It's like this...

According to tradition in my family, when it's my birthday (notice I don't say when it's anyone elses birthday), no one can refuse my request. My one request? That my children come with me and sit for this picture. Well, this one was taken with my cell phone camera. The real one is coming in the next week or so. I've had them taken each and every year since 1989. That means this girl on the right has been photographed with that jolly man in red every year for 19 years. The Boy? Every year since 1991. These two? Every year since 1996 and 1998 resepectively. I have all the years of Santa pictures in a large frame with beautiful matting. I've filled an entire one up and am three pictures deep into the next one. I hang them up each Christmas and then spend a few moments marveling at the march of time across the faces and bodies of my children. It brings home to me how much has changed---but one thing hasn't and won't ever change. My love for them....

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our morning went from swim lessons for Ash at Children's Hospital... Then to the hospital cafeteria for nourishment in the form of a cheeseburger and fries. Here she is in the throes of opening a packet of mustard. I'm not sure it was a fun experience for her, but the rest of the meal was consumed with a dearth of facial contortions. Well, almost. Then I took her back to school and went on with my busy day..until we ended up back in Children's Hospital and not in the good fun part of the place. The ER. She became very dizzy, a sharp pain in her head and another one in her chest making it difficult for her to breathe. Her Daddy showed up after work to wait with me and help me with her. I was grateful that he came. It was a very long wait. VERY. LONG. Did I mention the length of the wait? Yes, verily it was lengthy. Too long. We finally made it into an exam room and I was so tired that I nearly had a fit of the giggles because our ER doc looked like Sheldon from Th...

I LOVE IT! It's stressful and weird at times becuase I'm simply a conduit for communication but I am loving it. A lot. I'm also learning more vocabulary. Some of it is a challenging, especially for someone with ADD. If I let my attention slide for a second it's a disaster. Thankfully that only happened once for a fraction of a second. I am loving it. Yessire. I still enjoy teaching but I think interpreting is a tad less stressful and complicated because basically all I have to do is show up and...talk. The hard part is getting all the people involved to talk one at a time and wait for me to interpret what they've said. Sometimes in an emotional meeting with four teachers, therapists, principles and parents things can get a bit....tense. Other than that...fun!

We picked up Steph in Puyallup yesterday evening and she went to church with us this morning. Her cousins Jessica and Nicole were excited to see her and before the service began they visitied. During the meeting they visited, with their cell phones unfortunately. (Note to self: remove cell phones from offspring during church hours) This is a pic that Jess took of Steph behind her and some few people behind her. But it's nice to see the love. (I get my girl for a whole week! Yay! I'm sure she'll lighten my bank account while she's here)

Last night we had the Big Cousin Sleepover. It was supposed to be an evening of movies, lots of snack foods with sugar, trans fats, hydrogynated oils and chemicals difficult to pronounce, then little or no sleep before we embarked on our journey to see TWILIGHT! Here's how it really went down: I fell asleep. Ashley fell asleep. This all happened before the cousins even arrived. When they did arrive, I sort of roused myself long enough to hear that they wanted to go home and sleep if the party wasn't to be on. They did stay however, and we made up for not consuming bad food that night by consuming bad food this morning. Here are the girls with waffles, strawberries and oodles of whipped cream. Yum! Then we scurried to the theater to see Twilight. Here are the girls and Lance waiting in line. We waited and we waited. I'd purchased the tickets earlier in the week and we were the second group in line, so that was nice. What you can't see is that it was c-c-c-c-c-c...

As I sit here writing I am listening to the giggles of my girls and their friend Kylee. She's spending the night because her mom was called out tonight (she's a flight attendant). The giggles and the laughs and the happy sound makes my heart happy. I should be telling them to go to sleep because it's late---and I do, albeit a bit half heartedly. I'm loving the sound coming from their room. Being happy is a gift--one I've had trouble hanging on to in the last few weeks. But things have changed and improved. I made the decision to be happy despite things and then the situation that was causing me such pain improved. Being happy is a good thing. On Monday I took the girls and their cousin to Greenlake. I'd like to say it was a peaceful time but we were accosted by some insane man who began yelling at us, kept yelling and being rude. It frightened my girls and made Ashley cry. So I did what every grown married woman does in that situation. I called my 76 ye...

And now for something completely different... The Boy, who is acting remarkably human these past couple of days, came upstairs and showed me the following. I thought it only right to pass it on to all of you. Turn on your speakers. You're going to want to get this song stuck in your head. No, really.

My first car was a 1962 white Ford Thunderbird. This is a car that I loved loved loved. White, with lots of chrome, black interior and a way cool 8 track tape player that was removable! . Oh yeah we were the cool kids on the block as I drove this baby to high school. As we were driving up Aurora the other day I slammed on my brakes to make a quick turn because I'd seen my car . We stopped and checked it out. It could very well have been my car. It had the same cracked hole in the dashboard in front of the passenger seat where Kevin Nickel had slammed his fist while I was driving us all to see the Eagles in concert at the Kingdome. It might not have been the same car though because it was a little too shiny. You see, one day my sister and I decided to do a good deed for my Dad and wash the car. It was awful dirty. We used Comet. You know, Comet? The abrasive bathroom cleanser? Yes, that one. We washed the car with it. We were so helpful! And yes, a little blond. The c...

As I've been watching the news and reading articles online and finding the protesting has been violent, rude and hate filled. LDS temples have been targeted with grafitti, people have had cups of urine thrown on them. sacred books have been burned and church buildings vandalized. This, from a segment of the population that says they believe in tolerance. Uh huh. They're only tolerant when you don't believe as they do. They ask for tolerance but give none in return. I understand that it's not going to get better it will only get worse and that's a sad thing. Call it a civil union, have all the medical decision making rights, property rights, everything---but just don't call it marriage. It's not. It's something entirely different. Ayup. This is me taking a stand. And also, for the record, the church didn't set up phone banks, or send in millions of dollars to support Prop 8. Private individuals sent in support and worked for it. And one more t...

We brought our kitty Bobo with us when we moved to my father's house. He's a very loving feline and back when we lived in Puyallup he'd give all of us what we called Head Butts. He'd knock heads with us, in an affectionate way. Since we've moved he only gives head butts to Lance. I feel cheated somehow. Oh, he still walks all over me at night, comes to me for loves but not one single head butt. He reserves them all for the alpha male of the family. Also, the word Bobo means stupid in Spanish....not that I'm uh...you know. Not that I'm saying he's stupid or anything. No, I'd never do that. Here he is laying on Lance this morning. This morning my sister sent me a picture with her cell phone of something her kids had written on their dry erase board. It made me smile.

I took a long one today, in between working on some Spanish curriculum stuff and working in appointments for interpreting jobs that I got phone calls for.... I think I just needed to sleep today. It felt good. I've been running running running for so long now and I'm tired. Physically and to be certain, emotionally. A lot of my students are signing up for a second round of Spanish classes with me and so I'm looking forward to creating that curriculum. They're a great group of kids and a bright spot in my mornings. Last night Ally had a thing with the young women's group at church. She's been working on a project about how to make people feel better about themselves and her display there was beautiful. When we drove home later, she was chatting and chatting and chatting. She is an amazing young lady---at twelve she has a poise and a serenity that I love. She has always been a loving and caring and peaceful soul in our lives. Ash has seen I've been sad...

Yesterday was my sister's birthday. We were born 11 months apart and for two weeks we will be the same age. No, I won't tell you just what that age is . My father and I took her to an old favorite Mexican place for lunch (Thanks Dad!) and so I told the waiter that it was her birthday and could they please embarrass her a little? And so they did. They put a gigantic sombrero on her head and sang a lovely song to her, then gave her fried ice cream with sweet tortillas covered in whipped cream and chocolate sauce. See how happy she is?

Just when you think your heart could not possibly hurt any more than it already does.... Just when you think you can't take it anymore.... Just when you think you've reached an acceptable level of anguish.... There are deeper depths to plumb and further to fall. I thought I'd cried it out enough, that I was now strong and ready to fight. I was right about one thing---I am going to the mattresses and will fight with everything I have but this is still able to wring more tears from my already swollen eyes. But I will fight. My family needs your prayers.

go to church today. I'd cooked all kinds of beans during the night in a slow cooker with onions, garlic, tomato, etc. The house smelled wonderful when I got up and then I browned some meat to add to the mix and stirred it all together with some brown sugar, more onions and mollases. Then of course I had to try it to make sure it was all right. I know better. I don't eat in the morning. My system just doesn't take it well. Yes, I'm old. So I wasn't feeling great and had a huge desire to crawl back under the covers. I didn't. I'm glad I didn't. It was one of those days where it seemed all the talks and the lessons were meant for me to hear. I came away spiritually fed and that's a good thing. Ally is in her Beehive presidency (Young women's organization class) and she had a meeting after church so we went home and I gathered half the beans I'd made to take over to my sister for their dinner. She's so frustrated with her slow healing and...

I had Interpreter Training today. Yes, it's Saturday. Cuz you know, I don't work enough during the week or anything. I was prepared to dislike it and be bored. I was delighted to find that it was interesting and held my attention and even (gasp) fun . I enjoyed it! Except for the part where my husband packed my lunch but didn't actually put it in the lunch box so when everyone else had lunch delivered I sat there drooling with my stomach growling, but other than that, it was great. While I was there, hubby took the girls swimming at the nearby pool and then we met up later at my sister's house where my niece and her three kids were visiting. SO FUN! I haven't seen the children in a few months and it's amazing how they grow---especially the youngest. Here he is, the little darlin' While were there I realized that OOPS, it's Jessica's birthday. She's my sister's third child and turned 15 today. In all the visiting and noise and confusio...

I woke up around three a.m with the worst migraine in the universe. Well, my universe at any rate. The sound of my own breathing caused me great pain. I would have stopped breathing had that been an option. Ok, you there reading this and thinking that I really should have stopped my breathing, thanks. I appreciate the sentiment. This one lasted the rest of the night and far in to the day. I was unable to attend my friend's funeral but around six this evening I was feeling human enough to meet up with four friends from high school. We ate at The Macaroni Grill (yum!) and then spent nearly four hours laughing and crying and reminiscing about the past and talking about where we've been and what we've done since then. It was such fun. I'm so glad we could do it. But..there are no pictures. I was having too much fun to and completely forgot to snap some. So here's to you, Robyn, Elise and Christie. The friends of my youth. We're older but we can still b...

I taught my new class of K through 4th graders this morning. Sweet group. Rushed to get Ally from school to get her to the doc because she's been having horrible ear pain. Rushed so quickly that when I reached for my purse to pay the doc, I realized I'd left my purse back in my classroom. Ugh. Had to have hubby, wonderfully patient and kind hubby, retrieve it for me. Then we met up after I dropped Ally back at school. Oh wait, the doc appt. This was....disturbing. After much cleaning, then application of an analgesic in her ear and a warm water washing, tons of ick came sliding out. Then there was more digging in her ear and the "Oh my" exclamation from the pediatrician. Seems there is something in her ear that she can't get to and remove. She's given us ear drops, antibiotics and (dang I'm tired) something else I can't remember. We go back in a week. If it hasn't come out of it's own accord...we may be looking at surgery. Anyways....

This morning, after teaching, my husband and I executed our patriotic duty by marking little circles on some paper and stuffing said paper into a ballot box. For our service we were rewarded with little stickers to put on our shirts. Presumably we can redeem these stickers for a free beverage at our local Starbucks. Since I don't do that coffee thing, think they'd substitute a hot caramel apple drink? Yeah, me neither. Then we took Ashley to her swim lesson at Seattle Children's Hospital. This was Lance's first time watching Ash spalsh about. But first she had some trouble getting her swim cap on so Daddy helped. I wish you could see her and the progress she's made! I was having a little trouble seeing her as my eyes kept welling up. She's doing so much better after just a few lessons. Trina, her instructor, has a little floaty thing that attaaches to her affected side around the ankle to help her keep it afloat. It works wonders and I am going to try a...

Yes, today he went back to The Lazy B---and he was happy to go. I haven't seen him since this morning around 6:30 a.m., but we've talked by phone a few times and texted several times. Ya gotta love technology. My day? Well, let's see.... I got up before six to get a few more things ready for my 7:30 Spanish class and to get Ally and Ash up and fed before we left at the crack of 7. We drove to school, where Ally helped me haul 11 binders for my students plus my big file case up the stairs to my room. The kids arrived, I taught them how to sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in Spanish. It didn't quit rouse them until I hauled out the tin of Danish butter cookies I'd brought for them and told them this was their reward for learning the song and singing it LOUDLY . Soon they were belting out: Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, y dos pies Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas y dos pies Ojos, oidos, boca y la nariz Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas y dos pies! It was a beautiful sound. I ...

Hubby and I went down the Union Hall this morning. Before you could get your deliciously extravagant strike check, you first had to fill this out: We voted, we picked up the check and we left. This 'we' is of course the wedded-we. The two-shall-become-one we after matrimony we. One more thing which made me laugh, though it might irritate some who read here. There were a number of union people meandering around wearing Obama t-shirts. One man called out to another "hey, where's your Obama shirt?" Hubby muttered under his breath "I wiped my nose with it" Now, before you begin sending me hate mail over dissing The Chosen One, I don't prefer him over McCain. I don't prefer McCain over Obama. I'm not enthralled with either one of them. I have issues with both of their policies and stances. Obama's mantra of change change change change change change change change change change change change change change is annoying. I worry his sociali...

We took our two younger girls and my niece Nicole out to beg candy from people. Ah yes, a family tradition encouraging our wee ones to solicit sweets from complete strangers. The one day a year where the phrase 'do not take candy from strangers' does not apply. In fact the opposite is encouraged. We'd brought Nicole home from school with us (my sis is still in the early stages of recovery from her awful surgery) and we hit some houses here in our neighborhood before packing them all up to go to The Rich People's Neighborhood. Walking around here, we saw perhaps five or six kids. When we got to The Rich Neighborhood, you couldn't drive because the streets were overflowing with little witches and cheerleaders and ghouls and Indiana Jones midgets. I couldn't believe how very many children were marching up and down the sidewalks, bags in hand, parents in tow. As I thanked one elderly gentleman for the candy he'd just dished out to my girls, I mentioned my...