The Bachelorette

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

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!!!!!

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!!

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

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!!

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!!

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

SUMMERTIME !!

(before the summer buzz-cut)

Camping

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!

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

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.