For the last week, we've been convinced that summer was over. It's been windy, rainy and just nasty outside...I have quickly realised that I'm not ready for it... not ready for kids to be cooped up in the house trying to burn off pent up energy. I'm already trying to think of things to do this fall and winter to keep them busy. For Cadynce it's not going to be too tough, school seems to be wearing her out pretty well, but Camden, he's another story. So, I'm really appreciating the fact that today has actually turned out fairly nice, a little windy, but it's not wet! This afternoon we'll head outside to burn some energy and hopefully tonight go to Papa's house to play on the new play set.
A note about Kelan:
Kelan (remember him from here?) had surgery on Monday, the 20th, and after 13 1/2 hours of surgery the surgeons called it quits because they couldn't control the bleeding. They were only able to remove about 30-40% of the tumor, while that is great because it's that much less, it's still not what they were hoping for. Kelan will have to start chemo again in about three weeks...I'll keep you posted. Or you can check out his caring bridge site.
Back to all the rain...did I tell you about camping? We went camping twice this summer up to the lot at Pillaguamish. The kids really liked it, and so did we! It's convenient, and it's gated.. the girls (Cadynce and cousin Alex) can go down to the bathrooms or playground just the two of them and we don't have to worry. (the second weekend we did however hear about cougar sitings! woops) The second trip up was a bit longer than the first, 4 whole days! It was Labor day weekend so there was lots of festivities...poker run, raffles, bingo...and it poured down rain. During the poker run we had Ryan, Colby, Kelli, me, Cadynce, Alex, and Camden all on the golf cart in the pouring down rain trying to collect our poker cards. We got drenched! Luckily, they have some nice super sized industrial strength dryers up there that dried out our coats, sweatshirts and sweatpants in no time! Needless to say, we played a lot of cards under the tent, burned A LOT of fire wood and the kids played their ds's and watched movies. All in all, we really did have a great time, it was nice just to be away. (and I did take my camera, I had good intentions, it just never made it out of the car.)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
garage sale story
This weekend was our bi-annual neighborhood garage sale...I hate garage sales. Hate shopping them, hate doing them, setting up, tearing down, lugging stuff to the goodwill. Ugh. Hate them! This weekend, we had a garage sale Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we even made some money! So that was cool. Okay, focus, back to the story.
Friday was a bit of a struggle with Camden playing outside and him wanting to bring the toys back in that he hasn't touched in a year. So I was so lucky that Papa agreed to take the both of them to cousin Alex's soccer game yesterday! Some friends dropped by and helped me out some even. But, yesterday afternoon it was just me hanging out, reading my book, and this gentleman in a motorized wheel chair and his caretaker came wheeling in. They looked around and asked about prices for a few things. Clearly, he had a disability, but I wasn't sure what. The young lady with him attends UW, and they had bussed from Seattle to stay with a friend of Doug's (yes, this is really his name) around the corner. After some chit-chat, they toolied off to head towards the next garage sale...when I looked up they were heading back, and I thought, boy, he changed his mind fast and is coming back for the lamp! Not so much. They had a flat tire! On a motorized wheel chair! With a severely disabled man in it! OH EM GEE! They inquired as to if I had a bike pump we could use for the tire or not, which of course we do not. A light bulb went off in my head, we have a compressor, duh! And we use it for the stroller wheels and bike wheels, it's gotta work...yeah, not so much. I suck and couldn't make it work. About now, I'm starting to panic, because yes they are nice people, but what am I gonna do with them!?! I called Colby trying not to sound too panicky, but quickly explained the situation and he agreed to head home and help! Thank you, God! We realized before Colby got there that the valve stem cap was broken and I tried to call and have him bring one, but he was already gone. When he got home, he quickly figured out that the tire was bad, or popped, or something...the young lady had called their friends around the corner and they were coming to see if they could help. (Also, by this time we had moved Doug out of his chair and onto one of my awful hard kitchen table chairs.) Colby and the gentleman from down the road, got the wheel off, I called Les Schwab and the rude lady on the phone was no help to me at all, but I was able to let her know they would be running down for hopefully a patch if nothing else! Off went the couple from around the corner leaving: the girl, Doug, Colby and me...it was so easy to tell that although Doug struggled with some words he was highly intellectual and very funny, but it is still awkward to make idle chit-chat with people that you don't know! Mike returned home with the kids and hung out with them in the house until the neighbors got back with Doug's wheel...Les Schwab had patched it, for free! They didn't think it would hold, but figured it would work for a little bit... or long enough to get them home anyways. Colby got the motorized chair put back together and off they went.
Today, I was outside talking with Colby (It was his day to man the garage sale. please note, I made wayyyyy more money than he did.) And this afternoon, here comes Doug and his caretaker (darn it, never got her name) they brought us a card, and Doug bought that lamp after all. We also found out that they weren't having to bus back to Seattle - they got a ride, so that was nice.
Anyways, here is what the card says:
front: The kindest hearts expect no reward and deserve it all the more.
inside: you give so much of yourself in the kindness you show and the lives you touch. That's why you deserve a heartfelt "thank you" and a wish that all the goodness you share comes back to you.
handwritten: thank you so much for the rescue! I wish everyone had your spirit of generosity. If you want to know more about me go to : this address and also it was signed at the bottom: from one giving heart to another, Doug.
When we had said they didn't need to get a card, the only reply was you didn't need to help us! So after it was a funny, awkward, interesting meeting, it definitely made a good story for our garage sale. After I came in and read the story (follow the link above) I was pretty sure we had met someone very special and that we were the lucky ones that his tire blew out near us...
Friday was a bit of a struggle with Camden playing outside and him wanting to bring the toys back in that he hasn't touched in a year. So I was so lucky that Papa agreed to take the both of them to cousin Alex's soccer game yesterday! Some friends dropped by and helped me out some even. But, yesterday afternoon it was just me hanging out, reading my book, and this gentleman in a motorized wheel chair and his caretaker came wheeling in. They looked around and asked about prices for a few things. Clearly, he had a disability, but I wasn't sure what. The young lady with him attends UW, and they had bussed from Seattle to stay with a friend of Doug's (yes, this is really his name) around the corner. After some chit-chat, they toolied off to head towards the next garage sale...when I looked up they were heading back, and I thought, boy, he changed his mind fast and is coming back for the lamp! Not so much. They had a flat tire! On a motorized wheel chair! With a severely disabled man in it! OH EM GEE! They inquired as to if I had a bike pump we could use for the tire or not, which of course we do not. A light bulb went off in my head, we have a compressor, duh! And we use it for the stroller wheels and bike wheels, it's gotta work...yeah, not so much. I suck and couldn't make it work. About now, I'm starting to panic, because yes they are nice people, but what am I gonna do with them!?! I called Colby trying not to sound too panicky, but quickly explained the situation and he agreed to head home and help! Thank you, God! We realized before Colby got there that the valve stem cap was broken and I tried to call and have him bring one, but he was already gone. When he got home, he quickly figured out that the tire was bad, or popped, or something...the young lady had called their friends around the corner and they were coming to see if they could help. (Also, by this time we had moved Doug out of his chair and onto one of my awful hard kitchen table chairs.) Colby and the gentleman from down the road, got the wheel off, I called Les Schwab and the rude lady on the phone was no help to me at all, but I was able to let her know they would be running down for hopefully a patch if nothing else! Off went the couple from around the corner leaving: the girl, Doug, Colby and me...it was so easy to tell that although Doug struggled with some words he was highly intellectual and very funny, but it is still awkward to make idle chit-chat with people that you don't know! Mike returned home with the kids and hung out with them in the house until the neighbors got back with Doug's wheel...Les Schwab had patched it, for free! They didn't think it would hold, but figured it would work for a little bit... or long enough to get them home anyways. Colby got the motorized chair put back together and off they went.
Today, I was outside talking with Colby (It was his day to man the garage sale. please note, I made wayyyyy more money than he did.) And this afternoon, here comes Doug and his caretaker (darn it, never got her name) they brought us a card, and Doug bought that lamp after all. We also found out that they weren't having to bus back to Seattle - they got a ride, so that was nice.
Anyways, here is what the card says:
front: The kindest hearts expect no reward and deserve it all the more.
inside: you give so much of yourself in the kindness you show and the lives you touch. That's why you deserve a heartfelt "thank you" and a wish that all the goodness you share comes back to you.
handwritten: thank you so much for the rescue! I wish everyone had your spirit of generosity. If you want to know more about me go to : this address and also it was signed at the bottom: from one giving heart to another, Doug.
When we had said they didn't need to get a card, the only reply was you didn't need to help us! So after it was a funny, awkward, interesting meeting, it definitely made a good story for our garage sale. After I came in and read the story (follow the link above) I was pretty sure we had met someone very special and that we were the lucky ones that his tire blew out near us...
Friday, September 10, 2010
first day of Kindergarten
We made it! And just like I knew she would, she did great. She loved it and can't wait to go back. There were no tears...no hard goodbyes, just a, "bye mom, bye dad. love you."
Cadynce got ready for school at home with dad and then came down to Napa so I could fix her hair. She also got to see Papa before her first day this way. We took her up to school and Aunt Sandie met us there (thank goodness for Aunt Sandie doing her best to fill a big void). I really think that only we feel the void, not the kids, they are so blessed with amazing people that most of the time they forget what's missing. Outside of the school I got choked up, but amazingly enough, the tears didn't come. It was so cool to watch her walk right in, and literally drag Aunt Sandie down the hall to her classroom. (yes, she remembered where!) I couldn't believe she remembered, the ice cream social on Tuesday was total chaos and so stressful for me that I was super surprised she remembered. So that's it, she's off and running...
'
Love this shirt!
Talking to sissybug before going to school.
The girl and her Papa
Ugh, the backpack, that took us forever to get, mostly my fault because I was trying really hard to talk her into a regular backpack.
Daddy - Daughter - Dimples.
Me and caca. Colby asked me if I was really going to lug my camera all the way to school and take pictures all the way in. Of course I am! We only get this ONE time!
Cadynce has so much support...loving on Aunt Sandie.
See! Dragging Aunt Sandie down the hall!
Cadynce came home with a cute little hand necklace around her neck. She made it...it's shaped in the "i love you" with a heart glued in the middle. I guess there's a story about a raccoon going to school and it's scared. So the mom puts a kiss in its hand. I didn't know the story, but when we were talking to Tina while picking up Cam, she knew right away! I am so thankful that the beginning of this transition is going so smoothly. Now, I just have to get over all of my fears for her...kids being mean, being frustrated with school, getting embarrassed, learning bad things from her peers...these are all my fears, not hers. I know they are a part of the process, but I wouldn't be a mom if I wasn't wishing I could protect her from all those bad things...
Cadynce got ready for school at home with dad and then came down to Napa so I could fix her hair. She also got to see Papa before her first day this way. We took her up to school and Aunt Sandie met us there (thank goodness for Aunt Sandie doing her best to fill a big void). I really think that only we feel the void, not the kids, they are so blessed with amazing people that most of the time they forget what's missing. Outside of the school I got choked up, but amazingly enough, the tears didn't come. It was so cool to watch her walk right in, and literally drag Aunt Sandie down the hall to her classroom. (yes, she remembered where!) I couldn't believe she remembered, the ice cream social on Tuesday was total chaos and so stressful for me that I was super surprised she remembered. So that's it, she's off and running...
'
Cadynce came home with a cute little hand necklace around her neck. She made it...it's shaped in the "i love you" with a heart glued in the middle. I guess there's a story about a raccoon going to school and it's scared. So the mom puts a kiss in its hand. I didn't know the story, but when we were talking to Tina while picking up Cam, she knew right away! I am so thankful that the beginning of this transition is going so smoothly. Now, I just have to get over all of my fears for her...kids being mean, being frustrated with school, getting embarrassed, learning bad things from her peers...these are all my fears, not hers. I know they are a part of the process, but I wouldn't be a mom if I wasn't wishing I could protect her from all those bad things...
Friday, September 3, 2010
cadynce's current loves:
music: "the hands up playing my song" - aka, party in the usa, yep, by myley cyrus.
food: "chicken nuggets and french fries" - she does love bagels and cream cheese though too.
toy: "my puppy"
thing to do: "play with my puppy and my dora pillow"
favorite person: "my cousin alex"
It was tough to get her to stand still long enough to answer just these few questions. After each one, she'd reply, "can i go play now?" So, I guess that's all you get for now. Her first day of Kindy-garten is next Thursday, and I'll take lots of pictures and let you all know how it goes. She's gonna do great. It's funny, I've been really excited for her for this day, but last week when I wrote her first day of school on the calendar, I cried. I didn't think I would. Hopefully it's all out of my system (I doubt it is). I am so grateful for all of the people who love my little girl as much as I do. Our friends are all excited just as much as she is. Her papa can't wait to call her the night before school and to see her the morning of and her (and our) Aunt Sandie is going to come meet us at the school even. It's comforting to know that so many people are there to support her.
food: "chicken nuggets and french fries" - she does love bagels and cream cheese though too.
toy: "my puppy"
thing to do: "play with my puppy and my dora pillow"
favorite person: "my cousin alex"
It was tough to get her to stand still long enough to answer just these few questions. After each one, she'd reply, "can i go play now?" So, I guess that's all you get for now. Her first day of Kindy-garten is next Thursday, and I'll take lots of pictures and let you all know how it goes. She's gonna do great. It's funny, I've been really excited for her for this day, but last week when I wrote her first day of school on the calendar, I cried. I didn't think I would. Hopefully it's all out of my system (I doubt it is). I am so grateful for all of the people who love my little girl as much as I do. Our friends are all excited just as much as she is. Her papa can't wait to call her the night before school and to see her the morning of and her (and our) Aunt Sandie is going to come meet us at the school even. It's comforting to know that so many people are there to support her.
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