Long Time

It's been so long that blogger has sent me an email...

Fishy

I know when a person takes a blog break, it would be kind to tell the readers that one is taking a break. What I don't know is how a person knows there is going to be a break. My breaks just seem to come upon me by some random schedule of mood.

Anyway, summer is almost over and it's time to share some of the wonderful happenings that filled ours.

Tonight, I'll just post this darling clip of Sarah and Jacob that we took one evening when LK and I were looking after them.

Enjoy - Fishy Face.

Sisters

This afternoon we went over to the Schulz's to take care of Anna and Laura while their parents went to a wedding. We had grand ideas to go on an outing - maybe a little hike or a playground, but it was just so hot and the house was just so air conditioned. We hung around home and had a great time playing on the deck and in the shady back yard.

Anna is four, the same as Eva and Elijah, Laura is one, the same as Anders and Jacob. When you are one there's a big span between those who have just turned one and those who are nearing two!

Anna thinks she looks like a teacher in the glasses. Anna's on the big swing and Laura in the one that looks like it has a tray. Anna took a some pictures of me - here's one of Laura and I. We were talking about who is silly. I asked Anna if she ever is silly and she made the silly face at the bottom of this collage. Anna and I did lots of coloring. Laura helped.

Steve gave us money to order baked lasagna in. Talk about spoiling the grandparents! We got such a charge out of Laura's enjoyment of her dinner. She started out with a fork and things just went south from there! Well, every direction actually. Traces of dinner pretty much from head to toe. She just got us laughing so much and I guess our laughing really got her laughing all the more.

Giddy giggles maybe. Sad tears appeared just after 7:00. Anna took a picture of me soothing her sister just before I put her into her jammies and got her bottle. Anna was quite the little helper. She put her sisters sleepy time music on and brought her own little chair to sit by Laura and I, who were rocking in the rocking chair. Anna patted Laura and kept saying softly, "It's OK". So sweet and helpful.

LK had to leave for an evening concert at work. I beat him home and have put away four baskets of laundry, watered the plants in the back yard, and packed for family camp. Camping again - this time no cooking!

Elijah Visits

This week we had a special treat as Elijah came out to stay with us all by himself. Lance drove him out and Elijah stayed for two nights. I think it was quite a treat for him too having so much focused attention and being able to execute his ideas sans sibling interruptions - not that he doesn't love his siblings - just sayin'.

The first evening we went swimming at Oma and Opa's pool.
This was followed by a marvelous bedtime snack of pie and ice cream with blueberries.
Why did we ever get rid of our sandbox? It seems we need one again. Having none we resorted to the next best thing - plain dirt. Elijah has now borrowed Uncle Steven's grader to use in his neighborhood.We brought Elijah's bike over to Sarah's neighborhood for a ride and then had some trampoline and swing time before a picnic that Auntie Cara had made. These swings are under a grape arbor. Sarah was telling me that when the grapes are ready, she and her friend stand on the swings and pick them.
A trip to Old Macdonalds mostly for the climbing time. You don't know about Old Macdonalds? It's what Elijah calls McDonalds. Isn't that cute? We don't correct him because we like his way better. Elijah was broken hearted to hear that adults weren't allowed to climb too. We've got to go back to Crash Crawlies again.
Cousin Maddie and Elijah were able to get together also. It was too cool and windy for a swim but these two had lots of other ideas of what to do at Oma's - like wheelbarrow and scooter racing.
Race movie.

Next time - Anna's place. This time that didn't work out between my appliance repair man that I had to wait for and their flat tire on their van. Bummer.

Yesterday

Sunday night LK and I went swimming at his parents' pool. It was so warm and lovely that as soon as I got home I gave Cara a call to see if she and the kids would like to go for a swim the next day. Yes! Jacob hadn't been in a big pool outside since last summer when he was in his mommy's tummy. He liked it quite well.

Sarah is very confident in her life jacket and swims 'round the whole pool, inventing games for us to play with eggs that sink and rides behind kick boards. She's very imaginative like her mom.

Jacob liked to wave his hand in the water - sort of a little fishy move.

Near the end of swimming some cousins showed up. Maddie is showing Jacob the big truck. Jacob was very interested in it, especially the big wheels.

When we were leaving O'ma offered everyone an Oreo. Jacob was not going to have one - not having had much sugar to speak of yet. But he got to hold his mom's. At first he thought it was a toy. Then it started to dawn on him that it might be food. First he tried to feed it to his O'ma, then when no one was looking, he took a little nibble himself. His mom heard the crunch. Hmm...something new. And a little Oreo crumb on the cheek as evidence. No more sugar now until his birthday cake. Not long. Jacob's first birthday is this Thursday!

Plus Four

Aimee brought the kids down, which we thought was pretty ambitious through the slow border crossing and all. Happiness abounded when the kids arrived and explored the tent trailer. It's really nice - you should drop in sometime. We filled the days with all sorts of good things. And can you imagine sitting in your jammies in a comfy chair by the campfire with your blanket at bedtime. Nice.

One of the first thing we did, while Aimee had a rare nap, was to take the kids on a hike to the playground. The most amazing things to me was that little Anders hiked the whole way on his own two feet. He kept collecting sticks which made the narrow places tricky to maneuver. No matter, we worked together on it and sometimes he'd lay that bunch down and began collecting again. Eva was amazed to see a tree growing out of a tree stump. She also cracked us up when she "read" a warning sign to LK. "Oh, Oh. Problem, no men with Hawaiian shirts." Where does she come up with this stuff?! Of course grandpa had on a Hawaiian shirt. He continued on the path irregardless - after all he and Elijah had to bushwhack the path a bit making sure there was no stinging nettle in the way.

At the end of the path was a playground. Next to the playground there was a little store. At the store was ice cream.

There was much playing with trucks and road building. Elijah had a major breakthrough with Gracie and was chasing her around the campsite asking her to drop her toy so he could throw it into the forest again for her. It was great to see him gain confidence like that with her.

We went to Deception Pass and took the older two kids out in the canoe. We tried a little fishing but the fish were not hungry when we were there. So we had a picnic and played at the beach until Anders got hot and grumpy. I don't think I've ever looked so cute as he when I am hot and grumpy.

Stories, popcorn, swimming in the pool and eating at Applebees. Anders loved the artichoke dip and would eat everything dipped in it - chips, broccoli, chicken - his fingers. Oh - he didn't eat his fingers, just used them for scoops.

Good memories. Thanks for coming guys!

Company

Steven gave us a call one evening and asked what we were having for dinner : ) We were planning on having Mexican in Fairhaven. We changed those plans up real quick and LK made some of his famous steaks over the fire while I whipped up instant garlic roasted potatoes, corn, and salad from the deli. Pretty good fair for camping. Gracie came with and enjoyed running in the space behind our site and hanging around hoping for a treat. She got to lick the grill when LK was done with it.

Steven was pretty excited to give his dad a book about business that he had enjoyed - "Rework". It's neat to watch the men share a bond of entrepreneurship - since they are both self employed.
It was a great book and LK has already read some of it at a staff meeting!

At the end of the night, everyone came in to warm up. Gracie enjoyed some carrots and sitting on the bench with me. It was all good until she tried to give me a dog kiss on my face. I like her, but no kisses on the face please! Steve and Court try out our king sized bed. Yes, we camp in comfort after years of tenting.

It means a lot to us that our kids would go out of their way to come down for a visit. Next post - Aimee and the kids come camping. (And Steve and Courtney come back - you got a sneak peak of that already with Steve and kids on his lap.)

Camping

LK and I have just returned from two whole weeks of camping. We haven't had that long of a holiday in years! We went to Mt. Vernon Thousand Trails in Washington - again because it is our favorite. We read, swam, canoed, picnicked at ocean beaches, slept, and went for walks.

Pictured below, canoeing on Cranberry Lake at Deception Pass, our campsite B29, LK cooking. He brought our espresso maker along and we even had fresh Americanos every morning! Water flower (not a lily), Thai picnic supper at Anacortes beach (Washington State Park), and my perfect s'more.

If you know LK, you know he LOVES live music. We caught a band called the Walrus at Bellingham Bay and we dined to jazz at Skylark in Fairhaven. LK is sporting his live music smile. The dog? She sat in front of us at Bellingham bay so politely watching us eat our picnic from the Colophone Cafe. I just know she wished we would share.

This season brings back so many memories of last year at this time. The week before we left I was overcome with a paralyzing deep sadness remembering my mother's suffering last year. We had gone camping, even though it was hard to go. We'd kept in touch with my dad. My mom was being increasingly tormented with unkind voices. This was the last season of her life. We had camped at Mt. Vernon, gone to family camp, then to Whistler for LK's family reunion and as we were preparing to leave we got the call that Mom had died. During our holidays, though, we made several side trips to visit mom at her home. For this I am thankful.

This year, we camped a bit earlier. I plan to go to family camp again. LK wanted to head to Whistler too but I said not this July or August and he understood. Packing up and heading to the same places was hard and I wondered if I'd be able to experience joy on this holiday. I did. Most of the sadness was in the preparing to go.