Ah, Mother's Day

So I woke up at 7 am on Sunday (I was SUPPOSED to get to sleep in!) but my migraine from 10 am Saturday was still hanging out. I got out and the kids and Lar made me coffee and fetched me the paper, and let me lesiurely linger over the ads while my pill kicked in.

Then the kids re-presented me with their terrific gifts that they made me at school (love another excuse to ooh and ahh over them), and Larry bought me the Costco assortment of gifts (there is comfort and sweetness in the predictable). I got the new trio of ice cream toppings (uh, OK), some new mixing bowls (I love mixing bowls!), and a beautiful orchid in a really tall glass vase, it's really nice.

We connected with Ma and her friend Jan, then called Tracy and Gosh to wake them up (at 10:30). Since we had a large group, and I did absolutely no cleaning or shopping for food the day before (damn migraine!), we didn't have any plans for brunch (as it was to be a pot luck at my house). So we all converged at IHOP, just like all the other high class families in the county.

Service was actually really great, and despite the crowd, we all had a great afternoon. It was just a bummer that we couldn't linger over coffee and talk more (angry patrons still waiting in the lobby).

Gosh and Tracy couldn't get away from the kids ( a simple meal wouldn't do for the kids, they need their Josh time!!!!), so they headed back to our house to visit some more, while Mom and Jan went antiquing (my inheritance is shot). Overall, it was a wonderful day (with a nap thrown in for good measure!), and I can't wait to do it again next year!

(OH, and no pictures... I was in no mood while I was still in pain; and who wants a family photo sittin inside IHOP?)

Mothers Day Today

Natalie peeking at me on the Wickersham Train.


Brady at his first day of golf lessons (like he needs them!)


All the moms on the train today rode for free and received a rose.


Since Larry is going rock climbing in SEATTLE tonight after work (yeah, I know) I don't have great hopes for a big shabang tomorrow for Mothers day. So I took myself, the kids, my mom, and her friend Jan (who is visiting from Bakersfield) on the Wickersham train today. And I even packed a picnic lunch.

The kids and I rode the train last summer, and it's a nice little treat. All the operators are volunteers and they have a real enthusiasm for what they do. We rode the old train to a clearing and played around by a waterfall and rode a hand truck (like the one from the movie "Oh, Brother, where art thou?") and listened to a fella play the banjo on the ride back. Very charming.

Last summer, we ran into Jim's mother, sister, and brother-in-law who were also riding the train (it's about 40 minutes out of Bellingham). Today we rode with Natalie's classmate Julien and the rest of his family. I also saw a chick that I've seen scrapbooking at the same places I scrapbook, but she kind of drives me nuts, so I ignored her.

Now... I think I have a cosmic connection with Julien's family. I worked with his dad at Costco. I noticed his last name was the same as someone I grew up with. Sure enough, they're cousins. Then his wife made my veil for my wedding (that is their business). We lost track of each other when he quit Costco to work full time on their family business. Then I hear that they had a daughter 2 weeks after Brady was born (which was really only 4 days after Brady's due date, but I was induced early). Alright, whatever. Then, all of the sudden their daughter enrolls in Brady's preschool class (later moved to a different time). Then I find out that they had another child, Julien on February 22. Four days before I had Natalie. And now those 2 are in the same class too. And lately I've been running into them all over town. I think we're on the same plane (definately on the same "cycle").

Have you ever had people in your life that you aren't particularly close to, but you seem to ride on the same wave? I've had 2 other people like this. My middle school math teacher (my family would run into him all over the state several times during vacations); and some weird dude with a pony tail here in Bellingham that I've seen several times a week ever since I moved to Bellingham.

Ponderous man, really ponderous. (do you know the song?)

Normans prognosis

So I picked Normous up from the vet today at lunch. He came out of the back room quietly, and actually laid down on the ride home. He had only come out of anethesia about an hour prior. Usually when I've picked him up from procedeures, they warn me that I may get a groggy dog, but he always comes bounding out cross-eyed and panting. But today slowed him down.

He had a scope down his throat (he had lung x-rays too, but those came back clear) and the good news is that there isn't a growth inhibiting his breathing (he has been aspirating on his kibble and was heavily wheezing at Clayton beach, causing me to finally take some action). But the bad news is that he does have larangeal paralisis. It's moderate now, but will progress as he ages (he's 10). So I have to keep him cool this summer (not easy for a black dog) and he's not allowed on any more strenuous hikes (Clayton beach isn't that bad, but he's also gettin arthiritis in one of his hips, so...).

Then the kicker: I'm to keep him from getting too excited. I told him I would need a bulk supply of the sedatives he prescribed. Norm is a perpetual puppy. He leaps over everything he can think of, he eats all kinds of non-food items (most recently 3 of Brady's bicycle helmets and the Radio Flyer wagon). So asking him to be calm is like asking a hummingbird not to fly.

There isn't really anything we can do for him. They suggested a surgery that would pin one of his larnyx flaps open, but then he would be prone to pnenomia and lung infections (from foreign matter getting into his lungs). So we will just have to alter his lifestyle a bit. And he most likely will have some episodes of respitory failure. It makes me really sad, but I'm not the type that extends a life for my own emotional protection.

Of course he perked right back up from the sedation as soon as we got home, and he couldn't wait to go tell Katie all about his adventure and get some lovin' from his old lady. He's a sweet old pooch.

Boom Boom bada Boom

So I live across the street from a high school. And today one of my favorite things started. The marching band started practicing outside.

Every day around this time, I start hearing the bass drums keeping beat, then the snares rat-a-tat-tatting. Then, every once in a while, when they finally get their marching down pat, the rest of the band joins in.

I think it's a little treasure to live here and be serenaded every day. Luckily, I never had to march in high school. I hated pep band, I think I would have died to have to play in marching band too. I'm an orchestra girl. But I tear up (I am not kidding) at parades when the marching bands go by. The dork in me refuses to die!


I wouldn't call us band geeks, would you? Those 2 boys were freshmen hanging out with us (juniors) and grew up to be very handsome, very cool guys. And they had to be cool to be hanging out with May and me at the Hard Rock Cafe, right? (Hawaii band tour 1992)




OK, there are only 2 people here that AREN'T band geeks (me and the other long blonde haired girl that looks like me, I'm sitting on the ground in the SWHS shirt) Marrowstone Music Festival 1991.

Madeline

Natalie is watching Madeline right now. Carly has gotten her several books over the holidays and she really likes them.

So when I found the video at the consignment store, I decided to pick it up. 1. Because she seems to like the books and 2. most of our movies are geared to entertain Brady, not Natalie.

So she has been in here several times saying that she has a small cough, and she needs some medicine (see, look down my froat, mommy). Then she came in and said that she was a doctor here to take my temperature. Then she came in so simply say "poo-poo" dismisivlely.

Who knows what will come out of that girl's mouth next!

Mothers Day Tea

Some of my Mother's day loot.


Declan, Carter, and Brady represented "September". They refused to say their line, instead saying "We look hilarious!" at the class presentation of months of the year.


I had a day that mini-van moms have nightmares over. Up and out the door early with Brady to take him to school (he and Natalie usually start at the same time). His class and others put on a performance about the months in a year. The boys were September, representing the first day of school. They all wore backpacks and Brady held an apple (my idea). Then they sang a song to the tune of BINGO, but instead it went: 'and mommy is here name-o. M-O-MM-Y...' Very sweet, I have to admit I had a little tear. I think this may be the last time I hear such a sweet song sung by my little boy, who refuses to stay little. And I noticed for the first time he towers over most of his classmates. I don't know if they are on the shorty side, or if he is on the tally side.

Then... run back home to say goodbye to Larry before he took Natalie to school, then I turned around again to go back to school to retrieve Brady. Got some lunch in him and dropped him off at the elementary school to spend the afternoon in their preschool (he's getting a little speech therapy and getting comfortable with the school before he starts Kindergarten in the fall). Then raced BACK to have tea with Natalie and her class. I ended up being about 10 minutes late (trying to be in 2 places at the same time). I sat down and everyone was giggling at the two of us. Apparently since I was late, Natalie switched my mommy-size slice of cake with her kiddie-size piece. That was my penance for my tardiness, I suppose. Very precocious, that girl. Then we sang and danced for quite awhile to all the tunes they frequently sing in class.

Then back to the elementary school to pick up B. I get the impression that he really enjoyed himself, he gave me just a tidbit of information about what they did, which in Brady terms means it was great.

In the photo above is a portrait of me that Brady drew. And behind it are some words he wrote about me (Natalie's to come, it's in Larrys truck):
-My mom has long hair. She has eyes like ours. (I don't have either)
-My mom likes to eat Lasagna and Spaghetti. (he's got me pegged as a carbo-addict)
-My mom likes to go to Morrie's with me (true.)
-My mom likes to go to a restaurant with my dad (I feel a food trend here)
-My mom doesn't like to eat worms. (I don't know if I don't like them, I've never tried them)
-I think she is 20 years old. (Alright, Brady gets ice cream for dinner!)

Clayton Beach

So after school today we headed down to Clayton Beach with our dogs. Norman didn't sound so hot when we reached the beach, so Erin got a frantic phone call from me ( I didn't have the vet's # in my phone). But more about that later, when I actually get Norm to the vet and find out what's up.

We had a great time and even got to watch a train go by from about 10 feet away (the conductor waved at Brady, really cool).

So here is a photo recap of our hike.

I feel the same way about Canada, Brady. Just kidding! He had this expression the entire time the train went by.


Brady is becoming quite the climber.




It's a Labeaver!


Hey Norm, you have a little green stuff on your snout (so embarrassing!)




"Oh, is there a camera? Let me just do this casual move here"


Not a camera trick, see the water still at the bottom of the photo?





I'm going to have some fun with this photo in photoshop.


I was very impressed watching him study the best route to get up there.



King (and Prince) of the mountain.