Thunderstorm!

The kids went to the pool at 5:30, and at 7:00 I heard thunder, so left to retrieve them. There were huge drops of cold rain falling, and it was - still is - hot and humid otherwise. Lots of lightning.

Rian stayed for dinner and I made omelettes, and then we had a 5-person game of hearts. I was losing the entire game, but Andrew managed to lose it at the end. Susy won, and Rian was just happy she beat Andrew.
Mali collapsed into her bed, very tired. I may let her sleep in tomorrow and skip swim team. She may be growing, she's been sleeping a lot lately, and very tired otherwise.

Saturday night, still hot.

Mali and I had BLTs for dinner, and Susy made us shortcake to go with the strawberries, and we all watched the Olympic Track&Field trials while we ate dessert.
Between dinner and dessert Andrew taught us how to play Spades. We almost finished, but everyone was getting tired - and eager for dessert.

Still Saturday, Now Hotter

Susy and I left the kids watching a movie and went to the Beaverton Farmer's Market. We bought strawberries! and lots of vegetables. Also some supposedly healthy baklava - which is really good, not too sweet, with tons of pistachios. Also two basil plants, in case I get excited and want to plant something. It's still too hot to do anything resembling work outside, but maybe later tonight or early tomorrow morning I may get inspired. Dad has promised me some tomato seedlings from his greenhouse on our visit for July 4th.

Crazy Andrew is bored enough to go running. He just called and is now heading over to Rian's. Mali and Rachel finished their sugar cookies with real cream cheese and strawberry frosting, and walked up to the school playground. Mari-Fay wants to know if Rachel has moved in yet. Susy and I got a nice little nap in. She's still sleeping, and I'm up and sorting work out (so of course here I am...)

Hot Saturday!

I went running this morning at 8:00, and it was already sunny and hot outside. I made it slightly over 2 miles away, to Andrew's High School, stretched out at the rec center there and walked/jogged back.
I came home to discover Mali outside painting more of the inside of her playhouse. She's tearing into that project. And Moose is up, and fed.
I don't see anyone else getting up anytime soon.
Wait: Susy up before 11:00! Andrew may sleep well past noon - he's been tired and grouchy lately, and stayed up late last night watching the Olympic Trials.

Get Smart

We went to see Get Smart tonight. It was much better than I thought it would be. It was funny and cute and well done.

Mali had Rachel over today and they made chocolate brownie pies from the Jiffy mix we got at the Jiffy factory in Chelsea. Then they painted the inside of the playhouse/treehouse/shed with the leftover crazy colors from inside of the house.

Rian had a Della day, so Andrew watched TV after his class, and then went to the pool this afternoon to practice. Now he is upstairs watching the Olympic trials for track, which he's been waiting for all day.

Kid Summer

The weather is beautiful here, and the kids are having a great time. Susy and I continue to work.
Yesterday after his history class, Andrew went for a picnic at Cannon Beach with Eric's family. Rian went too. He probably got a little too much sun, but he had a good time doing beach things.
He got home at 7:00 just as Mali left with Lilly and Zoë for a game night at Zoë's church. I hardly saw Mali all day - she hung out with Zoë after swim team, and then Alana took her and Zoë to get manicures. Mali's fingernails are now a neon green.
Andrew, Susy and I played three-handed cribbage (back ten) after dinner, then they headed upstairs to watch Iron Chef or something, and Mali returned around 10:00.

Home again!

We made it home last night about 6:00. We stopped by Paul and Nancy's to pick up Moose, and I stayed for dinner. They were having 3 other families over, so I snuck right in.
Today Andrew was back in his AP History intro, and Mali was back in swim team. Andrew went swimming this afternoon - he wants to stay ahead of the competition.

Rehearsal Dinner

We made it to Michigan, and spent an hour with Susy's brother Mike, getting a tour of the house (it's been 12 years since our last visit) and just hanging out until the rest of the guests arrived for lunch. Then we toured the Jiffy Mix factory in Chelsea, returned to the hotel and showered while Mali and Susy watched Aunt Sue make a belt for Mali's dress tomorrow.
We were late to the rehearsal dinner restaurant because we missed the exit, then got turned around and confused. We were not the latest, at least, and didn't miss anything, so it worked out. But we are not highly functional on such little sleep.
I got an hour of sleep when Andrew nicely sat with Susy and Mali on the Minneapolis - Detroit leg so I could have three seats to stretch out on. I think Susy got no sleep at all. Andrew has learned to sleep with no notice at all. Every time he had a moment to himself today he was sleeping.

Update

We MISSED our flight!!!! Completely crazy. Our printed itinerary was gone, and we all missed a dozen chances to figure that out. Instead we sauntered over to our gate two minutes after our plane had left.
So now we leave at midnight on the red-eye, but at least we won't miss the rehearsal dinner.

After dinner tonight we got in a game of hearts. Mali and Susy swapped places to switch the game around a bit, and Susy's chair decided to collapse about halfway through. Not her day. Now we just hang around home until 10:00 and try again to fly to Michigan.

Quickly - Summer has started!

We leave NOW for the airport to fly to Michigan for Kathy's wedding.

News: Mali's blue nevus mole-thing on her forehead POPPED strangely and came out, with help and great disgust from Mali.

Summer has started: Swim team is going, and Andrew is taking a short Summer class (two hours a day for two weeks)intro to advanced placement (AP) American History, which he will take in the Fall.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I ran this morning, and now the kids take me out to breakfast. It's been a slow, relaxing weekend. Yesterday Mali put screens up over the open windows of her playhouse. I learned when Rachel called her from Hawaii last night that they have named it Mooville.

Last Day of School!

Mali is wearing one of three smiley-face shirts that she, Hannah, and Rachel bought so they could all match on the last day of school, and they're going to have everyone sign them. Mali cleverly attached three different color short sharpies to a necklace so she'll have them with her.
She's out early today, at 2:40. Andrew will be home by 11:30. It's sunny and warm here - ~73, so maybe they'll go to the pool. Andrew was there all afternoon yesterday with Rian, Tiana, and Eric (and Tiana's charge, Cody.)

ACT Prep

Freshman take a special test to prepare for the ACT. Andrew got a perfect score (rounded up), and got a nice certificate and a nylon shoulder bag in recognition of it. He was just happy he had the highest score in his group of friends, missing only three questions total out of around 140. Matias only missed one. But it's not a competition.

Tomorrow is the last day of school!!!! The kids are very excited.

Susy's home!

And very tired. Me too. I grilled teriyaki salmon for dinner, with rice and peas - as usual. Unusual: Andrew said, "Great dinner, Dad!" Such joy I'm feeling! Andrew said he could have that for dinner every night.

Home Again!

I just returned yesterday afternoon from a good visit with First Energy in Ohio.
This morning I drive Mali to school early so she can pick up and finish some homework she forgot yesterday.

Our schedule:
Friday (today!): 21st anniversary date - starts at the Portland Art Museum and wanders from there.
Saturday: MaliSoccerGames at 8:30 and 2:30.
Sunday: Another MaliSoccerGame at 11:30, and Susy leaves for San Diego for a conference - returning late Tuesday.
Thursday: Mali's field trip to Jackson Bottom Wetlands.
Friday (next): Last Day of School - Kids home early.

Then I go to Redmond for our User's Group meeting, coming home early Thursday morning to get on a plane to Michigan for Kathy's wedding!

Game-filled Sunday

Moose and I jogged down to the drugstore this morning to pick up pills and eggs. I didn't need the eggs: for breakfast I made us smoothies with Mango Juice, bananas, and feggs. (What we call cholesterol-free liquid eggs.) It was surprisingly yummy.
Afterwards we all played Hearts - and Susy won after Mali took all the tricks.
Then Susy, Moose and I walked down to the store to get shortening so Mali could make chocolate chip yogurt cookies. We ate most of them, and then played Scattergories, which Susy always wins so usually she won't play with us, but this time Andrew won the second game!
Now I'm taking the kids to the pool, even though it's cool and cloudy outside.
UPDATE:
We swam a bunch - the pool was warmer than the air - then we sat in the hot tub for awhile. We walked home, Susy made bulgogi (Korean Teriyaki) with rice and peas and I ate waaayyyy too much. Then we played hearts again, and Andrew won after I took 25 to lose.