Remembering...

I don't remember many dates, anniversaries...but for some reason this date always sticks in my memories and heart. Someone I loved so dearly, someone whose birthday actually meant something to me. Thinking of you still. Happy Birthday, Grammie. Miss you.

Cell Phone Dump

In the age of technology where even my crappy cell phone can take pictures, I often capture a quick moment or two...usually to send over to a friend or relative. And then I keep them on my phone.  Sometimes I might look them over again.  

With summer here, I want to make room for more random photos...so here are some random photos now deleted from my phone.

January -- Michael was lying down listening to his MP3 player when Willow came along and wanted to listen in.  Gladly, Michael shared the music with her as they snuggled up.

The end of the Birthday Party day...and the sleep over munchies have already gotten into another monster cake.  I snap this one because I wanted Ana to see that her cake(s) were a hit even after the party.  (Also, Wolfman looks kinda cool all half-cut)

Some photos are really old--this one is from April 2011.  Michael getting ready for class.

Willow Style--earlier this spring at the Concord River.

First meal on the new kitchen table! (Yeah, yeah, living it up in style!)

You know, I could fix this to not be sideways--but I don't care...it is still dolphin safe!

At the same carnival that the dolphin photo was taken.  Both photos taken to send to daddy who was not there...

Oldie photo--from September 2011...to prove that yes, even a girly girl plays with trucks!

Skates in the Car...

After Willow's birthday, I took her roller skating in her new skates.  I decided that it would be a good idea to leave them in the car for those impromptu skate opportunities....then promptly kinda forgot about them.  (I say kinda because I would see them and there was not the opportunity--or the opportunity was there but I forgot them...or it rained...)

But Tuesday--I remembered them! And the opportunity was perfect!  And she did a good job--not totally confident enough to try to "skate" like I remember doing--but she was very comfortable and enjoyed shuffling along.

A moment before was a perfect picture--she was crouched down smelling the flower...

Dad's Home...

Flying on stand-by (through a relative), Chewy was able to go to Michigan to be there for his Grandma's funeral.  The trip there on Thursday was easy--coming home...that was another matter.  After spending a looong night at the airport in Chicago (the last flight he was not able to get on, so he spent the night at the airport), he arrived home this morning.  

He arrived just as I was leaving for a job interview.  A bedraggled person in a suit comes in, while a crisp, pressed pre-interview person is leaving.  We exchange "hi's" then have a small argument because we are both tired (for different reasons).   Later I call him for help with directions to the interview--the navigation computer had taken me to the wrong address....

I come home from the interview and he is upstairs sleeping.  I cuddle up to him and afterwards he has favorite pasta dish for a local restaurant (the kids and I went there for lunch yesterday).

Then it is time to pick Michael up from school...and we have a plan.  I pick him up and say "hey, wanna get some ice cream?" We go to a local ice cream parlor--and there is his dad, waiting for him!  (Well, actually, he walked PAST Michael who went back to the car to put something away--and did not see him walk past him).  

Dad had brought gifts for Michael and me...but was not able to get a stuffed puppy for Willow (that was her request).  Since we are in separate cars, we split up--and weirdly enough both stop off to get her a gift--and wierdly enough they are both siberian husky puppies--one is smaller than the other, so they are a mommy and baby.

Above is the reaction she had to seeing daddy (puppies in her arms).  (Well, at first she acted rather shy when she walked into the house).

Envy

She swings. She swings in an old purple jacket, unzipped. Sparkle shoes helping her propel forward and back. It is a rainy, cold,dark day. Most people would want to snuggle up on the couch. She wants to swing, has been out twice today to do so. She swings and her cares are as simple as mine are complex. No wonder the old envy the young.

Rainy, Dreary Days...

Unfortunately, the weather has mirrored our lives lately.  Right after Memorial Day, we lost someone.

Went out to lunch on a stormy Saturday with a friend whose mother was dying of cancer.  Got home to find correspondence from the government confirming that I will be cut off of unemployment after this extension (whether or not I have a job).  Before I went out to lunch, Chewy got the call that his Grandmother was going into hospice.

Yesterday I got a love note from the IRS saying we owe taxes from two years ago (we HOPE it is a mistake). My friend called to say her mother passed away that morning.  Chewy's Grandmother is getting worse...

I guess we are living the phrase "when it rains, it pours..."

Happy June 1st---Being Outside!

Playing with chalk a couple of days ago.  She dressed herself up for going out.  The day before Michael had made a drawing of a zombie (from Half Life--so it has a head crab on it).

Another try at using a leash on a cat.  Kif always wants to go out, but we live on a busy street--worry about him and Gabby getting hit.  Yesterday the kids took Kif out for a bit...he LOVED it.