Can you believe it? Yet another zoo picture!

It seems that the blogging has slowed down a bit. It is hard to get out and be positive when it is so gloomy all the time. Luckily I have Hans who is always ready to cheer us up. He loves to pick the neighbors flowers for me as well as every single dandelion in the county. Recently, he has begun to arrange them as well. This is his very first floral arrangement. Oscar has had a week of being under the weather. He spent a few days home from school and is using an inhaler again, something he hasn't had since he was 2. This week is spring break and he and Siobhan have been at my moms for the past few days. I miss him, I got used to having him around during the day. I tried to keep up the learning atmosphere and was glad he was able to catch up on his Steve Perry history. We went back to the zoo and Hans was a little freaked out that there was rope in the beluga exhibit. We sure do use the hell out of that pass.
The last couple of weeks have been a roller coaster around here. As always, there has been a lot of change with Macys. This led to Pete applying for a new position within the company that would take us back to Utah. I want to be there. I feel at home there and I miss it a lot. Pete is a hard worker and a great many people had recommended him and inquired for him and I really thought it was going to happen. In the end, someone else who had been displaced due to all the changes took the job. While I am glad to know that people that would have been without a job were taken care of, I have to admit I have been extremely disappointed. I feel bad for Pete that he has to put up with me and I feel bad that I haven't told him how proud I am of him for trying so hard to do something that he knows would make me happy. He is an amazing husband and I am so happy just to be with him, no matter where that may be. So this is where we are for awhile. I like the city, I think I will spend more time there. I love the Olympic peninsula and my mom, so I will spend more time there also. Hans,Olive and I are going to take the van across on the ferry tomorrow and have a sleepover at Grandmas. In the wise words of my sister in law Kim, " Enjoy it while you're there." So, since I will be in Sequim tomorrow, I thought I'd post the list tonight. I know the last one was a little bit difficult. Hopefully, this will be slightly less so. Where are your favorite places? I know we have done places we'd like to visit or that we have alrady enjoyed visiting. Actually, maybe we didn't do where we'd like to visit. Anyway, this is more of a "happy place" Places that I like to recall and am comforted by the memories of. Here are mine....

#1. Big Sur. We spent a lot of time there when we were younger. Camping or day trips on the river. When I get in the shower my first feeling is of Big Sur and the compulsory shower to avoid poison oak.

#2. Asilomar. This isn't necessarily the beach we spent the most time at as a family, but I did spend a lot of time there with friends. The day after the Loma Prieta earthquake I hung out there with friends and enjoyed the famous earthquake weather and huge waves. This was just a really cool day for me.

#3. Disneyland. I think this will probably appear on other lists as well. No explanation necessary. This is also a nice reminder for Pete, as the kids and I are compaining for a trip there this summer.

#4. Bisbee. We visited Bisbee several times on vacation. This is where my Grandma was born and raised. This own holds fond memories for me. Being there with her was special and I especially enjoyed hearing stories from there as an adult. She once spent a few weeks recalling her childhood to me. She told a few stories a day as we went through some old photo albums. I loved imagining her as a little girl, especially when she told me about the other Bisbee families and what her classmates and teachers were like. One summer we carried a headstone for her mothers grave and placed on her grave. This leads to my next place.

#5. The cemetery. Any one really,the older the better. I spent hours and hours at the PG cemetery trying to connect different family members together. The Bisbee cemetery was really interesting and so old. It is not creepy to me, I find it a really comforting place. Odd as a happy place I guess but to me it is.

Speaking My Truth

Wow! It finally was nice enough to be out yesterday. I have felt really bad for the kids. I guess I didn't realize how little we have been out. Yesterday, when I told them we were going on an adventure, Hans yelled out, with overwhelming enthusiasm, " Tell me where, is it Albertsons?" I should have gone with that and gradually worked my way up, but instead I started with the zoo. Hans loves monkeys. He has about 25 of these hanging ones. Every thrift store and garage sale is carefully sorted through to make sure there are no homeless hanging monkeys. They form curtains around his bed on the bottom bunk. The kids enjoyed the zoo and I was impressed when we went to the shark feeding and Hans answered the zookeepers questions correctly. He has a pretty vast knowledge of ocean life. He knew the difference between the sharks and what species is the largest(whale shark) and the most dangerous( bull shark). Olive was a little perturbed by the attention he received and started throwing out some ideas of her own. She has decided when she gets older she wants her head to be pink.

So yesterday was a busy day. Siobhan had another band concert. Arriving, the boy getting out of the car next to us was looked upon as a sort of street urchin, "oh, it's elliot, ugh". Following the performance, where he wowed everybody with a kick ass drum piece, he was "so awesome, I totally talked to him". Pete announced he was named Manager of the Year for his store. I am very proud of Pete and excited for him. He constantly doubts his abilities, despite the lavish praise he receives. It was nice for him and I look forward to taking advantage of his extra discounts this next year. So, really we are both winners.

I really try to be encouraging to Pete. I think that I am mostly a positive person, that's what I strive for anyway. I have received a great many lessons from my step mama Sharon. I used to like to joke about all her sayings and catch phrases but as an adult I find that most of them hold true. She has taught me a great many things things that have helped me make good changes in my life. I don't often share a lot about Sharon on the blog. She is a really awesome person. She is really open to all people and never tries to force anything on anyone. She always says of her advice, "take what you can use and leave the rest". But, my favorite lesson that she and Ottman(her animal son) have given me is to speak my truth. I have heard this many times but this has really been important to me in the last several months. This story could go on for awhile and I am sure that I don't need to detail all my various issues, that's where a trained professional comes in. But today, just for fun, let's list five things we like about ourselves, things we are good at. For me, it was harder than I thought. I hope everybody will give it a try. I know this one is a little bit vague, next week I may have to make the list- five list ideas. Anyway, here we go everybody....

#1. I like that I am willing to try new things and learn different ways of doing things.

#2. I like that I read a lot, I also like that I am a fast reader.

#3. I have a good memory and make an effort to remember things that people have told me.

#4. I am a devoted wife and mother and I like that I have put a real work toward that.

#5. I like that I dance with the kids, even though I feel totally ridiculous a lot of the time.

Blah,blah,blah

I've noticed a huge shift in personalities here the last couple of months.Siobhan and I have been able to talk a little more without all the disdain and have had a lot of fun together. She's still not a help around the house by any means but I'm hoping she will work on that. Oscar on the other hand is entering an awkward time. He has a snappy comeback to EVERY comment. I am not prepared for Oscar to enter the pre teen world of hormones and anger. He has always been my baby and this is going to be difficult for me. Hans has accepted that he will be going to Kindergarten and is now eager to cut the strings and become his own person. This will probably ruin me, I cannot have both boys ready to abandon their Mama. Olive has been the most surprising though. She has really mellowed a lot. To the point where she has become shy in some situations. This I was not prepared for. I am kind of torn on this, I loved how bold she was, she was so sure of herself and I do not want her to lose that confidence. On the other hand, she has wanted to spend a whole lot more time with me. Although, her Dad is still the guy, even when she is on the fridge. He allows her special privileges, such as painting his toes while he gets a haircut. When you use Mr. Sketch you get the added bonus of smelling nice as well.
So, I am anxious to see how this plays out. Maybe she was just a "terrible two" and has put those ways behind her. While I am happy to see her be a happy little girl, I hope that she will retain some of that feistiness that makes her Olive. It is fun to watch these kids develop and become their own persons. You just never know what they will do next, what sort of interests will develop, or habits. I am glad that she has taken to wearing clothing, a change that did not go unnoticed at Easter.

You can't keep it all covered though.

Sugar Frenzy

I have a serious sweet tooth. I always have, I believe I inherited it from my Grandma. She developed diabetes as an adult and had to seriously monitor her sugar. I can only imagine how hard that was for her. Every holiday or party that involved any sweets she would counter with a cup of hot coffee. "That cuts down on the sweet," she would say. I can appreciate that logic. Part of my job as Grandmas chauffeur was driving her to See's candy at Easter time. We would leave several bags in hand including a few for the road. It's good having someone that shares a weakness with you. That is why I have made a concerted effort to introduce my children to the world of desserts. Hans has proved a quick learner and often suggests desserts to go with dinner. His dad is not at all a sweets kind of guy. I appreciate his concern over their health but I am really trying to open them up to the world of pastries and baked goods more than sugary candy. Who can argue with that? Besides, Hans weighs in the negative so he can use a little butter and cream. I like to bake, it is fun and relaxing. My mom always had something good around and I like to try to recreate those food memories for my kids. Last week I was telling Hans about the eclairs my mom used to make. They were filled with fresh whipped cream, not custard, and they were huge. Hans was impressed and has been telling me how much he would like to try them. Happy to oblige, we are going to get on that today. Who doesn't remember a special dessert their Mom prepared? We are a family of food memories, what about you? What are some of your favorite desserts? I'm hoping for some more good ideas! Here's mine.....

#1. Coconut cake or cream pie. Love it. When we were in Laughlin with my dad we made a late night pie run that I will never forget. Usually my choice for my birthday cake. My mom has made it for me several times, as well as my Dad and Alex. Alex put lemon curd in hers, another favorite!

#2. Pears in cream sauce. My mom used to make this a lot and it is one thing I have not been able to re-create. It is a hot dessert and man is it delicious. Someday I will find this recipe.

#3. Angel food cake with cream and berries. I like to justify this one by adding that angel food cake is fat free.

#4. Three Ladies of Spain Cheesecake. I made a couple of these in Utah and ate a piece each time.

#5. Capirotada. This is a Mexican bread pudding that is traditional at Christmas or Easter. I made this a few times at Easter. I remember Grandma critiqued this one and made a few suggestions. I think one of them was to serve it with coffee.

****UPDATE**** They liked them!!

Bunny Hop Hop Hop

We are back from Sequim. Pete has had the last 5 days off, which has been nice. My Mom and John have moved into their new house and we were excited to stay with them. The lady that sold them the house owns a shop and had a lot of vintage clothes, hats and furs that she left behind for my Mom. She also left a great deal of furniture. The kids had a great time. Did anyone ever see the movie Buddy? That was my grandmothers nickname for Oscar when he was a baby because he looked just like the gorilla in overalls. Here that nickname seemed very fitting. We made it down to the beach in search of some geoduck, where they are plentiful, but the tide was high so we kept moving on. Hans collected various parts of crabs and made a display.
Luisa and the Williams made it to Moms on Saturday, along with Alex. The girls were happy to be together and spoiled by their Grandpa. The backyard at my moms is awesome. She doesn't have neighbors on either side and she has a couple of levels of decks. It was nice that the rain let up so that we could dye eggs outside.
I just thought that my dad might appreciate seeing these.

There were baths all around and Hans helped play beauty shop while I tended to some cradle cap issues. I am thinking of hiring myself out for this task. I have a thing about cradle cap and cannot rest until it is eradicated. I am happy to report that this scalp is now in the clear. I was happy that I was the first to bathe this baby and I was glad I did it when I did because my poor mom had serious plumbing issues. There were visits by two plumbers and it was after midnight when the problem was solved. Unfortunately this is the second time this has happened since they moved in and I hope that they get some resolution to this.
Hans was really into the Easter bunny this year. The anticipation was killing him and the night before he fell asleep declaring" Tomorrow will be the best day of my life!" He was not disappointed.

It rained on Easter so we had to hide eggs inside. Luckily my Mom has this big old house. Eleven kids is a lot, especially when one of them is bigger than I am and two more are pretty damn close. Olive was so happy that the bunny brought her and Georgie the Island Princess Barbie. She sings! A lot! Maybe, if I try really hard, I will be able to get the songs out of my head by next year. Hope you had a good Easter!

Game On

Sorry I bailed on the Wednesday list yesterday. We are heading to Sequim for a long Easter weekend and there is a lot of prep to be done. Also, I was hell bent on some tamales and they took twice as long as I had planned . A couple of weeks ago Hans started talking about being part Mexican. I was wondering where he was going with this. Several days later we were grocery shopping and as is customary at the end of the trip the kids pick a treat. We are recent converts to WinCo, thanks to my sister Alex, where they stock copious amounts of bulk candy. The first visit those barrels beckoned to Hans with their siren song but in the end he chose something else. This is where being Mexican comes into play. They sell a pack of gummy Mexican food. Burritos,enchiladas,dulce de leche, and so on. My kids are huge fans of gummy food. Oscar would proudly announce he was having a hamburger for lunch and pull out a gummy burger, insisting if it's in the shape, it counts as real food. So Hans chose the gummy Mexican food as his treat and the whole way home all I heard was how he has to eat Mexican food because he is in fact a Mexican. Now, he is proudly declaring he is more Mexican than his brother and sisters. I absolutely cannot let him find this picture, it will be over. Although, I could produce this as a counter attack for Oscar and Siobhan. I guess if they start eating some more gummy tamales they may catch up on their Mexican.

We play a lot of games around here. I enjoy board games. We are pretty good at making up our own versions so that everybody can play. As you may recall, Cash Cab is one of our favorites. We are gamers way back. My Grandma was a game fiend. Scrabble is a staple around our family but Yahtzee was Grandmas favorite. Between the ages of 18 and 26 I must have played 10,000 games of Yahtzee with my Grandma. She would just talk and I learned a lot about our family, my Grandma in particular during those games. She was also a crossword and Jumble fanatic. Video games were not lost on her, and while she never played she could spend hours watching someone play Nintendo and guide them through all the shortcuts.

I have a large assortment of games. I used to have Laverne and Shirley, which was my favorite and something Brittney and April may remember. I recently acquired Sweet Valley High. I haven't played yet but hope to score a sweet date with "bad boy" Bruce. Hope I don't get stuck with Winston. Down in the corner of this picture there is a German made Lotto. This is Hans and Olives favorite game. They could play it for hours, and we have. There is a great game shop in Salt Lake called Game Night Games that has really awesome games. They have a play area in the shop and host game nights and tournaments. I have also found some new games to play from blog reading this last week or so. It's fun to read links to links to links. The things you find. So, todays Wednesday(on Thursday) list. what games do you enjoy?
#1. Yahtzee, I actually prefer this to Scrabble(blasphemy!). It is such a relaxing game, I love the noise and you can actually talk while you play, not too much concentrating involved.

#2. I have to put Scrabble. Pete and I played tons of Scrabble when we first met. He even made a travel Scrabble like the size of a wallet. He made a mini board out of a big white shipping label and stuck in an old square tin lid and then cut out teensy little letters from magnet stickers. That was for our flight to Seattle when I first met him.

#3. Monopoly. We didn't really play this when we were younger but Pete, the kids and I play quite a bit. They are intense, long games but we keep going back. We have the British version as well as Spongebob and the classic. Pete is especially fun to watch playing this.

#4. Cash Cab. Have I told you about that?

#5. Puzzles. The kids like to work on puzzles with me but I will be the first to admit that it stresses me to no end. I am in a zone when it comes to puzzles. Just like a good book, it must be completed once it has begun. And yes, I do mod podge and save some of my favorites. Nerdy, I know.

So I hope to find some new games to play. We will be setting up my Moms computer this week and I looking forward to her comments and lists. Still loving the lists. Maybe I will post from my Moms, but if not have a Happy Easter! Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to my nephew Clayton who is one today and Happy Birthday in advance to Gretchen tomorrow. We love you!

Happy Paddys Day

Today is my dads birthday, he is 55. He was born early, on St. Patricks Day. He goes by Pat, but his real name is James Patrick. I am fascinated by stories from my dads childhood. He was a fun, interesting kid.

As you are probably aware, my dad has had a multitude of looks. He has always taken great pride in his long hair in high school. I have heard many times how he and is his brother were the first to grow their hair long at PG high. I have fact checked this and they indeed were the only ones that had long hair in the yearbook. This is the shortened version, the wedding look.
He has not limited his look to the hair on his head. He has also had various combinations of facial hair. My dad has experimented with sun in, perms and once tried a spray on hair I bought as a joke. He is also a pretty fashionable guy. He takes great pride in his look. That look has changed several times over the year but here are a few staples worth mentioning, the Members only, T shirt with the sleeves cut off , the Ken Barbie suit, the Air Jordans, and Lava Lava shorts. Not sure he had them but the mere mention of them were a constant source of entertainment.
This is what I have always refered to as the Kenny Loggins. That's my grandfather on the right. I think he was maybe where my Dad picked up some fashion tips from. He has always been a pretty sharp dresser. Neck Kerchiefs, snap brim hats, desert boots. As you may or may not be able to tell from the fuzzy photo, he was a huge believer in the perm. He permed for years. Draw the shades, pour some drinks, and he and my step grandmother(behind me) had themselves an afternoon of perming. I am besides myself that I cannot find the perm picture. This look I call the Willford Brimley. This is one of my personal favorites. I spent many hours trying to photo shop this picture onto a can of oats. Photo doctoring is something else I have picked up from my dad. He once made a collage of me and a boyfriend when I was a sophomore. For several Christmases I gave him a photo album of pictures that I would caption. My dad clips things out of papers to stick on peoples lockers at work. You should also note that my Dad became quite a hat connoisseur as well, as he got a little older. This is my favorite picture of my dad. A typical Pat Sheppard pose. This picture was taken on 19th street. It's where my mom and John lived until they moved into Alder st. where I grew up. My dad and Sharon switched with them and moved onto 19th st. This was when Oscar was just a baby and my dad and I spent a lot of time together. We both delivered newspapers and on his day off I would hang around and follow him on his errands. I really enjoyed that time with my dad. As a matter of fact,I spent so much time there that Sharon came up with a way to ensure a night off. I was not a fan of lamb at the time and all she needed to say was that it was lamb night and I would steer clear. Thanks Sharon, for allowing me to be a constant presence. As is probably clear, I absolutely adore my dad. He is an amazing person. He is thoughtful and sensitive and so,so funny. I have been sick from laughing so hard, cried and cried. We share a sense of humor and I cherish that. My dad remembers everything you tell him. He asks questions to things I thought he would never remember and always remembers what we like and dislike. My dad used to keep tabs on all the things my mom or Sharon liked. At Christmas I remember getting out of school for a day and driving to Santa Cruz or San Fransisco to hunt down the exact present. He is an amazing gift giver and that day alone with him was a gift in itself to me.
Our relationship with our dad has really evolved. He has always been a joker and would wrestle and roughhouse. He was never much of a hugger and kisser. We always bumped foreheads, that was just a classic. But, I think after Sharon that really changed a lot. He hugs and kisses. We can be serious sometimes and talk. This blog has also been great because I have learned some things on Wednesdays that I didn't know about my dad. I look forward to each and every comment. I also hope that he has realized that Atlas building maintenance was one of the best times of my life. I will also speak for Alex and say that she feels the same, just for the time we had together. (yes Luisa, you too, on occasion) I love you dad. I wish I was with you today. I miss you a lot and look forward to our next visit, our week together was awesome. I am proud to be your daughter and I love to find our similarities. You have been a great father and a wonderful grandfather. We all love you so much and I hope you can feel that today. I hope that you enjoy your day and know we will all be thinking of you. I also want you to know that there are just too many stories and photos so I am holding back a few good ones because when I talk about you is when I get the most responses! What a star! Happy Birthday!

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage

This here is my brother in law Zak. He is one of the nicest, most honest people I know. He is an absolute sweetheart. He is the youngest in Petes family and I think everybody feels a little protective of him, only because we all love him so much. I really respect Zak for always making his own choices. He has been a great Uncle, the kids adore him. He once made a marathon weekend trip to California with Pete and I to pick up the kids for Christmas. The following year he left and served his two year mission for his Church. We were so happy when he returned last year and I was happy that he came to visit us. Next to him in this picture is Rebecca, his fiancee. We met her on our trip last month and I really liked her. I wish I had taken a picture of them that you could see their faces, but I was sneaky and took this as they talked by the fire. It is fun to be around new, young love. Tonight they called to announce their engagement. It is exciting and we could not be happier for them. I am happy that Zak is happy. So, congratulations to Zak and Rebecca! We wish you the best in your life together! (and yeah for another trip back!!)

Rain, Rain Go Away

I have wanted a bike for a while now. When we lived in Salt Lake there was a bike store up the street from us and I fell in love with the Electra Townies. They had all kinds of awesome colors and they just looked like fun, but they are pricey. Mind you, I haven't ridden a bicycle since I was about 12 and I am sure Pete thought it was going to be a fly by night passion. At Christmas Siobhan received an awesome bike from her dad. I mean, a really nice bike. I can't let her ride alone, can I? So, I bought an inexpensive cruiser off Craigslist(still love you Craigslist). I rode it when I got home and it was absolutely awesome! Wouldn't you know, it has POURED rain everyday since. It is killing me, this weather. Trying to coax spring out of hiding, I made a Lemon Meringue pie. I know, I swore off food photos way back when. Guess I'm just not over the food photos yet. I didn't realize how much Hans likes pie until we were at Kims house last month. She had three kinds of pie and Hans ate a piece of each one. He mostly enjoyed the meringue on this one. Olive enjoyed no part of it.
This she is happy with, thankfully. I wanted to make the kids their Easter outfits this year. I didn't really want a frilly dress for Olive. we are going to be at Moms and I know that the clothes are going to probably be quickly discarded. I am pretty happy with this. I couldn't quite figure out the shirt pattern I was going to use and I am pretty pleased with what I came up with, though I have some work to finish up on the collar.
Olive is happy that there is a bird on her butt. Honestly, this amuses her to no end. I am pleased because I was able to play with the different stitches on my machine, I love the hearts. So, with the queen down, I can get on to everybody elses clothing. Unless the sun finally comes out, then you'll have to catch me, because I will be burning rubber on my sweet new cruiser.

Who Do You Want To Be Today?

I just wanted to share this awesome photo that somehow makes Oscar look like a giant. I had to post it fast before he put it on his blog. He has been out at several parties this week and is looking forward to an evening in so that he can blog away. Yesterday Hans and Olive had their annual check ups. They are both January babies and usually I take them in together. Hans is 4 pounds heavier than Olive(finally!) and 4 inches taller. He has a real complex about being such a little guy. He was so happy that he was bigger. They found that Hans has a heart murmur but apparently that is normal for a child his age and they usually outgrow it. Hans does not react well around strangers at all. He just kind of shuts down in certain situations, not unlike his Dad. He gets goofy and cannot directly speak to said stranger. He had to get 4 shots but was so mortified by the fact that his pants were halfway down that he did not even change facial expressions during them. He stared straight ahead and did not utter so much as a sigh. I am grateful that they are healthy and strong. I am still struggling with the countdown to Kindergarten but I am so happy to watch Hans' excitement. He has big plans for his future. All of them include continuing to live with Pete and I. He wants to be Spiderman or an astronaut. Sometimes he thinks about building houses. The possibilities are endless and what fun to dream of what you could be. I remember that computer test in high school that would match you up with what you may be good at. I wonder how many people actually ended up in any of those fields? There have been many things that I thought I would enjoy and a few I still wouldn't mind trying. So, without further ado, this weeks list. Top Five Dream Occupations.....

#1. I have always wanted to be a Librarian. This surprised Pete when he first heard it during a game of Hoopla. I still think I would love this job.

#2. Nurse. This is actually what I started school towards. I worked at the hospital throughout High School as a volunteer and also worked as a CNA after high school. Once I got married I didn't go back to college. Kudos to my brother in law Aaron for getting into the nursing program.

#3. Teacher. I actually went back to college after I had Oscar with the intention of becoming a teacher. It is interesting to note that I was on probation when I returned. I had signed up for a soccer class my first semester of college and when I went to the first class realized I had signed up for "adaptive" or handicapped soccer. It somehow didn't get dropped and showed I failed. Adaptive soccer. Kudos to April for actually being a teacher. Brittney too!

#4. Waitress. Something I have tried and loved. I really romanticized this job as a young girl. How metropolitan and hip! This may also have something to do with my watching of Alice, which was neither metropolitan nor hip.

#5. Flight Attendant. This was another high school dream. It also showed up as one of my top five matches on the computer test thing. I directly attribute the idea of being an air hostess to my weight loss in my senior year. I lost a good deal of weight ,which was sorely needed, because of the strict height/ weight ratios that were requirements. Again, kudos go out, this time to my sister in law Courtney, for living the dream. Also, my cousin Serena is a flight attendant with Lufthansa.

Alas, all the dreaming of these jobs has not held a candle to my actual job as a mother. I am happy to have traded those dreams for the one I am living. I have thought many times of going back to school so that in the future I would have a career to get into but it is just not worth one missed moment in my book. What about you?

Long Distance Romance

We did go to Sequim this weekend. We have plans to be there for Easter but my Mom has been lonely and we missed her as well. We went to the home show on Saturday so John could "network" and they had an area that kids could build a birdhouse. Oscar was excited, as was Hans. Siobhan however did not want to make one and just rolled her eyes when she was asked. My mom and I took a seat on a bench to watch them and as I often do, I took a head count to make sure all of my kids were accounted for. That's when I noticed where Siobhan was sitting. So close to this boy that their shoulders were about touching. I pointed this out to my mom, who had already noticed, and we had a laugh. She also took a picture and noted that they were a cute couple. Later in the day Pete and I made sure to mention her Sequim boyfriend several times. My Mom kept telling me how bad I was and that I should stop teasing. Well, I want to tell a little story about my Mom and a boyfriend I had once. I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. He was on the football team and very nice. Every Friday he put roses in my locker. He walked me home and spent a lot of time at our house. After a few months, his parents came over and said they were concerned with the amount of time we had been spending together and that he needed to focus on school and not spend as much time with me. After that, I was a little over the whole thing and a short time later, I broke up with him. One day I was out on a walk and when I came home he was there. My Mom sat us both down and tried to help us repair the relationship. I was mortified. I was already on to my next big teenage crush and so not into it. I have always loved that about my Mom, the amount of concern she has always had for every ones feelings and for our personal relationships. I just want her to remember that story when I invite this boy over to hang out with Siobhan. We spent a great day at the park after some garage sales. I am happy to report I found an entire Fisher Price Little People town from 1973 in the box! Oscar was just as excited as I was. Quite a find. The park was fun, but cold. Pete and I snuck off to the casino on the reservation for an hour or two, the Indian casinos are a little different and Pete wasn't as into it. It was nice to get out for a ride though and the kids had a lot of fun with Grandma and Grandpa.

Yesterday we attended a pancake breakfast at the Grange. I loved it! I have a real admiration for farmers. It was nice to be surrounded by people part of such a community. After reading about all the Pie socials and flea markets and spaghetti feeds I may have to rethink some of our vacation plans. Next up for Sequim will be the big move next week and I am excited to be there at Easter. Hope everyone else had a nice weekend!

The Roche Nose

We are heading out for the weekend but I wanted to leave you with a true classic to enjoy. Pat, you should especially appreciate this....

Roly Poly,Daddys Little Fatty

I got a kick out of Oscars photos of Pete and Jeremy taking pictures of each others mouths. Then I remembered this from a few weeks back. I guess I never realized how much time we spend looking at each others teeth. In case you haven't noticed, Siobhan started a blog as well. Something that I predicted would happen within an hour of hearing about Oscars. Siobhan has tried this before but only lasted a few posts. They are already comparing how many comments they have and who gets to use the camera first. I am happy though that they are trying something out. Oscar has a new confidence about him and I am glad that their Dad and all the Salinas crew can keep up with them.
Siobhan called her blog De La Rocha. I often call her Siobhan De La Rocha. I also call her BonBon or Bonnie or Vonnie. I also call Oscar De La Roche. I started that when he was born due to the similarity with Oscar De La Hoya. He has also been called Sargeant Squank, Chicken Banana and Round. My dad started that when he was a baby. He was very short and fat and he was like a circle. It's funnier now even, seeing as he is tall and thin. I guess we are just big on nicknames. Hans is a nickname in itself. Pete calls him Jack, all the cousins call him Hansie Boy and my sister Luisa calls him Hansaroni. Olive Jane who was OJ from the start, also has been called Olive Jane Sugarhouse of Pain. Sugarhouse was almost her middle name, at my moms suggestion, due to our love of our neighborhood.
I mostly have liked nicknames. I have always liked Mattie although I love to go by Matilda now that I am older. There are about a million kids that go by Maddie or Maddy or Maddi now. In my time though, I have had quite a few other nicknames, what about you? Here's a few of mine....
#1. Chowhound. This deserves first mention, as it is a classic. I received this on vacation when I was about 8 or 9, I think. It's no secret I am an eater. There was a childs meal at Village Inn called Chowhounds Choice. I ordered it and that was enough for my Dad. That nickname just won't die and my Dad even bought me a hat that proudly declared it.
#2. Chubette. A theme, perhaps? This was from my Aunt and I don't think I heard it too often but almost every birthday card I have growing up from her has it on there somewhere. Actually, I remember this from my dad also.
#3. Matootie. Sharon still calls me this. This was an all around family nickname.
#4. Leopard. In high school my friends called my that just because it rhymed with Sheppard.
#5. Mostly though, sadly enough, in school I was called Grand Tetons, which started in 6th grade. An explanation probably isn't necessary. This was the only nickname that I can recall truly hating and being really upset by. I probably also don't need to tell you that this was a nickname only used by boys.
Hope everyone is enjoying good weather today like we are. It's giving me hope that garage sales aren't too far off. Can't wait to hear your nicknames!

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Yesterday we went to Kanskat- Palmer park for a little hiking and a lot of campfire. Pete loves to build fires. We spent our first Easter together camping at Antelope Island and spent the night burning everything we could find. Oscar and Hans are firebugs also, but yesterday Hans was just insane with excitement. We had a lot of branches and what not from our yard that we thought would be good but everything is just so damp here. Pete kept trying and was feeding in some newspaper but Hans just wanted to throw piles on and watch the burn. It reminded me of our first Christmas with Sharon. When we were done opening presents she scooped up the paper and threw it in the fireplace. We all watched out the window as burning paper flew out the chimney and floated over the neighbors roof. This fire took about two or three hours of work. We had it just long enough for some hot dogs and marshmallows. Pete was so into it he failed to notice he had singed the eyelashes off of one eye. I don't know if I've mentioned this here before, but Hans eats his hot dogs from top to bottom instead of the usual end to end. He has always done this, it is just his way. At the end he usually just has the fold of the bun left which he usually leaves for me to find somewhere. We all still smell like campfire, I love the smell. I am looking forward to spring and summer and a lot of camping this year. The kids are a little older and it will be a little more relaxing. The first time we took Hans camping we actually tied a rope around his waist to the picnic table because I was so paranoid about him walking into the fire pit.
Olive of course knows all about camping and fires so I never have to worry that she would do anything juvenile like playing around a campfire. I guess I also do not know how to roast a marshmallow. You do not need a whole one, a clump of it is just as good.
So, that was our day yesterday. Pete was a little bummed that he didn't bring his fishing pole, but really after all the "firework" there really wasn't much time. Maybe Grandpa will be up for some fishing this weekend when we head up to Sequim.