It has become glaringly obvious that I have become a lack-luster blogger since I’ve arrived back home from our North Dakota trip. I’ve got a backlog of images to prove it and pretty bundle of abandoned posts as well. I guess I could say I’m too busy enjoying the present to reflect on the past. Which is all fine and dandy, but I typically enjoy a few pensive moments as I sift through my photos to think about time well spent. I am determined to take a few moments and jot some words with more frequency. I’ll start with yesterday….baby steps, right?

We went to Marc and Lara’s to celebrate Erin and her family moving back to town and Deneva’s annual summer visit. We were missing some key players, but it was fun to have our gang of girls back together for a few hours. I like how Thomas made it into our group shots, who knows where Maggie was! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m so grateful for my group of girlfriends that I’ve known since I was a little girl. Aside from Jenni, whom I met in 7th grade, I know Lara, Deneva, Erin and Katrin from 1st or 3rd grade.

It was the first time in a long time that we’ve all been together and had a chance to talk and catch up. Lara and Marc’s house is set up so it was really enjoyable to be either inside our outside. Gavin, Erin’s son, showed Maggie the ways of the garden and she ended her day with dirt smashed in her hair and on her face. After Thomas went to bed, Maggie tried to call him on the baby monitor, but he was too busy snoring to respond.

On the drive home Barry and I decided that we’re more than grateful that we don’t have a lot of stairs to contend with at our house. I think I about had a heart attack a few times between Maggie, Gavin and Thomas going up and down the stairs on the deck. For the most part they are all pretty good, but every so often a little tumble happens. I think I might be mentally scarred from Maggie’s Webster School fall.

 I’m so excited that Erin and her family have moved back to Washington, especially now that we’ve both got kids that are the same age! I expect that we’ll have some adventures together this summer, and it could be argued that yesterday was just a preview of what’s to come!

Growing up, Mother’s Day for me meant meeting up with both sides of my family at the Rosario Beach, eating oysters, adding whipped cream to my grandma’s tarts and playing with my cousins. If the weather was nice enough perhaps a canoe was available for rides and the beach ready for frolicking.

It took me a  long time, well into adulthood, to realize that I come from a very unique family, one where in-laws intermingle with one another and my sets of grandparents are great friends. My two grandmothers sitting and chatting together is not uncommon. For the life of me, as a child I couldn’t understand how other families didn’t mingle in such a way.

As my parent’s house filled on Sunday with different combinations of family members showing up with arms full of food and flowers, I thought to myself how traditions come about.  How over the years Mother’s Day must have been a convenient    time for our tribe to gather and it made sense to do so in the middle of everyone, which happens to be my parent’s house and nearby parks.

Keeping with the tradition of seeing family on the Mother’s Day weekend, we zipped up to Barry’s parent’s house before we headed over to Anacortes and were also able to stop by to see his grandmother and grandparents. This meant that Maggie got to see all ten of her grandparents within a 24 hour period. I’m nearly certain that this has never happened before.

Maggie did not disappoint and connected with each of them, pointing, pinching and generally making them solidify their membership into her fan club. Stamps of approval all around.

So, Mother’s Day. Thinking back to last year, a fresh member to  Club Mama, I hardly remember the day or at least I hardly remember feeling like I was useful or even myself. This year I felt full of life and energy. I have more of a firm grip on motherhood and how to be ME at the same time.

I didn’t slurp on any oysters or even walk on the beach this Mother’s Day weekend, but I did see some of my cousins, chat up all my grandparents (Barry’s too!) and enjoy the family filled festivities.

And, most importantly, I got to spend the day with my mother and daughter.

While we were in A-Town last week we stopped by Midge’s to see what she was up to. It didn’t take but a few minutes for Maggie and Midge to have some one-on-one conversation on the ground. I feel like my grandma was telling Mags a thing or two about life as a Maggie.

It was really cute to see them together rolling a ball back and forth. Of course Sydney had to get right in there with her bone – making sure she got noticed by Midge, jeesh.

Big Maggie  & Little Maggie, that’s what Izak calls them. Aren’t they cute?  Because I am extremely nostalgic this time of year, here they both are almost a year ago.

Wowaza!

Time is a-flyin’!

Last Friday we had a chance to spend a few hours with Kara, sipping on tea and catching up on everything and nothing. I don’t get to see Kara as often as I’d like, but when I do see her and we really get to catch up I’m always so appreciative of our friendship. It is amazing to me that I’ve known her nearly our whole lives. I met her days after she was born and I was just a few months old. Yeow! I should do a blog post on her Maid of Honor toast at our wedding, it was so full of memories and humor. Also, Kara called Maggie a big, old, pile of cute during the visit and I think that fits The Mags perfectly, don’t you?

NEW FRIENDS:

Gracie and her parents, Tye and Kerry, came to visit so Gracie and Mags could have a little play date.  Barry and Tye have been friends for decades, so this doesn’t really count as new friends, but Maggie and Gracie are newbies, so there!

Maggie was a total firecracker and kept wanting to poke Gracie’s face and chew on her. I’m not sure that is any different from any other time we’re around other kids, but Maggie seemed extra wound up. Gracie handled it like a champ, especially with Sydney trying to chew her bone on her as well. Jeesh.

P.S. Maggie and Gracie have totally opposite hair.

FAMILY:

Maggie and I went to meet up with 3G to talk about a recipe project I’m working on for her and ended up down at Sue’s house with Chach, Skrange and Grandpa. While 3G and I looked over recipes Maggie hung out with Chach and Sue, eventually they made it over to the piano and Mags got to tickle the ivories. It was so fitting. Sue was singing along and Maggie jabbered along with her. I can almost always count on Sue to sing Maggie a song or two when we’re around and I often get it stuck in my head and so Mags gets to hear it more later and if she is really lucky, I end up getting it stuck in Barry’s head too. The gift of music keeps on giving….la, la, la, laaaaa!!!!

Dear Papa,

I really miss you. Yesterday I went to play with Thomas and we got to swim in his pool. It was so much fun! Today I got to to a huge garage sale with Mama and Grammy. They bought me more books and I already tried to eat one, it didn’t taste too good. We stopped and saw Great Granny Midge on our way home!

Also, Nana came over and she brought Great Grandpa and Grandma Rhone. You’ll never, ever believe it, but I laughed so hard in Nana’s arms! She’s a funny lady. After they left Grammy and Mama put me in the bath outside and I laughed some more. I kept hearing them laugh too, so it must have been really funny to see me, a naked baby, in the tub.

After I got to splash in the tub and I ate I put on my resort wear and Mama put me back in the empty tub to sleep. I’m was so tired from all that laughing I did.

I’ve attached a couple pictures, in case you are wondering if I’ve grown in the last 24 hours – I have.

I really miss you, Papa. I hope you have fun on your hike, but when you get back can we feed the fish together and will you play a game with me. There are certain things you do that Mama just can’t, even though she tries.  Plus, you need to hear me laugh because Mama says that it’ll make you laugh too!

Love,

Lil M

Last Saturday I spent the morning wandering up and down Commercial Ave. with my mom and her long-time friend, Kris, looking for great deals. Each July Anacortes shuts down the main drag and people haul their junk out with the intent to sell it to other community members.

I struggle with the whole bartering part, but after hearing people finagle, I was able to find some great deals. Of course I made the rookie error of buying a few things just because I thought they were cute or cool, not thinking about the purpose of each item.

I’ve been holding off on my yearly purchase of new flip flops and I was thrilled to discover the booth of the local skate shop because I scored new flippies for just five bucks!! I also got a new coat for $5 that still has the $99.99 price tag on it from the same booth.

There aren’t always screaming deals at Shipwreck Days. I saw one woman trying to sell something for double the listing price on the Value Village tag still attached. I had the greatest time walking around town seeing old friends and checking out the junk, some of which turned out to be my new treasures.

Last night Barry and I had dinner with my family at Phil and Genevieve’s house. It was so much fun to be with my family, I haven’t been in Anacortes for months.  We sat on the porch enjoying the last of the sun that came out talking, snacking and admiring P&G’s new homestead. Exactly what I’ve been dreaming about.

After dinner we busted out Settlers and I was attempted to accomplish #24 on my 30 Before 30 list. Izak built the Longest Road and after that we were doomed. Phil, my dad, and I had to work together to fend him off. So, still I am left with #24 on my list. We laughed so much together, I have really odd, funny, men in my family.

Spring Break 2009 has officially begun!

When it snows, I typically yearn to be at my parent’s house gearing up to go sledding or hunkering down to play games. This is the first snow that we’ve had at HBHQ and I’m feeling quite cozy and down-home happy.

We were left with a fairly large woodpile when we moved in and it is finally coming handy. I found myself bundled in a random combination of pjs and one of Barry’s extra large ski coats this morning strategically piling wood outside our door in order to ensure fewer trips to the woodpile.

I have countless childhood memories of making such trips in and out the door to fill the wood box with my family…. loading one another up and hoping that each load would be the last.

If The Most Beautiful Fireplace in the World was getting used, my dad would take on the wood-getting and fire-building himself to make the a-fore-mentioned raging fire. The stones stay hot for days and it is best to lean up against them if you’ve just come in from the freezing weather.

Now, we don’t have stones that heat up and we certainly don’t have The Most Beautiful Fireplace in the World, but I am my father’s daughter and I have made a raging fire.

Excuse me, while  I go enjoy it.

Midge and Mac ended up coming out and we took a walk around the property…WHAT BEAUTIFUL COLORS!!! I love my grandma Lowman for about a zillion different reasons, but one of the reasons that I love and adore her is that she dresses like me…or rather, I dress like her. We are both always FREEZING, so bundling is a MUST.

When I hop into her hot rod, she’s always got it toasty and she even shares the heat with me. When I ride with My Man, I have to keep his internal thermometer in mind. I usually can take the hint from him that it is too hot when he rolls down the window and starts peeling off clothes.

Anyhow, Midge and Mac came to visit and we trotted up, down &all around.  Eventually we ended up in the neighbor’s field to watch Barry demonstrate his baseball skills. I too tried to show that I’ve got an arm that can throw….I promptly threw the ball in the middle of the ‘no-throw-danger-grass’ zone. Of course, right?

I think Midge got warmed up laughing at the dogs sprinting and my dog thinking that she was part of the game. Who knew a pug could run so much?