Beach Day!

As you know, it's been hotter than hot here lately so Marlene and I thought it would be fun to head to the beach for the day on Saturday. The kids were so excited that all week we heard "How many more days?" We planned out what we would do so we could make the most of our limited hours. Friday night I packed up the car and Saturday morning we were on the road by 8am. Luckily we didn't run into too much traffic...no stalled cars or RV's needing rv repairs...just smooth sailing for us.

We reached Cannon Beach by 10 and were soon happily eating at the Pig-n-Pancake (no secret - it's my favorite place to eat). After breakfast we walked around town and in and out of shops. The kids all got some small things and I even bought a few things for myself - like a really cool starfish necklace.

We stayed in Cannon Beach for a few hours and then we headed into Seaside which is definitely the more "kid centered" beach town. We hit all the regulars like the merry-go-round, the train and pedal cars and the arcade (and yes, Pig-n-Pancake again for lunch). Finally, much to the happiness of the three kids, it was time to hit the sand. We saved the beach itself for last since I knew the kids would be wet, sandy messes once we were there....and I was not wrong. At one point, Kelton buried himself in the sand. What a lovely mess. :)

We had a fantastic day and it was hard for us to leave. We headed out of town around 8pm (the kids voted and we ended up having dinner at the Pig-n-Pancake too) and finally arrived home around 11 (we stopped in Longview to watch a huge fireworks display). The kids had all fallen asleep on the drive home so we carried them into the house and tucked them into their beds.

It was such a good day...and you know it was a great photo op! Here are some of the 150 pictures I took. :)

More from the Sun-shiny Day

I meant to get back here a bit sooner than this but the children started complaining they were hungry which meant I needed to feed them though honestly, I don't know why I continue to do that. They eat, it gives them energy to drive me crazy and it helps them outgrow their clothes which means I have to figure out how to get them bigger sizes. See? No good comes of feeding them. :)

After a good lunch, they are back in the pool enjoying staying cool. The really funny thing is they wanted to come back outside because they were cold inside. Really? Cold inside the house? It's 70 degrees and PERFECT in the house. Yeah yeah...but that's what I like it to be. I admire all of you who run your a/c and keep it in the upper 70's but that isn't me and never has been.

So they think it's cold in the house but you know, I'm ok with that because it means they are outside and not sitting around playing their DS's and Leapsters. So really? It works out perfectly. And bonus! They are so tired at the end of the day that they are happy to fall into bed at bedtime without complaint. Well...without much complaint.

Ok seriously? The kids are pretending that the pool is a toilet and are "flushing" each other. What does that mean? I should peek around the bush and see what they are doing because listening to them? It's dang funny. Who knows what games await them as the day goes by. Perhaps they will pretend to be Pokemon characters again. Maybe magic travelers who pop up in different places every time they dive under the water (yes, they played those yesterday) or maybe something beyond my wildest dreams. I love these ages. More playing together, less fighting and Mommy even gets to enjoy some quiet time.

Sunshine-y Day!

Another summer day. I've done all that I need to do (chores and job searching/applying) and now I am settling in to enjoy the rest of the day. I'm sitting on the patio listening to the kids have conversations about heaven, hell, angels and God. It's actually very interesting how they process the things they have been told. I love eavesdropping to their conversations - it's actually very enlightening. Sometimes the level of conversation stuns me - they can be very insightful.

Ok - conversation time is over and now they are playing some strange game. I'm pretty sure that, if they aren't careful, I may need to look into disability insurance for them. Holy cow - they are so rough when they play.

The mosquitoes this year have been thick and nasty. They are everywhere and apparently they find Kaylen and I to be quite tasty. I have been using bug spray on me but it doesn't stop all of them. I have noticed that mosquitoes have gotten worse through the years. Where are all the bats that should be gobbling them up? This is crazy and so not pleasant.

Ooops..kids are on the move. Need to grab towels for them. More later.

Pool Time!

The kids have been living in the pool. It's the biggest one they have had to date and they are loving all the room to splash and swim around. They have many pool toys to keep them floating and squealing with happiness. They even each have their own air mattress for quiet floating when they want to rest to catch their breath though rarely does that happen. Mostly it's just squealing and having fun. I have to say, that is the one thing I love dearly about summertime: kids in the yard having fun playing. Not to mention that the house feels bigger when you have the yard as part of your living space. :)

Here are a few photos of my water babies:

Yesterday afternoon Marlene was done with work early so she and Andrew took us to Esther Short Park to play in the water. The kids had a blast and I have to admit, event though I hate, hate, hate being splashed with water, even *I* had a good time! I was pretty wet there for a while but the heat took care of that in no time. :)


Summertime! It appears to finally be here.

Hot Hot Hot

It's hot. Really hot. Mother Nature threw us for a loop by keeping us in long pants and rain jackets as we complained about the wet cool weather and then knocking us into the skillet with temperatures nearing 100. Seriously, people - we went up 40 some degrees in a matter of days and here we stay. It's hot hot hot. And let's refresh for those of you who don't remember: Casey HATES hot weather. Case in point, when our house heating system went out four years ago I waged a battle of the wills to pay a little more to have a heat pump installed instead of just a furnace. Heat pumps, for those not in the know, are units that does both heat and a/c. Best investment EVER. (And for the record, it wasn't hard at all to sway Dakota. It's not like I bullied her or anything.)

When the temps get hot it's hard to get cooled if your house is just as hot (or hotter) than outside. I find I am a much nicer person when I can cool my core temperature. If I am hot and miserable......well....that just isn't pretty.

There is one good thing about the heat though....it's one of the only diets that work for me. My appetite is non-existent in heat. I guess that's a bonus now, isn't it? :)

The kids have been living in the pool. From where I sit I can hear the happy sounds of them splashing in the water. Normally I would be sitting at my guard post but because of the size of the pool, it is where it can't be seen in the afternoon unless you are sitting directly in the sun. And let's remember: Casey doesn't do hot weather. The surest way to make my throw up is putting me in direct sun for too long.

So - I have the door open listening to their every word. I can get out there in mere seconds. I would never, ever have done this when they were younger but it feels ok this year.

I have some photos to post. I just need to upload them. Maybe I'll do that next. I hope you are all enjoying your summer day....no matter what you are doing.

Wednesday

I woke to another beautiful Pacific Northwest summer morning. Blue skies, birds singing....but otherwise quiet and still. The kids are still sleeping - which is amazing and wonderful. They played hard yesterday in the pool for most of the day - plus Kaylen seems to be developing a cold (oh yay.) so they were tired little puppies last night.

As for me - I have an overwhelming sense of peace and calm. After a year of constant turmoil and chaos, this is a welcome feeling. Yes, I'm still stressed about certain things but this morning? This morning calm and peaceful wins out.

Last night Dakota was here with the kids so Marlene and I headed down to a favorite place, Beaches, and enjoyed dinner on the terrace overlooking the river. We were just sitting down when I noticed that a friend, Jennifer, and her son were seated at the table next to us. We scooted the tables closer together and enjoyed a conversation (this was the first time M and J had met) as we took in the sights and sounds of a warm summer evening.



After dinner, we headed into Portland for a bit and then stopped at Dairy Queen to enjoy a Blizzard and then it was time to go come home to switch places with Dakota. Tonight Dakota will be here again (instead of her usual Thursday) as she will be flying out of state late tonight and won't be back until next week and tonight will be an even hotter summer night to enjoy.

I hear Kaylen stirring in the other room. Time to get this day underway. Stay cool if it's hot where you are, stay dry if you have rain but above all else, enjoy your day! I know I plan to.

The Weekend Rocked!

I had a fantastic weekend from start to finish. I did really miss my kids yesterday as it was the first time in their lives I was away from them on the 4th of July but I still had a really good day.

Friday night Marlene and our friend, Cande, went out to a local lesbian bar and had a blast! Marlene and Cande danced for hours and I had a great time people watching (I don't like to dance so it was perfect for me). We stayed out late and really had fun.

Saturday Marlene's son was dropped off in the morning and we spent the day running errands and looking at new cars (Marlene is in the market for a new vehicle). Andrew and I were pretty much bored silly by the car shopping but we managed to turn it into a fun time just the same.

Later that evening we went to celebrate Marlene's mom's 83rd birthday. It was not my first time meeting the family so this time I was a bit more relaxed and had a good time texting Marlene's sister from my end of the table.

Yesterday, the 4th of July, we picked up Andrew and headed out for a drive up the gorge via the scenic route. Oh my gosh - it was breath taking! I took a bunch of photos and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

After exploring the gorge, we landed back in Cascade Locke to watch the fireworks display and let me tell you - we were not disappointed. WOW! We already are making plans for taking Kelton and Kaylen with us for next year. I think they would really love it.

Here are some photos of my day. It was an amazingly wonderful weekend and I am very, very, very happy. Life never ceases to amaze me.

Holding on tight

I have been on a roller coaster of emotions the past little while: mostly tied in with jobs (well - the lack there of) and money (also the lack there of). Every day I sit at this computer for hours searching through new postings on job boards and, when I find ones I am qualified for, reworking cover letters and submitting resumes and cover letters in the hopes that *someone* will see the potential I have.

Make no mistake: it's hard work. And very frustrating, saddening and maddening. Eight years out of the work force while I raised my babies into the amazing little people they are doesn't seem to count for much in the real world....which sucks since children who are well loved and raised well are a tremendous asset to the world. There should be extreme value placed on the job I have been doing. These children didn't become the intelligent amazing people they are by magic. It is a ton of sweat the tears on the part of me, an incredibly dedicated mother.

(Please note: this is not to say parents who didn't or don't stay home to raise kids have anything less than amazing children as well. It's just.....different. I sacrificed everything I had and was to raise these kids 24/7. My world was/is the two of them and that is my reality. One of the sacrifices I made was walking away from a very fulfilling, very well paying job on the day I went into labor with Kelton and that sacrifice is the one holding me back now. It's hard for people to look past an 8 year gap.)

Anyway.....as I search for jobs to apply for I am struck by the fact of the other things I would so much rather be doing: baking banana bread, playing Princess Games with Kaylen, watching Kelton play the Wii, helping them with the summer school work. Just about anything other than sitting here hoping and praying for enough positions to apply for to meet my personal daily goal. Oh heck - I'd even rather be reading or writing prevera reviews.

Sure, job searching doesn't take all day. There is still time to do the other things it's just that my thoughts are consumed with needing to find a job and all the stress that goes along with that simple statement which makes it very difficult to sit back and enjoy the time I still have to spend with my babies.

Life. It's an ever evolving roller coaster ride. Nothing is constant but change...and all that.