Keeping Cool

Keeping cool has been a necessity this last week as temperatures have steadily climbed into the 90's and even in some places, the 100's. Here in western Washington, that is a rarety and most of us hardly know how to do much more than lay around like slugs, and moan until it gets cool and overcast again.
I exaggerate, I know, but not by much.
Here in my little world, we have been endeavoring to stay as cool and calm as possible while having fun. And here, in no particular order, is how we have accomplished it:

At the pool at our apartment complex....here is David showing off his new life jacket:
The use of damp towels and rags has been very helpful:

A waterfight is very fun and cooling:

I set up a makeshift wading pool on the porch and the boys LOVED it:

I made a pitcher of my special sun tea (two bags Tazo Passion and two bags Tazo Wild Sweet Orange):

We took the boys to the beach one evening, here is Jon and the boys playing with the stones and rocks along the beach:

and Liam, playing with some seaweed that had washed up:

Creamsicles are always a fun and very tasty way to cool off when it's hot:

How have you stayed cool this week? Or is it cold where you are?

a very long week...

I spent the majority of this last week housesitting for my parents again while my mom took my dad on a surprise vacation to the oregon coast.
While I loved the chance to housesit for them again, this trip was frought with sorrow, as I spent most of my time there at my dear friend Pamela's house, helping her get it ready to put on the market. It breaks my heart that they have to sell it, it is a beautiful home on a beautiful property with a gorgeous view of the sound and Mount Rainier, and lots of life has been lived in it....but such is the way things have turned out and I tried to put on a brave face for my friend, who was already struggling with the pain and heaviness of her mission.
It was exhausting: the emotional turmoil combined with the physical work of cleaning and such. Coupled with the boys coming down with Jon's cold during it...and I came home with a sore throat that hasn't gone away. Jon and I were worried enough that I could have strep throat again, that I spent money that was needed elsewhere (socks and shoes for Jonny is just one thing....) to go to the doctor and get checked out this afternoon. Seems I probably don't have strep (the test is 95% accurate) and as the day has progressed, I seem to finally be getting some other cold symptoms. My body is tired and my heart is heavy still.
But, regardless of everything, I am so glad God orchestrated so many details so that I was at my parents right when my friend needed somebody to be there with her and help bare her burden of heartache and housework. I am so, so grateful for that. As hard as it was to be there, I didn't want to be anywhere else.
And, there was joy mixed in with the grief. We laughed. We talked. We lived life as together as two people can possibly be. We don't get that oppertunity very often, what with the ferry and all between us.

So, its been a long week but a good one too. God has been at work through it all and that is amazing to get to witness.

And now, I must go and let my body rest and try to get better quickly. I leave you with this photo of the boys and I at the beach, from a few weeks ago when we visited my parents and went downtown with my mom...enjoy and good night.

Feet Friday---Clamming Feet

I snapped this picture of a clam digger while we were at the beach with my Grandparents last Saturday. It was fun watching her dig for clams, She found quite a lot!

Fun Times

Just thought I would post a quick note about what we've been up to these past few days...

On Monday I watched my nephew, Pierce. The boys always have fun and we enjoy having him here.
The boys used my recycle bin as a drum:
Liam tried to read to the baby boys, but they weren't really interested:

Liam's peas are coming along. Jon brought home some poles and I strung some yarn around them so the peas had something to climb. They look really good out there now and are starting to flower! Pea flowers are some of my favorites!

And today, we had our friends from church over, Amy and her kids Karriann and Noah. We took them to the pool at our apartment and we had fun swimming and splashing around.

I also had my friend Jen over on tuesday and that was alot of fun. It's been a busy week but a fun week!!!

ABC Wednesdays---Z

My favorite Z is Zoo. I love the Zoo. I love seeing all the animals from all around the world.
We've been to the Zoo three times in the last year and it's been so great. I've enjoyed each trip.

Here's some pictures from our three visits:

David and the flamingos (June '09)
Liam and friends Karriann & Noah with the bronze eagles (June '09)

Liam & David and friends Natalie & Wesley (March '09)

Liam with friends Natalie & Wesley, looking at the penguins (March '09)

Me and the giraffe (October '08)

Liam and Jon looking at the elephant (October '08)

We are at the end of this round of ABC Wednesdays. I am not sure whether or not I will do another round but it has been a fun journey and I have enjoyed it.

Check my fellow ABC Wednesday posters and consider joining the next round!

300th post

I think this officially counts as my 300th post. Wow. That's alot of sharing.

I got on tonight to talk about how introspective I'm feeling. And ready to cry.

Good/sad movies will do that to me.

I just finished watching Marley and Me and it was so spectacular in how real-life it was. The bittersweet, would-never-trade-it-for-anything-no-matter-what reality of it all touched me deeply, as well as the two main characters' committment to life, family and each other.

It was a movie, a story that gives me hope.

At one point, the girl says, "If it's give up my job or give up this, I don't want to give up this." (being mommy).

Later, she says that she doesn't regret making that decision.

Such a beautiful thing. Contentment.

I am starting to find myself having more days of being content what what I have than of wishing for other realities. Because, whose to say those realities would have the great parts that this one does? I am not willing to give them up. And whose to say the "bad" parts of another reality wouldn't be worse than the ones here?
No, here I am and here I am happy to be. I am so grateful for my children, husband, friends, family.

This is home. This is where I belong. This is home.

Odd Shots Monday + Make Me Laugh Monday

Two "memes" in one post! How fun!

I was in downtown Kingston with my dear friend Pamela, having an hour of much needed KID-LESS girl time. We were just wandering and talking.
Came across this cross walk sign in our meanderings and couldn't resist snapping a picture. It appeals to me on so many levels. Take a look:
I see all sorts of "upgraded" traffic signs. The red nose on the deer crossing. Letters added to words. But this... this was the most unique and clever of them all in my opinion. I loved it and just had to share!

Find more Odd Shots at Katney's Kaboodle and more Make Me Laugh Monday at Jenny On The Spot.

Visit to GGpa and GGma's.

We went to my Grandparents yesterday for a visit and had a marvelous time. It was so good to see them again and get to spend all day with them, instead of only a couple of hours like last time (I was picking up my couch and had to get home before dark).

We picked cherries from their Rainier Cherry Tree, had lunch at the beach and played for a couple hours, relaxed in the living room talking while dinner cooked, had dinner and then visited somemore before it was time to head home.

And, on the way home, we were treated to a lightening storm. Definitely a great day!

We called him the "Cherry Man."

David was quite happy, until I made him stop eating them...

Jon did the high picking:

Being told he can't eat rocks:

eating lunch:

Digging For Clams:

Walking with Great Grand Pa

Driving a racecar:

We love you GGpa and GGma! Thanks for having us up! Hope to see you again really soon!

Sleeper

I was trying to cut out fabric for a skirt and David wouldn't stop walking all over it, so I put him in his bouncey chair. When I looked at him a few minutes later, he was sound asleep! I hadn't realized that it was nap time!!!

ABC Wednesdays---Y

My favorite Y is Yarn. I love to crochet (it was my "C" word) and it is near impossible to do so without yarn.
Yarn comes in an amazing variety of colors, textures and materials, from simple cotton to angora, and even synthetic materials. And then, there's the "yarn" people makes out of other stuff, fabric, string and even plastic bags!

Here's a couple pictures of some of my yarn and the projects I've done with it:

A pretty dark-red yarn and the beginnings of a tote bag I made for my mother-inlaw's birthday:
Different yarns, a scarf and the tote bag I made myself (it's lined with the top of a pair of jeans):

Well, that's my Y post! Be sure to check out the other ABC Wednesday posts here!

4th of July

We went to the Elder Butcher's for 4th of July and had a blast (pun well intended!)!

Here's David, in his perfect Independence Day shirt, and yes, that's a pickle in his right hand!
The guys played many rounds of Boche Ball in the back yard while they waited for food and the sun to go down:

Gathered to watch fireworks:

One of the many amazing explosions;

Fun with sparklers:

Liam loved everything about fireworks this year. He got to light a bunch of the little ones, and pretty much had free range with the sparklers, as long as he was careful. Here he is playing with a sparkler...I love the effects:

Another shot of sparkler fun. I have to admit, I did alot of sparklers too...

It was a fun night. David went to sleep shortly after we started with the fireworks, but at least he got a good nights sleep! Liam just loved it and keeps asking if we can go back and do more! I think this might be up there in his list of favorite holidays!

Beaches, Beaches, Beaches

We've been to the beach a few times in the last week or so and it's always fun!

Here, we went to the beach with my mom while we were at their house visiting. Liam had fun throwing rocks into the water:

Liam has a good friend at church, Caleb. Caleb, His mommy, and sister took us to the beach for a play date. We sure had fun!

And then, the very next day, my parents came over and we went back to the same beach (Liam really wanted to go back!)

It sure is fun to play at the beach, especially when it is HOT like it's been around here lately!

Feet Friday....footprints in the sand

Here's a sweet picture of David and my footprints in the sand from our beach trip yesterday: