Aside from the Midtown Madness, we had a wonderful trip to Milwaukee.
Things we visited:
Milwaukee Art Museum - special exhibit was the "American Quilts", a collection of antique quilts.
http://www.mam.org/american_quilts/
Discovery World - I especially loved the little wood automations at adult eye level. The kids liked playing on the ship model.
http://www.discoveryworld.org/
Kohler Design Studio - Admiring the kitchens and bathrooms.
http://www.us.kohler.com
Penzey's Spices - Got some great swag.
http://www.penzeys.com/
German Fest at the lakefront - Loved the needlework on all the ethnic costumes and the food was wonderful
http://www.germanfest.com/
Best of all was visiting with family and the kids swimming, swimming, swimming. A great time!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Midtown Madness - Milwaukee
We just got back from a nice vacation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was my fourth trip to Milwaukee and I find the weather dramatically different every time! I still haven't been there in the snow nor do I ever plan to do so. This time we witnessed a full-on Milwaukee rainstorm.
Now, living in the Seattle area, I've grown used to rain. It rains, or drizzles, much of the fall through spring. We don't get a "real" winter here as we may only have 1-2 snowfalls. The rain is so standard that locals don't even comment on it... I don't even own an umbrella. So when locals here comment "Wow, it's really coming down." then you know it's really raining outside. Heavily. People would have definitely commented on the rainstorm in Milwaukee.
It started with an overcast morning. Diane said there was a red sky when she picked up Brad at the airport. We looked outside and saw that another day of swimming wasn't going to work and all agreed to drive up to Kohler to visit the Kohler Design Studio. I drove the rental van (a Kia Sedona) there with no problems. We spent about two hours there and headed out to grey skies and fairly heavy rain.
We got onto the freeway, I-43, and headed south. The rain was pouring down, thunder was all around, and the lightning was hitting all around us. I continued to drive, albeit slowly, in the right lane. The underpasses dipped down so I didn't want to pull under a bridge and park for fear of a flash flood. I was getting passed by diesels and other trucks who continued to speed along at 70 mph while I slowed down to 55. (I think the speed limit is 60 there.) I stayed in the right lane and continued south.
Traffic significantly slowed down at each underpass, as people realized that they had to drive through standing water. We made it through by watching the vehicles in front of us and allowing plenty of room. As we approached a particularly deep underpass I realized that it wasn't moving. At that point I was about ten cars back. I actually stopped on the freeway and just waited, as all the cars around us stopped as well. You could see the water rising under the underpass and the cars that got stuck, as well as the trucks that had passed us. We waited about 15 minutes to see what was happening while I discussed with Brad the merits of not pulling up to the next car (and allowing cars from the prior freeway entrance to come in and cut in front of me) and the potential merits of turning around. Keep in mind that the rain is still pouring down and there was a significant chance of getting flooded out. The truck behind me started turning around in what can only be described as a 12-point turn, so I made a smooth U turn onto the emergency lane and followed him out.
The cars that had been getting onto the freeway braked and backed up, and traffic slowed to a crawl as people abandoned the right lane to allow the now-dozens of cars that were getting off the freeway. We learned when we watched the news at home that the underpass had a blocked storm drain, hence the flooding, and that the people in the left lanes that couldn't get off the freeway were stuck there for over two hours. I don't know what happened with the people who got stuck in the water.
We were now 15 miles from the house and had our trusty GPS. It is amazing anyway, as it updates with construction and real-time traffic, therefore it was able to almost steer us away from flooding based on the stopped cars that create traffic. We did almost get stuck 3-4 times and I had to drive through standing water more times I liked. I am so thankful that we didn't get sunk in a sinkhole.
Eventually, about two hours later, we finally made it home. The other adults wanted to go out to dinner (!) but I wanted to stay home with the children and eat there and not risk getting stuck somewhere. It was already after 8 p.m. I fed the children and got them to bed and I stayed up and watched the lightning.
It was a little nerve-wracking, very worrisome. The Kia drove well and I have to say, if it had been my own van I would have parked in someone's high driveway and we would have been there until the rain stopped. :)
The end result is that they had seven inches of rain in an hour. One man died being caught in a flash flood and his car was swept away. Two women were hit by lightning. Hundreds of cars have been totaled for flood damage. I'm glad we were ok!
Now, living in the Seattle area, I've grown used to rain. It rains, or drizzles, much of the fall through spring. We don't get a "real" winter here as we may only have 1-2 snowfalls. The rain is so standard that locals don't even comment on it... I don't even own an umbrella. So when locals here comment "Wow, it's really coming down." then you know it's really raining outside. Heavily. People would have definitely commented on the rainstorm in Milwaukee.
It started with an overcast morning. Diane said there was a red sky when she picked up Brad at the airport. We looked outside and saw that another day of swimming wasn't going to work and all agreed to drive up to Kohler to visit the Kohler Design Studio. I drove the rental van (a Kia Sedona) there with no problems. We spent about two hours there and headed out to grey skies and fairly heavy rain.
We got onto the freeway, I-43, and headed south. The rain was pouring down, thunder was all around, and the lightning was hitting all around us. I continued to drive, albeit slowly, in the right lane. The underpasses dipped down so I didn't want to pull under a bridge and park for fear of a flash flood. I was getting passed by diesels and other trucks who continued to speed along at 70 mph while I slowed down to 55. (I think the speed limit is 60 there.) I stayed in the right lane and continued south.
Traffic significantly slowed down at each underpass, as people realized that they had to drive through standing water. We made it through by watching the vehicles in front of us and allowing plenty of room. As we approached a particularly deep underpass I realized that it wasn't moving. At that point I was about ten cars back. I actually stopped on the freeway and just waited, as all the cars around us stopped as well. You could see the water rising under the underpass and the cars that got stuck, as well as the trucks that had passed us. We waited about 15 minutes to see what was happening while I discussed with Brad the merits of not pulling up to the next car (and allowing cars from the prior freeway entrance to come in and cut in front of me) and the potential merits of turning around. Keep in mind that the rain is still pouring down and there was a significant chance of getting flooded out. The truck behind me started turning around in what can only be described as a 12-point turn, so I made a smooth U turn onto the emergency lane and followed him out.
We were now 15 miles from the house and had our trusty GPS. It is amazing anyway, as it updates with construction and real-time traffic, therefore it was able to almost steer us away from flooding based on the stopped cars that create traffic. We did almost get stuck 3-4 times and I had to drive through standing water more times I liked. I am so thankful that we didn't get sunk in a sinkhole.
Eventually, about two hours later, we finally made it home. The other adults wanted to go out to dinner (!) but I wanted to stay home with the children and eat there and not risk getting stuck somewhere. It was already after 8 p.m. I fed the children and got them to bed and I stayed up and watched the lightning.
It was a little nerve-wracking, very worrisome. The Kia drove well and I have to say, if it had been my own van I would have parked in someone's high driveway and we would have been there until the rain stopped. :)
The end result is that they had seven inches of rain in an hour. One man died being caught in a flash flood and his car was swept away. Two women were hit by lightning. Hundreds of cars have been totaled for flood damage. I'm glad we were ok!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Back from Travels...
Every year I make a yearly trip down to Utah. Primarily to visit family, I also sneak in trips up into the gorgeous mountain canyons or out to the West Desert. Last summer I went with my parents and one brother (and his wife and children) and we traveled down to Saint George and went through Bryce Canyon and Zion's National Park.
Last fall my Dad and Mother went to the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. My Dad loved the park and I loved hearing about it and really wanted to go. So this year I pushed the trip a little back from our normal time of late April into late May. Also different this year was that I was driving to Utah with just the children; no Brad to take turns driving with me.
The book on CD that I listened to with the kidlets throughout the trip was "The Mysterious Benedict Society". It was a great book and we really enjoyed it. I alternated disks of that with Victoria's iPod for variety.
We left Seattle on a Saturday morning. We drove throughout the day, stopping to look at the Zillah Teapot Service Station National Monument, as well as many numerous stops at rest stops for the children to stretch their legs and take restroom breaks. That evening we got into Boise, Idaho where I checked into the hotel. After dinner the children swam in the pool and I set my feet in the hot tub. Travis then refused to get out of the pool and I threatened no swimming the next day. He got out of the pool.
Sunday we stopped at the Hagerman National Park, in Hagerman, Idaho. This national park focuses on the Hagermen Horses, a zebra-like animal that died many years ago and was fossilized. We watched the 20 minute movie and the kidlets worked on their Junior Ranger Badge books. Travis and Madeline threw the sand from the indoor sand box all over the carpet. Travis tried to grab the fossils and Victoria walked around looking bored.
As we drove through the park and the Oregon Trail the children felt sympathy for the settlers who had to make the monstrous climb up the mountain (taking 2 days) and then realized that there was no water for miles. Especially when I threatened them with having to walk home if they didn't get back in the car so we could move on. They did enjoy the one-lane scary rickety bridge that we took the time to drive over. Actually, they really did love seeing the trail hills.
We then drive on to Utah Valley, where my parents live. As you pass Ogden the quality of the drivers denigrates and progressively worsens as you approach BYU. They speed up, signal less, and tailgate. It's like bumper cars with giant trucks.
Monday was my brothers birthday so we took him out to lunch and that afternoon I bought Madeline some new shoes.
Tuesday morning we got up early and the children and I loaded into my Dad's giant truck. He does not drive like he is playing bumper cars. We drove down and made it through Monticello and into Cortez, Colorado, that night. We checked into a hotel and drove the short distance to the Mesa Verde National Park. The park is huge and only two of the many mesas are open to the public. One of those mesas, unfortunately, was not to be open for the season until three days later. When I return in 15 years I will make sure that I'm there after Memorial Day! We made it from the opening gate to the visitor center with approximately two minutes to spare, minutes in which I ran full speed to get to the door before they locked it and we couldn't buy tour tickets. I just made it.
We spent several hours doing the cliff top mesa drive and seeing the Sun Palace, pit houses, etc. It was really amazing. That evening we went to a brewery for dinner. I couldn't bring Brad home any beer because taking alcohol across state lines is considered bootlegging. (I asked.)
The next morning we got up early and headed back into the park. We visited the museum, a few more pit houses, and went on a tour of Cliff Palace. This was easy to do with the children, although Madeline had a tantrum that she didn't get to lead the group and also couldn't talk the whole time and interrupt the ranger. Travis had to have his hand held the whole time so he wouldn't throw rocks over the edge of the cliffs onto who-knows-what below. The building was amazing and the kids settled down and enjoyed it.
We had an hour approximately until the tour of Balcony House. By this time I realized I didn't have sunscreen for my lips which were becoming severely dry, even with the half case of water we had already drunk. I had packed a loaf of bread with peanut butter and honey for sandwiches and the air was so dry that it pulled the moisture out of the bread once you took it out of the bag, making your sandwich stale before you had finished eating it. My lips got progressively worse over the next day (even with buying lip balm with sunscreen that evening) and I ended up with cracked bloody lips that looked like I had taken accutane. Ouch! The little bit of sunscreen I got on my shoulders didn't bother me at all and I kept the kids in sunscreen and light layers and hats.
Balcony House, also amazing, was probably really inappropriate for children as young as Madeline and Travis. I misread the tour description and didn't realize that 1) The 30 foot ladder is not flush against the wall. This means a child could fall through the steps and has to be held around the waist during the climb to prevent this. 2) A tunnel is different than a standing tunnel. It means hands-and-knees crawling, with a WTF rock in the middle that you have to climb over. And people will take pictures of the butts of the people in front of them, and probably took a picture of mine. Nice! 3) A series of 2 ladders and cliff-carved steps means an OMG we're all going to die diagonal crawl up dangerous ladders and carved out cliff steps with a piece of wire mesh that might hold you if you slip.
I was scared for me... more scared that something would happen to one of the kids and I would have to explain why I thought it was a good idea to bring them on this trip. Plus the whole losing a child thing that one doesn't even want to think about.
Whew! Glad we made it through that!
After Mesa Verde, we drove back up to Moab, Utah. We picked a hokey little hotel on the side of the road purely because of the waterslide. I will never go there again because of the dirtiness of the pool and I really can't discuss the awful parents that were sending the tiny, tiny toddlers down the waterslide head first. Really, my heart was just pounding.
That early afternoon we drove into Arches National Park and drove all the way to the end. The scenery is, of course, amazing. We stopped at each point of interest and walked to the arches. Dad did great with his knee and the kidlets really enjoyed it. It was a very accessible park but lots to do as well that we didn't because the kidlets couldn't hike too much. Just lovely.
The next morning we drove over to Canyonlands Island in the Sky National Park. Canyonlands is so huge it is divided into three sections because of the rivers and it isn't feasible to see them all in the same day. Next year, perhaps, I would like to get over into the Needles, or into the Maze. Maybe the year after. Dad says it looks very similar to the Grand Canyon.
We did a short hike at Canyonlands out to the salt crater and I had a tight grip on the kidlets because of the wind. Again, was worried about losing one of them!
After Canyonlands (much less developed than Arches) we drove over to the Dead Horse State Park. This little mesa tip was being used to film an alien movie with Willem Dafoe, although we saw no one famous. I had internet service out there so I was able to see who was in it. Had it been someone gorgeous I would have had my Dad drop me off so I could stay there all day.
The Dead Horse State Park view was incredible. Incredible. Really high. Really windy. Really dangerous. My Dad told me that a "friend of his had his Dad blow off her a few years back." We could see the fertilizer harvest fields in the distance, a bright blue that looks just like miracle grow.
We drove back up into Utah Valley and recuperated. I think it was Friday evening when we got back? The next few days were a blur. I saw most of my brothers, the cousins played together, and I ate too much food. I took the kidlets on a hike up to Timpanogos Falls on the East side of the mountain and we enjoyed the view. We went on a drive-around tour of my Dad's work so he could point out the new buildings. Mom and Dad and I and another brother and kidlets went out to Saratoga Springs to practice target shooting.
On Tuesday I took kidlets to the Timpanogos Cave National Park up American Fork Canyon. The hike was a tough one and Victoria bought a patch that says "I survived the hike!" The cave was really beautiful inside and the kidlets really enjoyed it too. All those years living there and I had never done it. Going down was way easier than going up.
Wednesday we did some laundry and then piled in the car and drove back to Boise. Same hotel, same restaurant, same pool that Travis refused to get out. Thursday morning we drove into Kennewick, Washington, which is the Tri-Cities area. We went to Richland and went to the Columbia River Museum. It was a really interesting museum about the Hanford reactor and also a big room that was like a science fair, except everything worked and there wasn't a crowd. The children loved it.
Brad drove over from Seattle that night and there was much happiness from the children who had missed their Daddy very much.
We drove back to the Kennewick hotel, swam, and went to bed. The next three days were a blur of swimming, chatting with friends, headstands in the park, waiting for a long time at the restaurant, and more chatting with friends and swimming.
Sunday morning Brad took Madeline and Travis back to Seattle, arriving at 3 p.m. (I think). I stayed with Victoria through the swim meet at 6:30 and drove back, arriving at around 10:30 p.m. The worst weather of the entire trip was coming down Snoqualmie Pass in pouring rain, in the dark, with everyone going 70 but you couldn't slow down because you knew you would get rear-ended if you did because everyone usually goes 90.
Fun trip - looking forward to next year!
Victoria did awesome in the swim meet, too. She got two Silver Times and is very excited about that!
Last fall my Dad and Mother went to the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. My Dad loved the park and I loved hearing about it and really wanted to go. So this year I pushed the trip a little back from our normal time of late April into late May. Also different this year was that I was driving to Utah with just the children; no Brad to take turns driving with me.
The book on CD that I listened to with the kidlets throughout the trip was "The Mysterious Benedict Society". It was a great book and we really enjoyed it. I alternated disks of that with Victoria's iPod for variety.
We left Seattle on a Saturday morning. We drove throughout the day, stopping to look at the Zillah Teapot Service Station National Monument, as well as many numerous stops at rest stops for the children to stretch their legs and take restroom breaks. That evening we got into Boise, Idaho where I checked into the hotel. After dinner the children swam in the pool and I set my feet in the hot tub. Travis then refused to get out of the pool and I threatened no swimming the next day. He got out of the pool.
Sunday we stopped at the Hagerman National Park, in Hagerman, Idaho. This national park focuses on the Hagermen Horses, a zebra-like animal that died many years ago and was fossilized. We watched the 20 minute movie and the kidlets worked on their Junior Ranger Badge books. Travis and Madeline threw the sand from the indoor sand box all over the carpet. Travis tried to grab the fossils and Victoria walked around looking bored.
As we drove through the park and the Oregon Trail the children felt sympathy for the settlers who had to make the monstrous climb up the mountain (taking 2 days) and then realized that there was no water for miles. Especially when I threatened them with having to walk home if they didn't get back in the car so we could move on. They did enjoy the one-lane scary rickety bridge that we took the time to drive over. Actually, they really did love seeing the trail hills.
We then drive on to Utah Valley, where my parents live. As you pass Ogden the quality of the drivers denigrates and progressively worsens as you approach BYU. They speed up, signal less, and tailgate. It's like bumper cars with giant trucks.
Monday was my brothers birthday so we took him out to lunch and that afternoon I bought Madeline some new shoes.
Tuesday morning we got up early and the children and I loaded into my Dad's giant truck. He does not drive like he is playing bumper cars. We drove down and made it through Monticello and into Cortez, Colorado, that night. We checked into a hotel and drove the short distance to the Mesa Verde National Park. The park is huge and only two of the many mesas are open to the public. One of those mesas, unfortunately, was not to be open for the season until three days later. When I return in 15 years I will make sure that I'm there after Memorial Day! We made it from the opening gate to the visitor center with approximately two minutes to spare, minutes in which I ran full speed to get to the door before they locked it and we couldn't buy tour tickets. I just made it.
We spent several hours doing the cliff top mesa drive and seeing the Sun Palace, pit houses, etc. It was really amazing. That evening we went to a brewery for dinner. I couldn't bring Brad home any beer because taking alcohol across state lines is considered bootlegging. (I asked.)
The next morning we got up early and headed back into the park. We visited the museum, a few more pit houses, and went on a tour of Cliff Palace. This was easy to do with the children, although Madeline had a tantrum that she didn't get to lead the group and also couldn't talk the whole time and interrupt the ranger. Travis had to have his hand held the whole time so he wouldn't throw rocks over the edge of the cliffs onto who-knows-what below. The building was amazing and the kids settled down and enjoyed it.
We had an hour approximately until the tour of Balcony House. By this time I realized I didn't have sunscreen for my lips which were becoming severely dry, even with the half case of water we had already drunk. I had packed a loaf of bread with peanut butter and honey for sandwiches and the air was so dry that it pulled the moisture out of the bread once you took it out of the bag, making your sandwich stale before you had finished eating it. My lips got progressively worse over the next day (even with buying lip balm with sunscreen that evening) and I ended up with cracked bloody lips that looked like I had taken accutane. Ouch! The little bit of sunscreen I got on my shoulders didn't bother me at all and I kept the kids in sunscreen and light layers and hats.
Balcony House, also amazing, was probably really inappropriate for children as young as Madeline and Travis. I misread the tour description and didn't realize that 1) The 30 foot ladder is not flush against the wall. This means a child could fall through the steps and has to be held around the waist during the climb to prevent this. 2) A tunnel is different than a standing tunnel. It means hands-and-knees crawling, with a WTF rock in the middle that you have to climb over. And people will take pictures of the butts of the people in front of them, and probably took a picture of mine. Nice! 3) A series of 2 ladders and cliff-carved steps means an OMG we're all going to die diagonal crawl up dangerous ladders and carved out cliff steps with a piece of wire mesh that might hold you if you slip.
I was scared for me... more scared that something would happen to one of the kids and I would have to explain why I thought it was a good idea to bring them on this trip. Plus the whole losing a child thing that one doesn't even want to think about.
Whew! Glad we made it through that!
After Mesa Verde, we drove back up to Moab, Utah. We picked a hokey little hotel on the side of the road purely because of the waterslide. I will never go there again because of the dirtiness of the pool and I really can't discuss the awful parents that were sending the tiny, tiny toddlers down the waterslide head first. Really, my heart was just pounding.
That early afternoon we drove into Arches National Park and drove all the way to the end. The scenery is, of course, amazing. We stopped at each point of interest and walked to the arches. Dad did great with his knee and the kidlets really enjoyed it. It was a very accessible park but lots to do as well that we didn't because the kidlets couldn't hike too much. Just lovely.
The next morning we drove over to Canyonlands Island in the Sky National Park. Canyonlands is so huge it is divided into three sections because of the rivers and it isn't feasible to see them all in the same day. Next year, perhaps, I would like to get over into the Needles, or into the Maze. Maybe the year after. Dad says it looks very similar to the Grand Canyon.
We did a short hike at Canyonlands out to the salt crater and I had a tight grip on the kidlets because of the wind. Again, was worried about losing one of them!
After Canyonlands (much less developed than Arches) we drove over to the Dead Horse State Park. This little mesa tip was being used to film an alien movie with Willem Dafoe, although we saw no one famous. I had internet service out there so I was able to see who was in it. Had it been someone gorgeous I would have had my Dad drop me off so I could stay there all day.
The Dead Horse State Park view was incredible. Incredible. Really high. Really windy. Really dangerous. My Dad told me that a "friend of his had his Dad blow off her a few years back." We could see the fertilizer harvest fields in the distance, a bright blue that looks just like miracle grow.
We drove back up into Utah Valley and recuperated. I think it was Friday evening when we got back? The next few days were a blur. I saw most of my brothers, the cousins played together, and I ate too much food. I took the kidlets on a hike up to Timpanogos Falls on the East side of the mountain and we enjoyed the view. We went on a drive-around tour of my Dad's work so he could point out the new buildings. Mom and Dad and I and another brother and kidlets went out to Saratoga Springs to practice target shooting.
On Tuesday I took kidlets to the Timpanogos Cave National Park up American Fork Canyon. The hike was a tough one and Victoria bought a patch that says "I survived the hike!" The cave was really beautiful inside and the kidlets really enjoyed it too. All those years living there and I had never done it. Going down was way easier than going up.
Wednesday we did some laundry and then piled in the car and drove back to Boise. Same hotel, same restaurant, same pool that Travis refused to get out. Thursday morning we drove into Kennewick, Washington, which is the Tri-Cities area. We went to Richland and went to the Columbia River Museum. It was a really interesting museum about the Hanford reactor and also a big room that was like a science fair, except everything worked and there wasn't a crowd. The children loved it.
Brad drove over from Seattle that night and there was much happiness from the children who had missed their Daddy very much.
We drove back to the Kennewick hotel, swam, and went to bed. The next three days were a blur of swimming, chatting with friends, headstands in the park, waiting for a long time at the restaurant, and more chatting with friends and swimming.
Sunday morning Brad took Madeline and Travis back to Seattle, arriving at 3 p.m. (I think). I stayed with Victoria through the swim meet at 6:30 and drove back, arriving at around 10:30 p.m. The worst weather of the entire trip was coming down Snoqualmie Pass in pouring rain, in the dark, with everyone going 70 but you couldn't slow down because you knew you would get rear-ended if you did because everyone usually goes 90.
Fun trip - looking forward to next year!
Victoria did awesome in the swim meet, too. She got two Silver Times and is very excited about that!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I am NOT sick...
But I have been fighting getting sick. My mother and dad arrived on Friday night. We went to Anthony's for dinner. I've been here 10 years now and had never been there. Diane and I had recently had a conversation about it (something about tourist trap and how locals don't go there) so I figured we should get the tourists to go. :) It was really very good! Madeline and Victoria were with us and they were pretty well behaved especially considering how late we were there.
Saturday morning we had breakfast at home and all drove out to Snoqualmie Falls. Travis was with mother and I and Madeline proceeded to scare us all to death when she ran away from Brad "towards me" and went the wrong way. No harm done but it was nerve-wrecking. Afterwards we went to a Mexican restaurant in downtown Snoqualmie - all the "cute cafes" don't have seating for seven. We looked at the trains but didn't go into the museum as it was absolutely freezing. We picked up yummy Chinese that night for dinner - they have these candied walnut prawns that are sooo good and probably have 3000 calories in a serving.
On Sunday they went to church and once home we took a drive out to the Edmonds Ferry dock and park. That area is my Dad's favorite in Seattle. Again, it was freezing. The kids played in the cold sand and mom and I sat in the car while the boys had to chase them around. Too cold! We had Ivar's for lunch and Brad tried to get the three kidlets to sit at their own table - Ha! Much screeching ensued. I made a roast for dinner that night and a from-scratch apple pie. I make awesome pies but don't do it as often as I used to make them.
Monday I took both the parents and the girls to gymnastics. The girls did very well and listened, something that Madeline has been working on very hard. She's about ready to move up to the next level so we'll see what happens. We went to Third Place Books and I found a Robert Sambuda book I don't have - The 12 Days of Christmas
. We then went home and picked up Brad, then drove down to Hot Iron, which is one of those restaurants where you bowl up your own stir fry and then it's cooked for you.
I left to girls at home for Brad to take them to swimming, then drove my parents and Travis down to the airport. We stopped in Seattle so they could buy some fudge for my brother, and also took a quick drive around the north end of capital hill so they could see the view from volunteer park and look at the conservatory. (From the outside, as my mom is allergic to pretty much all plants.) Travis fell asleep just about when we got to the airport and slept all the way home.
When we arrived home I think I slept through the next morning. I don't remember. I love my parents, but it's go, go, go and I've been so tired... Next time maybe we'll stay home more. :) I'm taking echinachea and elderberry juice and lots of vitamin C. I did go exercise yesterday and I felt better afterwards. Today I'm taking Victoria to ballet and then swimming so that will be restful.
Now I'm going to go make some coffee and do the dishes. The kids have lessons and I need to type up some stuff for MTP. Life marches onward!
Saturday morning we had breakfast at home and all drove out to Snoqualmie Falls. Travis was with mother and I and Madeline proceeded to scare us all to death when she ran away from Brad "towards me" and went the wrong way. No harm done but it was nerve-wrecking. Afterwards we went to a Mexican restaurant in downtown Snoqualmie - all the "cute cafes" don't have seating for seven. We looked at the trains but didn't go into the museum as it was absolutely freezing. We picked up yummy Chinese that night for dinner - they have these candied walnut prawns that are sooo good and probably have 3000 calories in a serving.
On Sunday they went to church and once home we took a drive out to the Edmonds Ferry dock and park. That area is my Dad's favorite in Seattle. Again, it was freezing. The kids played in the cold sand and mom and I sat in the car while the boys had to chase them around. Too cold! We had Ivar's for lunch and Brad tried to get the three kidlets to sit at their own table - Ha! Much screeching ensued. I made a roast for dinner that night and a from-scratch apple pie. I make awesome pies but don't do it as often as I used to make them.
Monday I took both the parents and the girls to gymnastics. The girls did very well and listened, something that Madeline has been working on very hard. She's about ready to move up to the next level so we'll see what happens. We went to Third Place Books and I found a Robert Sambuda book I don't have - The 12 Days of Christmas
. We then went home and picked up Brad, then drove down to Hot Iron, which is one of those restaurants where you bowl up your own stir fry and then it's cooked for you. I left to girls at home for Brad to take them to swimming, then drove my parents and Travis down to the airport. We stopped in Seattle so they could buy some fudge for my brother, and also took a quick drive around the north end of capital hill so they could see the view from volunteer park and look at the conservatory. (From the outside, as my mom is allergic to pretty much all plants.) Travis fell asleep just about when we got to the airport and slept all the way home.
When we arrived home I think I slept through the next morning. I don't remember. I love my parents, but it's go, go, go and I've been so tired... Next time maybe we'll stay home more. :) I'm taking echinachea and elderberry juice and lots of vitamin C. I did go exercise yesterday and I felt better afterwards. Today I'm taking Victoria to ballet and then swimming so that will be restful.
Now I'm going to go make some coffee and do the dishes. The kids have lessons and I need to type up some stuff for MTP. Life marches onward!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Snow, again...
I am really disliking snow the older I get.
Last night I picked up the Royal Santa again. I am working on the present box at the top of the design. Another stitcher e-mailed me this link to the Nutcracker Santa and he is just wonderful. So now I don't know which one I want more, the Nutcracker or the Wreath Santa. I would be thrilled with either.
Of course, I'm not getting either. For about the same price, a little less actually, Brad and I are getting new interior doors for the house. Yay! What great Valentine's presents for each other! :) We're buying white 6 panel doors and getting them milled so the bevel and the cutouts for the hardware will all be completed. I am truly excited. Of course, I'll have to paint them and Brad will hang them but it's still great.
Madeline and Travis were playing hide and go seek yesterday. We have a small house and there are not many places to hide, especially when your sibling counts to ten as fast as they can and are running after you before you've had a chance to climb onto the washer [again]. Victoria, dear Victoria, slammed her door on her brothers hand this time. Brad took the door off the hinges and it will stay off until the new ones come. Her new handle will lock so she can read in peace without the smaller ones coming in to bother her. It's just going to be a button lock - she does need some quiet time without people underfoot and if that means a lock it's fine. I'd rather she was in her room hiding out reading than in the only other rooms that lock, the bathrooms.
This snow is going to kill my new bulbs.
When we first moved in the pine trees were big, but not THAT big. They've all really grown. Some of my full-sun areas are now part shade. I'm planning on expanding out the back beds again this spring as well as laying down some pavers on the side of the house. I also need to either replace the side fence or add taller posts so I can have a trellis at the top for the expanding clematis.
My parents are coming up for a quick visit over the weekend. In the meantime we have a visit to the childrens museum planned, parent homeschool meeting tonight, homeschool Valentine's party tomorrow, ballet, swimming, nothing on Thursday for the kids but I have guild that evening, and Friday we're to go ice skating with the homeschool group. Whoo! At some point in there (probably Thursday) I have a couple things for finishing and then I have to make some fabric car-headrest/DVD player covers for my dad so he can take them home with them. Very exciting.
Last night I picked up the Royal Santa again. I am working on the present box at the top of the design. Another stitcher e-mailed me this link to the Nutcracker Santa and he is just wonderful. So now I don't know which one I want more, the Nutcracker or the Wreath Santa. I would be thrilled with either.
Of course, I'm not getting either. For about the same price, a little less actually, Brad and I are getting new interior doors for the house. Yay! What great Valentine's presents for each other! :) We're buying white 6 panel doors and getting them milled so the bevel and the cutouts for the hardware will all be completed. I am truly excited. Of course, I'll have to paint them and Brad will hang them but it's still great.
Madeline and Travis were playing hide and go seek yesterday. We have a small house and there are not many places to hide, especially when your sibling counts to ten as fast as they can and are running after you before you've had a chance to climb onto the washer [again]. Victoria, dear Victoria, slammed her door on her brothers hand this time. Brad took the door off the hinges and it will stay off until the new ones come. Her new handle will lock so she can read in peace without the smaller ones coming in to bother her. It's just going to be a button lock - she does need some quiet time without people underfoot and if that means a lock it's fine. I'd rather she was in her room hiding out reading than in the only other rooms that lock, the bathrooms.
This snow is going to kill my new bulbs.
When we first moved in the pine trees were big, but not THAT big. They've all really grown. Some of my full-sun areas are now part shade. I'm planning on expanding out the back beds again this spring as well as laying down some pavers on the side of the house. I also need to either replace the side fence or add taller posts so I can have a trellis at the top for the expanding clematis.
My parents are coming up for a quick visit over the weekend. In the meantime we have a visit to the childrens museum planned, parent homeschool meeting tonight, homeschool Valentine's party tomorrow, ballet, swimming, nothing on Thursday for the kids but I have guild that evening, and Friday we're to go ice skating with the homeschool group. Whoo! At some point in there (probably Thursday) I have a couple things for finishing and then I have to make some fabric car-headrest/DVD player covers for my dad so he can take them home with them. Very exciting.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Life marching onwards...
I've been busy, but not overwhelmingly so. Just the continued shedule after a nice break for the holidays. The girls have their few activities - Victoria will "graduate" from speech therapy this week - yay! Madeline will continue onwards and will go for one hour instead of 45 minutes.
We've been consistent with their lessons as well so that keeps us busy. We started a Logic program with Victoria this week; she thinks it's "fun" and I suppose it would be. Like the child needs more lessons in how to argue.
I've been doing a bit more odds and ends for people. This week I made curtains for a neighbors' living room and I've been doing some Outlook work for another person. I like the odds and ends - they get me out of the house and bring in some small income. I have a few finishing projects I need to get completed and I'm hoping my Master Teacher stuff will get back soon so I can get stitching on that. I have another line drawing I need to submit as well....
We went to the zoo today and it was *supposed* to be in the low 50's. It was absolutely frigid. Bleh. Better cold than snow, though! The animals were out and about but we went through the insect and reptile houses where it was nice and warm.
Yesterday was book report lunch. Madeline showed her bead fusing craft that she made. Victoria presented a two-page report about Bill and Hillary Clinton. She did a great job. She loves to learn about the US Presidents and devours pretty much any biography at the library. I'm thrilled that they gave them their own [large] section. She also likes to read about the first ladies and of course leaders from other countries or from history, ie Constantine, etc.
I went to a presentation on Tuesday night about homeschooling through high school and how, in addition to the bookwork done with textbooks or in science classes, you keep track of the time and effort your child spends on independent interests. Therefore since Victoria spends at least 5 hours a week reading about the presidents after 8 months I could say she earned 1 credit on U.S. Politics. ;-) Studying the Egyptians for months at a time like Madeline does would be Ancient Egyptian History. It was a fun presentation - of course some of the laws will be varied slightly by the time we get to that stage but in truth she will need a transcript in, oh 7 years. She's over half way there! ;-)
Anyway, tonight I have a headache so I'm going to play Playmobil with the kids and perhaps stitch a bit later. Tomorrow I'm going to a client's house to help her type and format a personal cookbook. Fun! :)
We've been consistent with their lessons as well so that keeps us busy. We started a Logic program with Victoria this week; she thinks it's "fun" and I suppose it would be. Like the child needs more lessons in how to argue.
I've been doing a bit more odds and ends for people. This week I made curtains for a neighbors' living room and I've been doing some Outlook work for another person. I like the odds and ends - they get me out of the house and bring in some small income. I have a few finishing projects I need to get completed and I'm hoping my Master Teacher stuff will get back soon so I can get stitching on that. I have another line drawing I need to submit as well....
We went to the zoo today and it was *supposed* to be in the low 50's. It was absolutely frigid. Bleh. Better cold than snow, though! The animals were out and about but we went through the insect and reptile houses where it was nice and warm.
Yesterday was book report lunch. Madeline showed her bead fusing craft that she made. Victoria presented a two-page report about Bill and Hillary Clinton. She did a great job. She loves to learn about the US Presidents and devours pretty much any biography at the library. I'm thrilled that they gave them their own [large] section. She also likes to read about the first ladies and of course leaders from other countries or from history, ie Constantine, etc.
I went to a presentation on Tuesday night about homeschooling through high school and how, in addition to the bookwork done with textbooks or in science classes, you keep track of the time and effort your child spends on independent interests. Therefore since Victoria spends at least 5 hours a week reading about the presidents after 8 months I could say she earned 1 credit on U.S. Politics. ;-) Studying the Egyptians for months at a time like Madeline does would be Ancient Egyptian History. It was a fun presentation - of course some of the laws will be varied slightly by the time we get to that stage but in truth she will need a transcript in, oh 7 years. She's over half way there! ;-)
Anyway, tonight I have a headache so I'm going to play Playmobil with the kids and perhaps stitch a bit later. Tomorrow I'm going to a client's house to help her type and format a personal cookbook. Fun! :)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Happy Christmas!
The children have had a great day. We had a nice dinner yesterday and they went to bed around 10 p.m. Brad and I stayed up and watched Disturbia, some Hallmark movie, The Family Christmas, I think, and also I watched The Dish. I love the Dish. All my reality TV and celeb updates (that I shouldn't care about but are funny) in 23 snarky minutes.
After we were sure that they were asleep we set out all the presents that have been in the corner of the garage, and also stuffed the stockings. We went to bed around 2-ish.
Alarm goes off at 8 and no kids are awake! I felt sure that they would be up before us... We made coffee and read until they got up around 9. They were thrilled with their presents. Each child received lovely gifts and lots of fun things to play with. Madeline and Victoria traded a few things. ;-)
Hallie and Greg arrived around 11. They played with the kidlets, opened a few gifts, and we had a lovely lunch. They are so good with the kids (which is good, because they get them if Brad and I both kick the bucket). Travis was thrilled to give Greg lots of fake shots with his fake Doctor kit. I found that particularly ironic.
After they left I read some more... the kids are playing and I think Brad is dozing on the couch. It was a long night! We're having leftovers for dinner and I am NOT going shopping tomorrow. We have at least a foot of snow on the ground and it's going to take forever to melt. My poor plants! I'm wondering how many years of this "unusually cold weather" we will have before Sunset starts changing people's zone recommendations for planting.
After we were sure that they were asleep we set out all the presents that have been in the corner of the garage, and also stuffed the stockings. We went to bed around 2-ish.
Alarm goes off at 8 and no kids are awake! I felt sure that they would be up before us... We made coffee and read until they got up around 9. They were thrilled with their presents. Each child received lovely gifts and lots of fun things to play with. Madeline and Victoria traded a few things. ;-)
Hallie and Greg arrived around 11. They played with the kidlets, opened a few gifts, and we had a lovely lunch. They are so good with the kids (which is good, because they get them if Brad and I both kick the bucket). Travis was thrilled to give Greg lots of fake shots with his fake Doctor kit. I found that particularly ironic.
After they left I read some more... the kids are playing and I think Brad is dozing on the couch. It was a long night! We're having leftovers for dinner and I am NOT going shopping tomorrow. We have at least a foot of snow on the ground and it's going to take forever to melt. My poor plants! I'm wondering how many years of this "unusually cold weather" we will have before Sunset starts changing people's zone recommendations for planting.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
First snow of winter...
It does make everything look lovely for a few hours.
Then the children get out there and you end up with lots of pathways, tumbledown snowmen, and strips of green grass. They enjoy it though! The roads on Monday were awful - very icy with people going to fast. I've really glad I have new tires on my van! The girls are still doing gymnastics and are enjoying it a lot.
Then the children get out there and you end up with lots of pathways, tumbledown snowmen, and strips of green grass. They enjoy it though! The roads on Monday were awful - very icy with people going to fast. I've really glad I have new tires on my van! The girls are still doing gymnastics and are enjoying it a lot.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Happy Birthday, Madeline!
I'm sorry Travis took a swipe off the frosting before you got a chance to blow out the candle!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Life in the fall...
The leaves are dropping on the grass. I hate to rake but Victoria loves it. Perhaps I'll send her out tomorrow! I'm glad I was able to get my bulbs planted on Saturday as it's been overcast and grey since then. My lovely gladioulus plants never bloomed; the summer was too wet. I didn't have to water my lawn *once* this summer.
The winter pansies and the fuschia are still going strong. I'm not sure what I will do with all the fuschia. I think most of them are hardy and will winter over but I'm sure being in pots will kill them. I think I can plant them in one of the pocket gardens and then transplant them back into pots in the spring. That will be my project on the next sunny day.
I took the girls to the children's museum yesterday with some friends. It was lovely and calm - the toddler set was there when we first arrived but they cleared out by 12:30 as the mothers take the toddlers home for naps. Today we did lessons (math, handwriting, reading) and are going to go to the post office, drop off checks for Denise the organizer (lady I ebay stuff for), then ballet and swimming. Travis gets to stay home and play with Brad. I enjoy the time at ballet and swimming as it is uninterrupted stitching time. I need to get working on my MTP so I'll be on that tomorrow.
Yesterday I finished most of the top on my star quilt. I have to add the narrow border. I'm going to try something new - on other quilts I've just sewn on the border and that was that. BUT I saw on one of the quilting shows, or maybe I read it in a quilt book, that I should MEASURE the quilt and then cut the strips and sew on the border. You apparently measure across the center of the quilt, not along the border, then pin the border on and sew. The advantage is it squares your quilt and you won't have wavy edges. We'll see if it works. I have definately gotten better in my piecing over the years. I look at some of my early pieces and whoa, they weren't the greatest. It's the same with needlework, though, you get more experienced with time.
Unfortunately, all my recent quilts just go in a bag underneath the bed as I can't afford to get them quilted, nor to I have the money for a long arm machine. And yes, I've quilted on my regular sewing machine and basically ruined a couple of tops that way. It's fine for little quilts but nothing sizeable. Someday I'll be able to buy a long arm machine. :)
Anyway, enough rambling. Time to head out!
The winter pansies and the fuschia are still going strong. I'm not sure what I will do with all the fuschia. I think most of them are hardy and will winter over but I'm sure being in pots will kill them. I think I can plant them in one of the pocket gardens and then transplant them back into pots in the spring. That will be my project on the next sunny day.
I took the girls to the children's museum yesterday with some friends. It was lovely and calm - the toddler set was there when we first arrived but they cleared out by 12:30 as the mothers take the toddlers home for naps. Today we did lessons (math, handwriting, reading) and are going to go to the post office, drop off checks for Denise the organizer (lady I ebay stuff for), then ballet and swimming. Travis gets to stay home and play with Brad. I enjoy the time at ballet and swimming as it is uninterrupted stitching time. I need to get working on my MTP so I'll be on that tomorrow.
Yesterday I finished most of the top on my star quilt. I have to add the narrow border. I'm going to try something new - on other quilts I've just sewn on the border and that was that. BUT I saw on one of the quilting shows, or maybe I read it in a quilt book, that I should MEASURE the quilt and then cut the strips and sew on the border. You apparently measure across the center of the quilt, not along the border, then pin the border on and sew. The advantage is it squares your quilt and you won't have wavy edges. We'll see if it works. I have definately gotten better in my piecing over the years. I look at some of my early pieces and whoa, they weren't the greatest. It's the same with needlework, though, you get more experienced with time.
Unfortunately, all my recent quilts just go in a bag underneath the bed as I can't afford to get them quilted, nor to I have the money for a long arm machine. And yes, I've quilted on my regular sewing machine and basically ruined a couple of tops that way. It's fine for little quilts but nothing sizeable. Someday I'll be able to buy a long arm machine. :)
Anyway, enough rambling. Time to head out!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Weekend Update...
I did get out in the garden yesterday and planted bulbs. It started with me putting away laundry in the bedroom. I happened to glance out the window at the girls and saw that my button jar was out on the playset ground. I called to Victoria to pick it up and bring it inside and that is when I realized that it was only 25% full. I asked where the buttons were and was told they were on the picnic table. How exciting! I told the girls to start picking them up.
Since it *was* a sunny day I went ahead and put on my gardening clothes (because I've learned I have to change before I go out and "just do one thing") and collected my shovel, wheelbarrow, and the bulbs. Thus, while the girls were picking buttons from the bark, grass, and playset and putting them back in the jar, I dug the back flower bed down 6", pulled the old bulbs out, divided those that needed to be divided and replanted them. I also planted 201 new bulbs in the back bed. I then planted 50 bulbs in my new-this-year full sun perennial garden, and 60 bulbs in the front yard's two beds. It should look nice in the spring! That's a total of 311 new bulbs.
In the back I'll have Negrita tulips, white double daffodils, purple and dark pink tulips, more purple crocus, some tall Alliums, and whatever I planted the year before. In the front I'll have 60 more stunning red tulips, added to the ones I had last year. :)
I also did a bit of piecing on my star quilt. The blocks and the sashing is done. Today I'll make the block strips and perhaps I'll get it pieced together. Whew! This has been, by far, the more time-consuming quilt I've ever made. Up next? Who knows! Either the silk folding quilt or the log cabin rainbow quilt.
Now, though, I have to go check the dishes and change the diapers in the wash and start dinner and read with the kids.... and and and. Someone asked me the other day how I get stuff done and I honestly don't know any more!
As a last note I received my Oriental Poppies back from Pat Van Cleve. She wrote me a great letter about things I could improve and things I did great on. Very positive! I'm glad I finished the piece in time for the critique. And now I have points for my MTP. :)
Since it *was* a sunny day I went ahead and put on my gardening clothes (because I've learned I have to change before I go out and "just do one thing") and collected my shovel, wheelbarrow, and the bulbs. Thus, while the girls were picking buttons from the bark, grass, and playset and putting them back in the jar, I dug the back flower bed down 6", pulled the old bulbs out, divided those that needed to be divided and replanted them. I also planted 201 new bulbs in the back bed. I then planted 50 bulbs in my new-this-year full sun perennial garden, and 60 bulbs in the front yard's two beds. It should look nice in the spring! That's a total of 311 new bulbs.
In the back I'll have Negrita tulips, white double daffodils, purple and dark pink tulips, more purple crocus, some tall Alliums, and whatever I planted the year before. In the front I'll have 60 more stunning red tulips, added to the ones I had last year. :)
I also did a bit of piecing on my star quilt. The blocks and the sashing is done. Today I'll make the block strips and perhaps I'll get it pieced together. Whew! This has been, by far, the more time-consuming quilt I've ever made. Up next? Who knows! Either the silk folding quilt or the log cabin rainbow quilt.
Now, though, I have to go check the dishes and change the diapers in the wash and start dinner and read with the kids.... and and and. Someone asked me the other day how I get stuff done and I honestly don't know any more!
As a last note I received my Oriental Poppies back from Pat Van Cleve. She wrote me a great letter about things I could improve and things I did great on. Very positive! I'm glad I finished the piece in time for the critique. And now I have points for my MTP. :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
More of the same…
It’s funny how we keep ourselves busy with stuff that “needs” to get done. I often hear adults say “It’s good for kids to be bored.” They say this in regards to kids being overscheduled and how important it is that they learn to entertain themselves. Now, I don’t think my kids are overscheduled, nor do I think they can’t entertain themselves. Certainly, though, they sometimes need to be told to “go play” or “go read”. So there, my solution to the bored child. :)
I myself am never bored. I always feel like there is something to be done or someone that needs attention. I always have a project with me to put a few stitches in or a book that I can read a few pages from. If only there were more time in the day! Or just less time to have to clean…
My star quilt is coming along, slowly but surely. Twister is making progress. Finishing is a never ending circuit, as are ebay sales and stuff to mail and kids to clean and laundry to do and… and… and… Keeping the notebook of lists *is* helping but I know I’ll never catch up.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Rainy weekends, sunny weeks…
Today is looking up to be a lovely day. A bit cool, perhaps, but sunny! I truly feel I haven’t built up my vitamin stores for the winter ahead.
Saturday Brad and I took the kids up to the Stanwood Harvest Festival. It was raining so we had boots and sweaters and the like. Of the 20 or so stops we planned on visiting five. We actually made it to four. The first stop was an Alpaca farm right off exit 212. The kids looked at the animals and the bags of unspun wool. I looked at the mud everywhere. Back at the car we took off boots before getting in the van (I’d forgotten my rubbermaid bin I usually keep in the car to keep boots in) and I stood them on a rain jacket.
The next stop was the feed store. Outside they had tents with local vendors. We bought some berries and apples and looked at the crafts for sale. Victoria guessed 80 pounds on the giant cabbage. (I’d say closer to 12 lbs.)
After the feed store we drove out to the CSA farm we buy from. They had tractors displayed, the kids were able to ride a wagon ride with draft horses, and we looked at the vegetables growing. I made a mental note to wash things better before I eat them. The honey display was interesting and the cookies were delicious. Travis’ favorite part was the toddler hay bale maze. The grain separator was very loud and the grinder was worse. Two of the three kids were thrilled with the noise but I thought Madeline was going to squeeze her head flat she was pressing her ears so much. Poor little kidlet. They also had a petting zoo with sheep which was very popular with the little ones.
Our next stop was the “Stay Green Nursery”. There was no one there. Brad and I were leaving and the owner’s mother came out. She thanked me for coming, we chatted about spiders and I looked at the beautiful Pitcher Plants and Cobra lily. Pretty much everything else was done blooming and headed into dormancy. I’d love to say I’ll get up there again next year but it’s at least a 45 minute drive.
The last stop was another nursery, but at this point the kids were muddied up terribly, tired, and cranky. We drove by lots of lakes on the way home and it was a lovely drive.
Later that evening I finished Twister. Wahoo. (Pictures later.)
Sunday we had a really fun birthday party to attend at the giant bouncy house place here in Everett. The kids had a grand time. We met up with Diane and Hallie and Greg for dinner. It was really very good and I have no desire to know the caloric content of the lobster ravioli with asparagus in butter that I ate. Delicious. The kids pizza was terrible but the noodles and salad were good.
Today we did lessons and now we have gymnastics, and the post office…. and it’s sunny. Perhaps we’ll shove off and hit the beach.
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