When it rains, it most definitely pours. If we didn't already have enough stress and worry on our plate, we heard officially today that Jason's car (the Mystique) is dead. When his co-worker (who used to be a mechanic) was driving the car to meet us in Monroe for the pickup (he'd done some basic maintenance for us), the engine seized and I guess it needs a completely new engine now.

This is after we dropped $2200 on a new transmission just weeks ago.

Ugh.

Jason's Mom was also taken by ambulance to the hospital today for breathing problems. I haven't heard the latest, but I hope she is ok.

On a brighter note, I got my camera that I'd left in Boston back today. Laurie, bless her heart, made the kids blankets and sent those along as well as a very cute note with Murphy's art all over it.

The kids LOVED the blankets (so do I!). Ethan's has Cars characters on it, and Gwen's has a colorful flower pattern. They are fleecy and soft. These came at such a good time because Ethans orginal blankie is so beat up... needs to be replaced badly. I'm hoping that such a charming blanket may make this transition easier.

Here are some pics.

First, trying out each others blankets...


Then cuddled up with their own. They really loved them so much!


As a bonus, two pics I snapped earlier today

Guess who used the potty chair today? Ms. Gwennie-pooh! She's been talking obsessively about pee and poop (poop being her new favorite word for everything) since I got back from Boston and today she actually made it to the chair in time. She was incredibly proud!

Please keep my Grandpa in your prayers today as he is in surgery to remove his lymph nodes.

This is what happens when you let an 18 month old decide how and where she'll eat her cheerios.

It turns out that my Grandpa did not have surgery, due to a few complications. He will be going in on Tuesday.

There is much to say about it, and other things that have been happening, but... ... ... I just don't want to talk.

Since coming back from Boston its been hard for me to want to write about things. Everything that has been going on has brought me low.

On a lighter note, here are some pics:

You know your baby is small when at 18 months she can still fit in a 6 qt pot with room to spare!


Tonight we all got together at my Mom's. Gwen LOVED Uncle Michaels guitar. He played us a few songs. Even as adults we are still bullied into these impromptu performances :)





Part of the audience.


These are my ghetto "scans" of the kids pictures. I have all these in a variety of sizes, so if you'd like any, email me and I'll mail them to you, snail mail style.

I've just heard that my Grandpa has gone in for emergency surgery to biopsy his lymph nodes for possible cancer.

Please keep him, and my Grammy, in your prayers right now. This is a frightening time for all of us.

Boston was fabu. If I ever have to leave my beloved Northwest, I would like to live in New England.

There is so much to write about, but it will have to wait. Gwen is crying at my feet.

I do have pics (though most of them are crappy thanks to a disposable camera) and I will put them up shortly.

Just a quick note to say and let you know how our trip is going.

We were held on the tarmac in SLC for about an hour due to bad weather. Then we were in air for about 4 hours. By the end, Shel and I were going cabin crazy. And we were starved. They didn't give us dinner, but just crappy little snacks and stuff.

Peter met us in baggage and awww, it was so cute to see him and Shelly hugging and all that. I snapped a picture of it :) It sure was good to see him after our long travels.

We got to our hotel at around 1:30 am (Boston time, so 10:30 Seattle time) and were ravenous. Nothing was open so we had a pizza delivered and fell upon it and devoured!

I zonked at about 2:45 and woke up about 7 hrs later. Shelly says I kicked her out of the bed but that is so not true!

Peter came and took us to lunch at Applebees, then we headed off to Laurie's. We took the long way, which was so beautiful. The foliage and architecture around here is vastly superior to what we have. It was a very pleasent trip, especially after we found a Starbucks and got our coffee fix.

We arrived at Laurie and Mark's house around 3 and took a walk with them around their beautiful property and a graveyard that is next door. Its so nice out here. I just love it! Their daughter Murphy is just darling and I've really enjoyed my time with them. A mild bout with nausea (along with a headache) kept me from dinner, but after a nap I felt so much better and just ate a delicious piece of pie that Laurie made.

Tomorrow we venture out to Boston on the subway to see Mark finish his marathon. Should be fun.

Love ya all, but especially my babies.

Snapped this today when the kids were wrestling on the floor.

Today we took Ethan to get his hair cut... Its much shorter than we've ever gotten it, but its good! It also makes him look a lot older.




And just because she's cute...


I'm rather overwhelmed with everything that I need to do before I leave on Friday. Tomorrow I must start my to do list... no more putting things off.

Pics from our recent jaunt to the park.

Little coffee stealer!


Darling, isn't he?


Love this :)


Exausting days at the park wind down like this...



and finish like this!