Dee's 80th Birthday Celebration

Dee (Dave's Mom)

Dee and her sons... Dave and Steve (right)

Us goofing around... Me, Dave, and Aaron

Steve (Dave's brother) and Ruth (his wife)

Dee opening her presents

Brady enjoying his cake... and eating it too.

Riley enjoying each bite.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEE!

So So Day Yesterday

It wasn't sunny nor rainy all day. It was just gray for most of it. It's look set the tone for everything else around me. It was a blah day. The best part of the day was going out to Panera Bread at the Station and celebrating Srey and Kae's birthday. Her's was yesterday and his will be on Sunday.

Kae is going through a divorce which makes having a birthday or a holiday hard... she probably could remember last year when everything in her life was in place and now it is in pieces. I could tell that she was having a hard day and prayed that somehow something could make it a little enjoyable. However, I know full well, that there are just somethings that can't be fixed that easily and it takes time to heal yet the Lord can go to her and calm the way. Kae is a Christian and so I pray for my sister in the Lord. What she is going through she didn't ask for or want. I don't mind anything she tells me or if she wants to vent a little if it will help. All I can do is listen. I tried once to talk positively and encourage her about the future, hoping to breath live into her as if I was doing some kind of emotional CPR... but she isn't ready to hear about the future yet; she can only feel the pain and hurt. She is grieving her marriage as she watches it die, and she must grieve before she can move on. Life is tasteless at the moment. So, I'll pray for her instead. After all, prayer is the best I can do for her; and I'll sit with her as she moves through this darkness.

I am glad this week has come to an end and I look forward to the weekend. Dave is preparing for his mom's birthday party but this morning he sounded as if he was coming down with a cold. I hope he isn't getting sick. Kari hasn't felt well but is getting better. Brady got sick to his stomach the other night... and Riley was sick to his last week. Aaron even has had his sore throat. I was sick too last month. So we are dealing with trying to stay or get healthy.

If you don't blog on the weekend, have a great weekend! Have a wonderful day...

Frost

No... Not Robert Frost

This kind of frost... Yep, it has arrived

I scraped frost off my windows yesterday morning. It was the first time this fall. I had to go into the garage to find the ice scraper from it's summer hiding place. Luckily, I did.

I did a presentation at Tahoma HS yesterday morning and was given a Starbucks gift card as a "Thank You". I love the idea of getting a latte on a cold day when out and about doing Outreach. It is very popular to get a Starbucks gift card around here. (Go figure) I like Starbucks but I am still not completely a "Washingtonian" that way... needing coffee every morning. I prefer tea more than coffee. (Shhhhh, don't tell) My husband is a coffee drinker but is happy with the coffee made at home, MOST of the time. On weekends he can't wait to go to Starbucks and read the paper. It is a good way to get out of the house.

Last night, I had an event at Kentwood HS. When it was over, it was raining outside rather hard. For some reason I wasn't any more prepared for that type of rain than I was for the frost we had that morning. So twice the elements outside has tricked me. It is a reminder to me that I need to start thinking "fall and winter" rather than "summer". It also reminds me that I haven't totally given up the idea of "summer" and am still mourning the idea that winter weather is closer than I want it to be on the calendar. October has warm days and beautiful autumn color here. But October can also have days that can chill you and make you a believer that winter is near.

I also got my flu shot yesterday. I never have problems with the flu shots... I get a sore arm and I felt a little tired after I had it but I felt fine for the event at Kentwood at 7 pm. I go into so many schools and see so many students and community members, it is important for me to get the flu shot in October.

Yesterday between events, I bought the boys their Halloween costumes. Riley was picking his out of a magazine... first it was a "pirate" and then "Ninga Turtles". He wanted those picks because they both have a sword as part of the costume. That is a BAD idea for Riley to have anything like a sword. So I bought them both Transformer characters. "Bumblebee" for Riley and "Optimus Prime" for Brady. I know that you many not be up on your Transformer characters; but they are the good and most popular robots. I think. I know Bumblebee is good. Anyway, they will be excited to have their costumes and be ready for the Halloween train which we will go ride on the weekend of the 25-26.

Both things: getting a flu shot and getting the kids ready for Halloween is another reminder of autumn is here in all it's glory. Oh, and Happy Birthday to Kae Hamilton who works in our office.

Let's Talk...

I have found a new hair product that I am happy about. It is called KENRA which is a Root Lifting Spray. When my hair is wet, I just part the hair all over and spray where ever I part it. After a few times, I have learned that I only need a few parts on each side of my head to make my hair do what I want when it is dry.

Have you started to use or use something that you would like to share? Let's talk...

We went to "Pajamerama" last night at the library. Riley has to have 30 minutes of reading to him each week. We went to the library on Sunday so I read to the boys Sunday and Monday. Then tonight they were read to at a Storytime at the library. The wear their pajamas and get to hear five different stories, see a puppet, see a flannel board story, and sing songs. They also get to hug the puppet and get a stamp on their hands. They both love it. Riley has 30 minutes of reading time for his homework sheet to turn in. Sweet!

Today is My Monday

It is 6:30 am here in Seattle. I haven't even looked to see what it is like outside this morning. I had the kids last night because Kari hasn't been feeling good. It seems her meds for ADHD has a time bomb attached. She has been complaining something has been wrong and has gone to see the doctor. Medication can be tricky. It just so happened that she took Brady in for his wellness check and the kids doctor started talking to her. He enlightened her that what she was feeling maybe caused by her meds. So, she is now seeking out a doctor and to check out if it is her meds and what to do about it. For those of you that are praying women, please pray for Kari and seeing that she gets to the right people for the right treatment for ADHD.

In the meanwhile, Dave is wanting to have a BBQ for his mom's 80th birthday this next weekend her at our house. I suggested that we all go out to dinner since my hands have been full with the boys and work etc but he wanted to do something more meaningful since it is her 80th birthday. He is now thinking of having her girlfriend up from Portland for the party. We really don't have a guest room to put up an 80 year old woman. We might be able to come up with a resolution for her to sleep on something other than a mat or a blow up matteress for camping but not before Saturday. I am going to have to ask the other family members if they could have her at their house overnight. In fact, Dee (Dave's mom) would probably prefer to have her friend overnight so they could talk and visit.

Well, I better get going... an ideas, thoughts and, of course, prayers are always appreciated.

"Stay At Home Mom" Today

Today I am a SAHM or in my case a SAHG (G=Grandmother)

Last Friday there was "NO School" and today there is "NO Daycare". It isn't bad when the school doesn't have school because the daycare is there. But when the daycare has a training day... well, someone has to take the boys to school. I get paid for days off... and it is a hardship on Kari... so I plan for these days. That is why last week I didn't take the complete week off.

So this morning I had to take Brady to his elementary school at 8:30 am and then Riley to his school at 9:05 am. Then a couple of hours later I had to reverse it... like when I was a school bus driver. So, at 11 am I was picking up Brady and then at 11:something for Riley.

We went to see Kari at her work. I thought we would be encouraging since she hasn't been feeling too well lately. She loved seeing us there.

Now as I write this the boys are settling down for a nap. Brady does well... but Riley fights it with all he has. When I get off the computer I will move him into my room where he seems to do the best at resting.

it will be back to work again. I have been staightening out the pantry, the shelf above the washer and dryer... which leads me to the three drawers in the kitchen... which will lead me somewhere else to straighten and clean.

Have a great day!

Sunday

It's Sunday! A day where we do things as a family. Here is a photo of Brady to entertain you. It is what happens when I am not paying attention and his bigger brother puts stickers all over his face in the back seat of the car while I am driving. Surprise Grandma!