Camping at Alder Lake near Mt. Rainier

She Just Keeps Growing Up!

I downloaded this from Picasa after creating a rough movie of the pictures...it seems that you need to click on the little icon right there to view the movie.

Ethan's 5th Birthday

The Bday Crew: Audrey, Molly, Lily, Samuel, Ethan, Daniel, and Griffin

This year was a much more successful party for Ethan. For his 4th birthday he really wanted a party so I planned an extremely informal party gathering for 2 of his only closest friends. I had a few simple games ready, yet the kids basically sat around and ate from the large bowl of Goldfish crackers I had set out. Not one of them was interested in games. Gift-opening lasted all of 5 minutes since their was only two kids and Ethan shredded the wrapping and tossed them aside so quickly...maybe it was only 3 minutes?  I mentally cancelled his next year's party.
What a difference a year makes--both for Ethan and Mom. I said yes to a party, and was brave enough to call it a party.  Still keeping it low key, I set out squirt guns and had some backyard games planned. The pinata was to be the highlight of the whole thing, barring any injuries. (Isn't their always one kid who excitedly steps into the swinging area accidentally and gets clocked?)

 I had painted and hung up targets for the kids to squirt but they squirted almost everything BUT the targets!! Nothing was safe from their sprays!

We came, we saw, we squirted

 Red light, Green light was a great game even though everyone cheated 

and they would arbitrarily change the rules.

 Ok, everybody wins.

Claire and Timmy surveying the games and observing that the rules were not being followed. (They also supervised the snack area well, I see.)

Learning from my mistakes, I set the snacks out after the games were finished 

and before the pinata candy was snatched up.

Isn't it always funny when the child wildly swings in the wrong direction of the pinata? I laughed every time one of the kids swiped the empty air with gusto, thinking they were going to collapse the pinata from their crushing blow. 

The Drum Cake

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Ethan outside the next morning
playing with his new shooter

Ladies' Spring Friendship Brunch

I decided to hostess a table for our church's annual spring brunch, much to my initial reluctance.  I was getting back from a week in California the day I was to decorate my table and I felt overwhelmed at the task. Often I have a vision, or a feeling, in mind and I want to create that exact thing on the outside. Whether it is rearranging a room, setting a table, or gardening, I want to create what's in my mind's eye. It is a process that requires LOTS of practice because I am nowhere near what I want!
My table at the brunch looked pretty and spring-y, and it was filled with sweet women who were appreciative at the details that went into putting the setting together. Secretly inside I had hoped to win the "Best Looking Table" award, but alas I did not.  Someone who had recreated an entire beachscape on their table won the top votes. **sigh** A lesson in humility!

 These are 4 posters one of the women designed for the brunch, as the theme was about the seasons of our lives as women.

(Did they both have food in their teeth or what?)

Ethan has learned to pump himself on the swings!
That is a childhood milestone...

Always the comedian

Fishes in the Sea

 I came to terms with the fact that my two older kids were excellent and confident swimmers, while my younger two were squeamish and uncomfortable with swimming.  The former, born and raised for several years in warm climates, the latter, born and raised in Washington.  Ah, that explains it all.

After listening to some other mothers, I realized that I would have to work harder at this than I had before. We feel that knowing how to swim and riding a bicycle are Two Things Every Kid Should Know. So, that means signing up and driving to lessons at the heated pool. This wasn't going to come naturally since the climate wasn't agreeable to lots of outdoor recreational swimming.

This year Audrey took to the water like, well, a fish.  She put her face in the water while swimming, relaxed into the back float, and would bob ten times under the water. She would proudly come up over the side with her toothless, "Look at me, Ma!" grin.

Ethan, not so much. He obediently got into the water but clung to the side until the teacher peeled him off for his turn to swim.  He nervously laughed as she floated him farther away from the side and always made sure he kept sight of the wall he longed to be returned to. However, Ethan is an agreeable child and he always would do what was asked of him. This gave me hope that he would eventually relax and see that it wasn't so bad after all. He did, and actually got excited to go the lessons (by the last one).

Apparantly I didn't take any pictures of Ethan at his lessons (?!). Perhaps he didn't look so happy and I didn't document it? I know that I was always sitting nearby, smiling at him and telling him with my eyes that I loved him and he would be okay.

My Trip to California to See My Dad...

After 2 years, I was finally able to arrange a trip to see my Dad and Maida in California. My Dad is sliding into the beginning of the middle phase of Alzheimer's and it is important for me to see him while he is still aware.  

It was tough to see a man who loved vocabulary struggle to find words. Someone who loved to calculate percentages and probabilities now just saying "I don't know". Someone who determined to always know the way now not knowing which way to turn. 

The father who has a great sense of humor, likes to whistle while he works, and eats with gusto is still there though. That gave me solace and during my stay we often made our best memories, eating and laughing.

self-portrait

This dog makes me love the breed. She's got a lot of personality for someone so short.

These are some vintage wooden puzzles that I put together. They had pieces that fit together to make their own shapes (see bicycle):

This embroidery in the guest room reminded me of the beautiful poems Claire writes

Jim and Jill

Shadow would cleverly hide here before hunting down any yard insects that were  threatening the safety of the lawn

Dad in his Joe Cool shades

Dad would often stand up on the patio, semi-reading the daily news

Ellen came up to visit while I was in California. It is always a kick to see my parents together again.

Sonoma Town Square. It has some funky, cool stores and food hangouts...as well as the overpriced tourist-trap stores. Best part was the big park in the center.

I shrieked when I saw these 2 piggy banks on my Dad's dresser!! These are as old as my first memories and I know they have traveled a long road.  I used to pilfer quarters out of them (Dad never put any other coins in as he thought anything less than that was useless change) and buy candy. Back then, a few quarters would satisfy a week's worth of a sweet tooth.

I was sure to tell Maida that I MOST DEFINITELY wanted these banks and they should never go in the Goodwill box! (Hey if I'm lucky they will be loaded with quarters still!)