We’re enjoying blue skies and warmer weather. Last Sunday, we enjoyed a genuine Octoberfest hosted by Jon and Claire. Check out ultissimo.com. It was good eating and lots of fun for Sara. Wednesday, we hung out with J&C and watched Battlestar Galactica, our soap opera. I’m sampling some new shows via our TIVO. House is my favorite that I picked up over the summer. Prison Break looks pretty good. Wayne is lost in Lost. He’ll finish an episode and gasp, saying something like “that’s really good”. Eventually, I’ll get to watching it. I got to be social each day with Sara. Thursday, we walked to Webster park w/ Audra and Johana and played outside. Friday, we walked with Claire and went to Larsen’s Danish bakery. In the evening, we walked to Sunset park and watched a gorgeous sunset. Wayne is sick again. I think his sinuses are the problem.
Saturday has turned into our work day. Wayne did not chop wood, but did everything else around the yard. We started the day with pumpkin muffins which were great. Then we headed to downtown Ballard for haircuts. We were so pleased with ourselves for arriving at Supercuts early until we found a 45 min wait. We bowed out disappointed and wandered around. We found an “alternative” hair salon called Scream and walked in first and got great cuts. At the Wells Fargo, Sara said “bye” to the teller. The teller was not impressed when I told her she was the first person had ever said that to. In the evening, we escaped our chores, ate chopped BBQ pork at Smok’n Pete’s BBQ. We took Sara to Salmon Bay playground for an hour and shared a cone at the Scoop on the way home.
Today was definitely a Sabbath. Wayne was feeling really sick today. I took Sara to church after she got up early at 5:30am. She slept during the nursery. I was ready to go to Fremont’s Oktoberfest, but decided it’d be too much effort w/o Wayne. Instead, I had a blessed 2 hr nap and Sara had her 2nd siesta for the day. We went to the playground with Phil, Nat, and Johana again. The weather was so nice, we grilled salmon burgers. Sara said “meow-meow”, but then hasn’t repeated it. We’ll see. Wayne went to bed early. I cooked chocolate chip pumpkin bread and finished my Margaret Maron book Rituals of the Season.
September 25, 2005
September Blue
September 22, 2005
State Fair!
Almost 2 years ago to the day we “Did the Puyallap”. This time around we took my parents and Sara. It started out just like last time, with massive thunderstorms dumping unbelievable amounts of rain on us in a short time. The barns floodeds and we stayed inside most of the time. By mid afternoon the skies had cleared and it turned out to be quite a nice day.
Sara had a lot of fun in the petting zoo.
The giant garden made me feel like I had stepped into some strange lab for genetically modified monster food. They had 1/2 ton pumpkins, 2 foot long ears of corn and carrots the size of baseball bats.
We also got to see the Canadian Royal Mounted Police do an amazing horse routine. Near the end one of the Mounties was thrown from his horse and the horse continued to do the show without his rider. Quite embarassing for the poor guy who was thrown into the pile of horse poop.
Finally no visit to “The Fair” would be complete without a stomach churning ride on the swirly swing right after eating bad fair food. (Movie linked to the picture below).
September 13, 2005
Silence
I came home from work to a silent house. It was a remarkable experience. Jon and Shirley had gone downtown to have lunch with Wayne. Sara was at daycare. There was no nanny, no husband, no child, not even Comet. So I did what every busy, on-the-go mother does…I cleaned! More accurately, I decluttered. I had old study papers in the bedroom from April when I was studying for the Boards that I finally put back in their proper place.
After a wonderful farewell dinner of grilled Sicilian chicken sausage, hushpuppies (finished the package), cantalope, and grilled corn, everyone settled into evening activities. I took a walk up to Sunset Park. Again, it was quiet. It’s rare that I walk alone these days. It was refreshing for my introverted self. All of Ballard was quiet also. It’s now dark by 8pm. Dinner and dishes are done. Kids probably have homework. It was just me, by myself, in the dark, praying and walking.
The rhythms of life have changed even though I don’t have a kid in school. Traffic is heavier. Lots of things are starting: Mom’s group, home group, Sunday school, and work conferences. The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing, stores are stocking Halloween treats, and fall feels like it’s here.
Sara is definately bigger. We watched movies from last April. She’s taller and her facial features have sharpened. She has beautiful auburn hair that curls in around the sides and hide the fact that it’s very long. It got so unruly she got her first haircut 2 weeks ago. The bangs were crooked at first, but looked better after a week. She’s still not speaking words alot. She continues to communicate well. She’s using sign less and less. She will use it when she’s desperate, but prefers pointing. Her comprehension is excellent. We’ll go for walks together and I’ll ask her to point to something. She knows flag, leaf, pine cone, truck, and fire hydrant. She started using baby often. She likes covering her dolls and stuffed animals with blankets. Often our living room floor resembles a ghoulish morgue with little bodies completely covered with a baby blankets. She continues to say bubble. This week, she’s been blowing bubbles on her own. She’s adjusting to daycare very well. She doesn’t even get phased when we drop her off now. She continues to grow. Only 2 more months till she’s officially 2yo. Can you believe it?
September 11, 2005
Do the Puyallup
Weather’s changed. It’s more nippy. Rains have come. Leaves are starting to change. Wayne’s parents have been here for almost 2 weeks now. This visit has been less ambitious and more homebound due to sickness and tiredness of travel after the summer. Last weekend, we went to the Bremerton Blackberry Festival and Naval Museum. This weeks highlight was the Western Washington Fair held in the Puyallup Fairgrounds.