Wyoming

We went to Laramie for a little more than a week and even got to be there for the Fourth of July. We all had a great time visiting and after looking at these photos, you will understand why Lizzie's only request regarding our next move is "to be by grandparents".

We went to Lander to visit Grandma Ruth.  She is doing very well in her new living situation.

Washing her new tea set from Grandma.

A tea party with Grandpa :)

Laramie in the summer! So lovely!

The obligatory "put the grandkid on top of the car" photo.

We saw Godspell (which led to  a question or two about Judas).

Feeding the fish!

Sorry that your eyes are closed, Mrs. Rebka!  I should have taken a few more photos. 

Laramie is a perfect place for kite-flying, and Grandma and Grandpa had a kite that they had bought for Tommy at some point.  This activity was a highlight, but slightly stressful for me because they would wander so far away from the house.

Cousins!!

The very best part of our Seattle time this summer was getting to spend time with my sister and her family.  I took shockingly horrible pictures of all the cousins together, but we did professional photos taken and as soon as I figure out how to access them, I will post a few.

Meet Winnie.  She loves blueberries, as you can see.

We had lunch at the restaurant where Eli and I had our rehearsal dinner.  It was delish.

Dylan "taking a break" while hiking.

Hike to Snow Lake

Early in the summer, Dad and the kids and I hiked to Snow Lake.  You start up in Snoqualmie Pass, walk up switch backs for three miles, eat lunch, then turn around and walk back down.  I'm super proud of the Lu as this was her longest hike ever and she didn't complain at all.  Dad took the kids hiking three more times over the summer, and they both did really well.  PHEW.  Lulu does view it as a great opportunity for asking tough questions, and two I won't forget from this particular hike are:  "What is evil?"  and "Is the Bible fiction or non-fiction?" 

She can hike six miles, but a nap at the end feels pretty good.

A visit from Eleanor (and her mother)

Hanh and Eleanor came to Seattle in July and we all celebrated Eleanor's fifth birthday together.  Then, we all went to the Lake (Hanh and Eleanor only had a day there until they had to fly back to San Francisco).  It was a nice treat to be able to see them!

Interestingly, later in the summer, Hanh sent a video of Eleanor riding a two-wheeler.  Lizzie learned the same day I showed the video to her...

First Day of School (for the last time at TAISM)

On the left is the First Day photo -- don't worry, Tommy put on trainers -- and on the right is the second day, but Lizzie's first day in a TAISM polo.  There will be one more uniform shot because Grandma Sid got Lizzie a navy blue polo dress and it's SO CUTE that every other parent wants to know where I got it.  So I shall post a photo...

Both kids are happy this year with their teachers, phew!!

Two wheels!

Some of you know that I have spent the past two summers gasping for breath and clutching the seat of Lulu's bike as she steadfastly refuses to learn to ride a two wheeler.  "I'm not ready" and "I'll learn when I'm six, like Tommy did" have been mainstays in our conversations.

Given that it was clear that she was indeed ready to learn, these experiences were very, very frustrating to me.

This summer, I told her that it wasn't an option; that she had to learn to ride.  Never one to miss the opportunity to call my bluff, she learned about ten days before we left Seattle, after countless hours of me running behind the bike.  (My back still hurts.)

BUT, one morning I announced that we were going out, and she snapped on her helmet and followed me...AND RODE THE BIKE.  Of course she absolutely loves it.  She sings and cheers and says things to us like, "I just love riding my bike."  As we knew she would.

We are SO proud.  Six has been a very big year for Lizzie.

The bike no longer has a basket and ribbons.  As she reported to me, "Grandpa took all that crap off my bike."  NICE, Grandpa.

Catching up...(and some funny ones)

Do you feel as though each of my posts is a "catch up" post? I do.

We are back in Oman, trying to settle back in (fairly successfully), and it's been hard to find time to blog.  (My first book group is less than a week away and I just started the book yesterday, so you can see how blogging would fall to the side.)

As part of my attempt to settle back in, I'm also preparing to move which involves sorting through an astonishing amount of stuff (and I'm fairly lean to begin with).   Anyway, I happened across Lulu's birthday card to Eli this morning and wanted to memorialize what she wrote to him:

"Dear Daddy,
Happy Birthday.  I wish it was my birthday.
Love, Lizzie"

It makes me laugh when I think of it or read it.  Kids are just so astonishingly self-centered aren't they?

I also want to remember two notes that Tommy wrote to me and to my Dad this summer.  The kids formed a club in a tree in my parents' yard and denied entry to me.

Here is one note:

"Dear Mom,
We would love to let you into our club but
1. You do not know our password
2. You do not want to carry any melee or ranged weapon
Sincerely,
The Mandalorian Club, Fett and Wren"

Then to Dad:

"Dear Grandpa
We need another blaster.  If you make one, we will allow you into our club.
Sincerely,
The Mandalorian Club"

See how it is?  More, soon.