, yet no one wanted to leave either.  Sadly, we packed up.
The slide show of pictures is not in any particular order; it just reflects the time we had for those short 12 hours :o(

Did someone call for me? Was it my agent?

Could this little girl be any cuter?? Any sweeter??
YES.
Every year that has passed has made our daughter more delightful, more beautiful, and more engaging.
It's been six years this picture was taken of Claire.
We love her 6x as much...but probably more.

Fractured Elbow

Although most of our friends and family know, Ethan fractured his arm.  This post is just for posterity and to record the memory.
Ethan wasn't doing anything spectacular like bungee jumping off the dining room table or sock surfing on the hardwood.  He was simply kneeling on the couch talking "dog" to his other "dog friends".  One wrong move and he took a tumble off the couch.  I heard the cries, was brought over by another child, and inspected the injury.  My assessment was that he just landed on it wrong or popped it out of its socket and back again.  Those do hurt awfully bad but no sense in overreacting.  So out came the ice packs and I swaddled them around elbow area.

All afternoon long.

As the day wore on toward evening, my keen mother-sense told me that the ice wasn't helping. Perhaps it was the sharp cries when I went near his arm or the fact that he wouldn't move it in the slightest.  I came out of denial and took him to the doctor.  One look and yep, it was broken alright.  (oops)

Ethan had to wait a few days for the swelling to go down before he got his cast on.  He wore a little, tiny sling that was just so...tiny.... He was a good sport about the whole process right from the start. Extremely brave and adjusted well to using his left hand for things.  

The cast was put on (see above pictures) and he chose green.  When offered all the colors originally, he said in a rather sulky voice that he wanted a black cast.  I think he was having a bad day, I mean he did break his arm and everything.  

Four weeks later he was able to get the cast off and he was nervously excited about it.  He naturally asked how they would get this rock hard tube off and I was trying to NOT use the word "SAW" in my response. Can you imagine?? 

"Oh they are going to saw it off honey..." The terror! 

So I might have said something about little scissors or snippers that help loosen the cast. (I thought "snippers" sounded like a cute and friendly word and "loosen" was a safe term)  Who said we can never lie to our kids? What, you never did??

The SAW, which seems to be not that scary

 

 

 

 

Healed!

High School Musical

Claire all ready to go for opening night

I have been remiss in reporting the latest star sighting here in Everett:  our Very Own Claire Dayton!!  A few months ago she auditioned for a part in the summer production of "High School Musical".  She was certain that she would get an ensemble part because, well, after all it is HighSchool Musical and not Elementary School Musical. Amidst a sea of tall people, Claire bravely waited for her turn to audition.  She had mastered one of the popular songs to showcase and a short monologue to impress them with.  Claire felt confident going in and satisfied coming out of the audition;  she had learned so much in doing the Seussical Jr. musical and definitely used it.

On the drive home, Claire was ready to receive the callback for an ensemble part with a contented and happy heart. She held the attitude that "There is no small parts" close to her heart and I was very proud of that.  

A few days later, we got the call.  The woman said that they were so impressed by Claire's audition and her overall personality that they had created a special role just for her.  She said that they wanted Claire to be more than just a background character, that she really had a special joie-de-vivre about her. WOW!! They made her a "shadow" of the main character, Sharpay, and affectionately call Claire a "Sharpette".  

Sharpay is one of the popular girls at school, always dressed to kill and has an attitude to match.  Claire follows Sharpay around, mimicking her movements, snapping her fingers in the Z formation, and talking on her cell phone in the same manner.  Claire dresses in these over-the-top fashionable clothes and wears sparkly makeup...it is fantastically hilarious!  

Our family saw the first of 7 shows, and I am going on closing night with Grandma Ellen.  I can't wait to post more pictures from the cast party!  

S. I. C. (Seattle is Cool)

~Rendition of Girl With a Pearl Earring~

~Woman in downtown Seattle doing chalk art~