Mali Sick, Andrew Returns from XC Camp

About 1:00 AM Friday, Mali started throwing up. The initial suspect was food poisening, since she and Susy had eaten out with Rian and her mom, and the chicken seemed suspect. But at her soccer game today we learned one of the coaches had the same thing, and that it's going around, so now it looks like a virus of some kind.
Mali woke up tired and not yet fully recovered, so today just went to watch today's soccer game. Her team scored two goals to tie it up, and assure themselves of a berth somewhere other than the bottom of the premier league. We will know where tomorrow.

I picked Andrew up from his Cross Country camp with the Southridge team at Mazuma lodge on Mt. Hood Friday. He is a little tired of running after going 60 miles in 5 days, all of it on steep mountain trails. He's got a nasty blister, but is going to try a slow run tomorrow with Rian, who is getting ready for Water Polo. Practices for all Fall sports start Monday.

Andrew is at Obama headquarters, probably calling people. He's there 3:00 - 8:00 PM every day. Mali is upstairs watching the Olympics.

Obamania

Andrew, Mali, and Rian have been volunteering for the Obama campaign. So far they've worked at a voter registration booth at a Hillsboro street fair, and Andrew worked a phone bank one evening. He is thrilled his time there counts as service-learning hours for high school. He's hoping to get 200 hours in before he graduates.

Mali is hoping to follow Andrew and Rian's lead and start working at Garlic Jim's with them. The new one Rian's parent's bought is a lot closer - though still not the one that delivers to us here.

Andrew worked on his driving Saturday - driving me all the way to Rian's house. At just over walking speed it took all of 5 minutes. We all joined him there later for a very fun night of cards and pizza.

Swim Meet 3

Mali is awesome! She won every event she was in, including the IM relay where she swam both the backstroke and freestyle. Andrew had a bad meet - for him - coming in second to Eric in the 200yd IM. He had a lot of fun anyway - it was a fun meet. At the end we had a boys vs. girls dogpaddle relay race. We disqualified the boys for doing something that looked a lot more like breaststroke than dogpaddle.

Swim Meet

Today's meet was at Sunset Athletic Club, where they have built nice new buildings around their pool. It was a lot of fun - talking with Eric's dad Michael and seeing the other folks we know - Eric's mom Joan and DougOfDougAndErin. The kids got to dive to start their races (they have to start in the water at our pool). There was a mixture of success for us there - Photos coming soon. Mali is turning into an amazing swimmer! She swam the first and last legs of her freestyle relay, and her team won!
Afterwards we went to Deborah's cookie store, the kids got sandwiches at Subway first, while Susy and I bought her a bicycle at Sunset Cycles, in preparation for our bicycle/winery trip August 24th. At the cookie store, Mali devaoured a huge cookie ice-cream sandwich. Andrew and Rian ordered banana splits, which I helped them with. Then we waited around for 10 minutes so I could get a macaroon. I love them, and they are amazing, fresh out of the oven.

We got home, and after Andrew changed I drove him and Rian to the MAX train station so they could go to Clackamas and meet Rian's parents at the Garlic Jim's pizza place they just bought. Andrew worked for several hours putting fliers on doors. He goes back tomorrow to learn how to make pizza, and also to get paid! He's excited about both.

Hi.

Wednesday was full of work for me. Children played, once swim team practice was over.
Rian came over for awhile and played Scrabble and Clue with Andrew and Mali.
After dinner Susy and I played Andrew and Mali a game of Clue, then Scrabble. (Guess who won!?! Right! It was me!!! Both games!!! WooHoo.)
Mali still refuses to play Hearts, which is Andrew's first choice every night.

Tuesday Practices

Andrew went to swim team practice at 9:00, then I took him directly to cross-country practice, which started at 10:30. He walked home by 12:30, but was very, very grumpy, and wouldn't say why. It could be that his first running experience of the summer was more difficult than he anticipated.
Mali's soccer friend Tesia spent the night, and went with Mali to swim practice and hung out in the upper pool.
Mali will be spending August 8 - 10th with Tesia because of the big soccer qualifying tournament, and will miss Jennifer and Dave's wedding up at the Olympic Park Institute. August 3rd Susy and Mali will be taking the train up to Tacoma and catching a ride up to Jennifer's wedding shower.

Week Away, Weekend Parties, Swim Meet #1

I spent most of last week up in Canada, working with BCTC, and then had a few days in Redmond. Things have been hectic, with still much work to do!

Back here in Oregon, we had a busy weekend:
Saturday morning was the first swim meet of the year, and it was here at Murray Hill. I helped run it while Susy timed, and we got it finished before 11:30 - a new record! The kids did great - and Mali was surprising with the speed and elegance she has acquired in the water after just three weeks of practice. She looked GOOD. She also won all of her events. Andrew did great too, as always. The highlight for him was easily winning the backstroke, but he would have been disqualified in a serious meet, because he somehow managed to go UNDER the lane line at the end of the race - a difficult trick while doing backstroke.
Saturday night we had a great time at Rian's house. Jason and Terri invited us over for cards while the kids had a Murder Mystery Party - a live action game of Clue. Everyone had a great time, and we got to hang out again with Jason's parents, who are back from their trip to Italy. They brought over a huge prosciutto - but not from Italy - it came from Costco.
Sunday was similarly busy. Moose and I went for a long walk in the morning, and saw butterflies everywhere. Then Susy and I went to the Tigard Farmer's Market - open Sundays until 2:00. We went for tomatoes and basil for Bruschetta, but of course it is too early for them in Oregon, so also stopped and spent $100+ at Safeway. Bought 6 basil plants, which I hurriedly planted at home in the planters out front, and then rushed to Eric's Dad's house for a party, getting there an hour late because we left late and then I got us lost taking a shortcut. Yes, I heard about it.
The party was great, we got to go down to Lake Oswego - the actual (very private) lake. A Beautiful place, easy to see why people pay so much to have access to it.

Home again

We returned Saturday from Gig Harbor and the 4th of July fun, exhausted and happy. This morning Mali slept until after 9:00, probably a new record for her. Rian came over, we played hearts, then the kids all went to the pool and Susy and I took a nice long nap. I am finally feeling rested again.
Except for swimming, Mali has had her nose buried in a book all day - Rian gave her several in a series: Pretty Little Liars. Mali has decided she hates playing hearts and is growing more emphatic about it daily.

4th of July Fun

I was already in Redmond for work, so Susy and the kids took the train up and we went to Dave and Susan's for a game night. Along with us were Rian and Rachel. Their train was late, which was okay as I almost was trying to find King Station in Seattle. I found Union Station with no trouble...

Game night at Dave's turned into game morning - we didn't get to bed until 2:00 AM, and Mali and Rachel were still up, talking. The next morning everyone moved a little slowly and we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for the 4th of July. That was great fun, as it was also a graduation party for Lori and a farewell party for Lori and John, who are moving to Albuquerque in two more days. I went to bed early, but the kids were up late again, and I think all are exhausted.

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.