Are You Talking to Me?

We did nothing today. By that I mean that we did nothing. We didn't go anywhere. We got up, had breakfast, the kids went upstairs to do whatever it is that they do, I put a load of laundry in the washing machine, and worked on Rebe's scrapbook. When the clock struck noon we had lunch. M went down for a nap, J watched a movie, and I finally got out of my PJs.

And the rest of the afternoon went much the same. I prepped dinner, folded clothes, washed dishes, and finally, around 4pm we walked over to the neighbor's house for a little bit of playtime before dinner.

Once we got home, Daddy announced that his buddies from out of town were going to be in Olympia and he was going to meet them for a drink. Wonderful. I had planned to take J to Target to get a birthday present for our little neighbor's party tomorrow afternoon. I had no plans to take M.

In spite of all the arguments I had in my mind about why he should not go, I said nothing and packed them in the car. Once in the toy department they touched everything they could get their hands on, pushed every button, lit up every gadget, placed as many items as they could in the middle of the aisle so as to not let anybody get through. I probably said, "come here; don't do that; pick that up; no, no, no; get out of the way," oh, I would guess 189 times. But we accomplished our mission and left with gift in hand -- well, half gift. We still had to go over to Borders to get something else.

Our trip there was uneventful. We went in, found what we wanted, and walked over to the cashier with the store still in decent shape.

That's when he walked up. A gentleman, probably in his 50s, nicely dressed, and he says to me, "Thank you for showing your kids how to use their inside voices." I looked around and there was nobody else there except the kids who as far as I know don't have any offspring as of yet. So I responded, "Really?"

There are a couple of reasons for my response. First of all, my kids are never quiet. And especially at Borders. As a matter of fact, they have actually been reprimanded by one of the workers there. And second, "Use your inside voice" is not a phrase I use very often. My version is more direct: Shut up! So, I said, "Did I say that? I don't remember, but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility since I'm always saying something to them." He then chuckled and replied, "No, but look at them. They're so well-behaved. I can tell you try. Unlike some parents."


And then I looked. Like really looked. And they were behaving. J was standing a little behind me waiting for the cashier to hand me the book so we can be on your way. And although M was touching some books -- the temptation is just too much for her --they weren't off the shelf and sprawled on the floor with pages ripped out -- yet.

He really was talking to me. For that second anyway.

And We're Live

We are now into the 5th week of Summer vacation.

In the weeks before school got out I did a lot of planning about how I wanted the summer to go. I had a mental schedule of our days, loaded up a backpack with essentials such as sunscreen, Neosporin and Band Aids so we'd always be ready to go on a whim, filled up the first few weeks with activities, and was pleasantly surprised when everything seemed to go as planned.

The first week started by taking care of business. J had an appointment with the dentist so he could put up a door that would keep the pesty sugar bugs away!

We went to Ikea, played with friends, had a couple of picnics and experienced the first 75 degree day since September 2009.

The next week was Vacation Bible School at the church. The theme for this year was:

The kids learned about the mass, worked on service projects for a kids' shelter, made jam for their families;

they worked on a craft each day -- painted a plate, decorated a candle, made a prayer book, and put together a necklace.

They sang songs and performed one at mass on
July 11th.


On the last day, Father Jim came out to say mass. He encouraged the kids to make the Mass Come Alive.


And Alive it Came!

Obviously Father Jim has never had the pleasure of driving home with a six-year old boy in possession of a blower.




Everybody had a good time. Even M enjoyed her time in childcare while I volunteered.

J started track and field that week. And the weekend had us going to Gig Harbor for a day trip where I found some free art.

It also brought Fourth of July. We went to the Tumwater Parade in the morning.

It was complete with all things parade and a few we hadn't seen before:

Interesting is the word I'll use. I'm glad we went, though, for there's no better way to celebrate America's Birthday than with all things Redneck, White Trash, and Blue!

In the evening the boys went back to Tumwater to watch the fireworks show which J dubbed "awesome."


Week three J started swimming, we went to the library, the fountain, hung out at home and watched movies and played games one day when the thermometer hit the 90+ mark. J had his first track meet and he took 1st in the 400! We even got a playdate in w/ Js best buddy from preschool, H, and his little sister. Family Fun Friday that week consisted of a picnic at the park and a walk on the beach.

There's been no shortage of McFlurrys and ice cream around here. M had her first Popsicle for which I had a really cute picture that I accidentally deleted and because it's quite an affair to upload them you'll just have to take my word for it.

The kids set up a lemonade stand....


.....in the backyard. Needless to say there wasn't much revenue.

Next summers' curriculum: Business 101.

Last week J had another week of swim lessons, another track meet where this time he didn't win anything, a trip to the farmer's market, and , oh, Lakefair ~ several of my Oly friends have told me that nothing speaks summer to them like Lakefair.

It's a yearly event that makes way for the carnival trucks to roll into downtown and park themselves and their wares in the area that surrounds Capital Lake. Aside from the fact that it uses the beautiful capitol dome as its backdrop, it's just a carnival like thousands of carnivals across America.....and just like thousands of kids across America, my kids loved it.

Two days later I drove J to Portland to meet his grandma so they could go back to Corvallis where he'll spend the rest of the week. He's enrolled in Jr. Beaver Day Camp there.

Next week we're flying activity-less, and the week after that as well. Until things pick up again mid-month we're looking forward to $1 movies, concerts in the park, the Thurston County Fair and the birthday party invitations have started to roll in. We still have camping, a Washington/Idaho trip, two more weeks of swimming, and Sand in the City to look forward to before the school bus pulls up.

This is no dress rehearsal, folks. Summer is finally here and we're live!

Family Fun Friday

It was an at-the-park-eating -

playground-playing -

picnic-table-resting -


to-the-beach-hiking -

foot-surfing (if there is such a thing) -

in-the-rocky-"sand" -wading -

awesome-views -

and-gorgeous-sunset-on-the-Puget Sound-admiring -

quality-time-spending -

91-degrees-and no-air-conditioning-having -

Family Fun Friday!

(July 9, 2010)

A Pretty Awesome Gig

I didn't think today's little outing would be "blogworthy."

I'm not real sure what inspires the topics I blog about, but I'm really sure that the,

"Hi, my name is Pati and we went to Gig Harbor today," variety is not it.

But, nevertheless, here I am.

D had gone for a business meeting a couple of weeks ago

and mentioned in passing that we ought to take a drive out there one of these day. So today after the sun came out in mid-afternoon we did just that.

It turned out to be a charming little town with your garden variety waterfront shops: ice cream and pizza parlors, candy stores, souvenir shops.

I had my camera with me so I snapped a few shots.

We weren't there very long before J decided he was thirsty. All of our water supply was gone so D walked over to get him something to drink.

As the kids and I waited for him to return, I looked over to a planter that I was standing by and noticed a square-shaped something in a plastic bag that I thought was a package of cocktail napkins somebody had "taken" from the adjacent shop and then thought better of it and discarded of them there.


When I picked it up I noticed it was a little canvas. I turned it around and it read:



Congratulations !!!!

To you: FREE



We hope you will enjoy your free piece of art!

This piece of Feel Good Free Art is given to you by the signed artist; just to

make your day a little brighter.





It then went on to give a web address and asked that you let them know how you felt
about your find.

I did so right when I got home and wrote that, frankly, it made my day and that I talked my husband's ear off about it most of our drive back to Oly.



I called it "A Great Gig in Gig Harbor!"

And I'm sticking to it.

Today

Today she is 77

I am 44

33 years

two states

540 miles

and what sometimes seems

like several lifetimes separate us

But none of that matters

because at the times I've

needed her most,

(Wedding dress shopping in Phoenix -- Oct '02)

(Meeting J, again in Phoenix -- Jan '04)

(His baptism in Germantown, MD -- Jul '05)

(Meeting M in Olympia -- Oct '08)

she's always been there.

I wish I could do the same for her.
The guilt sometimes consumes me
to the point of tears.
But that's a story for another day.

Today is her birthday.

(July 2, 2003 -- the last time we celebrated her birthday together)


So today,
let's just celebrate her!




Feliz Cumpleanos, Madrecita Linda!