Snoqualmie Falls

A bonus of the trip home from the Mitchells is that we can stop and see the falls. And I've almost gotten to the point where I can look at it without thinking about a dancing dwarf or cherry pie.

Spoiled at the Sit-and-Spin

This time, I can't complain about the kid getting spoiled by his grandparents, because we got to go too! I joined Ethan at a window seat because he'd already made me promise to sit by him (lucky me!). The view from the Space Needle was a big hit. So was the dessert with dry ice fog. The most entertaining thing, though, might have been putting a penny on the ledge and waiting to make the trip back around to it. I think the food was OK...who remembers the food at a place this fun??

I sure do miss this kid!

After the funeral and various family events, we took Ethan to spend some time with his other grandparents. He is being spoiled silly: amusement park, playgrounds, science museum, movies, his cousin's cowboy birthday party, and a train trip to Seattle. (Where we get to meet him tomorrow. Can't wait!) His aunt e-mailed us party pictures last night.

It's really great to see him look so good, because last time we saw him, he had skin scraped off his face and body as well as a black eye. (Bike crash.) Pitiful, isn't it??

Here's Anita...

...and the lovely Miss Muppet. This kitty LOVES the camera. If my batteries hadn't died, I would have a whole Miss Muppet gallery!

It was great to get together with my childhood BF again! She, her house, her garden and her cat are all absolutely beautiful. Almost inspires me to go home and do some fantastic landscaping. (Naaaaaaah.... :-))

I will pose for a picture...

...but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Ethan enjoyed the MAC exhibit of the Sue T-Rex replica, but he wasn't so crazy about the dino dress-up room. I know, I'm a terrible mother.

Every cloud has a silver lining

And funerals are, at least, a great excuse for getting cousins together. Ethan has met my cousin Terry's kids once, and this was his first time to meet Eric's kids...who live in SPOKANE, for crying out loud. He is crazy about the whole bunch of them. I will do better in the future.

July 25, 2007

There is no easy way to do this, so I'm just going to put in a picture of the gravesite.
Click here for my dad's obituary.

Claire's medieval birthday (more)

Potions to concoct (even if they were too scary to drink), dances to learn, fair maidens to battle over, a guy in tights, tons of really good food...and a bunch of dads standing around discussing Linux. In other words, your usual medieval-themed event. I made the brown knight's costume in the van on the way to the party. Fortunately, it was a long drive.

Claire's medieval birthday

Country roads

Usually, the street in front of my parents' house is so busy that I'm afraid to cross it. But this week, it's all torn up and a great place for biking in the evenings. Ethan enjoys chatting with the workers during cigarette breaks.

Ethan checks out his "Dad" look

A walk up at South Fork

At the Coffey gallery

The artist with his creations...drawings of the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower.

Gnomes rule! (yup)

In the picture with the two gnomes, Claire (Gnome 9) is on the left and Ethan (Gnome 10) on the right. They were brilliant! The third kid in the Rumpelstiltskin shirt at the bottom is Claire's brother, James. Next year James wants to try out for Missoula Children's Theater too.

20 years

Yep. Those of you who know us both are probably thinking that Cliff deserves a plaque!

Neighborhood tea party

All the neighborhood little girls (and a couple of lucky boys!) were invited to Sue's backyard for a tea party.

Scooter Races

They don't call it the Fun Center for nothing

Cat Tales Kids

Therapy Cat