Picture Day

October! We made it!  The gateway holiday is only 29 days away.  It's wild to think of how much the weather will change in the next few weeks.  And by wild I mean depressing.

I love the weather like this.  There's sun, but it's not hot, there's cool air but it's not wet or windy.  It's perfect.  I like to not expose more than four to six inches of my body (face excluded) at any time, so fall fashions are a primo choice for me.  What I really like though is seeing how quickly everyone else adapts to it here.  Last week at the drop off watering hole of Shelton View Elementary, you were seeing sandals still, even shorts.  Today, which also happened to be picture day, boots, long pants, stupid skinny moms with 3-4 kids.  Oops.  Did I type that out?   My fingers must've slipped.

So, picture day!  Rowan lost another tooth earlier this week.  She called the look a "Reverse Vampire," because she has grown in her two front baby bottom teeth, but lost the two that flank those front chompers.  She also is missing both front teeth.  She loosely resembles an English Bulldog.  Specifically the one from Lady and the Tramp.  Oh blimey!

OMG.  Rowan and I have been playing the piano nonstop.  Methinks Tj is starting to regret bringing it into the house...except he totally doesn't.  I've been playing everyday, and have finally nailed Skylark for memory. Rowan has mastered the song Speed Boat, from Tj's mom's piano book from when she was a little girl.  We make a pretty sweet duet while she plays and I sing.  We're trying to plan a North American tour to kick off in the spring, but with first grade and bed times and stuff...it's proving more difficult than originally anticipated.   

Kristi turned 30! And had a super awesome party Downtown at the Alibi Room.  I felt super fancy driving down and wearing clogs that were more than an inch tall.  And I didn't fall down! I got to see some close friends of hers and family of Dave's that I hadn't seen since their wedding, totally rad party time.  My favorite was her cake though--it was beautiful, simple and delicious!  It's a shame the best picture I have of us has her tongue doing this.  But we (most of us anyway) know that once you turn thirty, it's all business, all the time.  

The baby is my life is growing (and I mean the real baby, not the six-and-a-half-year-old that I actually bore from my own loin), and she's the sweetest little baby ever.  That's all I have to say about her.  But I do have a couple cute pictures of her!!

Ok, this is the natural break in time where you are starting to think, "Well, this has been great, Esther.  But I'm starting to lose interest, and I think I might be hungry...or bored..." It's ok! That's how I feel, too, so it's a good place to stop.  

The next time you find yourself reading something published from my brain, the weather might be really bad.  It might be nasty, wet and windy.  And I might be in a bad mood.  Just...be prepared for that.  I'll still make you laugh, but it could very well be at the expense of an undeserving source.  I promise not to make that source you, though.  

Until next time...Rowan, the Reverse Vampire, the ultimate pattern mixer, heading down the drive to school this morning, Picture Day.  

I spent 25 thoughtful minutes crafting a nice piece of writing, mainly about jerky and overalls, and closed the window and lost it all.  So I say to you, let's begin again! I want to write it, you know you want to read it, let's light this candle!

Let's play catch up.  

1.) Rowan and I went to Portland for Labor Day and a last-adventure-before-first-grade-party trip.  We saw Nikki, Nuria, and our friend Nate (who I hadn't seen in 182 Fortnights).  I'll save you the math -- it's 7 years (All old friends from Newport!). And we saw Jeff.  But his name doesn't start with N, so he had to be in a different sentence.  We went to OMSI and saw the dinosaur exhibit, and my personal favorite, 40 stillbirth babies representing different stages of prenatal development--do I know how to party, or WHAT!?  Rowan made friends with an old Chemist, and then told me she thought she'd be better off becoming a scientist when she's older; instead of a vet.  What a brain on that one.  

2.) I now have a first grader.  That feels weird, as I don't feel old enough to have a child that old.  But...so far it is SUPER fun for both of us! We both like her teacher, Mr.C, not to be confused with the Mr.C that Rowan and I wouldn't be on the planet without (it's my dad, if you are still trying to piece it together); and he is a laid back, very kind man.  I start helping in the classroom next week.  Can't wait.  She came home on the first day with a picture she drew.  It made me beam knowing she was  so, so, so happy about school.  And that she thought it was "asum."  I think a lot of things are awesome, so I'm pretty stoked to have a new way to spell it.  

3.) I started picking up more hours at the toy shop! Now that I have 6.25 free hours everyday, I thought I better use them to hustle some cash! By which I mean selling high quality toys to the upper middle class of Bothell.  You're welcome, all friends reading this who are NOT that socioeconomic status but shop in my store, now you ARE! 

4.) For Alisa's birthday we went to the winery to see Crosby, Stills, Nash & (not) Young.  It was so fun! Until the lady behind us started having a barfing panic attack. The poor thing drank too much, but then decided to take a couple hits with some friendly old hippies or teenagers -- I didn't get the specifics -- and started making this horrible noise, and had to be wheeled away by the medic.  Oooooops! 

5.) I got overalls! The next time you see me, I'll probably be un-showered and donning a pair of bibs.  I'm so happy this fashion is back.  Because, as I've looked for different pairs of overalls in the past 10 years (when I retired my old ones), they are soooo flat in the front, like Ken.  These new ones I got, come with the patented Front Butt Technology (tm) that my body needs. Also Gatorade, it's got the electrolytes your body craves!  HA! Go tell it on the mountain, that I freakin' love these pants.  

6.) This is maybe the best one of all, so hold onto your hats.  While I was wrapping up my first go around of this post earlier today, I stood up from my desk, looked out the window of the toy shop to the Farmer's Market, and saw a sign that said, House of Jerky.  WHAT!? So, not only am I in my comfort hole of overalls, but now I also get cured meats.  Could this day get better?! Something tells me it will... but I won't hold my breath!

Until next time...I'll leave you with this graceful image of my child on rollerskates.

Rodeo Clown

Here we are at the end of August.  The end of summer is so strange.  The season starts to change, routines shift, and if you are like me, there's a huge let down of everything that flows through your veins emotionally and physically.  

I was busy at the toy store yesterday and today.  A lot of traffic, but I was also busy putting together some new displays and clearing space for new goods, 4th Quarter is right around the corner, Alisa.  Today, after I finished working on some really serious LEGO business, I could feel my bottom lip swelling up in a few choice spots.  

I knew what that meant: I've mentally spent myself over the past few weeks, and today was the let down.

  It was in my perfect temperature range outside (69 - 72), I've been getting things done around the house, and I generally feel well.  Not GREAT, but well.  And then...bazinga.  It hits.  

 I made it through summer, despite stress from most things, without a fever blister.  Today they make their grand reveal.  But I'm one step ahead of these fuckers.  If you can't afford the fancy pants medicine that is prescribed for The Herp, (you know the commercial: a couple, Herpe free, riding bikes through the path again after a long recess suffering their crotchal pain that they spread to each other)  pop a few ibuprofen, you ding-dong.  It takes the swelling out immediately and helps the look of your face.  Kind of.  

I know it's how you wanted to start your weekend, reading about my health issues.  You're welcome for the free tips.  And as you enjoy your Labor Day weekend, think of me with my fat lip, strolling around Portland, trying to play it off like there's nothing there; but we really all know that everyone is staring.  This isn't my first Herpes Simplex 1 rodeo, you guys.

Five Mexican Moths

Yikes.  Do I dare start this up again? Trying to hold myself to a goal that I more than likely will not attain?

Sure.  Why not?

I'm tired.  I'm a little more than tired.  My life is full and busy.  And fun.  But sometimes the fun parts are hiding in the deep folds of work life, home life, and cleaning up dog piss every other day.  I mean, that's pretty fun and stuff, but when you do "fun" every other day, it becomes mundane.

We've had a busy Summer.  And a busy Spring.  Considering the last time I typed up a sentence on this here blog, it was March, and we'd just come home from Hawaii.  So that's only ... add the 4 ... carry the 1 ... 6 months or so.  Nothing has changed dramatically except Rowan's tooth count.  She's now lost a total of 5 teeth and looks like she got in a bad bar fight. She's funny.  She uses words like, "literally" and "technically" which she "technically" does not know the proper use of.  Literally.  She doesn't.  She also has expressed an interest is some new cutting edge music and fashion clothes, much to my cringing dismay.  That's alright.  As long as she doesn't start twerking with her ass hanging out of a pair of short shorts, I'll be okay.

I'm working at a top notch toy store in Bothell.  I like it.  I get do to what I'm good at, which is talk to people, and I get to also do what I like, which is sit down.  Right now it is Mexican jumping bean season.  Did you know that they are actually moth larva? Gross.  If you play your cards right, and keep them at their ideal temperature, you could be the proud owner of five Mexican moths.  In your home.  Good luck with that.

My very best bestie had her second baby girl two weeks ago.  That was exciting! I got to be there the whole time and take a lot of pictures.  It was a relatively easy labor and delivery compared to her first go around four years ago.  Juniper Winslow was born at 1:30am after seven quick pushes and an hour and a half of painful labor.  I got home at 3 am, and after four hours of sleep made my way wearily to the Northshore Senior Center Rummage Sale for  two hours before I had to go to work.  For eight hours. It was a long day.  But a day that you so rarely get to witness (unless of course you are a labor and delivery nurse, midwife or OBGYN) that it doesn't seem to bother you/the universe if you only sleep for 3 hours of a 24 hour period.

That's my catch up.  We'll see how long we can go until I do it again!

Rowan & Olin at the Noble's Easter Bash.

On the ferry to Whidby!

Mother's Day Weekend on Whidby.

Ferry faring kid.

Camping in Twisp on Memorial Day.  Yes.  iPad. 

Mastering the Monkey Bars in Twisp!

Last day of Kindergarten.  Celebration breakfast with Ellie!

Lost a tooth, got a haircut.  Airin' in out for Summer!

T-Ball.  Olin, 6; Rowan, 6; Ellie, 6.

Someone went to her first concert.  Aquabats!

Swimming with her baby bestie, Sid.

Grown-ups took a road trip . . .

to Priest Lake!

BamBam came.  And had a good time.

Tall Guy & the Small Fry.

Honolulu, days 4-5-6

Whoa!! What happened to days 4-5-6-7-8-9-10?! I guess it was just fun, and exhausting, and I was too tired to document. Here's the recap, because I know you're on pins and needles to find out … the rest of the story. 

Day 4

Day 4 consisted of Pearl Harbor and the rehearsal dinner for our lovely bride and groom. A bunch of grown ups who wanted to check out the Arizona Memorial piled in our mini van to check out the Bowfin Submarine Museum, and to take the water taxi over to the Arizona Memorial. It was moving to say the least. I didn't know a lot about that piece of history, but I do know. And it blows me away how many people perished in those moments. I've never been somewhere where there is an actual memorial on the location of a tradegy like that. We also had a hot dog and nacho lunch. So much for having an adult day and finding decent food sans kids. HA!

We came back to Honolulu in time for Kei and Quinn's rehearsal dinner at the Yoshida household. Talk about a Seattle infused party. It's pretty awesome to have dinner in Hawaii with a whole bunch of people you know. We feasted on ahi poke, sushi and pork and shrimp tacos. You take a corn tortilla, load it with wasabi, shoyu, sashimi and cover it in guacamolito sauce. Now that's what I call a taco! 

 

Here's a shot of Tj in the special holding area before we got taken in to see the short educational film on Pearl Harbor. Sometimes a pair of wobbly legs and a cane will get you far on vacation! 

Day 5

Saturday was comprised 100% of wedding prep and celebration. I left the house at 8:30 am with fellow bridesmaid Kanoe, who's husband dropped us at the Hilton Hawaii Village (WOW). We had a nice time of drinking mimosas, doing our hair and makeup, and oohing and awwing over how beautiful our bride was. We did a promenade through the village to where our taxi van awaited, and swept us off to the Elks Club where the ceremony was held. 

The whole thing was beautiful. Groom playing his bride the guitar as she walked down the aisle, lapping waves and beautiful ocean as the back drop. The wedding planners really outdid themselves. Well done, Donnianne and Blythe. 

So the wedding was wonderful blah blah blah, but the party was rad! Delicious Hawaiian dinner, an open bar with an endless amount of Mai Tais for yours truly, and to top it off, Tj and Rowan got a ride home and I got to go out for post wedding celebrations with a fantastic group. Fancified, we went to Duke's, not for a steaming hot bowl of chowder, but for fancy tropical drinks on the beach. FUN. 

Kanoe, Kei's dear friend from formative years in Honolulu who now lives in Portland, and me, right before we left to get in the taxi. 

Fuzzy, but this is lovely friend from Seattle, Taryn, and our post party fancy drinks. 

A new friend, Shawn Quinn, bother of the groom!  This was a fun night. Good people. Good drinks. Hawaii is good. 

Honolulu, day 3

This will be short. I just typed a nice, long, well-worded post, but when I ventured from the page to get a screenshot of the map, it didn't save. Lesson learned. 

A full, sunny, hot, salty, wonderful day. Swimming in the ocean. Boogie boarding. Dinner by the pool. A Salvation Army spotted to try out. Despite sunburns, fun was had by all. 

The sirens of Avenue Five make a Hawaiian style dinner with fried rice, fresh sping rolls and ahi steaks. 

Amazing. I still cannot get over our global positioning. I think this every time I travel, but I want a giant map with pins marking everywhere I've been. Absolutely amazing. 

Honolulu, day 2

Well, actually it's day three, but someone had a little too much fun last night and couldn't muster the composure to publish something coherent and worth reading. So today you get double the pleasure. You're welcome!!

We had a beautiful day yesterday. In the 80's with a nice breeze and a lot of sunshine. A bunch of our group took their broods plus mine to a snorkeling beach. Rowan came back with a stuffed seahorse she named Gloria, and who is French. C'est magnifique! 

I went with Joelle & Co. to the Swap Meet held at the Aloha Stadium where they play the Pro Bowl. Kei, Kai and I had fun with that! Luckily we had our Hawai'i native, my super bestie, as our navigator and tour guide. We saw where she played a lot of volleyball and was born! I love a good trip down memory lane. Anyone's lane that is-- not just mine. 

We loaded up on sugary deep fried dough balls called Malasada and polish hot dogs at a place called Leonard's Bakery (established 1952) before we loaded up on a bunch of cheap tourist crap like grass skirts and coconut bras. I was in heaven. I LOVE a chincy souvenir and this place was full of them. We spent our money wisely, and I'm proud to say Kai and I are the owners of 7 t shirts for $20. SCORE!!

We returned to the rental house a couple hours later after getting stuck in: 

1.) crazy Honolulu traffic

2.) a guy on a bike (who we turned out to see several miles later...in FRONT of us)

3.) a Honolulu transient having a helluva time getting his cart of goods up the curb of a overpass cross walk. 

We had happy hour pool party with ALL of us in the pool. 7 families. Yeah. It got loud. We got in trouble. Sorry. That's what happens when you rent out your vacation house to the 12th man. BOOM!

Ok. Time to wrap up. I need to spend a little more time enjoying these red birds eating nectar out of the Birds of Paradise bush and drinking my coffee on the patio before we head to the beach. Ahhhhhh. I love vacation.