Here's Your Sign....

No, we are not in the Southeast anymore. Here are our signs...... (sorry for the ripoff Bill Engvall).

Not so worried about hurricanes anymore. With hurricanes you get several days warning. How far are you really going to get on the tsunami evacuation route? Last weekend we also saw the volcano evacuation route while we were closer to Rainier---- again, what are the chances this will be an easy evacuation with plenty of warning?

My pansies are beginning to look a little leggy...... FOR THE END OF JULY!!!???!!!!

Guess who??? This is a pic of Jeb from last year (our nieghborhood bear) crossing the street next to our house. This is not the suburbs... here's your sign.

I have been thinking of these for months and just haven't gotten them all together. I could add pics of us leaving the house today in jackets or G and M's legs turning slightly blue as they waded in Puget Sound last weekend. I may have to add more to this post later or insert them in different posts as I come across more signs that we are not in the south anymore.

love and bear hugs,

B

Happy Birthday to G!

Long time, no post. Summer is going fast because it is so busy. Hoping to post more often but not getting around to it. Here are a few pics and words about G's birthday.

E was in sports camp this week at the Y and G finished his swimming lessons on his birthday. G got to pick "special lunch" for his birthday and we spent the afternoon mostly goofing around and putting together his cake. He was happy to help make the Panda Bear face parts out of starburst and tootsie rolls.

Thanks to everyone for phone calls and balloons (J,S,R) and "Target money!!!" as spending money is so lovingly referred to in our house.

When D came home we grilled out (G chose salmon, salad, and corn on the cob for his dinner; very G--- I was surprised he chose anything resembling meat at all) and G opened presents. I should feel blessed that my middle child is more than willing to share everything with his brothers, but part of me is bothered by how quickly and easily he passes everything over to them. He opened his cell phone and after a quick glance E asked to play with it and G passed it right over. I am a bit worried he will become a doormat for them. He is a bit stronger against M but not much. What a big softy!!!!

After dinner two neighbor families came over for cake so G felt like it was a really big party. The night did not end until a bit after 9 as the sun was dropping lower in the sky and all the kids were wiped out from playing. Happy 4th Birthday G!!!!! Who would have ever imagined that the child we named Gray would have the brightest, sunniest personality. He even took his 5 shots at the doctor like a champ. More pics of G on the cell phone, all three playing with the new sidewalk chalk, and a very happy 4 year old.

love and hugs and don't worry , no pandas were harmed in the making of the cake--- we used artificial panda flavors.

B

On To Canada!

Finally a picture filled post! If you having been missing coverage of the kids then you are in for a treat. The writing will be brief because if I wrote everything then I would fill pages and pages and bore you all. We went to Victoria, British Colombia, Canada for July 4. If you do not like fireworks or have children who are deathly afraid of them then I highly recommend going for the 4th---- the loudest noise we heard all weekend was balloons popping in our own hotel room and cheering for street performers. We left Seattle by boat Friday morning to cross over. It was a bit foggy and damp but the water was fairly calm. Everything cleared when we got into Victoria.

Checked into hotel and went exploring. Quick tour of the tourist trap district during lunch then we hit the bug zoo which had highly interested the kids online. E was scared of the insects and just drew some pictures, M was interested in watching, and G was right in there with D and I holding some bugs-- he even kissed a Madagascar hissing roach! I had the tarantula, D held the scorpion, and pic of G holding a large walking stick.

We then walked the waterfront over to the Parliment building and went on a selfguided tour. It is really beautiful. Thunderbird Park was next with its totem poles and Indian long house building (OK-- I know I should not call them Indians; for America the PC name is First Americans and for Canada it is people of the First Nation. I will use Indians because it is less confusing to me. Sorry to all First Americans and people of the First Nation.) M and E had a good time playing chase around the totem poles (sorry, I refuse to call these history logs--- get over it.)

We ended our first day in Victoria with dinner and a walk along the waterfront watching street performers. The musicians were terrific, but for Friday our favortie street performer was the guy who juggled fire and knives, breathed fire and ate fire. E thought he was the best ever. He was entranced.

Saturday dawned with my back aching. For those of you who don't think you have ever benefited from the Americans with Disabilities Act think back to a time when you walked a ramp in a public place or used those ramps for your stroller: you have benefited. We had a lot of wrestling with M on the boat trip followed by several bouts of carrying the stroller up and down steps together so I was not feeling my best. We started out slow and went to the Royal British Colombia Museum after breakfast. The exhibits were wonderful. The kids loved all the Indian parts and panning for gold in the Gold Rush town. pic of us in the gift shop with a bear.

We then decidedto take a water taxi tour of the harbor. Good timing because M needed a nap and wiped out during this. E and G loved this part of the day the best. We rode the boat and got off at the Wharf area of fishing boats and floating houses (yes, it is what it sound like. You can have a house built on a floating dock and then you can lease space at a floating house dock.) At the wharf we saw and fed the harbor seals. Guess who had his little hands right into the fish for feeding seals. Guess who wouldn't get near this activity. Guess who was a bit groggy from the nap and couldn't figure out why this was so exciting. Pic of E and G in the water taxi, M napping

and G feeding the seals.

Adding a pic of E and G watching the seals after lunch.

On the way back downtown M enjoyed the water taxi ride. We walked the waterfront and watched more street performers. M walked up and gave this "statue" lady some change and we had our picture taken with her. E loved her because when she wasn't still she moved like a robot.

After a hunt for dinner we headed back to the hotel. G said that "The queen's house is all shiny at night" about the way the Parliment building is decorated at night. Double click this pic to see it up close. The view from our room was beautiful.

The next day M was still pretty tired on the boat home he slept almost the whole time. It was a great trip that we are already trying to decide when we might go again. Any one who would like to go with us please contact us and let us know what dates you are available.

Love and hugs and it is good to explore

B

It's Raining!!!

Doesn't it seem crazy that I am cheering for rain??? It has been a couple of weeks since we had any and since our soil is very sandy it dries out within a couple hours of rain or watering. Last weekend we had "hot" weather here (90ish) and it was very sunny. We got a little pool for the boys to play with in the yard. Pic shows all 3 in action.

The house stayed fairly cool without AC so I was pleased. Once the sun drops to the west around 7 the temp drops as well.

I have gotten back to knitting and completed a hat so I thought I would post a pic of me in my new hat and give a hair update. I have not been for injections for my alopecia since March. Most areas have grown back in. I have one new place (quarter sized) right in the front in my bangs that I hate and I have found that two of my old areas that had 5-6 injections still have not grown back and are very smooth so I think they have scarred and will alway be bald. But I can knit beautiful hats so who cares!

Thanks to Jill for getting me started on knitting and a special pic of the hat up close so I can say "Look Jill no holes from dropped stitches!" Not bad for my second completed project (I am not mentioning the 3 half done/failed projects in between).

Next week the blog will be more child oriented again due to our weekend trip to Canada: where else could you take children who are scared of fireworks for the Fourth of July?

Happy Independence Day to everyone!

Love and hugs,

B