Wuthering Heights

Disaster Camping - crash course #1

2010-08-17T12:34:00.001-07:00

We attempted to go camping this past weekend.

Attempted being the key word.

It was HOT for us in the Pacific NW this weekend, mid 90’s, and luckily the heat was the least of our worries.

We get to the campsite about 7-7:30pm and it’s a ‘park wherever’ sort of place. We get one of the last spaces open, on a slope, but whatever.

We start to unload and open up the camp gear. Moldy/mildew-y tent, moldy air mattresses and broken tent poles. Our tent takes 3 poles. 2 were broken – one of them severely, like beyond repair broken – luckily Anna’s little tent had an extra pole (?) in the bag, so we jimmy-rigged that for ours.

Great.

I blew up the moldy air mattresses and flipped the flocked/moldy side down so at least we still had something to sleep on.

Needless to say, it was not a pleasant set up and I decided early on that one night (not 2, like planned) was going to be enough.

So, fine, we get dinner cooking - YUMMY hamburgers, thanks to Shawn - get the campfire going and settle in to watch the stars & meteor showers.

Without all the light pollution from the city, the stars are amazing!

Saturday morning:

We're up at 6am to rent the pontoon boat at 7. It's cold, it's damp and everything is dew-covered. Whatever.

Rent the boat, out on the lake at 7:15. Realize we don't have some fishing supplies.... they were *packed*, but either left at the campsite or in the Pathfinder.

We motor over to the boatramp at our campsite & have Anna run up and look. No luck.

We then proceed to motor over the the boat launch to look in the Pathfinder.

CLUNK !

another CLUNK !

We hit a submerged tree stump in the lake and the motor FALLS OFF OF THE BOAT!

Yes, falls INTO the water.

Luckily it is hanging on vy the power cord and the fuel line.

Anna & Shawn wrangle the motor back onto the boat and needless to say, we are never going near Mineral, WA ever again.....

Alpena, Michigan

2010-08-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

** Pictures for now - text to follow

A very terrible tragedy

2010-07-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in awhile and I know this isn't the best way to start back into things or the way to start a Holiday weekend, but.....

Well, there's always a but, isn't there?

I received some terrible, terrible, sad news this week. There was a fatal accident on I-90 (a major freeway here in WA) that left a young father & mother dead. Their 4 year old son as well as 2 other passengers survived.

The young mother was a teacher at Cole's daycare, Our InnSpiration, that he attended from age 1-1/2 up to first grade. They were like a second family to Cole & I. Lindsey, the young mom, literally helped raise Cole.

The story goes as follows:

"Sean Mitchell, 29, his wife Lindsey, 26, their 4-year-old son Cameron and two family friends were driving westbound on Interstate 90 near North Bend just before 7 a.m. Tuesday. Their 2005 Dodge Neon drifted off the left shoulder, into the guardrail and then hit a concrete bridge abutment.

The driver's side of the car was crushed. Sean was behind the wheel. Lindsey was in the seat behind him tending to Cameron.

"Unfortunately, it hit the guard rail and rode the guard rail down in such a way that it hit that bridge abutment in the worst possible place," says Trooper Cliff Pratt, Washington State Patrol. "I believe they were seatbelted, but this is one of the cases that when you hit so hard that nothing's going to help you out."

The Dodge was packed full of people returning from a weekend camping trip in Eastern Washington. They were trying to get an early start home. But troopers say the driver apparently fell asleep -- not even the rumble strips on the side of the road could wake him."

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Two-killed-in-rollover-accident-on-I-90-near-North-Bend-97389269.html

I met Lindsey when she was just 18, her first job was the daycare. She started shortly after Cole started there and was one of the sweetest people I've met. She had a natural knack towards kids and they flocked to her. I didn't ever hear a mean word come out of her mouth, she just didn't have it in her.

I remember when she was pregnant and found out that she was having a boy, "Oh, boys are the best, you're going to love having a little boy!" I remember telling her.

Cameron is with Lindsey's parents now and is in good hands. The family & daycare have set up an account for Cameron at Columbia Bank, here in Washington. "The Cameron Mitchell Donation Account" is the name.

Please donate what you can and keep him in your prayers.

http://www.king5.com/home/4-year-old-survivor-When-will-Mommy-and-Daddy-be-back-97550879.html

I know it is a heavy subject, but my wish is that this makes you all the more appreciative of your family and loved ones.

Love you all

Well deserved CONGRATS!

2010-03-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Spring is HERE! It’s official. We can’t go back now, right? We have had the mildest winter I can remember, since moving here in 1979. No snow – which was a bummer for the kids, but no huge storms or RAIN for that matter. (I didn’t just jinx it, did I??) We had one extremely cold week, reaching the single digits, but other than that – mild. It made you anxious for Spring. For flowers and fresh cut grass. For flip flops and capris. Bring. It. ON!

In the most Special, special, special and EXCITING news evar – I am so proud to announce that my husband, Shawn Wilson, is now the new TERMINAL MANAGER for YRC, Inc. in Tacoma !!!!

After years in the trucking industry and revamping & improving each terminal he’s been assigned to, he was finally awarded the Tacoma location! I am so, so, so proud of him and know that he has what it takes to make this work! He’s got his own show to run, which is what he deserves (plus, we get to stay in T-town – super big YAY!)

CONGRATULATIONS SHAWN!!! I’m so proud of you!

Mt. Rainier

2010-01-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

(beautiful Mt. Rainier sunrise)

I'm lucky to live where I live

and work where I work.

Quote of the day:

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."

-Vince Lombardi

Funny Bus Stories

2009-10-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not a bus rider. I'm lucky enough to be able to ride into work with my friend Shannon.

But my sister-in-law, on the other hand, gets to tell me funny stories. Chantale commutes from West Seattle to her law firm in Downtown Seattle. We were emailing today and I asked how things were going.

This was her response:

"I had quite an experience yesterday on the bus…I hate the bus.

Okay, so I get up early to get to work early…I have my ipod on at the bus stop but I can tell that the other people are slowly moving and looking away, shifting their feet away from this short little homeless looking man (not sure he was homeless or just messy/creepy)…soooo, I casually turn off my pod to see if I can hear anything and he is making his moaning/zombie/crying noise. I turn up the volume and pretend I did not hear it.

I get on the bus and get a seat about mid way back but before the accordion part (thank goodness). The zombie guy goes to the back. About 3 mins later about 15 people fly from the back of the bus and the first one says something to the bus driver and they all continue to stand in the aisle. I am innocently listening to Neil Diamond (or maybe it was Nirvana) when it hit me. The. Smell. Was. Ungodly. Me, being me had to look to see what was going on. The back of the bus is empty except for the little zombie guy…he had barfed.

And you?"

....... 'Nuff said.

Football & Youth Symphony

2009-10-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

I have been up to my eyeballs in kid-stuff.

Should I be complaining?........ We only have one full time and the other on the weekends. I know some of you have 2, 3 and 4 kids - ALL the time!

I give you props. HUGE props.

Cole is in Flag Football, which means practice twice a week, from 5:30 - 7:00pm. Then a game every Saturday.

Anna - I praise her, she is SUCH a good kid! - auditioned and was accepted into the TACOMA YOUTH SYMPHONY !!!!!!!!!

She plays Viola and although we had all talked about it with her last year, her high school orchestra instructor really pushed her to start the audition process.

This is a HUGE honor and she - AND we - are SOOOO excited for her!!!

So she has practice every Saturday for 2 and a half hours. But it also means that we get to see her.... Every. Single. Weekend.

{insert perma-grin from parents here}

Cole's team (3-0) played the only other undefeated team this weekend. They gave it a good try, but ended up losing 36-32.

Cole running the ball

(action shot!)

Cole playing 'Center'

Happy 1st Anniversary!!

2009-10-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

A year ago today I stood in front of our family & friends

and said "I do"

I would say it again and again.

Just as I said a year ago

I do

Every day

Always

I do.

Here's to many, many more Happy Anniversaries!

XOXO

New job, sicknesses & football

2009-10-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm lumping it all into ONE post. Don't judge me.

I don't have any photos to post with it either. {{sigh..}}

I started my new job last week. (last week?? well, the week before this past week. I've been there for two weeks now, you get the drift.)

I'm working for DaVita in downtown Tacoma. It's a kidney dialysis company business office and I'm working in Payroll - which is the funnest group ever! I was pretty much thrown into my job that Monday. Since I was the only one who could make it to training, they decided to move my training day to the following Monday. Soooo, Miss Lynnae was introduced, warmly welcomed and a tad overwhelmed.

By Wednesday night I had the scratchy, ashtray throat, want-to-crawl-in-bed feeling. Bleh.
I made it through the week, but just barely.

The weekend came - thank GAWD! - and I was still sucking cough drops, but felt better at Cole's first football game. I was thankful to actually stay home and watch the Seahawks on TV, rather than trekking to the game. I just wanted to rest after my first full week of work.

On Sunday, Cole came down with a 24 hour flu.... Poor guy was drifting in and out of sleep on the couch. After taking some Tylenol and forcing him to have some bites of a Ritz cracker, as I'm tucking him in, he says to me, "Mom.. I feel horrible. Just horrible!" Awwww.... poor guy! He even asked me if he had to go to school the next day. "No" I told him, "don't worry". He did get up after I went to bed and got sick. Shawn was still up, so he took care of him and they watched a hunting show together. Shawn stayed home with him Monday and he was pretty much better by the time I got home from work.

I was doing great until Tuesday night when I got another head cold! Aaarrgghh! I'm so sick of being sick! So, I muddled through the rest of the week with sniffles, sneezing, stuffy nose and a constant sinus headache. Bleh.

Cole had his 2nd football game Saturday and they did AWESOME, winning 30 - 6!! You've never seen the Detroit Lions play like this!

Anna had her first high school dance Saturday night, her Homecoming dance with her boyfriend James. She sent me a photo on my phone and Oh. My. Gosh. She looked GORGEOUS!! Haven't got all the details yet, but sounds like they had a very magical night :)

All in all, things are good. I'm so happy to be employed and it's a little surreal to be working where my friends work and have always tried to get me to work.. and so nice to have friendly, familiar faces :)

Cole's first Flag Football Game!

2009-10-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

Cole had his first ever Flag Football game Saturday and let me tell you..

THEY ROCKED!

Cole's team - the Detroit Lions (don't laugh!) - beat the Kansas City Chiefs, get this,

40 - 0

Yes, you hear me correctly:

Lions 40

Chiefs 0

Their league, through Metro Parks Tacoma, is all NFL sponsored and each team is an ACTUAL NFL team name with official jerseys! And although the real Lions haven't been doing so well in the past year, he is SUPER excited to be a "Lions", just like his Dad's hometown of Michigan.

Cole getting lined up for a play, he's a runningback!

The team looked AWESOME! They just kept catching balls and running them into the end zone! And in flag, they don't kick for the extra point, so we kept getting the 2 point conversions as well! We've got a quarterback who has played for this team for the past 3 years and who also plays tackle football, so he's very talented. The coach and his team were undefeated last year, so we're hoping for a repeat!

Awesome job, guys!! Very fun to watch!

Heading down the field

It was a beautiful day, sunny but a bit windy and cold - PERFECT football weather! Grammy & Grumpy came to cheer on Cole too and took us out for a celebratory meal afterwards. Thanks G&G!

Team meeting after their win!

GO LIONS!!!

One of Cole's runs, I only caught this one on my camera

Canning

2009-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, Shawn & I attempted our first try at canning and let me tell you, it went quite well!

A HUGE THANK YOU to my wonderful mom-in-law, Linda, for two wonderful recipes! And all the canning advice that goes along with it. I'm just surprised (and thankful) that we didn't end up calling you over and over for tips!

Tomatoes. This was surprisingly easy! Boil them for a sec, peel them & cut them. Easy, easy, easy! I can't wait to try them this fall in some chili or goulash.

PICKLES! (and some peppers, whew!) These will -hopefully- be just as amazing as they smelled! Shawn takes all the credit for these babies!

Sauerkraut! This was the most simple of them all! Cabbage, salt, sugar, vinegar, boiling water and it's done! No water bath, nothing! Keeping my fingers crossed on these guys. They should be AWESOME!

SEAHAWKS SEASON OPENER!!

2009-09-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

Seahawks 28 - Rams 0
Yeah baby!!
The Seattle Seahawks home season opener was a BLAST!! - all. day. long!

( I AM SO IRRITATED WITH THIS *STUPID* BLOGGER AND IT'S "LAYOUT" PROCESS RIGHT NOW!!! I'VE TRIED TO FIX THIS 3 TIMES ALREADY!! GRRRR..... Anyway...)

(photo #1): Glen, Shawn & the gang tailgating before the game.

(photo #2): "TAILGATE ALLEY"

People had buses, campers and BBQ's - THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!

(photo #3): The beautiful view from our SEASON TICKETS !!!!!

(photo #4): The triumphant 12th Man Flag!

Patrick Swayze

2009-09-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Another junior high love lost.

I could watch this movie over and over and over - such a brilliant cast.

I dedicate this to Cami, Julie L., Jackie, Shawna, Dannie, Alodie, Tracey, Julie B., etc., etc.....

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze

Reading

2009-09-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

Oh I love me some books!

I love to read. I've always loved to read. I have my original copy of Charlotte's Web from when I was little. Circa 1983. That's 3rd grade to you and me.

I started reading this past winter, but it was this summer that I really put my nose in my books and savored all they had to offer.

This summer was sunny and warm and PERFECT for afternoon reading breaks. Cole and I would get our chores done in the morning and then head outside for some sunshine. Cole would usually be in the sprinkler, on the slip-n-slide or riding his bike (ahhh... those carefree days...). I would set out my loungechair, iced sun tea and soak up the rays - book in hand.

I've discovered some new favorites as well as revisiting some old classics. Now I really look forward to nighttime - snuggling in bed with a good book!

To Kill A Mockingbird. My current read - for the 3rd time. I love this book. Love everything about it. The time period, the names, the descriptives, all set in the syrupy, syrupy South. This book is in my top 5. Harper Lee really outdid herself. It's like poetry.

Vanishing Acts. I picked this up at a thrift store purely by the cover of the book (how vain of me! tsk.) But a beautiful story of a father and his love for his daughter. Written in 4 different character perspectives, Jodi Picoult gives you the view of "walking a mile in another mans shoes". A heart-strings tugger for any mom out there.

Extreme by Sharon Osbourne. Gawd, she is sassy! And I *LOVE* her for it! After really getting to know her from the MTV reality show (some would say first ever reality show) The Osbournes, I fell in love with Sharon. She's brash, she's ballsy, she's crass and she rocks! The wife of heavy metal icon, Ozzy Osbourne, and mother of 3, Sharon tells of the rock and roll lifestyle she and Ozzy experienced first hand. I have more respect now for Ozzy and his music. Very funny and sad at times. Another thrift store find :)

The Five People You Meet In Heaven. I know, I'm probably one of the last people on EARTH to read this book. It's been on "my list". Gutwrenching and Heavenly all within the same book. It traces back to my "everything happens for a reason" slogan. If you haven't read it either - get to it!

The Devil Wears Prada. I read this on the beach in the BAHAMAS and that is a great memory in and of itself! Of course it had already been made into a movie by the time I got around to reading the book, but it still rocked! Picturing Meryl Streep as the mean, mean Miranda gave me a perfect visual. This will go into my 'keeper' pile.

The Secret Life of Bees. OH. MY. GOSH. I don't know where to begin. The beautifully described sunny south set in the 60's, the dripping honey, the honey bees, the longing of Lily.... It oozed warmth and goodness from the first pages. HUN - NEY!

A Must Read. A Must Read. This is now in my top 5 of all time.

East of Eden. Steinbeck. 'nuff said.
Set in the Salinas Valley in the late 1800's to early 1900's, a gripping, epic tale of family. It's S.L.O.W... and long and if you make it past the first 90 pages, you're good. I bought this in 2003/2004 to bring to Sun Lakes as a summer read and haven't touched it since. Now bring on the movie and James Dean!

I've also read In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner, a wonderful story about sisters and growing up.

Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells - this would probably make my top 10. I know it was over publicized and the movie just didn't do it any justice whatsoever! The book itself , when you break it down, was a beautiful journey of four girlfriends. You'll laugh and cry, sometimes within the same sentence!

The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks - my mom gave me this book. Not a 'typical' Nicholas Sparks novel. Not at all. If you're looking for The Notebook, look somewhere else. This is suspenseful and gripping and a story of love. Love between a woman and her dog - a dog her deceased husband sent to her. Yes, you'll cry. But good, happy tears that make you glad to be alive and to be loved.

Atonement - Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. The movie is well done and was nominated for a bunch of awards and such, but the book is SOOOO much better. Lovely!

Many more to come, I'm sure! I already have Confessions of a Shopaholic, Water for Elephants, The Reader and The Friday Night Knitting Club just waiting on my nightstand........ Plus, my friend Jenna has volunteered her Twilight books for me to read. Whew!

Happy reading! And as always - suggestions welcome!

First Day of School

2009-09-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

Cole's first day of school!

waiting in his class line

Making new friends :)

I just LOVE this photo and had to include it. Cole and his friend Odin eating cereal in a tree in Odin's yard. With their "flat hats". Cuz that's how they roll.

Lots 'O Catching Up To Do!

2009-08-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

We've been B U S Y !!

It's been awhile, I know. Shawn, Cole & I (and sometimes Anna) have just been busy, busy enjoying summertime! I may make this short - but sweet - just to get thru all of our happenings.

Where to begin??......

I'll start with REALLY good news, cuz good news is always fun!

~~~ SHAWN GOT THE GHIA STARTED !!!!

It was brief, it was a tad smokey, but IT WAS RUNNING!! Ohh... and she just purred like a kitten.... you know me, I had a super-duper Cheshire Cat grin on my face and a tear in my eye.

(My Ghia was *running*!?!!!!!!)

---> A highlight of Cole's was the Seahawks training camp that we went to on Aug. 3rd (also my bro's birthday!). He was in constant motion the minute we got there and he was just in AWE of the players. It's such a beautiful facility on gorgeous Lake Washington and we were so lucky to attend their first public practice!

The warm-up

Our newest 'Hawk - TJ "Hous-yo-mama". hehe.

(I don't think I'll ever be able to spell his name correctly)

Cole took this close-up photo right at the sidelines

Just the beginning of his signed football. The thing is COVERED now!

---> On another very happy note, our good friends Candice & Pete just welcomed their new little man on July 20th. CONNER was a healthy 11 pounds 2 ounces.

Yes, you heard me correctly. . . 11 pounds.

(I said the same thing, "poor mama!") But, of course, it was C-section and now mom & baby are doing just fine!

Congratulations Pete & Candice!

Conner & Candice - he is such a cutie!!

---> We got our actual SEAHAWKS SEASON TICKETS delivered also! Woo Hoo!!

After being on the waiting list for the past 3 years, Shawn finally got notification that we would be able to purchase season tickets!! So excited for fall & football season, just trying not to wish summer away too quickly. Go Hawks!!

---> Cole was on a fishing kick lately and since we are so close to the Tacoma waterfront, I decided to take him down to the dock and see what would happen. It'd be some nice bonding time too, either way.

"It's a LONG way down!"

He did end up catching a small salmon (YAY!) but ended up having to throw it back since it was so small. Bummer.

Shawn fishing on the Green River

Cole fishing on the Green River - and he caught something!!

Yum!

---> Also, I left Safeway. In all my years of customer service, I've never had to deal with "crazy" before. . . . . Never.

To make it short, although I was just a 'bagger', I don't need to be put up with being called a liar, questioning my integrity or accuse me of playing games.

I'm 35, not 16.

So once again, I'm looking. I know I'm more than qualified, it's just finding something that fits.

And that's your newest Wilson update - HAPPY SUMMER!

John Hughes ?!?

2009-08-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.......

John Hughes - dead??

It can't be true....

http://http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/08/77281/

But it is.

He created The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller and (gasp!)
SIXTEEN CANDLES

Wow.

Thank you, John, thanks for your vision, for the memories, for the belly laughs.

Hiking at Mowich Lake

2009-07-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

I woke up Saturday morning - to an ALARM, can you believe it? Me, an alarm? Yes, I set one every day. It's my "me" time in the morning. Cole sleeps in a little later (from staying up later during summertime), Shawn always sleeps in and when we have Anna on the weekends, well, she's a teenager and it's practically a requirement. (Ahh, I remember those days fondly)

Anyhow.... Shawn and I were discussing what to do for the day when he said, "Let's go for another hike."

I'm game - let's go!!

He's already picked out a spot and so up, up, up we go past Wilkeson & Carbonado to Mowich Lake. We pass nice sized patches of SNOW and Cole is just amazed by this. For as nice as it's been here and us wearing shorts and tank tops, I'm a little surprised too.

A little bridge over a stream

The hiking was pretty intense. I'm telling you, I struggled a bit on some of the inclines. The hike itself was great! We started at almost 5000 feet and only inclined about 150 feet, but it was fairly severe descents and inclines - LOTS of steps - that almost killed these little legs of mine!

But when we got to the lookout........... we were rewarded with a SPECTACULAR view!

The beautiful, majestic Mt. Rainier

(and so nekkid!)

I just have my Canon Elph.... the contrast is horrible! But here are the kids with the mountain

Breathtaking!

The first waterfall we came to. Shawn kept teasing us with, "Oh, this is going to be the biggest waterfall you've ever seen!" Uh-huh.... But it did get better each time.

The second waterfall. Most impressive! But we had NO IDEA what we were in store for.....

Our next stop completely took our breath away!!

SPRAY FALLS - elev. 5100 feet

So completely spectacular and spiritual to witness! It was graceful and masculine all in the same sight. Just hearing the rush of the water and feeling the spray, you could tell this was a very powerful force.

Cole taking it all in

Shawn & Anna decided to brave it across the river to capture the WHOLE view of the falls. Cole was too little to cross and I was, well, too scared. I'm scared of heights and don't like being out of control. Let them take the chance!

I admit, they got a gorgeous view!! You're able to see almost the entire falls on the other side. In the words of Cole, "no fair!"

The *entire* Spray Falls

And one last photo - PROOF that I was there! :)

I GOT A JOB!!

2009-07-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time comin', but..........

I'm officially EMPLOYED!

After a long, L O N G sabbatical (I say that with a grain of salt) and Shawn and I sitting around trying to figure out 'what I want to do with my life'. He gave me a FANTASTIC idea - grocery stores. He always raves about how he LOVED working at his local grocery store through high school. So.....

I am happy to say that I am a new employee of - Safeway.

(for those of you not in the area, it's a grocery store)

I am the newest, 34 year old Courtesey Clerk at the local store.

Ha!

I have a teenagers job!

But it's my foot in the door. And the only thing they had available with my schedule right now. With Cole out of school, I really didn't want to put him in some sort of daycare, it just doesn't work out financially. When school starts, my schedule opens waaaay up. This way Cole & I can still enjoy our summer!

Yay!

The woman that interviewed and hired me told an interesting story too. She started out as a courtesey clerk also and on her 3rd day she heard over the intercom, "Heather, please come to the managers office before you leave today". She was like, "crap, I'm getting canned on my 3rd day!?"

In the managers office he asks her, "So, where do you want to go?". Puzzled, she asks, "What?". He proceeds to tell her that EVERY department wants her, that she has her pick of the store and can choose to her liking.

She moved up to Checker just like that.

And that's what I'm interested in. Moving up. I'm able to move up and up and up as well as transfer, transfer, transfer.

All around, best move ever!

But for now - I'm a bagger. And I'm OK with that.

Hiking - 4th of July weekend

2009-07-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

First, I had to snap one more photo of Cole on the 4th of July.... we were getting ready to eat dinner and he said he didn't feel good. We told him to "go rest on your bed"... a half hour went by and we hadn't heard a peep out of him. So I went to check and this is what I found:

(sorry, the photo is blurry, still working on how to take darker pics ??)

I think all the HEAT from the day had just exhausted him.. He was OUT! We did wake him up in time to see the fireworks down by his school, overlooking the bay.

Sunday we decided to go on a hike. I think Cole was the most excited - his first real hike! We went up near the Carbon River Glacier, past Carbonado to see how washed out the road was from last years flooding.

WHOA!

You couldn't even get up to the trailheads. So normally a small little walk to the falls (literally, about 2 minutes) turned into an 8 mile hike along the former road. So much devastation! But it was a great day to be in the forest, shaded from the sun. (did I say that??)

Dad showing Cole how to count the trees age

HUGE fallen trees

Complete mudslide where the road once was!

walking the trail

Bummer. 3 small, little bridges to get to the falls and the middle one was gone.

Beautiful sight from the river

Lewis and Clark

You could SEE the falls, we just couldn't get there......

A VERY refreshing stream! Did I mention it has been hot here?

Happy 4th of July!!

2009-07-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

HOORAY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY!

With our country (and world) in turmoil, it was nice to 'get back to basics' and celebrate what this country is all about - FREEDOM! And we couldn't have planned a nicer, more GORGEOUS weekend if we tried. I'm telling you...... it. was. BEAUTIFUL!!

All week leading up to the 4th it was sunny, blue skies and reaching 90 degrees! And although I'm not a fan of the HEAT, I'll take the SUN any day!

We had such a great weekend, just wish Anna could've shared it with us :(

Cole making dad a 4th of July card

Then we headed to the Freedom Fair down at Ruston Way in Tacoma. Come to find out, this enormous 'block party' has been going on for 30 years?!?! I've lived in T-town for 12 and have never been. Wha??

It's not far from our house at all, so I guess I'm just used to seeing the planes & jets practicing and catching glimpses of them thru the trees. I never thought of actually going DOWN there. sheesh, see what I've been missing!?

VERY cool manuevers right over Commencement Bay!

Cole *LOVED* the A-10 and the Harrier

Starting to get a little heat stroke, I think....

Cole & Dad watching the Harrier

SO, SO, SO COOL TO SEE!! It just hovered and hovered there with this huge, massive jet blowing into the water. He even rotated it a full 360 degrees and went backwards!! A great ending to a great day!

(beginning) Summer FUN!!

2009-07-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

We've had some fun in the SUN the last few weeks since school has been out. Surprisingly, our Pacific NW weather has been AMAZING!!! We've had almost solid sunny days since the middle of June! Cole & I took advantage of the sunshine and headed down to Dash Point Park in Federal Way (my old stompin' grounds) and met his friend Odin, mom Kari and sisters Siri & Nina. They are such great people and very gracious to invite us along!

Cole got to use his "boogey board" - um, now they're called SKIM boards, mom, gosh! - for the first time since he got it for his birthday either LAST year or maybe even the year before! He was super excited, to say the least!! And did surprisingly well on it! Dash Pt is a great place for this with the lazy stream and warmer water.

Looking forward to many more sunny days and adventures - more to come soon! Hope you all are enjoying your beginning of summer as well! :)

Cole & his SKIM board

Cole & Odin getting ready to surf!

Siri enjoying the sun

Cole & friends digging for 'more water' ??

getting the hang of it!!

In action!

WHOA! Nice action shot mom! Feet off the board!

I told Cole to go start reading, thought he was in his room and found him outside in MY usual spot reading! Awwww...... so cute!!

Anna's 8th Grade Graduation

2009-07-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Anna graduated 8th grade this June and will be moving on to HIGH SCHOOL next year!!! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Wow!!

They had a beautiful (and long) ceremony for the 8th graders 'moving on'.... Lots of awards, recognitions and speeches. She was beautiful, elegant & poised as always!

The photos I got aren't great, my camera just wasn't cooperating. Maybe it was user error. Ha! There I was with my sleek, slim little Canon Elph (which takes awesome photos by the way!) and Anna's step dad walks by with his mile-long camera lens..... ho-hum. (Maybe I'll get him to burn them to a disc and I can post more!)

........ (High School?!?...... sigh.......) .........

Anna in the beautiful dress that Dad bought her! Awww.....

The gym for Anna's graduation

Anna playing the exit music on her viola for her class

Anna in her graduation dress

(note the plastic turquoise earrings - they're back from the 80's!!)

Last Day of School

2009-07-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late with the posting but we've had such NICE weather here, I've had to be outstide in the sunshine. HAD to.

For Cole's last day of school, I went a few minutes early and snapped some photos of him & his friends signing their 'autograph books' and generally just being crazy 2nd graders!

SCHOOL IS OUT!!! HAPPY SUMMER!!

Odin, James & Cole

Jagger, Chase & Cole

Cole with his new rollerblades! Dad & I got these for his 8th birthday and he started skating immediately! Way to go Shark!

Happy 8th Birthday Cole !!

2009-06-15T10:29:00.001-07:00

COLE IS 8!?!?! My baby is 8!!

He picked going to South Sound Speedway as his birthday "to do" on Saturday night. Grammy & Grumpy even drove down to join us for the races. It turned out to be a little cold and windy, but blankets kept the chill away for a bit. We saw stock cars and really cool old hot rod cars, (like my dad's '42 Chevy and older) that were all tricked out and went super fast! Cole's favorite was the mini cars - some were even driven by kids! Such a great time, just wish it would've been warmer. Maybe we'll have to go again in August.

For Cole's birthday - today - he'll have fruit shish-ke-bobs for his party at school. And I asked him what he wanted for his special birthday dinner meal - he picked "the breakfast place", aka.... dum-da-da-dum..... SHARI'S. (a kid after my own heart :)

And then on Sunday, he'll make the Dad's share Father's Day (brat) so we can celebrate his birthday with the family out at my parents house. He's not spoiled, I swear!

Happy Birthday Cobo!!

As Best Man at our wedding

Jamming with Dad

Roasting marshmallows in our fire pit

YUM!

cheesy grin kid

At the races for his birthday

Snuggling with sister

A little catching up..

2009-06-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

Cool mushrooms growing in our yard. Shawn wants to eat them, anyone know about them?

Cole "driving" with MY sunglasses. Ha!

Anna and her boyfriend Brandon at Anna's orchestra concert

Cole & dad jamming

Cole lost a 'dog tooth'! "Mom, I look like a UFC fighter!", he tells me

CiCi gardening with me :)

Lucky me?

2009-05-27T10:27:00.001-07:00

I dropped Cole off at school yesterday morning, came home and sat on the walkway to play with Bugsy (the cat), but she was too busy 'hunting' squirrels. I looked down into the grass and this little guy popped up at me:

I am NOT the lucky type, it just doesn't happen. And go figure, just over the weekend, Cole and I were sitting in the same spot and he found one! Just like that!! I told him how, "ever since I was a little girl, I've searched and searched and SEARCHED for a four leaf clover and have never found one. Never."

So here we are - TWO four leaf clovers in a 2-3 day span. I hope it's a sign. A very, very good one! It may be a little TMI to share ("too much information" for those who are 'abbreviated challenged' as I once was. Ha ha!). But that's part of the reason I started this blog, was to share my feelings as well as photos and experiences.

Aaaaaanyway.... as I was saying. As I've gotten older, I've really noticed my hormones change. My mood swings, etc. For my girlie friends out there, I know most of you can relate. The week to 2 weeks prior can be just hellish for me. And leading up to 'it', usually 2 or 3 days prior are becoming almost unbearable. It's grating. It's gritting my teeth. It's angry.

I've told Shawn (and some of my girls) that it's like a rabid dog inside my skin, just gnarling and growling and clawing to get out. If the kids are around I end up yelling at them and nothing they do seems right. Nothing ANYONE does seems right or perfect enough. I have really angry dreams - screaming and yelling at random people who have pissed me off in the dream, because it's not in my nature to yell at people in real life.

I feel utterly crazy, insane for about 3 days. At least I can recognize that it's not 'real' and it WILL pass, but being IN it.... is complete madness. I'm writing just on the cusp of it all. I can feel it starting and I try to take my vitamins - B50 and St Johns Wort usually help.

So I'm trying to feel Lucky. I know I am - health, home, family..... but when your brain chemistry brings up every insecurity, failure and unworthiness.... well, that's a deep pit to dig out of.

The sun is shining. And THAT itself is a good sign. Maybe I need some vitamin D too?

More fishing

2009-05-15T12:11:00.001-07:00

The Saturday before Mother's Day, the family went fishing. It was a gorgeous day, although not quite warm enough for a typical May weekend that we're used to. But sunshine. Lots and lots of sunshine :)

Cole's first catch of the day! I swear, it was about 10 minutes after we got there and he was SO excited (especially to be the first one)!! Dad helping him get the hook out. Cole went on to catch 3 FISH that day!!!!! Go Cobo!

Shawn with his first catch of the day. He also went on to catch a total of 2 that day!! For being Mother's Day weekend, it was an "all boys" event - Anna & I didn't catch a thing! (well, Anna caught some old fishing line and such - twice!)

Danny Martin comes back "home"

2009-05-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

For those fellow Decatur-ites out there, yes Dan (he's no longer 'Danny' or 'Danimal' - I guess we all have to grow up, don't we?) was in town for a few short days and I was lucky enough to catch up with him :)

Jennifer (Toohey) and her husband Ed threw a BBQ for Dan's old pals, still lingering in the Puget Sound area. We lucked out with decent weather and a good time was had by all!

What amazed me most was how you can meet up with old friends and have it feel like it was just yesterday that you saw them last, rather than 7 years..... is it like that with all friends? We sat and chatted about old times, new times, current events, kids, etc., etc..... Not at all like talking to a major big-wig in the Fashion Industry.

My favorite quote of his, "Naomi Campbell was always nice and never threw her phone at me"

Or his other one: "Here I am, rockin' the Capri Sun"

Gawd, I miss ya already.

The invite to come visit - especially for Fashion Week - is an offer I just may take you up on. I'd hate to go another 7 years without seeing you!

Check out his work:

http://www.dmartnyc.com/index.do?i=34

"Danimal & Bug"

with friends Dan, Pete & Dan

Fishin' with the kiddos

2009-04-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

Since it was such a nice weekend - and a BUSY one, at that - we took advantage of Opening Day for Fishing and headed out to American Lake.

Not Shawn's first choice for lakes to fish on, but considering the time frame we had to work with, it was just the easiest.

We didn't catch anything major. Anna was the only one, with a tiny Perch that we threw back.

Ah well, we have the WHOLE summer to try for more!

Cole and Anna at our first spot, right off shore - too shallow

So we moved to a different spot on the lake with a dock.
Cole seemed to get bored easily - go figure.

~ The Bahamas ~

2009-04-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

aka: Our Honeymoon

aka: The MOST beautiful place on earth!

aka: the best beaches in the world!

aka: our new favorite place to vacation

aka: Heaven

Scene's from around the compound......

Aren't these the cutest!?

LOTS of freckles came out to enjoy the sun also!

Shawn & Sir Bishop

Sir Bishop's beach

Gold Rock Beach, just south of where 'Pirates' was filmed

(Shawn representing the Seahawks)

See - we saw more than just *beaches* ;)

That's me, waaaaaaay out there at Gold Rock Beach. And the water wasn't even waist high!

This is where it got GOOD!

Lightbourne Cay

We found sandbar after sandbar after sandbar out there in that turquoise....

I got a little teary-eyed - I was so amazed, impressed, taken aback and fulfilled by what I saw.

Happy Birthday Baby!

2009-04-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Shawn D. Wilson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!! I hope you had as much fun as I did on our honeymoon!

Cheers to you and a FANTASTIC birthday!!!

Love you

Shawn & I at our fave - RUM RUNNERS!

Shawn at Lightbourne Cay, aka: the most GORGEOUS spot in the world!

Shawn in the 'time machine' as Cole refers to it

Enjoying a Cuban at Rum Runners

Enjoying a Kalik (it was our first day, forgive him... we learned how much BETTER Sands Beer was!)

Shawn taking in Taino Beach

Two and a half days!

2009-04-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Until I'm here...

We're here, *we're*.... I gotta remember that part. he he

Two days and we'll be on a plane to --- THE BAHAMAS!!!

I can't WAIT to see that water. I "mmmm" about it every time I see a commercial or photo. Shawn makes fun of me now.

But I think I've dreamed of it since I was, like, 10 years old.

The blog will be flooded with ACTUAL, original Caribbean photos when I get back.

Cheers!

~ Anna ~

2009-04-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

Anna-banana. She's almost 15 - can you believe it?!?

We were lucky enough to have her over for this past weekend and on thru Wednesday, since she's on Spring Break. We hope to have her back again on Friday, crossing our fingers!

Cole & Anna had such a great time with the amazing SUNSHINE - yes, you read correctly, sunshine - playing street hockey (and making up their own rules), riding bikes, soccer, baseball and badmitton. I think Sunday and Monday hovered at almost 70 degrees! It was so great to have Spring here, even if it was for just a few days.

Anna also had a Spring Choir concert last week and she did an amazing job. She's got such a beautiful soprano voice and got so many compliments on her composure, stature and natural beauty.

Strawberries

2009-04-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

I love them. I love them. I love them. And I just had to share :)

The "Keeper" Ghia

2009-03-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

We had to sell the blue Ghia and that makes me sad. I had such HIGH hopes for her. Found her in a field and saved her from the crusher and all. But she had waaaay tooooo much rust to be salvaged. By us or anyone else. She's going to be a parts car. And I'm positive she'll be the best at it. Bon Voyage Blue, I'll miss ya.........

But Shawn found me a CHERRY of a Ghia in Marysville. And she's got quite her own little story to tell. (more on that later) She's a CALIFORNIA car. Which means she's DRY. She's rarely, if ever, seen the rain. She comes from the southern Bay area - Stanford, Pleasanton, Palo Alto, Danville, Berkeley. And we've got receipts from about everything that was done to her from 1991 to present. (but that still leaves a huge gap from 1969 to 1991, I'm working on that)

She's beautiful. And I'm really digging the color! We may keep it, who knows.
"Raspberry Beret" ?? "Strawberry Shortcake" ?? Hmmmm.....

This is her, circa 1998, in California,

on the road and running!

Fast-forward 11 years to 2009, in her new home

Vancouver, BC & The Canucks

2009-03-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Shawn decided we needed a little vacation - his company merged and he's been working 12 to 14 hour NIGHT shifts so that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. He needed it. No wait, he *deserved* it.

He got some great seats to the Canucks game, about 6 rows from the ice! And with Canada's dollar being worth less than ours (if you can imagine) we got a steal on a beautiful hotel room at Le Soleil.

Vancouver is such a beautiful, modern, city-city. Very chic, very metro. We even had a few snow flurries to brighten our walk around the city.

The Canucks won 3 to 1 and we proceeded to celebrate with fellow Canucks fans into the night!

Our Hotel room and view of the city

warm-up practice

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

Getting revvvved up for the game!

Mats Sundin, one of Shawn's favorites since forever

"I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out!?!"

A brawl right in front of us

It's March ?!?!?

2009-03-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's March already...... it was just Christmas and we were post-poning the honeymoon to the Caribbean to April. That's next month!!!!! Aye!!

How is it that when you have a job, you get all these tasks done along with your regular work schedule....... but when it comes to having NO job, your day takes flight in really weird ways?? I don't sleep in *that* much, I get up at by 7:30 to get in the shower and get Cole up, fed and off to school at 8:45........ I get dishes done everyday, I throw in some laundry, pick up around the house, etc., etc......... but I never really feel like I get anything MAJOR accomplished. Am I the only one with this problem? Don't get me wrong, I have my Super Hero days where I get a sh!t ton done, but that's rare. Do my other stay at home mom friends have this same dilemma?

Much. Needed. Evaluation. Or RE-evaluation. But somethin's gotta change.

In other good news, we are down to just 4 cars (physically) and only 3 in our name! At one point we had: '08 Pathfinder, '97 Golf, '88 Pulsar, '72 Dodge truck and '73 Karmann Ghia.

Since we didn't need the Golf any longer and since my bro & Chantale only had one vehicle, it seemed only right to 'give' them back the car they initially 'gave' to me. (which saved my butt in all sorts of ways!!) I say 'gave' since they had given it to me after being newly divorced and stuck with a (great!) car that didn't always like to go after it was stopped. They sold it to my Dad for a decent price and now he 'sold' it back to them and it now goes into the Anderson Family Trust. A family car. In case things happen. Like they always seem to do.

So the Golf is gone - down to only 4.

We decided it was in the best interest to -sniff, sniff- sell the Ghia.........
It really does make me sad. I had the best of intentions for her. But she's just not well enough to be restored. Too much rust around, well, pretty much the bottom 1/4 of the entire car. All 4 fenders and the Rocker Panels (where you step into the car, that 'railing' along the bottom), those run $500 bucks A PIECE thru any catalog!! We discovered she had major nose damage and the previous owner did a shotty job of piecing another half of a nose (from a green Ghia) on to this one and just slathered it with Bondo.

I had it on Craigslist for a few weeks at $500 bucks (figured they could talk me down to 300-400), stating that it was a "SERIOUS project car" and that if you had metal fabrication skills, this one was for you! No takers. Well, just one guy who chapped my hide a little and offered me $250. for it. Grrrrrrr.

So we parted it out on Craigslist. No takers. Except for that guy again. I let Shawn deal with him. Turns out, his 14 year old daughter fell in love with them and he's building one for her, for when she's 16. Awwwwww...... :) He paid us for it and will be here to get it in a few weeks. It saves us from cutting pieces off, and having the skeleton hauled away. I'll be so sad to see her go.........

So that leaves us with -technically- 3 vehicles!! Yay!! And our neighbors will be so happy.

The new Ghia we get this month will fit nicely in the garage :)

And here's some SUNNY photos - we did have a few nice days with BLUE skies and everything! Bugsy even ventured out a little!

Bugsy in the Sunshine!

Recapping

2009-02-19T18:33:00.001-08:00

I was getting better at this, wasn't I?? Dang it!

Feb. 14th: Our Valentine's Day started out EARLY. Early, early, early!!! 5:00 AM early. Got up, got Cole up and the 3 of us trekked up to Port Angeles to catch the ferry to Victoria, B.C.

(I can already hear you thinking, "Oh, what a nice Valentine's weekend getaway this will be for them! But wait.... bringing Cole along also ?? That seems kind of strange......")

Nope, nothing like that at all. What really happened is --------
I BOUGHT SHAWN A NEW CAR!

Ok, so *WE* bought Shawn a new car. Ok, he found it and picked it out himself. Ok, so it's not brand new, just "new to us". I never said I was the best storyteller.

Anyway, back to the story........ Hopped on said ferry and sailed to Victoria. Clear. Crisp. Crowded. The ferry arrived in Victoria at about 9:45 and then leaves again back to PA at 10:30. That gave us 45 minutes to clear customs into Canada, meet the people selling the car, exchange money & titles, purchase tickets for the ferry, clear customs and inspections to be back on the ferry at 10:30 to make it back to the states at a decent time. Otherwise the next ferry leaves at 4:30 in the afternoon........ Needless to say, they held the boat for us. But all was accomplished!

(Jennie - this one's for you!!)

The actual story of the car is another saga:
Shawn had previously owned a 1990 Black Nissan Pulsar that he LOVED. Surprisingly, they fit tall people really well. He said it was the most comfortable vehicle to drive that he's ever owned. Including the Pathfinder! He said it's roomy, you lean back a little when you drive (more like a comfy chair than a gangster-lean) and the visibility is unmatched (in his opinion).

So he started looking for one on Craigslist, Auto Trader and even Ebay. Nothing around here whatsoever...... then he started looking in Oregon, Idaho & B.C........... which is where he found this one.

It was a single owner, lady driver with 144,000 Kilometers........ that computes to about 93,000 miles! And it's a 1988 !?!?! Shawn was instantly drooling over the photos they sent. A one owner car with 93,000 miles on it?? He was emailing with the husband immediately. And with a sale price of $1300. US, nothing could compare.

Yeah, he really wanted a Black one, but with the excellent condition it's in, he'll be just fine.

**On another note - anyone interested in a 1997 VW Golf ??

Just when we thought Spring was here

2009-02-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

WE GOT SNOW!!!!!!

again!

I know it's not really unusual for us to get snow here in February, but we had such nice (well, decent) weather lately that I think we were all looking forward to SPRING.

I don't know about anyone else, but it made Cole happy. It made me happy (on a very grouchy day). And that's what counts!

Funny too, cuz my Father-in-law emailed me today and said it's been in the 50's. In Northern Michigan!

I am my fathers daughter

2009-02-09T22:26:00.001-08:00

Here are my first crafty projects I created just after being home. Cole needed pen/pencil/marker holders and also something for his papers. I'm too FRUGAL and the office stores/Target were too expensive and/or nice, so I created my own. The paper holder is a cereal box and some black Gorilla Glue tape. Cole even helped spray paint the dog food cans!

(It's been a nasty PMS weekend and beginning of the week. I'm out of ideas for words and as my mamma always taught me: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". And I'm doing just that.)

Hope you enjoy and maybe get your own ideas!

More projects

2009-02-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

I took some photos of the frame I spraypainted. Nothing big, I was just super excited at how well it turned out. Trying to get the lighting, flash, etc. to work together were another thing. Maybe I should start studying photography..... hmmmm..... I like the sound of that!

My next awesome find was my new curtains!! (Our. Our new curtains :)

I had been looking and looking.... I've had the curtain rod up there since before Shawn moved in..... I was always going to make them myself (how hard can they be, right? it's just two big rectangles.) Well, fabric prices are the culprit! Holy crap! Even when I found a neutral green-tan cotton velvet low-priced and 50% off ($9. a yard), it was still cheaper to buy them pre-made.

Grrrrrr.......

But then I found these:

100% Tan Cotton Velvet with cool metropolitan grommets. Ahhhh!

I swear, I thought they were mis-marked. The tag at the end of the metal post thingy they hang on said "$7.99". WHAT?? It's probably a mistake, they left off the "1" in front of the 7..... they're supposed to be $17.99, which still would've been a great deal since they normally sell for 24.99 to 29.99 PER panel.

So I go scan them. Yep, they were marked wrong.

THEY RANG UP AT $7.10 PER PANEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you kidding me?!? $14.00 for velvet curtains?

SCORE!

Oooooh! Spray paint!

2009-02-05T17:13:00.001-08:00

I've always been an avid recycler. It's in my blood. Or, it kinda is. I've inherited the pack-rat gene and can't stand to see things thrown away. I recycle for the environment too. I'm adamant at the house and now Cole has grown up knowing what recycles and what doesn't. Yay!

I've also always been a thrift store shopper. I used to HATE going with my mom in jr. high (the smell was soooo awful). And God-forbid, growing up in the name brand 80's, you wore anything to school without a label. (Do you remember when Value Village actually had a "Labels" section?? Crazy.)

So yeah, LOVE recycling, LOVE thrift stores.

And my newest favorite LOVE? Spray Paint!!

Surprisingly, I had never used it before..... well, not exactly true. I used clear gloss spray paint for the Christmas village I painted for my mom.... and then a few years ago I got a grapevine wreath, sprayed it silver and added silver-blue glitter for a Christmas wreath. Turned out pretty nice, if I do say so myself :)

With a little influence & inspiration from Candice & Shannon, I decided to hunt out my first projects. (insert evil laugh here)

My first project was a simple picture frame. I liked the style of the frame and got it half off at Goodwill - .49 cents baby!! (why I don't have a picture, I don't know......)

Then I stumbled upon the following. I was originally going to paint the scroll work black, but then I thought..... maybe an antique-tone to it. I dry-rubbed some stain and it was done. Not too impressed, and might still paint it black, but it'll do for now.

This was my BEST find - it didn't have a tag, so she rang it up for 59 cents! I know it's not much, it's got that ugly, 70's brown look to it. But I figured, in BLACK it would be fantastic!!!

And it is! Now I have a cute chunky wood candle holder that will go with our decor. Bam!

Whoa!

2009-02-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

Well.... where has the time gone? I had great intentions of blogging on a regular basis with my, ahem, "newly acquired free time".... but I just haven't been into it.

I take Cole to school everyday and then pick him up at 3:30...... I've gotten the decorating bug (once again), but with limited funds, that doesn't get me too far..... I've organized a little and I ventured more into ebay....... SELLING on ebay! It's been so much fun - taking the photos, listing the item and watching people bid..... over MY stuff! It's nothing fancy or turning into a real salary, but it'll be extra spending money for the Bahamas in April. Score!!

I guess the first venture of my time off has been the super find of the Bunkbeds for Cole (and now Anna's) room. Thanks Craigslist! I felt so awful for her sleeping on our couch every weekend..... Cole gets up the earliest on the weekends and to keep him from waking us up, he knows that he can turn on cartoons in the living room..... which is where the couch is..... where Anna sleeps.

No longer! Now he can get up, shut the door and let her sleep till her hearts content! I remember being 14 and it never shocked myself or my parents if I slept till noon (as long as I didn't have something to do)

So that's it for now.... I promised myself that I would take time at least 3 times a week (if not more!) to blog about what we've been up to..... just simple, little things..... I already have ideas for future blogs, so stay tuned!

The Sa-no (snow) We Had

2009-01-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late getting all the snow pictures posted - don't judge me!

I guess I've been getting used to my schedule. Ha!

Enjoy!!

Trying to take a self-portrait

Cole playing ARMY in the back of the Dodge

Child labor - he LOVES to do it. Honestly!

The Snow King

eating some of the "ice snow" we had. Note what he's eating it with!

(Yes, those are pliers. Such a boy thing.........)

Anna doing the same

Awwww.....

Dad teaching Cole how to make a snowman. Michigan style!

Dad & Cole making the snowman

Anna texting in the snow. Ah, being 14 :)

gettin' bigger!

"snowman paste"

Cole & Anna with the finished product

He was cute while he was here

The times, they are a changin'

2008-12-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

The recession. This economy. "It's only going to get worse", I hear.

For me, that's true. OK, I wouldn't say worse. Different.

I walked into my Office Manager's office Tuesday morning and we started chit-chatting about the economy and how it's affecting our business. The construction industry has not been so well-to-do in the last few years, if you haven't noticed.

Then the owner came in. The three of us talked about options and solutions. But there only seemed to be just the one.

Lynnae is now unemployed.

It was a mutual decision, as much as it could be. I understand business, and when it's slow, you start cutting where you can. It's not personal. In fact they raved about how I've been the best assistant they've ever had, that they would give me only the best referrals and even help me compose a "rockin'" resume. I've been let go on the best of circumstances.

I'm unemployed.

It's such a foreign word to me. I've been employed since I was 15-1/2! I've always worked. Ok, except for those 4 months of maternity leave, taking care of a baby Cole - no wait! That was like working triple overtime and not getting paid for it!

In all honesty..........I'm not scared. I never over-reacted, I never cried (if you know me, you know I cry over everything).........at first I thought I was in shock or just numb........but something deep down tells me it will all work out.

Everything Happens For A Reason

Gawd, that's been the story of my life, but as cliche as it sounds - IT'S SO TRUE. I'll be able to enjoy Christmas........really *ENJOY* it.............get the house in order.......work on the ghia.........pick Cole up from school..........and look for a job that interests me........(not just the first one, to get out of Tully's).......heck, I even thought of that! I could go back to Tully's for awhile, who knows.

Thanksgiving & The Tree

2008-11-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

Yep, so that's my brother Sean. Tying up my son. His nephew. His own flesh & blood.

And Cole absolutely LOVES it!

(this was only one of two photos I got on Thanksgiving?!??)

Thanksgiving was at my parents house with a medium gathering - just about 12 of us. Over the years there has been very large gatherings with both sides of the family and then a couple with just a table-full. This was a happy medium.

I was especially glad to see my bro & sis-in-law Chantale! They were originally attending T-day at her mom & dad's, but a back injury prevented her mom from hosting any festivities. I'm sorry that it had to be under these circumstances, but I am always glad to see them any chance I get!

We spent the rest of the weekend out in the garage. You guessed it - working on the ghia. The first time I came out after Shawn, he had the rear passenger wheel off!! Woo-hoo, cuz they were tough!

Then after lunch I came out to find he was able to remove the passenger seat - completely out of the car! Double woo-hoo! Especially since the floor pans are in beautiful shape!

No photos....?!?!? Gawd, I'm slacking....

He was also able to determine that the drivers door isn't even latched. It's not locked, it's not latched?? So I turn to him, "Wanna try kicking it open?" "Exactly what I was thinking" he said to me. With two swift kicks to the door, careful not to break the glass -

POP!

It's open, the drivers side door is open!!

(again, no pics - tsk, tsk......)

So we've crossed a few things off the "terrible 4" list:

~engine compartment open

~drivers side door open

~passenger seat out

Sweet!

Sunday: Cole had been bugging us all weekend about a Christmas tree. I don't blame him, I'm right there with him. Just more restraint, being an adult and all.

(hahahahahaha!)

It was too late in the day to head to the mountains like last year and the lots are too outrageously expensive! Well, for a Noble Fir, which is what I like. Call me a Christmas tree snob, I don't care.

Soooo...... are you ready for it?? I can't believe it's coming out of my mouth......

We bought a fake tree.

I know, I know, I know....... ME with a fake tree. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about fake trees, I just never thought that I would own one.

I think I need to lie down.

Cole doing a beautiful job decorating

My new FAVORITE song

2008-11-25T11:17:00.000-08:00

Why? First, it's a great rock song, it's got great acceleration.

And second, because I've. been. there. With all these stupid songs out there about "I can't make you love me" by Bonnie Raitt, "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, "Heart of the Matter" by Don Henley and practically any Sarah McLachlan or Evanescence song and countless others......for once there's a song for us FABULOUS women sung by the men who lost us!

The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight

And it starts, sometime around midnight. Or at least that’s when you lose yourself for a minute or two. As you stand, under the bar lights. And the band plays some song about forgetting yourself for a while. And the piano’s this melancholy soundtrack to her smile. And that white dress she’s wearing you haven’t seen her for a while.

But you know, that she’s watching. She’s laughing, she’s turning. She’s holding her tonic like a cross. The room’s suddenly spinning. She walks up and asks how you are. So you can smell her perfume. You can see her lying naked in your arms.

And so there’s a change, in your emotions. And all these memories come rushing like feral waves to your mind. Of the curl of your bodies, like two perfect circles entwined. And you feel hopeless and homeless and lost in the haze of the wine.

Then she leaves, with someone you don’t know. But she makes sure you saw her. She looks right at you and bolts. As she walks out the door, your blood boiling your stomach in ropes. Oh and when your friends say,“What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Then you walk, under the streetlights. And you’re too drunk to notice, that everyone is staring at you. You just don’t care what you look like, the world is falling around you.

You just have to see her.

You know that she’ll break you in two.

~ Rosalie Kay ~

2008-11-23T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am so proud to introduce

~ Rosalie Kay ~

Born November 22 at 5:13 AM

just look at that tiny hand holding on to Mom's finger!

tiny feets

and lots and lots of hair! just like her parents

Proud Mom Danelle and little Rosalie

My dear friend Danelle and her boyfriend Jamie have finally welcomed their darling little girl into the world! (or should I say Danelle 'evicted' her?? hehe!)

Labor & delivery went fine - although a little long - and Mom & baby are recovering nicely. Danelle was even up and moving around when we stopped to see her! (I was so clueless after I had Cole, jeez!)

I ran into proud Papa in the hall on the way out and he was just oozing inner light! I have never seen a more proud Dad!

Congrats to the three of you!!

(Jenna & I will be by very soon to kidnap your darling and send you two out for some "me" time)

Weekend Update

2008-11-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry, this isn't the SNL version, but the Shawn & Lynnae version. (Although I do miss the days of Adam Sandler showing up as Opera Man )

As I'm typing this, I'm realizing all kinds of big news that happened this weekend :)

I had Friday off - don't be jealous - and went and sat at the Social Security Office and then the DMV to officially become a ..... WILSON.

Yay!!!!!

Funny thing in my family, I've actually come full-circle. My Dads Mom's family was Wilson. That's the reunion we used to have every year out at my Uncle Don's property in Forks, WA.

FRIDAY:

Low-key, Anna came over finally, after not being here for the past 2 or 3 weekends. She didn't even know about the Ghia. And didn't seem too enthused about it. I'm chalking it up to being a teen-ager and the self-centeredness that comes along with it. (I have to remember, I was there once too, and it will fade. Eventually)

SATURDAY:

Got up, got breakfast, Shawn made coffee at *home* - thanks babe! and saved me from running out in the cold and spending money, when we had perfectly good Tully's at home :)

Started out on the Ghia - we both wanted to tackle a major project - something to say that we've made significant progress. We had 4 things on our list:

>The steering column (which is locked, but seats need to be removed first)

>Removing the seats

>Opening the drivers door

>Opening the engine latch

Shawn started drilling on the rivets on the underside of the car for the engine release. You see, just like with any "hood" release, there is a lever you pull which connects to a cable and releases the latch. The Ghia's had rusted through, so no cable to pull on. The latch on the Ghia is bolted to the frame, so if we just loosen the bolts?..... No, no, no, of course it couldn't be that easy. The later model Ghia's are *riveted* to the frame................. (huge exhausting sigh and rolling of the eyes). After blowing through countless drill bits to try and pop them out. And drilling through some of the metal, Shawn got up and tried to pull up on the "hood".................

(in a sing-song-y voice)

Look what we found....... !!

He figures that when he drilled through the metal, that he must've hit the cable just right to release it!!!!!! The latch works perfectly - very smoothly, no lubrication needed!

Oh yeah, it's dirty and filled with mouse/rat poop, pine needles, a sprout of some sort growing out of the engine and even a huge mouse/rat nest, but like most of the car - it's INTACT!
Even if it doesn't run, even if it's crap, engines for these things are workable and/or cheap. $400 bucks for the car - I'm not complaining!

And to confirm another thing, with only 2 pedals inside the car - a gas & a brake (first thing we both thought - "did one of them seriously rust off??" (the two are nasty and unmoveable))

It's an AUTO-STICK!!!!!

A spout off of the engine said, "ATF" - Automatic Transmission Fluid. Yippee!!!

Sturday night we had Glen, Pete & Candice over for some homemade Steak Chili and UFC (on fast forward, of course) I'm too old and my time is too precious to sit around and watch a FULL evening of UFC. So we record it and FF through all the hype, etc.

I could tell Cole was getting bored as well, so pulled out his newest favorite game - Banopoly. (yes, "Monopoly"...... I don't know why...) Candice was the Realtor, I was the bank and poor Anna couldn't catch a break on buying ANY properties! But she did win "Free Parking" so in the end she came out with the most money. Of course if you ask who won, Cole would of course say, "Me!"

UFC was done so we pulled out The Big Button game. (grinning from ear to ear) If you've never played The Big Button game over here at the Wilson's, well, be prepared to LOSE! It's actually called 'Scene It' that we play on the XBOX 360 and it comes with handheld cordless buzzers, almost like Jeoporday. It's all movie questions and (patting myself on the back) I *kill* it everytime. Shawn jokes that he's going to give me old batteries next time, or that they'll make me play in the kitchen - farther from the sensor! Don't get me wrong, I'm a good sport and Candice & Pete gave me a good run! It was great spending time with them.

We were discussing the Seahawks game on Sunday and since we all had tickets & going to the game, we decided to carpool. (Yippee, more Candice & Pete time!) hehe.

SUNDAY:

Pete made some awesome bloody mary's and off we went! We had a great drive up to the game, pretty good weather and fantastic seats! Stopped at the Pyramid beer garden for a bit before the game. And decided to meet up with Candice & Pete at halftime for more drinks and food. We were right next to the 12th Man Flag, it was awesome!

The Hawks gave it a run, but it turned out as usual - us losing.
To Arizona.
Ugh.

Good-bye to this season. There's always next year, right?

Great view of the city

Shawn & I at the game

She's home!!

2008-11-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

Do you see that?? There she is, nicely tucked into her new home for the next 3(?) years.

At home in our garage!

(me = grinning ear to ear)

It wasn't easy - her wheels are cocked a little to the left and the steering column is frozen/locked in place. Thank goodness she's light since the guys had to lift her up a couple times to get her lined up correctly!

Shawn & Dad loading her onto the trailer for her trip home

(My Dad's brother, Uncle Milton, is running the winch.

(You should've seen these two in the field! Like two boys in a candy store!!)

isn't she cute?!?!

The tough part - getting her into the garage

"Uugghh! Push!"

A BIG Thank You to: Dad, Uncle Milton, Shawn, Sammy, Dave, Glen & Brian. Without your help, we never would've been able to get her in there! You guys ROCK!!

(and thanks to Jenna for always keeping me laughing! :)

She wasn't even home a day and we had the front and rear windows out, cleaned, protectively wrapped and stored in the attic. I started taking out carpet and Shawn went to work taking off trim pieces. We're still trying to figure out the drivers door (it's stuck closed) and the engine release mechanism. Do we call it a 'hood' or a 'trunk' ?? Either way, we can't open it up to see the engine. The cable to release it is rusted through, so we'll have to jimmy-rig getting it open.

Don't be scared, an authentic VW service manual is ordered and on its way.

In the meantime, we just get to take off what we can, clean the good parts and store them for later. At least Cole is having fun running the shop vac.

Home in the garage

For my Dad

2008-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

This is the field/wrecking yard/property in Olympia where we found the Ghia.... and many, many more treasures..... some in decent shape, some probably headed to the crusher like the 150 or so before them....... it was amazing to see the extent of the vehicles...... and I only took photos of the 'cool' ones!

I love you Dad, hope you enjoyed!

~Nae

My Karmann Ghia

2008-11-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

It's an AMAZING thing to utter....... and it's true.....

"MY Karmann Ghia"

Those of you who know me well know that I've wanted one since I was about 11 or 12?? (Or did it start earlier? Cami, Jackie, help me out!) If ever you were to ask me what my "dream car" would be, I would unwavering & immediately answer, "Karmann Ghia". They're small, they're sleek, they're sexy and they're a VW. What more could a girl want?

OK, so she's not the prettiest - yet. But her story is a great one:

My lovely, amazing, fantastic, husband of all husbands called me Thursday night, "I just found the most amazing thing on Craigslist - are you ready??" He did a random search, as we both have done every once in awhile for the past 6 months or so - just for fun. Just to see what they're going for. Normally you can't touch one for under $1000. And even at that price they need A LOT of work. He read the ad to me, told me to check it out myself and call the guy. Pronto.

I hopped on the laptop and this is what I saw:

I called the guy immediately. It turns out a gentleman passed away over a year ago. The guy posting the ad, "Bruce" was contacted to be in charge of the estate & help out the elderly widow. Come to find out, the gentleman who passed away was some sort of tow truck/wrecking yard kind of guy. The Ghia - and over 300 other cars - sat in this massive, 20-30 acre 'field' in Olympia. Maybe people would get their cars towed and couldn't afford to fix them or get them out of the wrecking yard, etc., so there they sat. "Bruce" is now liquidating the estate & cleaning up the property. They've taken over 150 cars to the crusher already. (I'll post more photos on that part of the story later)

We met "Bruce" down in Olympia bright and early Saturday morning - I didn't want this one to get away!
"1973 or 74 VW Karmann Ghia, sitting for years, $400."

You read correctly: 400 bucks!

Me & my '73 Ghia

As I said, she's not the prettiest. She has some rust, there was moss growing on the outside of the vehicle, but she's intact! Almost completely intact! The interior, for being parked since 1993 (15 YEARS!!!), is almost immaculate! She has all of her emblems, most of the chrome and the trunk looked great. We weren't able to pop the engine compartment (rusty cable due to sitting) but Shawn could read the info on the spark plugs.

I get to take her home this Saturday :)

Thanks sweetie, for even bothering to look for Ghia's for me, for knowing how much this means to me and for saying, "LET'S DO THIS!"

I love you!

Halloween - Yes Sir!

2008-11-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Cole went as an ARMY man

are you surprised?

Camo everywhere!!! Can you see him?

The trick-or-treaters: Brandon, Rebecca & Cole
(skeleton, cheerleader & soldier)

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A SAFE AND FUN HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
(send photos!)

Pumpkins

2008-10-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Cole & Anna

Cole on the tractor

Pumpkin sling-shot

Rebecca, Brandon & Cole slinging pumpkins

Teamwork! - Cole helping Denise helping Brandon

Rebecca found her pumpkin

Cole & Brandon driving the tractor

(I wish there was sound..... notice Cole's face - he's making the tractor noise!)

Cole & Mom

My sister Kathy, Emily & Sawyer

2008-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

My sister Kathy, her partner Emily & their son Sawyer flew out from Minneapolis to join us for the wedding. With good planning (?) it turns out that they were here the whole week after the wedding, which gave us time to catch up with both families. Whew!

(I got a severe head cold Monday after the wedding, hence the lateness of these posts. Between the cold, having my sister still in town and then taking a week off of DOING NOTHING..... now I'm back in business!)

I wish she was closer. I wish THEY were closer. To all of us. Minnesota seems so far after they leave. Ugh. And to think that Kathy & Sawyer were just out here in April?? Sawyer was still crawling! Now he's a walking, jabbering machine! Oh, it's harder and harder every time they leave..... Thank goodness for modern technology - email, cell, video, etc.

(I've always had a strange feeling/connection to Wisconsin - who knows, maybe we'll end up there someday! It would be a little closer at least!)

I MISS YOU GUYS ALREADY !!!!!!!!

The whole fam at Napoli

(sorry sis!) Kathy, Emily & Sawyer helping prep for the wedding

LOVE this one!

Sawyers first rave & glow stick

Sawyer & Grammy

Cole reading to Sawyer

Such a good cousin!

Pizza, bread & beers at Napoli

The Kids: my bro Sean, me & my sis Kathy

Cole kept Sawyer busy while we ate

Woo! Too much pizza??

Awwww...... They had matching Chuck Taylors!

(same - same!)

More wedding photos

2008-10-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Wilson Brothers - Tim, Matt & Shawn

Awww... Cole & Anna dancing

Sean & Chantale

Sawyer, Kathy & Emily

Yes, he's doing exactly what it looks like

(Shawn taught him that!)

Cole & Mom

I love this one! Cole, Sean, Kathy, me, Dad & Mom

The Wilson's: Tara, Matt, me, Cole Shawn, Linda, Dan, Anna & Tim

The Wilson Boys

Dan's FAVORITE "daughters" :)

Tara & I

Susie (aka: Aunt Canada) & Derek

we still love him - even though he wore a Steelers tie!?!?!

Cole hiding from the paparazzi in Grumpy's jacket

Handsome Cole

Family

"THE EVENT" : Our Wedding & Family

2008-10-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

Gathering at my parents house for dinner with the Anderson's & Wilson's

Here's catching you up on the weeks events:

Shawn's parents, brothers, sister-in-law, Grandma & Aunt and Uncle arrived in Tacoma on the Wednesday before the wedding. The bulk of his family traveled all the way from *Northern* Michigan and his Aunt Susie & Uncle Derek drove all the way down from Northern, northern Canada - Ft. McMurry to be exact. Look it up, it's close to Santa Claus!

From there it was a jam-packed week: food prep for the wedding, a concert for Anna playing the viola, sight-seeing, mani's & pedi's, dinner with family and then Bugsy.

My dear little Bugsy (who is all of 5 pounds soaking wet) was apparently attacked by a racoon, squirrel or another cat. (she's quite fiesty, I must say, and can usually hold her own very well). She developed an abcsess on her back and had to have surgery - pretty major surgery. Thursday before the wedding. As an animal lover - and 2 days before my wedding - I made the choice that was right for me. This is what we were dealing with:

The (dreaded) CONE!

"Franken-kitty"

The wedding, ceremony, reception, etc., etc., went off without a hitch and I am very proud to announce:

Shawn & Lynnae Wilson

October 11, 2008

Gorgerous & delicious cake courtesey of my

awesome sis-in-law, Chantale

The Wilson's: Shawn, Lynnae, Anna & Cole

Shawn & I with our parents

And then we took Shawn's family to a Seahawks game!...........

Unfortunately it was the Green Bay game and we got slaughtered. But it was still a great day and I think they all had a fantastic time!

Grandma, Aunt Susie & Uncle Derek showing their Canadian pride

The beautiful Seattle skyline

Shawn's parents, Dan & Linda, having a GREAT time!

The Packers still won without Brett Favre - ugh!

The Bachelorette

2008-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU LADIES!!! (and guys: Sean & Derek stopped by too!)

I had a great night!! You're the BEST!!!!

T-shirt from Candice & Shannon

Starting out at The Crown Bar

Shannon, Jo, (Derek, Otto & Sean), Chantale, Candice & me.

(April & Megan stopped by too - thanks!)

Chantale, Candice & 'drinky'

Shannon & Jo

(Does this one even need a caption??)

Irish.
Car.

Bomb.
(aye-yi-yi......)

Woooooooooo!

The girls at Hanks

I even got to see my honey :)

Paul Newman

2008-09-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Oh, we have lost a great, great, great man.

I was in the middle of doing dishes Saturday morning, the kids were watching TV and Shawn was on the laptop. "Did you hear who died?" he asked. I walk towards him and ask, "No, who?"

When my eyes hit the screen I am dumbfounded. My heart starts racing and I start to shake.

"Paul Newman, dead at 83"

Then the tears start. They are falling down my cheeks uncontrollably. I try to turn away so my family won't see. I go back into the kitchen and cry a little more while scrubbing away.

I didn't know this man, why has this hit me so hard?? Because I just LOVED him. I loved his acting, I loved his charity and I loved his racing. He was a great man! I know no man is perfect, but "they don't make 'em like they used to". He was the epitome of cool. What real men should aspire to be... Great... In every sense of the word.

I fell in love with him when I saw part of The Hustler when I was about 8 or 9. I've -sadly- only seen a handful of his movies. Shawn recently introduced me to Cool Hand Luke but his performances in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, The Color Of Money (reprising "Fast Eddie") and Message in a Bottle (as the grouchy/loveable Dodge) are AMAZING to watch.

Cole even knows him as 'Doc Hudson' in Disney's Cars

And from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid came the selfless Hole in the Wall Camps. A camp just for kids suffering from illness. A place for them to play and interact without the burden of their illness. Camp Korey in nearby Carnation, WA was just opened in 2007.

Funny that most of "my" generation probably knows him best for his dressings, etc.
What's not to love - it's delicious and it donates 100% profits!

"When I realized I was going to have to be a whore, to put my face on the label, I decided that the only way I could do it was to give away all the money we make. Over the years, that ethical stance has given us a 30 per cent boost. One in three customers buys my products because all the profits go to good causes and the rest buy the stuff because it is good." -Paul Newman on Newman's Own

This is how I got to know him in the last couple of years. Co-owner of Newman/Hass Racing. I've seen him in person at 2 Champ Car races in Portland and Las Vegas. Even then he looked frail. That his age was starting to really show. But man, what an icon.

I'm still at a loss for words. We lost a great, great man. I know the word is fairly generic but the man was not. Thanks Paul, for everything, I can only try and aspire to all that you've done.

Paul L. Newman
1925 - 2008

Busy, busy, BUSY!!!!!

2008-09-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go?? I honestly don't know. I haven't blogged in a month(?) - how does that happen.

Wedding stuff, that's how it happens. As of today it's less than 3 weeks.

Yikes. Ugh. Argh. - All in good tone, I promise you!

We have been busy, I swear! Every weekend seems jam-packed! Thanks mostly to Shawn and his slight A.D.D., God love him. It amazes me how he can sit in front of the big screen ALL DAY on any give Sunday (or Saturday for that matter) and watch football. But other days we are go, go, going!

I don't think I have any photos of our adventures, I've been seriously slacking on that aspect. Ugh. I think Shawn is teaching the kids to groan when I pull out the camera. Thanks hun! ;)

A few Saturday's ago (yes, I'm losing track of the weekends) we took Anna & Cole to the University of Washington / Oklahoma game at Husky Stadium. It was a GORGEOUS weekend and Shawn originally wanted the 4 of us to go to the Hawks game, but I just couldn't do $80 a person. As nice of a weekend as it was, I just couldn't do it.

So he calls me Friday afternoon,"I found Husky tickets instead!" he says excitedly. "$20 each!!" Okay, now THAT I can get on board with!! So on a beautiful Indian Summer Saturday, we ventured up to the U-district for some FOOTBALL!!! Roamed around the gorgeous U-village with its hanging flower baskets still in full bloom, quaint & modern water fountains and sushi & sandwiches out in the sun. Does it get any better??

Cole was a trooper and got plenty of "Awwww..." looks and gestures as he practically crawled up to our seats. He's like his mama with heights.

Okay, so we (the Huskies) got slaughtered and we left at halftime, but Cole was able to go to his first REAL football game!! (I guess the Seahawks scrimmage doesn't count) (no photos cuz we left the camera in the Pathfinder)

This past Friday, went to a birthday party at my friend Shannon's house. She claims she's in 'the hood', but their place is really cute and the neighborhood was not as ghetto as she makes it out to be! (although they do have a nice view of St. Josephs Hospital). It had been a long week all around and the tension turned to 'discussion' when Shawn & I got home. In the front yard. At about midnight. I went for a walk to calm down.

See, it's been almost 3 years together for Shawn & I and we're still working out the 'bugs'. It's a work in progress and as long as we keep the discussion open I think we're doing just fine!

Saturday started out with us dress shopping for Anna for our wedding. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous shopping with a teenage girl. She's like I was at that age - wearing gloves and armbands, mis-matching clothes, worrying about her hair, wearing glitter eye-shadow and generally being a teenager.

We approached the dress section at JCPenny's, I grabbed an awful purple satin rhinestone thing and told her, "Nothing like this." And she agreed. We picked out 3 dresses for her to start with and the first one she came out with was PERFECT! A black chiffon halter with a touch of silver beading. Who knew it would be that easy?!?

Saturday evening was a 'Cousins get-together' at my mom's cousin Cal's. Is that my second cousin? I get lost in it all. They have a beautiful place out in McKenna, past Roy. We had lasagna, garlic cheese bread, caramel apple pie, fresh-picked blackberries from down the road and vanilla ice cream. YUM! Before dinner we stood outside and watched the boys throwing the football. I have to say that Cole has an amazing arm on him!! He was throwing spirals the whole time. And long-distance at that! Makes his mama proud! And his dad too :)

Sunday was the highlight of the weekend - for the boys. Shawn was able to score tickets for he & Cole - Cole's FIRST real Seahawks game - in the 2nd ROW FROM THE FIELD!!!!! He kept telling Cole that they were going to the game, but he "didn't know where the seats would be" that they "might be way up high, like at the Huskies". So I think Cole probably crapped his pants when they got there and saw where they were sitting!! And most of the game, Cole was in the front row since he was so little and no one minded that he was almost in the aisle. Anna & I were watching at home, pausing and rewinding to see if we saw them and sure enough! With Shawn being a big guy, we could spot the big "83" and the little "8" right there on the 30 yard line! So, so, so COOL!!!
(no photos cuz I forgot to give Shawn the camera, he did get some on his phone so I'll see if I can figure that out)

Other than that, it's been wedding planning, strategy and organizing. So don't hate me because I'm...... stressed! hehe!

First day of 2nd Grade!!

2008-09-03T15:01:00.001-07:00

Cole the 2nd grader.

Note the 'rock star' hoodie and Chuck Taylors, picked out by the lil' man himself!

Nope, no crying from either one of us. (I think that stopped at Kindergarten, and yes, it was me) But still hard to believe.... Now he's full of excitement and anticipation. To use new school supplies, see his friends and compare backpacks. Not much has changed in the (ahhhem) years since I was in his shoes. And the blue backpack holder behind him is *very* special to him. =)

Oh mom!

It was a great start to a great year of Second Grade here at

Sherman Elementary!

Leslie & Darren

2008-08-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

Leslie & Darren's beautiful cake

Kate & I

Dave & Kate

I just *LOVE* these guys!!

I love the look on Leslie's face, like "what the heck did he just do to ME, his new bride?!?"

First dance as Mr. & Mrs. Mills

Auntie "Cake" & one of Julie's girls

Dave

(did I mention I love these guys!!)

My Brother's 40th Birthday!!

2008-08-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY, SEAN !!

Chantale threw a fantastic party for my brothers 40th! Old friends, family and even a live singer with a beautiful voice. (sad, I didn't get a photo or her name...)

My brother is the laid-back type, likes to people watch and would rather be on the sidelines than the center of attention. But you only turn 40 once, right? He did a great job mingling and talking with all the guests.

Their lovely friends at Napoli, a family owned business - Otto, Maria and their mom, opened up the place just for Sean's party and it was perfect!

(Sorry it took so long to post!)

Chantale *hand made* this cake for Sean!

Amazing - what a beautiful job!!

Sean, Derek & Cole hanging out at Napoli
(we're allowed to be in the Kitchen - we know the family ;)

Shawn cornered by my Aunt Sharon & Mom -hehe!
(wedding talk??)

Sean & Chantale

I don't think he liked all the attention so much, but he sucked it up!
Again - isn't the cake gorgeous?!?

My brother - mingling

Grumpy & Cole

SHOTS!! - ruh-roh......

SEAHAWKS TICKETS!!

2008-08-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

Single game Seahawks tickets went on sale last Monday and apparently sold out in just 14 minutes.

I am ELATED to report that we were able to get tickets!!! The Green Bay game is the day after the wedding and we snatched up 8 seats! I'm sad that I won't get to see Brett Favre play with the Packers, I will take a moment to mourn the loss at the game. But after that it's FULL ON 12TH MAN!!!!!!
I even have the 'green gloves' - thanks Aunt Linda =)
Time to start looking for my Patrick Kerney jersey online!

Now if I can only get my hands on some Jets tickets.......
(Hey - I can dream!)

Watermelon Smiles

2008-08-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

SUMMERTIME !!

(before the summer buzz-cut)

Camping

2008-07-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

Anna & Cole

Cole LOVED his mini 'beers'

Shawn, Cole & Anna digging for treasures

The Family =)

Cathartic/symbolic/(tearful) burning

Ahhhhhhhh..............!

For the girls BIRTHDAY weekend (Anna's is July 28th and mine is the 29th) we decided to go camping!

Technically, the long weekend started with our annual trip to Wild Waves for some fun in the sunshine! Thankfully for Shawn & Anna, I'm not so awe-struck anymore and don't walk around oooh-ing and awww-ing at the things that changed (or didn't change at all). It still brings back a HUGE memory rush, considering it was almost in my backyard and my girlfriends & I spent 2 or 3 solid summers there. Everyday. (Ok, I exaggerate) What a great way for our parents to get rid of us!

---------->Sorry for the delay on this post. Camping was almost a week ago. I got sick on my Birthday - Tuesday, and haven't felt 100% since. Sore throat, the aches, the kind where you just want to crawl in bed. All. Day. Long. And that's just what I did - had myself a nice little Nyquil martini and called it a (birth)day.

Anyway, camping was great! Great weather, long days filled with adventures on the beach and in the trail. And the CAMPFIRE!!! Did I mention the campfire?!?!? That's my favorite part - warm and toasty by the campfire, roasting marshmallows and then watching the embers glow into the wee hours. Heaven.

Hope you're all well, in every sense of the word. Being sick makes you realize that you can't control everything. Grrrrrrrr.

My brother's 40th BIRTHDAY PARTY is this weekend!!! Stay tuned for photos and stories, stories, stories!

Air Show!

2008-07-22T15:26:00.001-07:00

Stealthy

Cole doing (one of the things that he does) best - "ARMY!"

More "Army" - the kid was in Heaven!

(I know it's the Air Force - everything to him is still 'army')

USAF Thunderbirds

Amazing what these guys - AND ONE GIRL (hell yeah!!) do in the air. In a jet. Flying inches from each other. Breathtaking!

Saturday at McChord Air Force Base was awesome. Just that plain and simple.

Okay, other than the sunburns we all got (except Cole).

It was free, it was kid friendly and it was LOUD!!!!! Did I mention how fierce we are - the US Military, that is? You would NOT want to be on the receiving end of any one of these planes.

We toured thru a C-17, which we see fly over the house quite frequently. But in person they are just mammoth! HUGE! "Imagine riding in one of these jump-seats aaaaall the waaaaay to Panama. Or Cuba." Shawn stated to me. Ouch! No thanks!

The most impressive display was one that I was not prepared for. Tora! Tora! Tora! did a reenactment of the Bombing at Pearl Harbor. Complete with Japanese fighter planes, explosions and narrated so eloquently I caught myself trying to catch my breath with tears running down my face. My heart was pounding! It was like you were there. The bombers swooped and looped and chased each other right in front of you! Very sombering to think that this actually happened.

My Grandfather, Bernard J. Vandervest, left Pearl Harbor 3 days before the attack.

He would've been so proud of the performance.

Cole and Shawn came running back to our blanket in the grass - Cole thought for sure one of the planes had exploded or they were doing real bombs! I think he was secretly hoping it was real.

I'm proud of our Military. And days like these make you appreciate them more than ever.

I will stop at that - we all have our own individual opinions. =)

M E M O R I E S

2008-07-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Or "Lynnae's crap" as Shawn lovingly refers to it.

~ My name is Lynnae, and I am a pack-rat ~

Where to begin?? July marks a year ago that Shawn moved in to "The Bungalow"

Seriously - it's about 800 square feet.

We got a storage unit to house the extras until we had time and space to go through it. Or eventually moved into a bigger place. But I *LOVE* this house, this neighborhood, this area! So we decided to get rid of the $130. monthly storage payment and sift thru our stuff. Okay, my stuff. Mainly.

You would not BELIEVE the stuff I kept..... I have memories from Elementary, Jr High, High School and beyond. I found a shoebox stuffed full of notes. You know the ones: "Do you like him/her? Check Yes or No" and the "He said, she said, did you see what she was wearing" crap-ola from our younger years.

I found my colored mascara, circa 1987-88 - in teal AND purple.

The pale-pink shimmery Cover Girl lipstick ALL the girls wore.

All of my movie stubbs from every. single. movie. I ever saw!!!

(special thanks to Julie Lavin :)

And then High School - ALL of my Cheer stuff. Everything. From the hall pass from Giste for the squad announcement to our daily practice schedule & what to wear to each game to my cheer socks, cheer 'undies' (with DHS on the bum!) and even my Cheer shoes........

I'm telling you, it was exhausting. I'm emotionally drained.

This was the start of it - "the sorting"

A huge drawing from Danny. I *knew* he was gonna be famous one day ;)

A small box of the memorabelia I found
(my retainer, tix stub from the Tacoma Rockets, the mascara!)

the box stuffed full of notes......

old calendars ???

(I don't know either)

just ONE of the hundreds of movie ticket stubs

(sorry I couldn't find a cooler one, like Dirty Dancing or Mannequin or Stand By Me)

but I always wrote who I saw it with :)

graduation cards

(again - I don't know.....)

more movie tix, my one-way flight to SLC, Utah to pick up Cami, a card from Archies Diner (that cool 50's diner in Browns Point that I served at) and a punch card from Temple of the Bean on North I street in Tacoma (long since replaced a zillion times)

manilla envelope o' cheer crap

We're going camping this weekend and I'm burning about 90% of the crap I found. Some was just too precious to trash. It's true what they say - all of this stuff becomes "baggage" - emotional & literal. Time to let it GO.

Ode to Candice and Pete

2008-07-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

The happy couple

Pete & Candice Williams

Our friends Candice & Pete were married July 5th at the fantasy setting of Tracey Castle in Buckley. It was elegant and fun and all around a

fantastic time!

Candice looked gorgeous in her strapless, beaded, simply elegant gown. Pete's white tie and vest was the perfect compliment. Candice is normally casual & easy-going in jeans, hoodies and flip-flops. But to see her in her dress looking so beautiful was not surprising at all! She fit the part perfectly!

The night progressed with the usuall dinner and dancing. But mixing the two groups of friends from Candice and Pete made it The Party of the Year!! We had such a great time, eventhough it rained, drinking and dancing all night long.

What a great way to celebrate the 4th of July holiday! I haven't had this much fun at a wedding in a long, long time! I only hope ours will be as energetic! (reminder: October 11th)

Cake!

First dance as a couple

Candice rocked with her white, diamond-studded Vans!

Candice & I

Candice & Joyce

Stephanie & Pete

Shawn & I

(yep, it was a GREAT party!)

Steph & Shawn

err... Gandolfini!

Candice & Shawn - he's so sweet!

Pacific Beach

2008-06-30T15:51:00.001-07:00

We finally got some sunshine here in Washington!!!

(Or..... HOLY CRAP, can it get any hotter??)

We needed it, we love it and then we complain about how HOT it is. Or at least I do. hehe.

We spent Saturday (94 degrees?) painting Mom & Dad's exterior of their house. This was a birthday/Mother's Day/Father's Day gift from Sean, Chantale, Shawn & I. (insert awwwww here)

I'm all about practical gifts - things you can USE. So when their birthdays came around in April we were all racking our brains on what to get them. I remember Mom saying they wanted to paint th house this year and bingo!, that sparked my idea.

A BIG THANK YOU to our friends for helping out, so unselfishly!! We had Sean, Chantale, Shawn, myself, Derek, Jo, Otto, Sammy, Glen, Anna & Cole. When all was finished, we painted my parents 1600 square foot rambler and my Dad's HUGE 4 car shop/garage. All in about 6 hours! In 90 degree heat. Did I mention the heat?? Thank God for Grammy's pool!! (I forgot my camera for the day, so mom has all the photos. poop)

We knew Sunday was going to be another scorcher, so we had to have a plan. I suggested Owen's Beach, since it's just down the road at Pt. Defiance or even Dash Point State Park. Anything with water. Shawn said, "How about the ocean?" "The ocean-ocean??", I asked

So we hopped in the Pathfinder and set out on a road trip. We often forget that the ocean is really only about a 1.5 to 2 hour trip from Tacoma. That's it! It was a gorgeous drive! By the time we left the house, it was already hotter inside the house than it was outside. ugh. We drove through beautiful Olympia and Shelton (I waved to you Tracey, did you see??). Hoquiam & Aberdeen were just perfect!! Breezy and 75-80 degrees!! Perfection!

Then we got to the coast. I'm reading the outside temp. gauge and it says 64. It's cloudy, overcast and FOGGY! Driving big black onto the beach, we couldn't even see the ocean! How strange is that?? Here we are in shorts and tanks and I have to wrap a towel around me to stay warm. Hahaha!!

Shawn, Cole & the Pathfinder on the beach

can you see the ocean?
digging to China

monkey

We had a GREAT time though. It wasn't crowded and we were able to walk the beach and look for treasures. Made us all hungry for crab too!

Our (small) Garden

2008-06-24T09:25:00.001-07:00

Our almost-sweet, not bitter Radishes

More Radishes & Carrots - orange & PURPLE!!

Lettuce, onions, daisies & white flocks!

I can't wait to try the lettuce, I hear it's supposed to be the best!!

"Big Orange"

2008-06-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

It started with me calling the Golf "Little Red"

When we got the Pathfinder, she was of course named

"Big Black"

Now, let me introduce:

"BIG ORANGE"

Shawn found this 'little' beauty out in Sumner. A good ole farm truck.

But I have a feeling she won't be "big orange" for long....

Small restoration ideas are already in the works.

1972 Dodge M100 3/4 Ton, The Adventurer

Shawn is very excited that the truck is as old as he is!

She's big and beefy and the perfect work/hauling/dump truck.
I told Shawn we need to get a stereo in her so we can listen to "Small Town Saturday Night" by Hal Ketchum. Very fitting.

They bought him a pony ?!?

2008-06-17T10:20:00.001-07:00

Not really, I tease.

Sunday was Cole's *actual* birthday and of course Father's Day! We started the day with a friendly game of mini-golf (I won, thanks!) and then out to "Grammy & Grumpy's" for the celebrations!

My parents neighbors have horses and they decided to wander over for some carrots! We've learned that feeding them carrots on a fork is much better at keeping your fingers.

It was a gorgeous day to be out in Graham, lounging in the new patio furniture and admiring the horses. The kids even had a water fight! (the pool was closed, due to maintenance)

We're painting Mom & Dad's house the weekend of June 28th - any volunteers?? As always, you'll be well fed :)

Anna & Cole feeding the horses

More gifts ?!?! Dang, kid!

Anna, Cole & Uncle Sean

not-as-embarrassed Cole

Cole's 7th Birthday !!!

2008-06-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

Seven.

Excuse my French but.......... HOLY CRAP !!!!

Why his age amazes me every year is beyond me, but it does.

Thanks to all of you who joined in the chaos!!

Anna & Cole

Rebecca & Lauren

THE BOYS!!!!!

Playing soccer -

Boys agains Girls!

Anna, Rebecca & Lauren

The shirtless boys

Cool new stuff!

"embarrassed Cole"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU !!!!!

Recovery

2008-06-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Ohhhh.... this has been painful.

All 4 wisdom teeth pulled last Thursday - and still in pain...

I was totally fine Thursday after the surgery. My doctor called to check on me Thursday night and I raved about how great I felt! I was just amazed!

I even went shopping Friday morning - high as a kite on pain meds, but I felt goooood.

Then, as if on cue Friday night, the pain set in. Fast!

You know the feeling - like when you haven't worked out in awhile and go for a jog. You're fine that day! Feel like you could run a marathon! And then you get up the following day...... yep, just like that.

My jaw just ACHED.

Worse than childbirth?? Right now, I'd have to say YES! Although it's funny how pain doesn't seem to have a memory.

Anyway, I suffered through the weekend. Shawn made me mashed potatoes Sunday night (finally, REAL food!!).

I came to work on Monday, just to get an hours worth of work done and then home to my couch and lovely pain meds!

Tuesday wasn't much better. At least I had my follow-up appointment with the doctor. Maybe she could confirm that I had 'dry-socket' on the right side, since it ached with a vengance! She just said that everything looked normal and that it's a longer recovery for adults.....

"Really? No dry-socket?", I asked, puzzled. "Nope, everything looks healthy and normal. You could be in pain for another week, it's just how it goes." she replied.

Ugh.

Wisdom Teeth

2008-06-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

OK, I finally admit it.

I'm a little nervous.

I'm getting all 4 wisdom teeth pulled on Thursday.

But if I could live thru the infection, I had about 2 months ago, that lasted a WEEK - then I can live thru this.

Easier than childbirth?

We'll see.........

Wish me luck!

Another tooth gone!

2008-05-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

Anna helping her 'little bro' with his wiggly tooth.

But no success.

It was hanging there for SO LONG it was turning BLUE!!

(can you see it?!?)

Finally gone - Thanks, Shawn!

My sister & my nephew in Seattle

2008-04-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

For me, this was a *very* special trip. I would finally get to meet my 8 month old nephew Sawyer!! And even more special - Kathy would finally get to meet Cole. I know it sounds strange, Cole is almost 7, but with her living in Minnesota, it just didn't happen. The last time she was out here, I was about 5 months pregnant. I've seen her since - we had our sibling trip to Mexico 2 years ago, but that was just adults.

Plus, she was able to meet 'my' Shawn also. And Anna! Whew!

Kathy, Sawyer & Cole - he's teaching Sawyer

about video games waaay too early

Can I just tell you that he is daaaaarrr-ling!! I've seen photos of him - Kathy keeps me current with pictures all the time. But to see this little man in person is just so.... special.

He's quiet and sweet, mellow but smiley, warm and snuggly.

He's beautiful inside and out. Warm, strawberry-blonde hair and that lovely "baby smell". You fall in love with him the instant you meet him. He's got a warmth in his soul that is just rare in kids. Sawyer just oozes Love. It's such a hard description to put my finger on. Maybe I'm partial, he is my nephew after all. But either way, we had a GREAT time together.

Sawyer & Grammy

"The Going to Bed Book" - heh heh

I think this one is my favorite.... :)

Cole just seemed to LOVE playing the big brother role.
...For awhile... They played blocks together, watched cartoons and Cole even gave sawyer a ride around the house in a box! Then after a day together he blurts out, "Everybody's paying attention to Sawyer and no one is paying attention to me!"

Aye-yi-yi..... (I knew that one was coming, it was too good to be true)

I had such a great time with my sister. The waterfront/Aquarium in Seattle, sushi in West Seattle, lunch downtown, pedicures and long talks in the car. What more could you want? She said she couldn't live here, the grey is too much to handle (agreed!). I guess I'll have to settle for yearly visits back and forth. Okay.....

One more thing - Emily, WE MISSED YOU !!!!!
(really wish you could've been here too!)

The Siblings - me, Kathy & Sean

"Awww..." for the day

2008-03-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

This is my screensaver, I just had to share

Little Bunny Foo-Foo.....

2008-03-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Cole, me & Anna coloring eggs

(I don't know what he's looking at.....)

Some of the finished products

Anna & Cole on the hunt!

...Easter... ...Spring... ...Sunshine... and Snow?!?

Yes, it's true, we've had some snow flurries - some places more than others. Tacoma just had a dusting but of course Graham was covered! This is when Cole really wishes Grammy & Grumpy lived by us!

I can't beleive it's been 3 months since I've posted anything on here! No news is good news, I guess.

I did seem to get the 'winter blahs' more this year. January & February are just so grey and dreary here and it really got to me this year.

Currently I'm going thru some pretty nasty mouth pain from my wisdom teeth. (I hate to make this a pity-party blog, but it's what's happening in my life right now) My bottom wisdom teeth "float" in and out about every 4 months or so. No big deal. Usually it's 3-4 days of moderate pain that I help along with Tylenol or such. But my lower left floated in almost 3 weeks ago now and hasn't faded.

I've been meaning to get them all extracted, really. But with the nominal pain, it was never a *major* issue. Until now.

So I started calling around. The oral surgeon my dentist referred me to wasn't able to get me in for a consult until April 22nd !?!? Are you freaking kidding me?? (this is a whole other story on it's own, I'll spare the details. just know that when you piss me off, a letter of complaint will follow. His office is Harbor Oral/Dr. Steffans on Union Street in Tacoma- please DO NOT refer him)

It's Tuesday, I'm still in pain calling around, explaining my sob story...... "Tylenol or Advil every 2 hours, very painful, etc., etc. Community Health Care, a referral from my friend Ros was able to squeeze me in THAT DAY in a half hour!!! Hallelujah!!!!! As ghetto as this place may look (it's on the corner of M and South 11th, right in the middle of Hilltop) they are amazing people!!! From the receptionist to the assistant to the Dentist - all around great people!

Dr. Breaker explained to me that I have an infection and that is most likely causing the severe pain. Ugh. I'm thankful I could at least get validation (and meds!) for the pain. I was sent away with an antibiotic perscription as well as 600mg Ibuprofen.
THANK YOU!!!!

It's Friday and I'm much better. I was able to eat a piece of pizza last night. A big change from yogurt, chicken broth, applesauce and sliced bananas. (Ok, and the Caramel Frappuccino too!) But I forgot how good it felt to
c h e w food. It hurt. A lot. Don't get me wrong, but it was worth it. Plus, a glass of wine does wonders for tooth pain!! hehe!

Christmas 2007

2007-12-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas was, well, Christmas. Warm and family and wonderful. Nothing more we could ask for.

Well, other than I'm writing this on our BRAND NEW LAPTOP!!!!!

Shawn's parents....

I don't know how to say Thank You, other than

THANK YOU!!!!!!

His 'favorite' gift (there were MANY) from Anna.

"I've wanted this all my life!", said Cole

Our Christmas at home.

Can you feel how anxious he is to open more??

"Ooooooohhh!", something Spongebob, of course.

Uncle Sean & Cole playing "Rock em Sock em Robots"!!!

(we heart vintage)

December 20th photo

2007-12-21T13:43:00.001-08:00

He can be sweet most of the time :)

December 18th photo

2007-12-19T11:07:00.001-08:00

Another photo from a day in the life of, well, us.

Cole and Shawn making TACOS!!!!!

One of our favorites, I swear we eat it once a week :)