Wishka

Last weekend we went to my Uncle Jody and Aunt Lynette's place on the Wynooche River (or the Wishkah River - not sure). My cousins were there with their families and it was really nice to see each other all growed up with kids.
It was perfectly sunny and warm and we all loved playing in the shallow river. At night we had a huge fire in the Chevy Fire Pit and made smores and then lit some fireworks once it was dark. The house was full so we slept in a pop-up trailer on the side of the river. We aren't big campers yet so we didn't even have sleeping bags. We brought down comforters with white duvet covers and embroidered pillows. Once we got everyone into the trailer, it took a while for us to all fall asleep (no air traffic noises) but even Joey slept well. In the morning he made me promise not to do that again soon, "too sticky" he said. It was great to sleep "outside" with only the noises of the river and frogs.
In the morning we went up to the big house for coffee, bacon and pancakes - every campers dream! It was nice to spend time with our cousins big and small and to be hosted by Aunt Lynette and Uncle Jody who took care of everything and the place looked amazing! Thanks!

Leo on the River

Ancient Glacier Rock Fossil

Michaela, Sylvie and Devon

Tadpole PARTY!

Leo Loved Ketchup

Leo and Macy


UNCLE JODY AND TWO KIDS $ WHEELING IN THE RIVER!

Joey 4 Wheeling on the River

JOSH SKIPPING ACCROSS THE RIVER

Here is a link to the map of where we were: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=457+Old+Wynooche+Road&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.854268,59.238281&ie=UTF8&ll=47.105303,-123.676014&spn=0.001563,0.003616&t=k&z=18&om=1

sweetwater reunion show

The sweetwater reunion show was perfect. Everything was 1993 again. It is great to see how talented friends can make a crowd go wild. The familiar songs never fail to rock and friends milling around the croc was just like old times.

The next day was very 2007 again. darn

Rachel, Molly and Jacqueline
Cole, Adam, Paul and Rich - Sweetwater

Market Street Fair

I took the kids to the market one Saturday morning and it happened to be the 100th anniversary street fair. The crowd was a bit much but we love the husky band playing tequila and hotdogs on the ledge listening to famous blues guitarists! Sylvie and Zoe got to hold some bird talent and leo was trapped in the stroller with his dog!

Leon Dog

Van Lasher Dog

Sylvie Dog

Zoe Beret Bird

Cuties

Leo getting hugged

Sylvie dancing on the street downtown while Christie decides on her wedding dress

On the porch at Gig Harbor

Doris Grace

My grandma died today. She was 92 and had a wonderful life - 6 brothers and 2 sisters, 8 sisters and brothers in-law, nearly 70 people who called her "Annie Doris" (Auntie), 2 children, 3 husbands, 4 grand kids and 4 great-grandchildren. Many, many close friends that lived here and in Arizona. All these folks loved her dearly - I bet every single on of them played a game of cards with her at one point or another. Some called her Mom, I heard her brother's call her Dottie and Dorie, I called her Gram.

Though she has all of this family, she was also special because nearly everyone in the entire town of Raymond knew her and loved her as their nurse. That's almost 5 thousand people!! I was lucky enough to spend time in the clinic where she worked. I stayed with her during the summers and when I was only 7 she had me working in the clinic's lab counting things under the microscope with the lab tech Doots.

Everywhere we went in that town people knew her and loved her. Even in farther away towns like Long Beach, and South Bend she knew everyone and had been present at the birth of many people walking around towns in Pacific County including Long Beach's famous Stormin' Normin.

She also used to take me to nursing homes to visit people. I swear there was ALWAYS someone at the nursing home that she was taking care of and visiting. That is what she did. I didn't like it so much but I sure did learn that it was the right thing to do. Everyone always lit up at the site of her and I'm sure I was entertaining. I was so proud that she was proud of me.

I guess because I had a unique perspective as the granddaughter and mostly because of the kind of person she was, I literally never knew her to do anything bad or mean or wrong. You gotta know how lucky you are when you run across people like that because it is rare and I think I knew it all along. I used to choose her when I was asked to write about a Hero when I was in grade school. She took care of everyone and loved every minute of it.

She used to take my brother and me out on the road in her RV during the summers from park to park and everywhere we went people were glad to see her. Every kid should get to do that. When we asked "are we there yet" she always said "prudanear"

She never saw a recipe and didn't cut it out. She really loved to cook and used knives that were old and thin from years of sharpening. They were really really sharp. She used to roll up her sleeves and use her hands to mix things and told me that was the best way. That's how I do it now. She also made me watch her cut off the head of a chicken at Mary's farm. She wanted me to see it run around with it's head cut off cause she always said that expression and I didn't believe it. It was kinda funny.

She did every kind of craft imaginable. She made me a three tiered dress when I was four and let me pick out the material. It was red and blue with Lions all over it. I loved that dress. She also made a few hundred scrubbies out of netting. They were everywhere and still pop up from time to time in unexpected places. She probably made everything you can make: clothes, rugs, quilts, pillows, washcloths, lamps, necklaces out of bandannas, beads and little cotton balls, she loved those. And little holders for little things - a bunch of crazy stuff that they used to make in Arizona.

I would hate to disappoint her. "You little stinker" she would say. I do know that she loved me more than anyone possibly could. That kind of unconditional love that Grandmas have and she adored me too. I know that there are many people that she felt this way about but I never felt more special in my life that when I was her granddaughter. "Bless your heart" she used to say.

When I was old enough to drive, I used to borrow my Mom's or Dad's car and drive down to visit her in rain soaked Raymond. Winding down the forest roads I would travel back into myself. It replenished my soul. I loved being with her and her friends. We played cards and ate ham and potato salad. It was warm and cozy and I would fall asleep in her big bead with the bedspread she made. I loved looking through her closets and finding old treasures. It was home.

All my life she loved to tell me that she never cried harder than she did on her way home from visiting my me and my parents just after I was born. She didn't want to leave to go back to work.

Yesterday, I spent time with her and I could tell she was present. I said "it's me Gram, Molly" and she said "I know, you are my sweetheart." I told her that all of her brothers and sisters await her in heaven. I told her that Lena, and Grace and Gert and all her friends are there too. I know she believed that they were.

I guess we cry when someone dies because we miss them. I think we also cry because we know that their life and that relationship is part of what defines us and we lose a piece of ourselves. I have never had a life without a grandma but I'm nobodies granddaughter anymore.

I always knew this day would come and nothing could make me cry like the thought of losing my Gram. She was my hero. Yesterday, when I said "I love you, Gram". She said what she always said: "and I SURE love you"

Budget Class

Y'KNOW WHAT!?

Working for a non-profit, we are constantly applying for grants from local and national Foundations. The grant requests are usually long and oddly detailed and often ambiguous. I create the excel budgets for our applications since I manage the bookkeeping for the foundation. Each grant request has different budget requirements, some want to see the last three years, some want to see plan vs. actual, etc. etc.

During a recent phone interview with the Seattle Foundation, they told Donna (my boss) about how much they loved our budget and requested permission to use MY BUDGET FORMAT in ALL of their GRANT APPLICATION FORMS! The Seattle Foundation is a local foundation which provides guidance to individual philanthropists on where to give their dough.

I have had a special love for making forms and lists and spreadsheets in excel. At Eddie Bauer, Heidi and I created excel forms for checking out samples. I think that they still use this form.

So, this is yet another summit in my quest for the apex of excel excellence!

In other news, I recently collaborated with two other total stranger neighbors to write a grant to the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (can you say "red tape" and "bureaucracy"!?) to develop a water spray park in the newly renovated Jefferson Park which is up the street here on Beacon Hill. We got the grant - 15K! woo hoo

Bellevue Botanical Gardens

WHOO HOO! We got the camera fixed and today Sylvie's class had a field trip to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens - totally inappropraite for 4 year olds but there was a small playground at one end.

Leo is dressed as I would dress Joey if he let me. I love having a 18 month old boyfriend ;)

Unpictured Arizona

As we were leaving the airport parking lot upon arrival in Phoenix last week, my brother in law Albie opened and closed the auto mini-van doors and my purse fell out and then he unknowingly ran over it and my camera and my cell phone and my sunglasses and my everything else was squished. However, nothing to the point of no return except my camera. The button popped off and we couldn't take any pictures of the lovely cousins playing together in the pool or Leo on the train ride of his life, or Sylvie in the pool, or Albies totally surprised mug when we showed up at the airport (actually I could have caught that since it was pre-running over but I was loaded down with gear) or Melissa's drunk dancing at the 40th birthday party. "sad for us" as Syvlie would say.

We lay in the sun and enjoyed the HUGE and WONDERFULLY EQUIPPED home of our Sister and Brother in law. Sylvie loved playing with the cousins who taught her a bad habit or two and Leo discovered trucks and looked at me like "why don't we have these at our house instead of dollies and flowery things"

Leo has started talking up a storm. I never noticed how much I say "thank you" everyday but now I have my own little parrot who repeats it everytime I say it much to the enjoyment of every cashier and barista we encounter. He follows it up with "gracias" and "bye". In the morning when we head downstairs to wake up his sleepy head sister he says "Sisssstyyyy" on our way down. His other tricks include some new signs like putting his fingers to his lips like an Italian Chef giving a "Magnifico!" which means "eat" to leo. He also just started patting both hands on his chest which means "please help". This is better than his previous reliance on "more" which we took to mean more food please. So, his language is improving in many ways and he LOVES the reactions he is getting.

Sylvie is enjoying a string of good behavior where where she has honed her ability to share and be generous. She is also being extra loving toward Leo to the point where she wants to give him "huggies" first thing in the morning and whenever he is upset she comes over to comfort him with pats on his back and little "it's ok Leo" One of her latest talents is creating winning outfits which I can't photograph (see above!)

Joey has made a difficult transition to doing all commercial appraisals but he is still considered a trainee until July when he takes a big test so he isn't getting his normal % of income. I have been cut off from Whole Foods until an undisclosed maybe never date. "sad for me"

I love my knitting group because we eat well, play getting to know you games, talk about music and shows and make each other more talented and confident knitters.

Here is a link to the Raising Arizona Screenplay for some zingers: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/scripts/raising.shtml
like this one:

FBI 1: So you think it might have been an employee?

NATHAN: Don't make me laugh. Without my say-so they don't piss with their pants on fire.

and this one:

He's an angel!

he hides her face in her hands and looks away as if blinded, then sneaks a look around her hands....

He's an angel straight from heaven!

Now honey I had all my kids the hard way so you gotta tell me where you got this angel. Did he fly straight down from heaven?

Tulip Festival

On Friday we (Molly, CK, Leon and Sylvie) went to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Though I have seen hundreds of these photos at other people's houses over the years, I had never been myself. I have to say: 'you had to be there'. A sea of tulip fields with different colored waves makes a lovely visual impression.

Passover

We had two lovely Seders again this year - one with almost 30 Hassons and then a smaller one at our home with 12. We are surviving Passover by eating Matzoh with fresh Chevre and Tapenade - THANKS to my friends at DeLaurentis!

Christie and Randy Announced their ENGAGEMENT at the Seder!

Late Night

Ever since I started taking flonase I can't go to bed until 1:30. I am only taking flonase because I "snore" according to someone who TOTALLY snores and won't admit it. Whatever, I am still snoring probably because it is one of those things that you have to take everyday or it doesn't work - it has to be "in your system". Again, whatever. I can't remember to take it even though it literally sits next to the coffee maker that I use every morning, without fail. I think it might be because I feel like it is keeping me awake. Although it probably all stems from when my mom said "don't take it at night cause you won't be able to sleep" and even though, when I have taken it, I do it first thing in the morning, I still think its keeping me awake.

I made $11,000 dollars last year which is probably what I made working at costco when I was 16 working on the weekends. I love having a job cause I really like the work I am doing but unfortunately, it doesn't cover the cost of the babysitter/housekeeper. Bad times. I don't want to "go back to work" because I want to be around my kids for more than a few hours at night. Also, I don't think it would be so easy to just get a great job.

I am also having a creative burst of energy where everywhere I look I see a project. I decided to paint the two front window's trim black. I always loved the Bernbaum's beige house with white and black trim - so elegant. They also had fabulous pussy willow wallpaper in their guest bathroom which was also beige and black and white. Other ideas I had tonight include:

1. painting the mailbox with a pink, white and black paisley pattern

2. hanging family photos on the walls - Joey's family on one and mine on another - like old photos - is that strange?

3. Major gardening projects all aimed at covering up the unsightly chain link fence that we have to keep until we can trust that our kids won't run off into the road (another 6 years?): building a trellis for a climbing rose around the gate on the south west corner, planting fruit trees, in pots for a few years and then in the ground on the random notch of grass between the neighbor's house and ours, deciding which vegetables to plant next to the carrots and peas. I also want to put forget me nots everywhere. Favorite flower.

4. There is currently a sanded down 4-drawer file cabinet in the shed waiting for me to paint it white with spray paint. Joey totally does not think it will work!

I just co-wrote a grant with two other neighbors to the Department of Neighborhoods for the planning of a water-spray park in the new Jefferson Park playground. It felt good to be involved in this way and I decided I much prefer working on a smaller team than being at the bigger meetings. I wrote the sections on neighborhood involvement and community building and basically had to persuade that just the planning of the water feature would build bonds in the neighborhood between diverse cultures and would develop a shared sense of responsibility between neighbors and business owners, etc. Alot of B.S. but exactly what they asked for. Writing a grant is like writing a college application including the financial aid form. It is stressful and hard to keep track of where the cuts and pastes are. I think we did a great job though and I make two new almost friends who I would never have even met though they live within 1/2 mile of me.

I am planning the Bush 1987 class reunion with Jacqueline which should be easier than it has been. It's hard to track down the only 40 people that were in my class but we have found most. Most unfortunately, we cannot find most of the members of our class who made up the diversity quotient. Though they would probably be the most interesting to see. I was surprised by this and hope it's not for the obvious reasons of class and race divisions in our society. I love to think that it has to be more complicated and individual and fascinating. Most likely not. Still, there has been some great reconnecting as well as a full dose of 1986 drama revisited. OY! It stands to be perfect cause it is a party at Phil's manse in Seward park in the day and a alum only soiree at night at Ried's market condo's rooftop. Lovely.

Passover is coming on Monday and Tuesday and I will be making ridiculous amounts of Matzoh Roca which is just matzah covered with toffee (butter and sugar) and chocolate. Phew Then the second night we are hosting and my Mother-in-law is making most of the food. So, not so bad but a little hectic. I am looking forward to it. Last year with just my parents on the second night, we added an orange to the seder plate to represent the matriarchs. We will see if Joey goes for that again with his parents and the Bernstiens present. The Bernstiein's are making gifelte fish. hm. I thought it came from a jar. I really love the tastes of passover the hillel sandwich is the best: haroset with chunks of apples and nuts dressed with wine and cinnamon topped with cream style horseradish barely held together by two pieces of crumbling matzoh. YUM! Topped off with a sprig of parsley dipped in a bowl of saltwater. It doesn't get better than that!

Here is a photo of Pete getting his butt kicked by his daughter at their AMAZING new house in Yakima!

Love Mew

1 and a half and 3 and a half

Once again, we ventured down to Southcenter for the bi-annual kiddie Kandid photo session. Leo didn't quite get it and I was sitting just out of frame constantly pulling his hand out of his mouth. Sylvie HAMMED it up and has pemanently adopted the head-tilt and smile move - not sure where she gets that!?!? It's the shoes that barely rescue them from looking like young republicans, I am a sucker for classic children's clothes but I love a different shoe. I can't take credit for either of these pairs however, Kimberly gave us the boots and Jen gave us the Orange sneakers. THANKS! Leo's hairdo makes him look like someone named GLEN.

Taking a Meeting

We get some hand-me-downs once in a while, but this little number beats anything we have ever gotten...hands down!

three and a half

We did it. I couldn't help it. It was such a big deal to Sylvie and the winter is so dreary..we needed a bright orange cake, some decorations and some friends and family to celebrate with us.

Sylvie got 1/2 presents like three and a half - half dollars from my mother and three half pairs of socks from Noni. (to be joined by their partners in another box, of course) Not such a bad tradition to start.

Sylvie's Class Led Shabbat

The teachers were singing quietly so that the kids could be heard but the kids take that as their que to sing quietly. The whole thing was wispered. We went to Goldbergs for Ruebens and pickles to celebrate afterward.

Blessing over the candles.

In case you didn't know...she's the one in pink

Snow Day

Backyard Snow on one tree hill.

Joey's Birthday

Joey wanted his birthday dinner at a Tatami room at Busch Garden's. My parents ate there FORTY years ago when it was probably much um, better. Don't bring a one year old to a tatami room - everything is at their level including hot tea, soysauce, sticky rice and pokey chopsticks. Duh. At least Sylvie was dressed in her WINTER kimono.

New Year Surprise

Kris and I went to Sam Clams Disco for a little New Year's Eve getaway.

Highlights:

• The look on Boyd's face when we surprised him.
• Funnest Party I've been to in a long time.
• Two hour Ginger Rub Massage at Bliss Spa.
• Staying at the W.

Oh, and some real life carni's got in the fridge...

I love Sting

Still. Even though I am 37. Since I was 13. What is that 24 years?! From Roxanne to Synchronicity to Desert Rose. On my Senior page in my yearbook I had a photo of Sting next to a tear from GQ that said "There are Men Who Know" So 80's yet so hopefull. From Saving the Rain forest to Tantric Sex. Think Globally act locally, yknow what I mean!?! What more could you ask for? Sting, I'll be wrapped around YOUR finger, ok? All I want is to be next to YOU!I don't like that fields of gold song though - it sucks.