Sunflowers

I was playing around with the camera in our backyard taking pictures of our hops plant and Brady's sunflowers (you know, the ones that the kids bring home in the Styrofoam cup) when Larry mentioned that he drove by this enormous field of sunflowers on his ride today (in which he flatted in a corner and crashed. He has bad road rash and ruined his shoes, gloves, and brake hood. The safety gear worked! It was his first crash of any significance in over 10 years, so he still has a pretty good track record.) We drove out to the field and had fun taking pictures and talking to the kids about honey bees and showing them their hairy legs heavy with pollen.




Brady thought the sunflowers were too girly and refused to have his picture taken near them, so I grabbed him "wike my widdle baby" which threw him into a fit of hysterics. "Do that again, mom!"

Ready to harvest.

Our hops plant.

I had to hop the fence and lay down in our neighbors yard to take this picture of Brady's sunflower.

Saturday, in the park

The kids and I headed to the Farmers Market today and stocked up on lots of yummy local produce (the raspberries and corn have already been eaten). Erin, C and A met up with us there and we had lunch then headed to Fauts park to let the kids run some energy off. My kids of course couldn't stop pestering each other (why can't they just ignore each other? I'd rather them have no relationship than such a bad one) so we had to pack it up and head for home for time outs.
The kids have otherwise been good today, Brady even vacuumed the floors for me (a favorite past time for him. Seriously.) and we grilled some of mom's Alaskan salmon that she gifted to us and steamed some of our market fresh broccoli. Yum-O.

I was laying in the grass enjoying the last tidbits of our summer weather when I opened my eyes and saw this over my head. Erin knows what it is, do you? ***shudder***

This was so close to being a cute pic of the kids. Close, but not.

Po Man's Golf and Pink Glitter

Brady recently got his driver back (it was buried in Grandma's golf bag) so he's been eager to get back out to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls. He grew impatient this afternoon and went out front to practice his swing. I won't let him hit real balls in the yard (because the boy really can hit) and he couldn't find his practice whiffle balls, so he improvised.

...and Natalie and my hot pink glittery nails. She promptly got gum stuck all over them the next morning and had to have it removed with nail polish remover.

Mid-week meltdown

My days have seemed to blur together this week. Between training for my new job, birthday parties, mothers and mothers-in-law juggling the babysitting schedule, and trying to maintain an exercise routine I can't see straight! Add to that either the dog or cat peed in Brady's room and I can't locate the source, so he is bunked with me tonight. Calgon, take me away!
Last night was a lot of fun however. Brady had his first big-boy sleepover, 3 of his best friends were there and apparently he had the time of his life. Natalie and I took advantage of our girly freedom and got manicures, had a nice dinner together, and then snuggled in bed and watched 101 Dalmatians (with Glenn Close) while having facials. Natalie wanted us to have matching fingers, so I am sporting a nice hot pink glitter manicure. Very Hannah Montana, if you ask her. I took a picture, but am too lazy tonight to post.

Run off by the Rankin's

Erin showing the boys how it's done.

B and C.

It looks like she's lecturing Ashi, but she was showing him how to blow dandelion fluff.

This morning started out so nice. I woke up, had a cup of coffee and a 3 mile run (alright, I walked up Barkley Blvd) and then we met Erin and her boys at the dirt park. C and B had a good time riding their bikes on the hills and scooting around on their rumps.
After lunch my mom picked up Natalie and they went to see The Princess and The Pea with the tickets that Natalie earned from the summer reading program at the library. I was a terrible mom and took Brady to Fairhaven Runners so I could buy a new jog-bra. I can't think of a worse fate for a nearly 7 year old boy. But I knew the task was impossible with both children in tow, so he got the short stick.
Once the girls returned from the theatre we headed out to Kate's house where she made a delicious taco bar for dinner. The ladies headed outside to pick blackberries and when we returned we noticed some doll hair all over the floor. Then, while Kate and I were hugging our daughters; horror came out of Kate's mouth "WHAT DID YOU DO?!" My daughter, you know, the one that gave herself a mullet haircut a couple of weeks ago? She thought Zoe could use some layering in the back of her beautiful, long, blond hair. I could have died. Kate of course smiled at me when I left, but man was my tail tucked between my legs. And you should have heard the wailing coming from Little Miss Natalie Sue.
Marking this one down on my list of "Are you Effing kidding me?" kid moments.
I'm so sorry Kate!

It looks like Sam liked the present Brady got for him.
HuhWhat?

Brooke, I should put the picture of you stealing Natalie's cake, but instead I'll just put the one of Natalie telling you off :)

Brady had a prime seat to watch Sam blow out his candles and open gifts.

I made out with some loot before gettin' chased off with the shotguns. I won't tell you what kind of bowl was used to collect the berries, but Kate works in a hospital...

The man with the yellow hat

I bought Larry this terrible "Lance Armstrong Yellow" polo just to be smart-ass. Well, he wears it from time to time. Yesterday he claimed it was "ugly shirt Friday" which may or may not be a real thing.

He came home last night holding this:

It must have been a slow day in the membership department for them to have enough time to make Larry is own Curious George "man with the yellow hat" hat. Nice move, Chad!

I arrived at the fair and pulled out my camera ready for a day of fun photos. Battery is dying. Super. So all I got were a few desperate "quick, look here!" pics before the camera would turn itself off.
It was nice to let the kids freely run from ride to ride, I've never spent the money on wristbands before, and I now realize it will be an annual expense.
Kate and her family met up with me and the kids and the boys (and girls to some degree) rode rides and whatnot before we drug them to my favorite part of the fair... the horse show! There was barrel racing, a cowboy show (lassos and pistols), the crazy 8's and even chariot races. So fun. The boys were bored out of their minds.
I'm ready for the year I drive up to the entrance, drop the kids off and park myself across the street at the coffee shop. I'm pooped!

Yes, I bucked up and rode the Ferris wheel with my kids. They owe me one.
Top of the wheel. Yippee.

Dirty little mouse

Tracy was lounging with me today when she suddenly said "that is a sick mouse" (or something to that effect). I questioned her, saying "What?! It's a cute little mouse puppet!" How dare she!

Then she turned it around saying it had a huge butt-hole. Oh. Why did they have to make it flesh colored?

And why did Tracy then have to take a picture of my daughter sticking her finger in the mouse?

Needless to say my cheeks and stomach hurt from laughing so much.

Monday, Monday...

We were all geared up for a family day at the fair today when just before we left I had a prospective employer call and ask if I could come in. Um... OK! So I did that and then ran home to change back into my fair attire and we headed out. Today was the quiet day, rides are being saved up for Friday.





American Gothic.
aflac...aflac...AFLAC!!! One of the ducks said it. I swear.

A sitting cow?!

I get to claim that this artist is one of my good friends! Congrats, Brooke! I knew that picture was a winner!

Our annual photo button. Larry and I have been getting them forever!

The Island

Saturday I returned "home". I get a little sad every time I go to the south end of Whidbey because I have no family there anymore. No "base". I'm now an outsider, looking in the windows of my home. But it was also therapeutic because I got to reconnect with lots of old classmates and introduce my children to a few island memories. And so they reminded me that I was still a part of the fabric of the island.

A really blurry shot (I swear I'm getting a new camera when I get a job)... my kids were totally enamored by Michael. I remember him being the pest on the school bus ;)
My kids in one of the fire trucks. I was bummed that the fire fighter on duty was new, so he didn't remember my dad. But I still like the fact that my kids were crawling around in my dad's old truck.
Ah, the Fiddle Faddle Farm. I used to run around in there every year when I was a kid. We used to be able to catch farm animals in the Critter Chase and bring them home. PETA ended that tradition.
Brady wasn't tall enough to ride these alone, but apparently the carny doesn't discriminate.
Tuned in and blocked out. Stick a pacifier in his mouth and call him the pinball wizard.

Tom, Carrie, and Mike patiently waiting for me while the kids rode some rides.
Me, Trice, and Carrie at Freeland Park.

My mom knows me

She made her boyfriend send me this photo:

Dust off my bottom and get back on the horse

So today I woke up, took a long Internet placement test (which I'm pretty confident in my aptitude), had a phone interview with a bank, and got a few chores completed. I have to say I am really encouraged by the responses I've gotten so far during my job search. And the farther I get away from my last day at my old job, the easier I breathe.
And I'm totally excited about this weekend, I am heading down to the island to have a picnic with some old classmates, possibly see some family, and do the island county fair and see some more old friends from high school. Facebook has encouraged us all to actually reconnect with each other.
And... as much as I hated that my mother did it every summer, I am counting down the days until Brady goes back to school. He is driving me bonkers!

I need some bootstraps

To pull up.
I quit my job yesterday. I had it up to here. I don't want to go into it much here because I just don't have the interest to give this situation any energy. I'm done, period.
But, that fact doesn't stop the onslaught of sheer panic over my current state of employ. Especially in this economy. So I've been very diligent about preparing my resume (it's really short) and searching for a job that pays me what I'm worth and brings me joy and satisfaction. Not too tall of an order I think.
I have noticed the waves of emotion taking their toll though. I took a nap today (a rarity) and I'm still exhausted. Besides my own personal drama, I also found out my brother lost his home, my friends husband has started Hospice, another friend is just plain ole struggling to maintain... I feel completely overwhelmed and drained of energy.
Somebody find me some bootstraps (whatever the hell they are!)

You Can't Choose Your Family

Last weekend the kids spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house when Larry and I went to the Mariners game and then to a wedding the next day. I could use more weekends like that (sans children that is).

This is what I have to put up with (and I love it):
On the door of Grandma & Grandpa's house when we pull up to take our children home.

Lil' Larry & Heather

The kids are in the bedroom tied up with gags on. They can breathe we think.

We have left. Probably not coming back.

Being Grandparents is an honor and we are very proud of the grandkids.

Now that we are old we need naps, they don't. We need quiet, not in their vocabulary. We eat at a specific time. They eat all the time. We need time alone. They need our time.

All in all a great couple of days.

Love ya

Cameron & Sue

No forwarding address or phone number.

We open the door and Cameron had overturned chairs, strewn magazines all over the floor and his clothes were disheveled.

I love that I have a fellow smart-ass in the family. He takes the heat off me and I have someone who can dish it out AND take it. I love you Cameron!

Mom's Adventure

Tuesday after mom retired, she headed to Ketchikan with her new main squeeze for a couple of weeks of nuttin'. I've been receiving photo updates from Jim during their trip. Looks like they're having a grand time!
I personally think this is one of the nicest pictures of my mom ever.