Culinary Creations

I made a apple pie and peppermint cheesecake from scratch for Christmas Eve/Mom's birthday. I was nervous but the results were pretty good.

Jazz Santa

T-Day

We hosted Thanksgiving this year. Len cooked an awesome meal. It was also Pop Pop's 59th birthday.

I love my cats, but.....

One of the little demons has chewed through two phone charger cables in the last couple of weeks. Luckily the cables are only a couple of bucks to replace, but still we live in the sticks and I have to get things shipped here. My familiars are all such fluffy, cute, horrible little critters.

The End of Summer Days

August has been a pretty nice month.
Things I have enjoyed:
-Mike and Sara visiting
-Barbecuing with family, Schimmys, Kiko, etc.
-Running with Heidi (even though she has to slow for me)
-Wogging with Len (walk/jogging)
-Berry picking
-Playing with Beasties (Livvy lets me read to her)
-Not working
Owen and Mom racing on the old Nintendo power pad that Mike got out.
Heidi and me enjoying the sun by the creek at Bill and Sheila's baby shower.

Now Available

vacation pictures on Flickr.

Blow'n Stuff Up

I love the 4th of July. It is the perfect combination of fire, explosives, alcohol, and marshmallows. What could be better?
Livy wasn't sure about the fireworks, but she did like the marshmallows.
Boys of all ages loved the fireworks. The ladies and I lite several off as well and I didn't get my hair singed by a bee this year. Last night, I thought I might have burnt my hand, but today everything seems just fine.

Good-Bye to Wisdom

Adam was knocked out and lost four teeth today. Len and I paid to have this done. Doesn't seem right.
Why do people even get wisdom teeth if we are just going to have them removed? He isn't doing to badly. He is just hungry and swollen. My wisdom tooth experience was so non-traumatic. I was a junior at the UW. I took a bus to the dentist office. He yanked out my teeth and gave me a ride home (he didn't like the idea of me taking the bus). I laid on my couch for about an hour, took some Tylenol when the Novocaine wore off, and went to work that night. I don't think many people have that easy of an experience. I was very luck. Adam is not so lucky, but at least he hasn't gotten sick, like my sister did.

Beach Run Fun

Heidi, Mom, and I ran the 5K of the beach run yesterday. We each placed in our age group. I was 1st in mine, mom was 2nd in hers, and Heidi was 3rd in hers. The funny thing is Heidi had the best time of the three of us. I guess the 20-29 group is the fast group. Only one more year and we will be in the same age group again. Not cool. Pop Pop played with the beasties on the beach while we ran. Livy befriended a really cute little dog and also got covered in sand.

Time Marches On

Wow. Adam is officially a senior. I can not believe it. That cute little boy who liked to say "actually" is now a big boy who still likes to argue. Some things change some don't. He has a pair of green shorts he bought last summer that remind me of the green pants he loved in about second grade. He still loves video games and his dog. He is still shy, but social. I still push him into social events, that he resists then loves and doesn't know why he fussed about.
He will be working at the Imperial Schooner this summer. So, if you are in Ilwaco looking for some good fish and chips this summer stop by and know that a fluffy haired trumpet player will be washing your dishes.

Ice Cream Pirate

Adam is not a ferocious pirate, even using his waffle cone as a knife. Tourist traps are weird.

Life Update

Nothing exciting going on here. I haven't gone on a whirlwind trip to DC, nor am I anticipating a new family member. I am simply in survival mode for the next two weeks. Middle school track ended; pizza/awards party was tonight. The high school season is nearing a close; districts tomorrow with hopes of state next weekend.

I have been thinking lately that we have been in the new house for less than a year, but I have no idea how I would go on without some of the things I never knew I needed. How did I survive 30 plus years without an ice maker in my fridge? I actually get excited every morning for my refreshing pre-breakfast glass of ice water. Was I ever truly warm before my jetted tub? I don't think so, I only thought I knew how relaxing a bath was. Every time I pull into my driveway I feel like the luckiest person on earth. I had no idea how amazing an automatic garage door and attached garage were.

My only current issue is keeping the place clean. I am a VERY poor housekeeper. Cleaning overwhelms and stresses me. What products do I use? Where do I start? How often do I do these things? Why do my plants keep dieing? Life has many mysteries, but I am happy to be warm and dry with plenty of ice water.

Loyalty Day

>Moldpenny snapped this amazingly adorable picture at the kiddie parade.
Adam in the big kid parade. Things don't change much in this small town.

Livvy has Ponies

Date Night

Len and I went out on the town last night, old people style. We took a little road trip to Seaside to enjoy some sushi. Who knew there was such amazing sushi in Seaside of all places! Yum! After dinner we enjoyed the weather, poked around in a couple cute shops, ate ice cream, and played arcade bowling (I totally whooped him). The evening was concluded with the newest Nicolas Cage movie at the Astoria theater. It was not great. Why does Hollywood make little kids so creepy? Also, they defiantly spend all their money on Nicolas Cage and nothing else. Anyways, it was a very fun evening made possible by Adam being out of town with some friends.

Sporty

Here is my 2009 Mazda 3. It's pretty sweet.
Livvy is cute.

Something Orange

Car shopping is strange. I have been looking online and researching all the makes and models, but then I have to go to a dealership and see what is actually available. I just want what I want. I really want a hatchback, but they don't seem to be readily available. Are they so popular that they sold out or are they do unpopular that nobody stocks them? Len and I went to Astoria/Warrenton on Saturday and I test drove a few. We went to the Suzuki place first. The Reno got great gas mileage, but drove like a go cart. Len loved the SX4, but I thought it drove like an SUV. Then we went to Oceancrest and I drove a little Mazda 3. I loved it. It was totally tricked out and drove like a sports car. Unfortunately is was more expensive used and three years old then the brand new Suzuki. I tried a Toyota Yaris, yuck, no guts. I drove a Ford Focus too, but it was really boring. So, this week we are planning a trip to the city to give Hyundai, Nissan, Honda, and Kia a try. After all of this, I may just buy some duck tape and get the Saturn going again.

Update

It is cold and wet and I am exhausted. Must be track season! This year the programs have been combined and we are now grades seven through twelve. I spend my time after school trying to keep 76 kids for hurting themselves, each other, or running amok. It is a challenge. We had a first home meets this week. Middle school on Wednesday and high school on Thursday. They actually went pretty well. Also on a plus the local newspaper photographer took some decent pictures.

Miss Livy's First Cupcake

Little Miss Livy turned one today! She celebrated with squealing, smashing a cupcake, trying to eat a ribbon, and playing with a plastic fork instead of her gifts. She also took two steps. Such a cute little pumpkin.

Only Seventeen

I feel old. I can't believe Adam is seventeen today. Wow. In one short year he will legally be an adult. Nuts. I found him a really cute shirt, but it is too small. Adam is so impossible to shop for and he actually really likes the shirt. I hope I can get it exchanged quickly. At the little family party tonight we had ice cream cake and cake flavored ice cream. He loves that. Funny kid. He hoped to have some D&D goober-festing this weekend with his friends.

Eighty-eight years young

Owen helped Grandma Barbara with her birthday candles.

Remembering that I am fond of reading

I just finished Coraline. It was a very quick little read, but I loved it and was reminded that before I started grad school I really liked to read. For the past two and a half years I have only been able to sneak in two or three pleasure books. I am so excited to remember that I can read what I want when I want.
Besides Coraline, I have only read one other Neil Gaiman book, American Gods, enjoyed both. Coraline had an Alice in Wonderland feel to it, but much darker. My favorite character was, of course, the cat and I have a new favorite quote. "No," said the cat. "Now, you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names."
It is super stormy tonight and Len made a giant Spanish Tortilla for dinner. It was yummy.