Renovation.

I picked up my new (their old) loveseat from Dave and Susan last night, and also visited with Dalton and Rylin. They (kids and parents) loved showing me all the new stuff in the newly remodeled downstairs of their house: new floors, paint, furniture, kitchen (great multicolored small glass tiles, and under-cabinet lights to highlight them, amazingly huge countertop slabs of granite), reconfigured bonus room. The furniture had just arrived a few days before, and the kids were still having a contest over who had sat in the new furniture first, and who was first tickled on the new carpet.

Rylin read me a (long) story she had dictated to Susan and illustrated about picking pumpkins, complete with colorful winds and a tornado. Afterwards she said, "I don't remember what my room looked like the last time you were here." And so we happily raced upstairs to see her new bed and wallflowers, though I'd seen the bed before. She said she didn't know if the new wallflowers would *ever* get put on the wall, since she'd already had them so long.
Seeing the multiple layers of clothes and toys littering the room, I asked her if a tornado had gone through - maybe a Rylin tornado. She said no, she had a friend over.
So I said, "Ah! Two tornados!" She laughed at that (placate the crazy uncle or he'll never stop.) Then she raced to show me the new bonus room layout, explaining they redid it because it was their kitchen while the new downstairs was being built. "See, here's where the table was where we ate!"
She was really animated and fun, very energetic. She was even doing little hops with each homework question she answered when I first arrived, moving around like a hummingbird, or a quick little bunny. Very cute.
Dalton was smiling the whole time (even a timeout didn't phase him.) He had a new haircut, fairly short, a big change from the long hair from the last time I saw him.

When Dave and I came back in from squeezing the loveseat into the van, BOTH kids were sitting in separate corners in timeout, and stayed there until I left, except for goodbye hugs. Susan said she wasn't interested in who started what, if they couldn't be nice to each other they were both getting timeouts. They both seemed okay with that, there was no yelling that I heard, and they were (mostly) quiet little mice in their corners. Well, Dalton tried to explain a couple of things to me, but Susan stopped him quickly each time. I think if he knows something he just cannot help but share it with the world. "Coal is a fossil, not a rock."

Amy and Stathis: The Reception.

We drove up to Mike and Anna's house Saturday for Amy and Stathis' wedding reception. Lots of folks were there, and their house was beautifully festive. I took a few photos. Below are the happy couple, and the gaggle of grandkids. Click here to see more.

Back from Redmond!

I'm back from a very quick trip to Redmond. I spent the evening with David, Susan, Dalton, and Rylin - dinner and then Halo3 with Dave. Here's a photo of Dalton and Rylin. They were having fun shining the flashlight at me.

Work went well - Much better than the drive. All kinds of traffic problems there and back. I got to meet a Police Officer, a road rage nut, and Portland's Interstate Ave.
I made it home to pick up Moose from Alana's, and take him and Mali to Andrew's last soccer game.

In Redmond

I'm up in Redmond, working. Well, right now I'm at Dave and Susan's house. I just read a book to Rylin about Never Fairies and tucked her in for bed. Now Dave and I are waiting for Dalton to go to bed so we can play Halo 3 again.
Reports from home: Mali went home from school with Sara Monday, and had dinner there. Andrew skipped soccer practice to get his allergy shot, and afterwards got a haircut, so he's all set for homecoming (the haircut, not the shot).
Susy was heading out after work to look for a new dress - we're going to a wedding Saturday for Christina, who used to babysit for the kids about 8 years ago.

I should be able to leave here tomorrow after lunch and make it home in time to see Andrew's soccer game vs. Jesuit.

Last week of school

I'm in Redmond, so secondhand news:
Mali had her bowling trip yesterday - a reward for being a school ambassador all year.
Andrew has his math final: multiple choice and it takes two days - he's way over half done. It won't count for him anyway - he already has a 98 or 99% and it will only count for people on the border of some grade.
Susy's working from home today while the guest bathroom gets finished, just in time for the grandparent's visit this weekend.

Last night in Redmond I got to check out Dalton and his friend Andrew on their Green Machines, which I hadn't seen before. David is recovering from gum surgery so watched with Eric while Susan, Allison and I drank wine on the driveway while all the kids tore around the cul-de-sac on various vehicle types. Then Susan whipped up a delicious sausage stir fry for the grownups, and David and I played 3-Dragon Ante.