Signing off

For a few weeks- I'm just going to close the blog down for a while...we're taking our computer apart- who knows when we'll have time to put it back up!! Thanks a bunch!

Go-Go- Gadget!

Growing up we never got paid for good grades- it was just expected. We'd get a high five or a pat on the back- or an "I expect you to do better next time." So I told Ted when James started school no payment for good grades. However, I feel that after a long year of good efforts some token of accomplishment should be manifested...hence- summer camps! A reward for both Mom and kids. Mom gets a mid summer break-kids get to spend time with friends and do cool stuff. James and Emma have not been informed of this yet...it's a trial and error sort of idea- but I think it passed for sure! This year was the first year we decided to fork out a hefty amount for a real "summer camp!" James has done a couple of baseball camps in the past- and of course scout camp- but when our good friends approached us about this science camp I thought it would be a great opportunity for James to stretch his brain a little! It was an all day camp and James got to go with his best friend Brayden. They both had a blast and learned a ton! He came home talking about suspension bridges and atoms and how magnents worked and they built actual robots! WSU really did a good job teaching and making it fun at the same time.

Emma got to spend a few days- she got sick half way through the week- at the Tri-City court club camp having a blast with her good friends Mia and Rosie and their big sister Mindy who runs the camp. They played tennis, swam, went on a few field trips, climbed rock walls, did karaoke, gymnastics- all sorts of stuff. And Emma went to bed exhausted every night!

Yeah for summer camps! Now we'll sit back and enjoy these last few weeks of summer.

Humility...

Broken kitchen sink
Broken computer
Broken camera
Broken air conditioner
Broken jeep (Ted's- not the little boys:)- thank goodness because THAT would be tragic)
Broken garbage disposal
Broken front yard sprinklers
Puking Emma
When it rains...it pours! You can't grow without water! Life is good!

"When life looks like it's falling apart, it may just be falling in place."

Jamie

Jamie was born today. I was five years old. I have vague memories of seeing her in the hospital. I know my grandma was there to help. I do remember holding her. I did not know- nor would I know for many years- how deep the roots of our friendship and sisterhood would delve. Our move from Washington to California hurt us all- but especially Jamie. I wish that I would have been a better friend to her during that time. It is one of my deepest regrets. Watching my Mom battle breast cancer brought us together like nothing you could ever imagine. We didn’t have any family around and we were all we had to lean on. But I could have been kinder- more compassionate- more loyal to my dear sweet sister. It makes my heart hurt to think of the many cutting remarks I made to my sweet blue eyed- blond haired little sister who adored me- and I thought she was such a pest! As we’ve grown and spent the last 11 years growing closer and appreciating each other a little more…I need to tell her- and the world- how amazing I think she is. She has been dragged through muck and come out stronger. She is now a voice for women and children and men- for families. I am so proud of what she is doing and what she has accomplished I’m sorry if this offends anyone- but she is my kids favorite! She lived with us on a few occasions so it can’t be helped- she knows them and loves them as if they were her own. Her love for them buoys mine on the hard days. I aspire to be as compassionate- caring- and fun loving as she is. . . She reminds me through her actions that children are to be loved and enjoyed. I love her with all my heart and I cannot imagine my life without her.

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Last night James kept telling me that he wanted to run two miles. I don't know where he pulled that number from- out of the sky. Around 8:30 last night- after we dropped a load at the storage unit- James and I took off together. He has ridden his bike with me while I've run- but has never run with me. Last summer he would run around our block- which is .5 mile- and die about half way around because he started off at a sprint. So I had no idea what to expect. The first half mile had a huge hill in it- really huge- and I thought for sure we'd have to walk- but he put his head down and charged up! I told him the rule is- if you make it up the hill you can't walk at the top. And he kept going. At about 1 mile (he didn't know this) he asked me when he could walk. Now I have to confess to a little bit of trickery here...I told him he could walk at a mile and gave him a reference point to make it to. We made it there and I told him to relax and make it to the next point...I kept doing this until we had about .25 miles to go and I told him--"James- we're almost there- can you just run the whole way now?" And he took off!

Long story short he ran 2 miles in 19:14! That's a 9:37 mile pace- or something close! And afterwards he said, "I thought I'd be a little more tired then this!" Oh- words cannot express the sheer joy! I'll have a running partner in a few years- one that can kick my butt!

Ironically...

The few places that I have found that will take pets..."income restrictions apply." Meaning- we make too much money?! What's up with that? Isn't that discrimination or something!?!

SOLD! on our "PLANS"

I am so far behind in keeping up with this blog. I had the glamorous idea of doing a post a day to keep track of all the summer fun. Hello! I'm already 30 days behind that plan! But is has been a nice month...and I already feel gloomy that July is almost half way only. I knew this summer would fly by- I just didn't realize we'd be at mock speed. Yes- time is mocking me:)

I decided for the time being to unprivitize my blog- just in case we forget to tell someone- anyone- our "plans"- that are unfolding- or should I say unraveling- at a much quicker pace then we ever dreamed. We put our house on the market last week- last Tuesday- to be exact. Thinking that we would have a few months to get things in order- to let people know that we were going to move etc. We got an offer on Wednesday. Yes- we sold our house in less then 24 hours- and for higher then asking price. Our jaws are still on the floor. Especially in this "time of economic woe." We feel very blessed- and very stressed. I have spent the last two days on the phone- on the internet- on the streets looking for a place to put my family for the next year. My concern is to keep things as normal as we can- especially for my little Adam who has such a hard time adapting to change. And he will be at a new school- so to move him from place to place would just put him on the fritz- which would put our whole family on the fritz. He has sweetened up so much lately and really seems to be getting a handle on life- I feel like we're knocking him down just when he's getting up. Long story short- there is nothing to rent in Kennewick for under about $1200.00 a month, that will fit my family and I won't feel like I'm dodging bullets! That's almost twice as much as my mortage right now! Wow-it's like San Jose all over again- except we're in Kennewick. Oh wait!! I know! We could manage an apartment complex! No one suggest that to Ted- or next thing I know we will be:) It's funny how with so many blessings come so many stressings. But I do feel richly blessed. We've been on our knees a lot saying thank you-- and could you please point us in the right direction now?! Thank you to all our family and friends who have been so loyal and supportive. I will miss my home. It has been a good home to us- if anyone wants to see a good cry just show up at my house around the 31st of July. This was a wierd post- but I needed to post something about it. Ummm, if you don't hear from us in a few months- you know why! "The best laid plans of mice and men often go ary!"

Good stuff!