May Images

Not sure why I did not post once in May, but as I look at my calendar right now, each little box has multiple entries. Busy...too busy. I'm looking forward to summer when things settle down a bit. I'll then try to be a better blogger.

Here's our May in pictures:

Mother's Day Hike. We went up north, outside of Arlington, to Boulder River Waterfall (I think!). It was a beautiful day, and the highlight was that Drew hiked the entire 2.5 miles. Happily. He sang along the trail. Great Mother's Day.

A trillium. This was a special find for me that day because my Grandma Marge loved these flowers. When I was a little girl she shared them with me and taught me to appreciate their beauty because they only bloom every 7 to 10 years. I've rarely seen one since my childhood, so how special to see it on Mother's Day. I instantly thought of Grandma. Thomas woke up one Saturday morning in May and decided he wanted a crew cut. This is something Scott has always wanted the boys to do, but they have adamantly refused for years. I'm not sure what changed Thomas' mind that morning, but true to form, he does things differently. His bravery gave Scott the courage to try it too. So, here are the Buzz Boys. I miss Thomas' gorgeous locks, but I think the 'do looks nice on Scott. He has since bought a set of clippers and I've had the pleasure (?) of giving Scott his second buzz cut- against my better judgement. Thomas has decided he wants to grow his hair back out. Good boy.

Our annual trip over Memorial Day weekend to Seaside with Scott's family. Good times:

Bumper cars is serious business in this family. We go every year. Nathan is riding with Cousin Charlie. Scott and Thomas are in the background.

Their first lemonade stand. Location: Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom's. Their profit: $30.Birthday celebration for the boys and Cousin Ellie.Biking along the Prom.

April Images

Busy busy April. The boys' spring activities are in full swing. The flowers and trees are blooming and our grass is still green. It's such a pretty time of the year around here.

We got some great news today. After 4 weeks of chemo, Theresa's tumor has shrunk and her blood marker levels are near normal. This was all via a text message, so the details are none, but I await to hear what this all means. To me, there is some good news on this front. Hallelujah.

Here's a glimpse of our April:

A boy and his dog

The soccer moms

I love this picture of Thomas. Check out his leg muscle.

Baseball Fans

Birthday Party

Birthday Wishes

Today is my 38th birthday. I'm going to enjoy this year ahead of me, because I am dreading turning 39. Don't even get me started on the big 4-0.

I was greeted this morning by Drew who gave me 38 kisses, and then decided to give me one more for good luck. A little later, while I'm packing school lunches, Thomas gives me 38 spankings. Typical.

Circa 1989

Our 20 year high school reunion is this year, and the Senior Slide Show has resurfaced. Thanks to Alex for sending this our way. Wow. And I thought we hadn't changed that much since then. Less hair and more pounds really do make a difference.

Opening Day

Thomas and the T-Rexes opened their coach-pitch baseball season on Saturday. At game time, the weather was blustery, wet, and COLD, but the players were so excited, I don't think they noticed. Thomas' coaches are fantastically supportive and energetic and he is teammates with one of his best friends. He hit two singles and a double. He had a blast!

New Camera in Action!

OK, the new camera is still a little intimidating. I know I'm not utilizing it's capabilities completely, but I love it! Here are some shots from spring break last week at the beach house:

A day late...

I didn't get around to posting yesterday. Not enough free time. The boys were home from school due to an inservice day, Thomas had two basketball games, and then we had his team party.

What am I happy about this week??

1. The Huskies continue to dance in the Big Dance. I surprised the boys on Thursday and took them out of school early so they could watch the big game. I loved surprising them. Now, it's T minus 50 minutes and counting until they take on Purdue. Go Dawgs!

2. Our new camera arrived! This is the camera I've been wishing for for nearly a year. Now it's here, and I'm intimidated by it. I have visions of taking beautifully clear candid portraits of the boys. But true to form, I feel the need to read the instruction manual before I begin. I just need to go against my normal ways and jump in and start shooting.

3. I had the realization this week that my former least favorite time of the day is now not so bad. Ever since I had children, the time from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm had the potential to be dreadful. That was the time of day when each boy, as an infant, experienced the "5 o'clock Fussies"...crabbiness and irritability. Couple this with keeping the older brother(s) happy and entertained, and I dreaded that part of the day. Oh, don't forget figuring out dinner and making it. As the boys got older, the neediness of the baby mellowed, but I still felt like I was counting the minutes until Scott walked through the door. Then, this week, I realized that this time of the day is not so bad. Everyone is home from school, and happy to be. We eat snack, talk about the day, work on homework together, and then they play. I'm able to fix dinner while listening to some tunes and sipping on my wine. It's actually a very nice time of the day. A happy realization indeed.

Still thinking...

This has been a strange week for us. There are rumors swirling around Scott's office that an "organizational audit" will lead to layoffs...possibly for Scott because he is the newest member of the staff. So, we've been forced to face what so many people are facing in these uncertain economic times. Feeling positive and optimistic has been harder this week and so I'm still thinking about 3 things that make me happy this week. Perhaps this exercise is exactly what I need to remember the good and stay grounded in the moment. So, after pondering, this is what I've come up with this week other than the obvious thankfulness I feel for having a healthy and happy home:

1. Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo: we will eat this twice this week. Warm, cheesy pasta is my ultimate comfort food.

2. UW Men's Basketball: they continue to win and Overton's scrappy style of play makes me smile every time.

3. American Idol: I think Adam Lambert is going all the way. Thomas is pulling for Danny.

PAC-10 Champs!

The champions are wearing purple once again! Go Dawgs!

The three things:

1. Antibiotics. After 3 weeks of being sick and not getting better, I visited my favorite Dr. Tammy and learned that I had bronchitis. Antibiotics to the rescue. I feel like a million bucks now.

2. Scott took Murphy to take his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Test this week and Murph passed! At 7 months! He is such a good dog...so mellow and wants to please...a perfect good citizen.

3. Aunt Theresa started chemo this week, and Uncle Bob started radiation. Hopefully this means that they are on the road to recovery. We wait and pray and hope.

Sickies

We've all been sick this week, some more than others. Scott, Drew, and I have the annoying, hacking cough and Nathan and Thomas have coupled the cough with high fevers. We're all extremely drained. So, this week I am thankful for:

1. Vick 's Vapor Rub-- it does a nice job calming the cough if rubbed on chest at bed time. In contrast, 2 nights with NyQuil provided me with very strange dreams and a cotton head in the morning...I couldn't do it any more.

2. My bed--I miss it. I've been sleeping sitting up on the couch.

3. Sunshine--I just took Murphy for a lakeside walk in the sun. A little vitamin D does a body good.

Here's to healthier days.

Competition

The boys are competitive about everything. Apparently it's a boy thing...or a brother thing...or a sibling thing...I have no expertise in this area. Anyways, the past day I have witnessed new areas of competition. Last night, they were very interested in the Oscars. They have no idea who 99% of the nominees are, but because there was a definite winner, they were very interested.

Currently we are all sick. Today they are fighting over the bragging rights on who has the highest fever. Our ear thermometer has never been put to so much use. It seems every time I walk in the kitchen, someone is taking their temp to see how hot they are. Here comes the Motrin to cool them down for at least 6 hours, and quiet that contest!

Little Dawg on Campus

I copied this photo from the blog of the Husky mascot's owner. So incredibly cute! Dubs (the puppy) will be the size of the statue in no time. Becca, is he as cute in person as he is in the photo? Can I come visit you at your office? I'm a huge fan!

The 3 things...

We are finishing up mid-winter break. Not sure a break is necessary for the students, but I'll be ready for one once this week is over! We spent the first part of the week down at the beach house. We then travelled over to Gearhart, OR to spend the remainder of our time with 3 other families, minus the dads.

1. The house we stayed in belongs to the grandmother of one of Nathan's best friends. This is one of her five homes. The boys and I scored the master bedroom (not sure how), so we were living large. One evening, Drew went to use the toilet and when he came out of the bathroom, I asked him if he remembered to wash his hands, knowing that he couldn't reach the sink, so his answer should have been "no."

D: "Yes, I washed my hands." (adamantly)

Me: "Drew, how did you wash your hands? You can't reach the sink. I've been lifting you."

D: "I washed my hands."

Me: "Where?"

D: "In the sink by the toilet."

Me: ???thinking???

Me: "OHHHH!!!!!" "Drew, honey, that's not a sink. That's a bidet."

D: "What's a bidet?"

Yuck, yuck, yuck!

2. Being at the ocean never fails me. I am always calmed, revitalized, reflective, and awed. I will always live my life in such a way to make the ocean a part of who I am.

3. These three were a pleasure to be around this week. I feel so fortunate to have them in my life. I loved watching Nathan and his buddy, Henry interact. They are both so interested in pop culture and music. Their ipods were always in play. Thomas enjoys everything about nature. He always wanted to be at the beach, was fascinated by the elk that grazed in the dune grass by the house, and can always find something interesting in a pile of sand. Drew was just one of the gang. His age never stops him. I am blessed.

Happiness this week...

The 3 things:


1. This week I'm happy because of Drew. He turned 4 on Wednesday. He is sweet, funny, stubborn, smart, sassy, patient, perceptive, coordinated, and most importantly, very healthy. Here he is 4 years ago at Children's Hospital with RSV:











He was so sick, and so fragile for so long. I was already neurotic about germs and cleanliness, but that episode really pushed me over the edge.



And now:















2. Another bright spot this week was Drew's birthday dinner. Drew picked the entire menu: sparkling cider, vegetable sushi, artichokes with butter, (or was it really just about the butter?), and Grandma Pat's meringues which Drew calls "meringue-a-tangs". Hey, the vegetarian in me loved the meal. Happy Birthday Drew-Drew!




3. And finally, I know one of the main reasons I LOVE The Tudors:

Henry Cavill, aka Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. I can't take my eyes off the screen when he is on. I worry that Charles Brandon will be beheaded, or burned, or boiled alive like others were. Dare I check the history books? No, I'll just hope that Brandon remained Henry VIII's humble and loyal servant.

It's the simple things...

I'm focusing on the simple things in life these days to help my happiness. Illness, namely cancer, the slow economy, the cold temperatures, and grey skies are dragging me down. I usually feel pretty upbeat on Fridays, so I'm going to reflect on 3 things each Friday that make me happy.

This week:


I can't get enough of avocados these days. I put them on everything that they could potentially be tasty on. I usually mash them with salt and pepper, plop on food, and I am happy.

A natural boar bristle brush. I've never had one, but I splurged after my last haircut, and I couldn't be happier. To all the woman who have been blessed with flat, I mean FINE hair, this brush will become your best friend!

I am hooked! A true guilty pleasure, but at least I'm learning something about King Henry VIII...not sure how accurate it is, but the costumes, the acting, the accents...I love it. I need to slow down watching the DVDs, because Season 3 is being aired right now, and I'm just starting Season 2. I would even consider getting Showtime for this show.

Contractor Roll Call

We have lived in our house 7 1/2 years. I think over the past 6 years or so, we have talked about remodeling or moving nearly every other day. We do love our house, but we want more space. More space to entertain. More space for our boys and their friends.

I sat down at lunch the other day and made a list of all the contractors we have met with. Meetings, bids, phone calls to all these guys...and we still have done nothing. Just so Scott and I don't forget, here is the list of contractors we have talked with: Jason, Kirk, Jerry, Tom, the team of Paul, Kyle, and Curt, a different Curt, Wade, and most recently, Ray. Did I forget anyone? I wouldn't be surprised if I did.

It's a problem, I tell you. For some reason, more than just funds, we cannot make this remodel happen. Hmm..I wonder why?

Drew-isms

Phrases currently uttered by Drew:

"Yeah, so, who cares?"

"I'm so hungry firsty!" (thirsty)

"Aspen!" (see below)

"Can I have my super duper last piece of gum?"

"Mommy, I love you. I love you a million trillion thousand."

New Swear Word

As all good parents say to their child, "We don't swear." What do you do if your child creates their own swear word... and knows how to use it at times when a little !@# would be appropriate?? Drew has coined the word "aspen" for his own personal form of profanity. He uses it here and there, and will call his brothers "Aspen!" when he is mad. It really is quite funny, but perhaps it shouldn't be so.

2009 so far

I had hopes for 2009 being a year of more good things than bad. Anything had to be better than 2008 and the slow economy which effects everyone in so many ways. But, 2009 has been a year where I have said the word cancer more than I would care to. Last week we found out that my Aunt Theresa was diagnosed with liver cancer. Not good. She is only 47, and has children ages 10 and 7. Theresa had a profound impact on me growing up, and I've always felt a strong bond with her. If anyone can fight this, and beat it, it will be Theresa. But, I think liver cancer usually has the upper hand.

Then, on Sunday, I learned that Theresa's brother, my Uncle Bob has brain cancer. He had surgery on Sunday that removed a tangerine-sized, stage 3 or 4 tumor. And now we wait.

My aunt and uncle are my dad's siblings. They are a close, tight-knit family, which is surprising to some because there are 9 of them. They were brought up in a Irish Catholic military family, where family meant more than anything else in the world. I've always been amazed at how every single one of them is successful, healthy, and has managed to navigate this crazy world so well. But now, for the first time, 2 of the 9 are dealing with cancer. Dealing with their mortality. It's the circle of life, I know. We are all getting older, but that doesn't take away the shock and fear.

So, I try to remain positive, and love the ones I love.