Sunday, October 25, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Fall Festival!
On Thursday (a big day!) we trooped back to school after dinner for the Fall Festival. Our school is amazing at Fall Festival -- which is put on by parent volunteers -- and the kids look forward to it every year. Lizzie had an amazing time, but Tommy felt sick during most of it, so he spent a lot of time sitting down with either me or Eli. (He had a migraine later, POOR GUY.) Here are the photos of them in their costumes.
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Eli's "Lunch and Learn"
On Thursday, I went to Eli's work at lunchtime to hear him give a talk. Apparently Eli's employers think that none of them actually work enough, so they ask them to give presentations to their coworkers over lunchtime. Below are some horrible photos, sorry.
As I arrived, a guy was leaving the building and called over to me that they had run out of food, in case I didn't want to bother. I thanked him for the valuable information.
Eli's talk started out with a run-down of his career and when he showed the photo of 50 Beale (where he worked in San Francisco) and said "I worked on two things here", I expected one of the things to be wooing me, but instead he talked about proper work things. (But he spent a fair amount of his time in that office emailing me.) Anyway, then he talked about BIM which you should google if you want to understand it (or talk to Eli the next time you see him).
He's a good little public speaker and he is amazing at putting together presentations - some of his graphics are really interesting. I realize I'm pretty sloppy at imparting information when he can communicate as much as he can on one slide that still looks pretty and readable. It was a nice way to spend an hour. At the end, one of the guys who works for him came up to me and said very earnestly, "It's good to see you, Mrs. Walter." So I earnestly told him it was nice to see him again, too...
As I arrived, a guy was leaving the building and called over to me that they had run out of food, in case I didn't want to bother. I thanked him for the valuable information.
Eli's talk started out with a run-down of his career and when he showed the photo of 50 Beale (where he worked in San Francisco) and said "I worked on two things here", I expected one of the things to be wooing me, but instead he talked about proper work things. (But he spent a fair amount of his time in that office emailing me.) Anyway, then he talked about BIM which you should google if you want to understand it (or talk to Eli the next time you see him).
He's a good little public speaker and he is amazing at putting together presentations - some of his graphics are really interesting. I realize I'm pretty sloppy at imparting information when he can communicate as much as he can on one slide that still looks pretty and readable. It was a nice way to spend an hour. At the end, one of the guys who works for him came up to me and said very earnestly, "It's good to see you, Mrs. Walter." So I earnestly told him it was nice to see him again, too...
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Guess who lost her first tooth??
Lizzie climbed off the bus on Thursday (10/22) with a smug look on her face and then she opened her mouth wide so I could see the new, huge gap in her bottom teeth. We are all very excited for her :) (It is officially certain that both of my children will need orthodontia.)
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Friday, October 23, 2015
Summer 2015: the Fourth of July and Uncle Max (who is actually a cousin)
My Aunt Jean and Raymond have a great house for viewing the Lake Union fireworks, so they kindly host a party most years. Their neighborhood just goes CRAZY so it's really fun to stand on a balcony above it all and watch. This year, one of the houseboats had a band on the roof and the singer was horrible, which kind of sucked. But otherwise it was amazing. My cousin, Max, and his friend Melody were at the party and so they took care of my kids the whole time. My kids just love Max (who happens to be amazing with both old and young people) and they talk about him all year long (unlike most of the rest of the Seattle people). It's sweet :)
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Summer 2015: Hood Canal & Northwest Trek
Looking back on my photos from the summer makes me weepy, because it reminds me of all my people. You are all so, so wonderful to me. Every summer, I step off the plane and am overwhelmed by how many people remember me and want to hang out with me and invite me to do fun things and be a part of their life even though for ten months a year I am on the other side of the world.
Aunt Jan and Uncle Vyn invited us to Hood Canal for a few days and of course the kids had an absolute ball. (As I did I; my Aunt makes "Jan and Tonics" that are pretty killer.) I know it is my home, but I am confident in this assertion: the Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful place in the world. I remember when I moved to San Francisco and a woman I worked with tried to convince me that San Francisco is more beautiful than Seattle and all I could think was that I had a complete idiot for a co-worker. Anyway, Hood Canal is really, really, really lovely.
On the way home from Hood Canal, I convinced my reluctant parents to go to Northwest Trek with Melora and Margaret. We went with them last summer (or two summers ago?) and I was impressed and knew my parents would be as well. They were. But then I made Dad go to the new Pixar movie (the name of which escapes me right now) and he didn't really like it so I lost all the credibility I built up with Northwest Trek. OH WELL.
Aunt Jan and Uncle Vyn invited us to Hood Canal for a few days and of course the kids had an absolute ball. (As I did I; my Aunt makes "Jan and Tonics" that are pretty killer.) I know it is my home, but I am confident in this assertion: the Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful place in the world. I remember when I moved to San Francisco and a woman I worked with tried to convince me that San Francisco is more beautiful than Seattle and all I could think was that I had a complete idiot for a co-worker. Anyway, Hood Canal is really, really, really lovely.
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| Uncle Vyn and Grandpa to play with in the pool. What could be better? |
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| The kids were exhausted. |
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| Out to dinner. |
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| Fireworks, because there are indian reservations near the condo. Luckily we did these before the Engstroms', which are a million times bigger and scarier and cooler. |
On the way home from Hood Canal, I convinced my reluctant parents to go to Northwest Trek with Melora and Margaret. We went with them last summer (or two summers ago?) and I was impressed and knew my parents would be as well. They were. But then I made Dad go to the new Pixar movie (the name of which escapes me right now) and he didn't really like it so I lost all the credibility I built up with Northwest Trek. OH WELL.
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| What I love is that half way through our visit, Margaret decided to change her clothes so she pulled off her dress and had shorts and a t-shirt on underneath. She's very charming, this girl. |
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| The most impressive thing about Northwest Trek to me are the bears (no photos) and the bison. This is in large part because Lonesome Dove is one of my favorite books ever. But also because bison are just impressive. |
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Summer 2015: Newman Lake
I really want to get through my summer blog posts, and there are so many photos from the lake that it's hard to sort through all of them. I'm certain that I've left out some good ones (I took about a million of Eli running to catch the ball, and some of them are hilarious), but I really want to publish this TODAY, just to cross something off my list.
I have a little bit of proper work to do, so it is not random that I'm updating the blog right now. I am avoiding the work -- which should be my main focus because I could buy all the skin care products I want (not that I don't anyway) if I made some money. (I have a lot of feelings about my next birthday being my fortieth but concern over my skin is where I seem to be focusing my energy.)
We went to the lake the last week of July. We all arrived on the same day, so the very first thing we had to do was unpack the kitchen stuff into the beautiful new kitchen (remodeled by my dad earlier in the spring). It was a fun way to spend the day because (1) Katherine and I did the kitchen job together and it was nice to catch up over a satisfying project and (2) Katherine got a call from her oncologist as we unpacked and learned that she did not have cancer again! In retrospect, we should have had some champagne right then. We were on vacation; I don't know why we didn't. Anyway, now just close your eyes and have a little tiny moment of hopefulness for Katherine and Andy and the girls that the cancer crap is in the past.
Onward.
One day, the kids worked really hard on an exhibition for the adults. After the exhibition, we could sign up for various classes (so the kids could teach their skills to us). There was singing and whittling (by the boy who got a pocket knife from his Grandpa); dancing and knitting. The whole time we were having our exhibition tour (this all happened in the woods behind the cabin), I mentally was giving myself high fives because this is just the kind of activity that is supposed to make kids turn out well. And all I did was ignore them all day! I'm giving myself a mental high five as I type just remembering this.
Our time at the lake was cut a bit short by Eli's jury duty. But, it's never easy to leave the lake, as it's the only time we see Andy and Katherine and the girls each year. I'm so glad my kids get to have this special place and special time with their family each summer. They just love it. (And look how beautiful it is!)
I have a little bit of proper work to do, so it is not random that I'm updating the blog right now. I am avoiding the work -- which should be my main focus because I could buy all the skin care products I want (not that I don't anyway) if I made some money. (I have a lot of feelings about my next birthday being my fortieth but concern over my skin is where I seem to be focusing my energy.)
We went to the lake the last week of July. We all arrived on the same day, so the very first thing we had to do was unpack the kitchen stuff into the beautiful new kitchen (remodeled by my dad earlier in the spring). It was a fun way to spend the day because (1) Katherine and I did the kitchen job together and it was nice to catch up over a satisfying project and (2) Katherine got a call from her oncologist as we unpacked and learned that she did not have cancer again! In retrospect, we should have had some champagne right then. We were on vacation; I don't know why we didn't. Anyway, now just close your eyes and have a little tiny moment of hopefulness for Katherine and Andy and the girls that the cancer crap is in the past.
Onward.
One day, the kids worked really hard on an exhibition for the adults. After the exhibition, we could sign up for various classes (so the kids could teach their skills to us). There was singing and whittling (by the boy who got a pocket knife from his Grandpa); dancing and knitting. The whole time we were having our exhibition tour (this all happened in the woods behind the cabin), I mentally was giving myself high fives because this is just the kind of activity that is supposed to make kids turn out well. And all I did was ignore them all day! I'm giving myself a mental high five as I type just remembering this.
Our time at the lake was cut a bit short by Eli's jury duty. But, it's never easy to leave the lake, as it's the only time we see Andy and Katherine and the girls each year. I'm so glad my kids get to have this special place and special time with their family each summer. They just love it. (And look how beautiful it is!)
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Summer 2015: San Francisco!
Eli and I have been married for 10 years. It was our anniversary on September 4, and to celebrate we went to San Francisco. (Thanks to Bob and Nancy for watching the kids.) It wasn't our best trip ever (actually, we bickered quite a bit!) but it was amazing to go back. There were moments during which I felt like I still lived there, and at other moments I was happy that we don't live there any more. We went by our old offices, the apartment, Hastings, the courthouse; we spent lots of time at the Ferry Building and we also went to Bloomingdale's. Here are many photos; I'm sorry.
One morning, Eli and I took the ferry to Alameda to see Allan and Joanne and Sophia and Max, and we didn't take even one photo. Here is a link to Allan's blog. It was SO FUN to see them.
One morning, Eli and I took the ferry to Alameda to see Allan and Joanne and Sophia and Max, and we didn't take even one photo. Here is a link to Allan's blog. It was SO FUN to see them.
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