SWIM

Swimming lessons in this house is a bad word (Just ask my kids). I'm not sure why. Both me and my husband love to swim..we assumed our children would too. Despite having them in lessons since they were young.. they all have a slight fear of the water. Now after so many years, only Rosa will dunk her head and can swim a few feet. So technically she is still in the same starter class. Veda is now in that same class as well (3 times a charm right?). This might be a bad idea since they both can feed in to their fears. I'm determined though, to have them swimming by summer!

Look :)

Just a photo

Can you fix it?

Yes he can! August was carrying his tools around today asking me what needed fixing. He asked me to call him Bob (not the builder apparently JUST Bob)too. I would point out wobbly chair legs and what not for him to "fix" when we were done playing he said .."anything else ma'am" ha ha ha So cute.

It is a new year!

Of course there are new resolutions and what not. Does anyone really stick with them? I don't know, it is fun to start fresh though. I also love having goals, even if they may not all get seen through to the end. It is worth a try right?
One of my goals is to cook more at home. More fresh and from scratch dinners. That and branch out from the same 4 dinners we always eat. This is going to require more planning on my part, thinking of what is for dinner at 4pm is not going to fly anymore. I will try though.

Goodbye old pal.

He used to run super fast even having only 3 legs.
He loved to chase birds and squirrels. He was known to jump in to lakes and chase ducks for up to a half an hour, just swimming after them.
He really was a sweet dog. Loved to love and be loved.



I admit that I was put out a bit by this last year with him. He was not the dog I had loved for so many years. More of a shell of that. I know that is what happens with age. I know that is part of caring for a animal companion. It was just hard, and I feel bad for all the frustration I had when he had to be carried up and down stairs, for being mad that I had to clean up dog urine or crap at least 3 times a week and almost every day in the end if I didn't get him outside in the AM. The thing was though up until the last few weeks he still had that happy look a lot of the time. Not the last two days though. He looked so out of it. His body seemed so worn and so sad.
I will miss you Angus!

Rosa saying goodbye

HEAT!

Woohoo, the heat is ON! It has been in the upper 80's and will venture in to the 90's soon. That is pretty darn hot for Seattle. I have been sweating all day!
The kids have been enjoying it though. They have been swimming and using our new bigger than life water pistols.

Anything to keep cool. I'm more of a 75 degree weather girl, but I will deal with it. Beach trips and open windows helps.



I HAD been doing this great running routine the past 3 weeks, of course my vacation to Ocean shores with the ladies totally screwed that up. Instead I was eating, frolicking on the beach, and hitting the Indian casino! Did I mention eating? Oh the fried food!! It was fun though. A lot of laughs. I didn't have my camera, but I'm sure some crazy candid shots will pop up on facebook ;)

4 Years old

My last baby was born 4 years ago today. He is such a bundle of sweetness topped with bizarre boy energy.
We had a bbq for him yesterday. We broke out the water pistols. You can imagine what happens when you give kids ages 3-9 water those things. Water and fun and of course some tears lol.

Today we just hung out, went to the beach and I told him that I would make him anything he wanted for all his meals HIS choice. So for breakfast he chose dutch babies, lunch he wanted mac and cheese lol, then for dinner he requested lasagna with salad and garlic bread. IM FULL! IT was good though. For dessert we are having fruit pizza. YUM!( sugar cookie dough cream cheese sweetened and fresh fruit yum)

Summer fun

What a summer. We have been so busy. With camps and swimming lessons, and just playing outside! Yesterday we went to a youth circus that had children doing neat acrobatic stuff. The kids enjoyed it for sure. My little man's birthday is coming up too!
I have a large amount of back up photos to post. I may do that in the next few days.
My outside garden is really flourishing. It is almost jungle like. The best part is the humming birds! I keep trying to get photos of the little guys. I have a few but they aren't great.

August also got ANOTHER hair trim courtesy of his big sister. She was trying to make hat for him. In order to do that she needed to cut the fabric around his head. This resulted in the unfortunate loss of a chunk of hair. I kind of tried to fix it, then I decided to leave it and let it grow out.

Berry picking

Frozen pizza??

Is this an acceptable dinner for 3 growing bodies? hmm the answer is YES. If you have 3 kids and your home with them and there is nothing else to make them, and taking them to the store would cause me to go insane.

Don't worry, its not like I gave them donuts for snack earlier...o.k guilty again.

I promise to feed them broccoli, tofu, and various fruits tomorrow ;)

BBQing

Summer is here, the kids are out of school, and we went to 2 BBQ's today! Actually, me and Rosa went to one, but the others went to two. Veda and August were super tired. They played ALL DAY! The first BBQ had a jumpy house and the second had a trampoline, and we also played kickball there. It was fun times all around!

Wish

I wish I could fast forward to 3 pm tomorrow. I don't like funerals..who does? I get that people can want to goodbye and celebrate this person that meant so much to them. I just don't get why we have to do it together. I guess that just shows how people grieve differently. I know it is going to be so sad. I feel fortunate that I got to have last moments with my wonderful grandmother. I said goodbye in my own way while she was still alive. I feel like funerals make you go backwards in the whole grieving process. Again, it is probably just me. OR maybe the funereal is the finalizing of her death... ugg.
I will miss her, so many will. I dreamt about her last night and I just kept hugging her, she looked healthy but I knew in my dream she was sick. It was nice though, to hug her again.

Charlene "Pat" (Anderson) Gehri Loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away June 20, 2009 at age of 81 surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was preceded in death by Charles, her first husband of 51 years, brother Bill Jordan and grandson Joey Schroeder. Pat will be remembered for her dedication to her family, her love of gardening, reading, travelling and baseball. She drew great strength from her Catholic faith and was a member of St. Ann Parish for 58 years. She also enjoyed her time working at both Safeway and Frisbee's Bakery for many years. Pat is survived by George Gehri, husband of 10 years, daughters, April (Walt) Schroeder, Pam (David) Bishop, Sandy (Ken) Goodrich, Kelly (H.A.) Bales, 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, brother Bob Jordan, sister Donna Beritich and their families. Funeral services will be held 11:00 on Friday, June 26th .. Reception to follow. The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at the Franciscan Hospice House and Dr. Tom Baker and staff for their care and support. Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Hospice House, 2901 Bridgeport Way N., University Place, Wa. 98466.

Ahhh

Rosa eating bugs....




He he, kidding it is a salmon berry. Kind of tart, but very pretty!

Happy Fathers Day

To all the great dads, and ones learning to be great dads!!

Also to my hubby, who is a wonderful Dad to my crazy kids!

Computer glitch

I have tons of photos..from the zoo, and the park the other day. My problem is my computer keeps freezing when I try to access them. SUPER annoying.


I went to the dentist yesterday..good news NO cavities! WOOHOO. I have a really nice dentist, after all the years of crappy ones and as a child mean ones.

I REALLY want a Rootbeer float, that sounds so good I could even see myself going to the store to get the ingredients.

My Veda only has 3 more days of preschool then she is officially a kindergartner! Amazing how fast time flies. She is going to do great, I know it.