New Computer Excitement

 I think I mentioned that the girls and I killed my computer lately.  It's not completely dead, but it's misbehaving so much that I can't manage it any more.  So I quickly got another one, this time a smaller, less awkward size.  I love having a big screen, but I find out I do just fine with a normal size screen.  And it's always good to clean up and have a fresh start. 

July has been busy and alternately hot and cool.  We've had a little smoke haze the last few days from terrible fires in Canada and here in the US.  Makes me really sad.  

My favorite thing has been the swimming afternoons.  It's a bit of a deal to get us all there, although it's on a few steps away.  This week they've left sunscreen at home, so they ended up using some of my tinted moisturizer with a little SPF listed.  No one got too much sun and had tons of fun. Both days, I left my keys at home, forgetting that the key to the bathrooms is on my keychain.  It wasn't hard for me to go through the office and open the outside door though, so no harm done there.  I'm not even sure that outside door was locked.  

Graysen didn't get to go on Friday because of a birthday party, but Kate took Eiri with her.  They met up with Zoe who goes every day with her grandmother, she says.  Eiri's mom, Daisha came and spent some time sitting with me, even though Eiri didn't want her there.  So funny.  Daisha admits she is the ultimate helicopter parent, but she is so much fun and a joy to be around.  The three girls had the pool to themselves - surprisingly - for a couple of hours.  They alternated playing on the floats and diving for jewels to getting out and having snacks and jumping in the hot tub.  The energy!  And they got along so well.  Eiri and Kate are both no-nonsense kiddos, and you'd thing they didn't like each other sometimes, but they just understand each other so well!  Same with Carly who went with both girls earlier in the week.  I love these little groups.  The sisters get a little tired of being together constantly and enjoy some variety.  I haven't edited the pictures, but here's a sampling.

Fjrst trip with Carley.  The girls got in, and Carley walked over and joined us.

Second trip - 3-1/2 hours.  Eiri, Zoe, and Kate.

I haven't seen much of my biggest girl since she's had a bunch of things to do - soccer, a birthday party, and an afternoon at a lake with friends.  Then this weekend it's packing for camp.  We did get this picture of the chaperone she chose to take.  

After all the drama with the braces last week, this photo appeared in my memories.  I'd love so much to have another afternoon with this girl at this age.  So precious to me.

The rest of the week has been just getting done what I can and wanted to.  I think I had another few instances of remembering that I can't cook any more - if I ever could.  I hope I remember not to try two different thigs at the same time any more.  Somehow things did work out, and we had a nice oreo pie that was perfect for these hot afternoons.  I sent the WinBins a Mexican casserole and a pineapple cake, which they raved about - but they would rave about anything!  

I got a morning with Noreen for us to catch up.  With her busy schedule of PT and healing and my time with the girls and MJ we just have been missing seeing each other.  I guess we should be glad to have some busyness in our lives.  She thinks she's about ready to join me at the pool when we have our next warm spell with any number of little boys!  

Mah Jongg was fun Thursday with me, Sharon, Lori, and Nancy.  Nancy's granddaughter zoomed in on our first game with a video of her new engagement ring, so that added some excitement.  Lori won a couple of games and Sharon one.  Nancy had a good excuse for not winning with all those wedding plans in her head, but I had none.  I managed to be within a tile or two of MJ every time, so that's all that counts with me.  We didn't play for money, so I didn't have to spend all my quarters!  

Lori got her own set and sent us a picture of that and her new mat.  It's exciting to be able to play at home when you can't get enough partners.  We were joking about how we have these exciting new toys, and no one at home cares!  Elise pretends to care.  Ha. 

 This coming week will be cloudy and not pool weather, so Kate and I might get in some practice.  I use the pink set for playing because it's cute, but the characters in the traditional set are easier to see and recognize.  I'm enjoying this little practice board, not because I especially need it, but I think it's cute, and that's what it's all about.  

Our group is all for getting the best bargains, but I am seeing some beautiful hand-painted tiles with the colors I like.  I could never justify $250 for a set of tiles unless someone I know expresses an interest in playing with them.  

Reading:  I've been out of the reading mood for a while now, but I see it coming back. 

 I'm not sure who recommended The Unselected Diaries of Emma M. Lion, Volume I of XII, but I did find it - a very thin mint green paperback written in - guess what? - diary style.  So every page wasn't even a full page of print.  I dutifully packed it in the swim bag and pulled it out, but I can't say I read more than 4 pages.  I was either distracted or bored with it or, the last day, having problems with my eyes burning.  But somehow I plowed on through it and enjoyed the last half enough that I'm kind of thinking about looking for Volume II.  

I am enjoying my bookmark that turned up today in one of my dresser drawers.  I think it was a leftover from Christmas stockings for the girls. Win for me!

I had another one in my hold list the last time I went to the library, and it's just the opposite - 536 pages.   It's Credence by Penelope Douglas. It started off okay.  I enjoy the writing, but I think it's going to get deeper than moving to a beautiful isolated place in Colorado with amazing views, and that's when I'll have to see if I want to continue.  

No plans for next week except to see what Kate might like to do and play MJ once or twice.  I'm loving the nice weather and haven't been warm enough to bring out the fan, even on the 101-degree day.  

I Finally Got Hot

 I've been waiting to bask in some warmth, but there wasn't any basking - just full-fledged heat!  I forget how much energy it takes to be hot.  

It also takes forever to make a simple outline of the day ahead so everyone knows what to expect, when, and where.  Right before lunch, I got a text from Gray saying that they'd like to swim and bring their friends Ellis and Harper.  That was fine with me, and I proceeded to get myself prepared - which doesn't take much more than just grabbing some Capri-Suns and putting them in a bag.  

Before I had a definite time, Harper and Ellis had been delivered by Nonnie, who wasn't really sure they'd been invited.  My look of confusion probably didn't add to her confidence.  I told her the girls were still at their house but were "on the way."  When I called Ryan, he seemed not to know anything was happening and quickly got them headed over with the big seal float hanging out the truck window!  

They were scurrying around changing into swimsuits, eating, drinking, hunting goggles, and just confusing me.  We were finally off - without goggles - to walk to the pool.  Luckily, the girls are all big enough now to settle in a little area and put on their own sunscreen and get ready to jump in.  I'm still wondering why 3 out of the 4 had on socks with their slides.  

We immediately saw Melissa from the apartment above us and two of her three kiddos plus two more little girls.  One of them, Zoe, said she knew me, but I don't remember her.  She and her mom were speaking another language, and I'm sorry I don't know exactly which one, but it was beautiful - Russian, I would guess.  The two groups, as is typical, ignored each other at first and did their own things.  Once in the little hot tub where they had to be in close quarters, I heard them making a little conversation.  

I happened to be talking to another person about her granddaughter and whether she lived in the apartments or not, and we found out she was Noreen's former upstairs neighbor who had moved to a one-story apartment.  That was nice to know.  I felt like I already knew her, and she'll be spending a lot of time at the pool, it sounds like.  

I read some but can't remember what I read, with all the eavesdropping on what the kids were saying and doing.  My four were doing role-playing, and that always makes me smile.  It gives you some inkling of what's going on in their minds without having to ask questions.  

Sorry that this is the only picture I took all day.  Graysen on Harper's shoulders.

Except for these.  I feel like it's my fault but not totally.  I saw a box of Skittles in the kitchen snack cabinet and grabbed them for the bag.  Naturally, Gray was a partaker and messed up one of the brackets on her braces.  She didn't seem overly concerned, but I knew they had to be taken care of, so I texted pictures to Ryan who talked with the orthodontist.  I don't know what that means, whether they'll have to do to Seattle today or not.

Right before we left, a few adults and 4 children showed up that I think were a couple of the new PTs at the new Proliance clinic.  I'm not sure, but the children fit the age bracket, and I know they live in the apartments.  So cute.  Then along the trail by the fence came Mary on one of her daily walks, headed to the workout room.  We talked very briefly about playing Scrabble this morning but didn't get anything worked out.  I've texted but didn't hear anything back.  I'm also not sure what the girls will want to do this afternoon.

We eventually got everything gathered up and headed back to the apt with all the usual petitions for more time together.  Whatever was decided, it wasn't going to be with me.  First, there is very little room for four big girls to enjoy hanging out, and secondly, I was beat and ready to cool off and be alone for a minute.  One decided to go home and the other three to hang out together - at their house!!  So we went and fed the cats and played with them a while and then I took them and dropped them off.  I know Gray had soccer practice at 6, but by that time I was already asleep.  The nap turned into all night, and I woke up at 6:15 this morning.  I would love to say refreshed but not hardly.  I seem to have just more stiffness and aches than usual the more active I get.  I guess I knew getting older wasn't going to get easier every day.  

On Monday, I went and watched Kate at her stripe test, and that was so much fun.  I didn't know what was going on most of the time, but she is such a serious little being.  Toward the end, she did relax and have more smiles.  Ryan and I took some pictures, but it was mostly videos.  I'll try to get some of his clearer ones here later on.  I've run out of time and will just pick a few pictures for now. 

Brief Sleepover

After the last Pokemon adventure, the girls got ready for bed and sat on my bed talking.  Such a sweet time.  They're just so interesting and funny, and we hardly have time to just have those quiet times for chatting.

Kate is usually in my pictures a lot, but somehow this weekend, she stayed in the background - or took the pictures.  I'll make up for it.  It's rare that they're still enough or normal enough to warrant another picture to add to my thousands.

Graysen has gone from Harry Potter to "trying" to read some Jane Austen books.  She doesn't find the books as interesting as the movies, which she loves, and I don't think she has much spare time for reading yet this summer.  She did want to share the book she brought with her, and I'm sorry (I guess) that I didn't get the name of it.  She told me in quite a bit of detail what it's about, and it's hard to get used to how their interests change.  This one is all about murder - all the chapters have a related but different one.  I think I got the gist of it.  I did get a lot of detail, and she didn't find it disturbing at all. It's geared for teenagers or young adults and seems to have a good story, so she was smiling most of the time she was talking about it.  Who knows?  I did say, "Do Mom and Dad approve of this?"  She said, "Oh, yeah."  Emily always did have strange tastes in books, so of course she did.  We do read a lot of the same ones now though.  

I did go back and find out more about the book.  It's called Five Survive.  The author is Holly Jackson, an author from the UK, who wrote an earlier series called The Good Girls' Guide to Murder.  This book reached the New York Times #1 spot as a Young Adult Hardcover Book Best, so I guess it must be readable.  I actually heard about it last year when, much to Kate's disgust, a lot of the girls were reading this series.  She thought it was awful until she read some of them and decided you can't judge a book by it's cover - or title.

Anyway, here's Gray talking me through the first 3 chapters.  She said it started to get boring after 3 chapters.  I don't doubt that at all!

We didn't finally go to bed until nearly midnight.  They were afraid they couldn't sleep, but they were out before I was - and I had had a really tiring day.  I woke up around 4:30 and stepped over and around them to get out of the room.  I love it that they still want to sleep in the same room with me.  I haven't lost them completely.  

They'll hate that I took pictures of them sleeping, but I don't care.  They aim that camera at me way too much.

I got so much done while they slept, and they slept until almost 9:00.  I cleaned out more of my sewing desk and managed to throw away a little bit and designate a few things to give away.  Elise saw my collection of scissors and sarcastically asked if I thought I had enough.  Never!  Some are inherited, some are pinking shears, some are just cheapies, and I have only a few good pairs.  I depend more on rotary cutters and rulers for quilting, so I like to have a few good sharp little pairs.

I made it through elastic and divided it once more into sizes and type.  Same with Velcro and cording and binding.  It was fun to see what I have and maybe give me a little boost in my interest.  

When Ryan called to give me the day's schedule and tell me that he was coming to pick up the girls in 30 minutes, I was not thrilled.  I finally talked him into an hour so I could feed them a good breakfast.  They had babysitting duties all morning and possibly feeding the neighbor cats in the afternoon.  They ate some scrambled eggs and a banana and got a hot berry muffin thrown in at the last minute before they wheeled off on their bikes.  It's so hard to stand there and watch them ride away.  

They have a new cousin in South Dakota - Albie.  I've seen quite a few pictures on FB, so I thought I would post a few.  He has a big sister, Sailer, that the girls have actually met and played with and keep up with her mother's Facebook news.  So sad that they don't get to grow up with them.  I guess they are second cousins.  The dad Logan is their first cousin.  

Beautiful babies.  I have doubts that I'll ever meet them, but I bet the girls will be seeing them pretty soon , either here or in SD.  

Emily got through her second day of soccer tournament duty and is hoping not to be needed as much today.  I know she's exhausted after the clinic craziness this week.  I'm looking forward to hearing all about the opening and how the first 3 days went.  

I'm not sure what I'll do today, but I have 3 books started and a new Mah Jongg strategy book (it's about time to learn some).  I have earmarked my filing cabinets to clean out today and got a good start earlier.  I'd love to pare it down to just two drawers, and I think I can, and keep them in the garage.  Tomorrow I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor and then Mah Jongg at 1:00.  I'm tentatively thinking about letting Katherine sit in on a few of the games - or at least watch us - especially since there is another beginner, and we won't be playing very fast.  I don't know how the other ladies will take that, so we might have her just observe!

I don't know what the rest of the week holds, but if the girls are tied up with babysitting several mornings this week, Elise and I might try to get to Issaquah to donate a few boxes of things and get them to send a truck for a few bigger pieces.  Ryan is going to dread seeing me when I get ready for neatening up in there.  I need more wreath hooks and shelves moved, bins taken down from the top shelves and looked through and replaced.   Some things for a junk run and a few repairs.  I just love having so few things.  It's not really that few, but compared to the way my life was 12 years ago, it's a drastic change.  

Looks like a moving van at the house across the street.  I hardly ever saw those neighbors but a sweet couple with 3 little boys.  They mainly came and went through their garage and back alley, not out the front door across from me.   

I'm keeping my eye on the weather and hoping for some warm weather to get the girls into te pool - maybe Tuesday up to 80.  

We'll see how these plans go.  Friends in South Carolina are already getting ready to get their children back in school.  Good grief!

Friday Night Sleepover

 Not as exciting as it once was, I'm sure.  After camp, they had to get showers and change clothes, so it was after 7 when they got there. They rode their bikes, but we parked those and ran over to take care of their cat duties.  I let them do everything alone as a rehearsal for going by themselves tomorrow.  Hail, the black kitty was friendly and immediately ate his half of the food, plus a couple of treats.

Kipo was shy with us today.  I think he's really missing his family.  

We stayed awhile and tried to coax him out, but he was not feeling social.

So Hail cleaned up his half of the wet food.  They have plenty of dry food in an automatic feeder, so he won't be hungry, but I feel sad for him.

They added more water for the cat fountain and changed the litter.  Hail got brushed and petted, but Kipo remained under the table.

 

We had planned to stop at Ria Bravito on the way back for quesadillas, but when we got there, we found they had closed at 8:00.  They comforted themselves with taking pictures of their surroundings. 

Kate wants recognition for this beautiful photo.  I just noticed the bug on top.  Gray took the one with the sunset brightening Mount Si.

No one was really hungry, so we came home and thawed their leftover pizza from their last sleepover.  Along with vanilla ice cream with caramel topping.  It was a beautiful night, and I didn't really want to go inside.  

I guess the soccer games were successful.  Emily worked until 8:30 and will start over on day 2 tomorrow.  

Girls are watching Emma with Elise and have been promised 3 episodes of some Pokemon movie. 

I hope no one wants to stay up late.  😴

Summer Chaos and a Long July Catchup

 It seems that half my life I have trouble finding anything going on worth writing about, and then there are times like this where I can't keep up with it all and have no time for writing it all down.  What a crazy time it's been this year.  On top of the usual activities for the girls, this Proliance Clinic opening on the Ridge has consumed all of Emily's time and energy and thoughts, and we're trying not to NEED her so much.  It's not over yet, but they did have the soft opening Wednesday, which went well, I hear, and yesterday I even received some texts with FUN emotis and laughing faces and a sense that it was a really nice day. 

I got invited up to see the remodeling (almost finished) Tuesday night, and it was just lovely.  It looks like double the space and so light and open.  

I know there will be glitches and problems, like anywhere, but I'm really proud of her for giving up so much to get this project finished.  Her only reward will be sleeping for about a week when it's all over.  Which won't happen this weekend, because the company is sponsoring the Cascade Soccer Tournament here in town, and they will be on duty Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at two different parks.  Fortunately, Graysen doesn't play until next weekend - and yes, it happens again NEXT weekend - for a different age group.  Our tiny town will grow by 7000 people over 3 days, and I can't even imagine where they're going to park or sleep.  I'll try to think ahead next time there is an event like this and go on a vacation and leave the apartment and, more importantly, my parking space, to a newcomer.  One of the exits onto I-90 is also blocked because of construction.  Luckily, I just don't have to worry about things like that too much.  

All that's been going on:

--School ended, and the girls seem to have found employment to fill in their time around camps.  I'm going to have to make appointments to see them.

--Kate has been asked by a young family to be a "mother's helper" for 3 mornings a week to help out with entertaining their 6-year-old while one or both work at home.  I don't have all the details, but I know that Kate met and bonded with the little girl when she was her reading buddy at school.  Fifth graders are assigned a kindergarten reading buddy during the school year, and this worked out so well.  Kate has been beside herself with excitement.  I hope it works out as well as it seems to be going.  

Then one afternoon a week, Graysen is going to watch both children - the 6-year-old and the 2-1/2-year old for a few hours.  They accompanied them to an event in town, and it sounds like it's good for everyone.

Unfortunately, the SweetLines mountain bike camp that the girls love so much is every day this week in Issaquah, so they can plan nothing but that.  So much fun seeing friends from years past and getting all that exercise - plus bruises, bug bites, and dirt.  That ends today but so glad they got a chance to do it.

--As for me, Elise and I are cleaning the garage still and gave away a whole bunch of stuff.  That's hard work, watching the FB page for people requesting things and setting up a porch pickup and changing times and items around.  It became a full-time job for a few days.  I was up in the middle of the night adding just one more item to a bag and trying to remember who it was who asked for it and when they were coming by.  I enjoyed some nice conversations during the whole process.  Some I remember:  Donating fabric and sewing books and patterns to a 12-year-old girl who is already making her own clothes as well as doll clothes.  What a go-getter.  I think she is even selling earrings and things she's made at a kids' bazaar somewhere.  So glad to help even a little bit.

Another person saw a random shower head I had taken off the apartment shower and asked for it since they all of a sudden had theirs mess up.  You never know.  I had caramel K-cups we weren't going to drink, and someone who likes caramel coffee ran by and picked them up.  Strangely, no one wanted a perfectly good coffee pot that uses K-cups and a brewer.  I think we handled a dozen or more giveaways and made a nice dent in our mess.  We have only a back seat full of donations now for when we have time to go to a thrift shop.  Ryan is going to take some things to try to sell.  I don't like that part of it - the selling.  I have found it easier to just open the trash can lid and throw away things!  Now I have to keep myself away from checking out other people's free things and bringing them home.  Luckily, there's very little I want right now - just more room for what I have.

This Barbie Camper was hard for the girls to part with, and they're in luck, because no one else wants it either.  I see a sneaky trip to the dump for that and a few other things.  

-- The girls have another job that I'm a little involved in until camp is over.  Our former neighbors and sweet friends are spending 10 days on the East Coast and trusting us to take care of their two kitties.  They will ride their bikes the mile or so (maybe) starting Saturday, but Elise and I went over to check things out and feed them the first 2 days and give them some petting.  They were friendly but not really excited to see us.  Give them a few days, and I think they'll be glad to see people.  And hopefully pictures to add today.

I'm really impressed at how early and how innovative some of the middle school and high school kids are with jobs and responsibility.  Dog walking, cat sitting, babysitting, running errands, yard work.   They're making their own ads and sharing them on FB through their parents' pages.  So nice. And still keeping up with the numerous activities they have.  I wish we could put some of these fast scooter and bike riders to work.  I'm so afraid of hitting one, the way they just dart out of nowhere in front of my aging reflexes!  

---- Mah Jongg!  We've had to take a lot of time off our twice weekly games because of family things - kids, vacations, just general busyness, but we did get together yesterday for a nice time at the Y.  The three of us regulars enjoyed catching up, and we had a new person join us.  She's only had a few lessons but is very eager to learn, and we all need to slow down and go over the rules sometimes.  She lives in Scottsdale and come here to spend some time visiting her WA grandchildren - just a few of her 11 grands! We're set to play Tuesday again.  

Kate and I finally got a chance to sit down and continue with her learning while Gray was at soccer practice.  She is going to be really good if she keeps on at this pace.  I helped a little, but she knew which hand she was looking for and accomplished it.  

We then sat on the porch while we waited for Emily to pick up and listened to the Music in the Park a few blocks away.  I'm not familiar with bands or anything.  Someone said something about a Tom Petty cover band.  I don't know, but it did sound good, and it sounded noisy and happy over there. It was so perfect as far as temperature - maybe a little cool - but birds singing, fresh air, people walking by and saying hello.  Emily thought Kate and I were having heartfelt conversations or something when she drove up, but she soon found out I was teaching her some Southern expressions.  One of Mike's favorites was "Mama and 'em" to describe several family members or even just one person.  You have to say it with just the right dialect though, so it comes out - Here comes Mama Nem. Or sometimes even Momern 'em!  She practiced and was going to try it on Ryan, who loves to collect Southernisms.  One of our favorite is "It's comin' up a cloud" which we can use here practically every day over 3 seasons.  

--- Today is cat feeding, picking up the few grocery items I forgot yesterday, picking up a book at the library, maybe some late-afternoon time with the girls.  I hope they're not too ambitious.  

--- I'm reading - on line - The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, the author of the book The Help which we enjoyed so much - the book and the movie.  This one takes place in Mississippi - I think The Help did also - during the Depression.  I can see it's going to make me cry before I get through with it, although this author is very entertaining.  I wanted audio, but it would have taken me a year to get that free, so I downloaded the actual book.  Sometimes it's good not to multitask and just sit down and concentrate on a good story.  I have so many library holds lined up, and I'm afraid they're all going to come in at the same time. I've not found any really good things to read lately, so this gives me hope.

Anything else to touch on?  Noreen has done exceptionally well recovering from her knee replacement.  I'm sure she didn't feel exceptional every day, but now that's the worst is over, I think it was a good decision.  I dread having to try to keep up with her once she gets out walking.   

And my computer has had a little of a rough patch.  As I told Ryan, the girls and I are hard on  computers, and mine is a large screen and awkward.  I won't mention how it got sick, but I'm trying to type as the screen just rolls and rolls enough to make me dizzy.  I have to go to my phone to edit pictures and make corrections, so I'm spending way more time than I should on this.  

---Can't forget a precious new cousin for the girls in South Dakota. A little brother for Sailer! More about that plus pictures next time hopefully.  

Hopefully, I'll be getting another computer soon and won't forget all that's happening in my little world.