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Oh, Baby!

Last week I had the opportunity to spend time with some of my favorite people. I left Edmonds and headed towards Anacortes. I first stopped in Arlington to visit Lara, Marc, & Arco (Larco = new nickname) at their new pad. After a quick walk and Sydney acting like a wimp around Arco, I headed to A-Town.

Once I hit the Elvrum Ranch, My mom and I took a  walk around the gardens and property. I instantly noticed how healthy her apples looked in comparison to the ones on our tree. What does she really do to her plants/gardens? Eventually we were joined by Midge and Genevieve. It took them nearly 2 hours to get from town to my parent’s house due to the Oyster Run.  Luckily, Genevieve made a delicious cherry pie in honor of the debates and we were able to chow down. I love Obama Pie.

The next day I spent my time holding/loving adorable babies. Erin and Suzanna both have babies that are a few months apart and we introduced them. They weren’t too interested in conversing yet, but more into being held, nuzzled & changed. We spent much of our time talking about old times and what we are up to now.

Erin lives in Colorado and so I hardly get to see her. I’m so glad she was up for a few days and that I got a chance to meet Mara. She’s got Erin’s eyes, Karl’s hair and is beautiful as ever. I wish those Wolfswinkels would move back to Washington already! Suzanna has already granted my wish and moved back to the PNW. Her son Carter is relaxed, talkative, and very squishy. I’m trying to convince Suzanna that Carter dress up as an Olympic Weight Lifter for Halloween. Both Carter and Mara were so sweet, aware and adorable.

A trip to Anacortes would not be the same without my dad playing with the dog pound or a walk to the mail boxes with my mom. Eventually everyone parted ways and I made my way back to Edmonds….time well spent, I tell you.

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Vacation

My original intent with this post was to mention how beautiful our garden is right now. So many things are putting on a show, as my mom likes to say. I’ve been on vacation or in Anacortes for the past two weeks and I love coming home to see new color, shapes and blossoms popping up. It is surprising what has popped up; things that I thought were gone, but decided to wait and see are now making me smile.

While in Anacortes I had an opportunity to hang out with friends that I rarely see. Kara had a party in my honor and did not disappoint from start to finish. From crab, salmon and a special version of Know-Yr-Own to a late night with lots of laughs, many memories were created. (KXPX, anyone?)

At one point we were floating around Trafton on The Party Barge (Yes, The Party Barge) turning circles and screaming as if our lives depended on it. It was a flashback to my childhood and I realized how amazing all my friends are. (I’m lacking pictures from these hours….they would’ve been good ones. Lara, Deb & Nicole took over and manned the PB (Party Barge in case you are wondering) like sailors.

Cora and Chaya are troopers to the extreme. They showed up a bit late because Chach had to work and so they didn’t get to get on The Party Barge when the rest of us piled on. Needless to say, C&C showed about the same time us Party Bargers had figured out how to steer and were happily floating in the middle of the lake. Did that hold back my wonderful cousins back from enjoying The Party Barge? Nope, not the Glass sisters!! After yelling back and forth across the lake they (They meaning Chaya, as there was only one paddle, Cora sat in the front of the boat deciphering our shrieks from the Barge.) canoed out to the middle of the lake to join us. I’m sure all the neighbors loved listening to a bunch of 20 somethings (okay, we’re mostly closer to 30) squeak, squawk and bellow to our heart’s content. Thanks to Shirley who provided us with her house and Party Barge.

Beyond being on the lake at Shirley’s, we had a fabulous night. Many, many stories. Not many are blog appropriate. (one word: Tiffin) I’ve realized that it is easy to go on vacation or do something super fun and exciting, but coming back and typing about it is a whole different thing. Once I attempt to write about the Oregon Coast, New York or gardening with my mom, I become acutely aware that I am no longer on vacation or doing the thing that made me want to write about it in the first place. That said, I’m off to do something else.

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Are You Hip?

SydSydney and I went up to Anacortes for this past week. I had Spring Break (Whooeee, Spring Break ’08!!) and my mom had hip surgery. Plus, thThe Printeris was a time that I was able to meet with my brother to talk in depth about wedding invitations. (We finished printing them!)

Everything went really well for my mom’s hip replacement, but it was kind of surreal to see my mom, whose nickname is Fidget, in the hospital. I had the opportunity to see her hip joint, which looked like a small bald alien head. She’s been plugging away with bone rubbing on bone, ouch. Queen Janet is home now and doing awesome!! Nurse Sydney nursed her though the rough, tough times. Notice the crown?

dsc023291.JPGMy mom was not the only thing getting wacked back at the Elvrums’ North home. My parents are having a bunch of trees cut down to increase the amount of sun light that hits their porch. It doesn’t look as shocking as I was expecting, but the loggers aren’t done yet, so it could be a significant amount.