HAPPY BIRTHDAY M!!!

First: some front yard pumpkin shenanigans! 

Cover ....

.... Discover!!

Later: Party Time! C & K took on decorating duties while I made cake and cleaned the kitchen. M ended up making the entree but since she loves to cook and it was her birthday, she insisted that she wanted to do it. I decided not to feel guilty about it.

The Latest Thrifting Haul

Yardage that I'm extremely excited about:

A shower curtain that they must have thought was a piece of fabric. It's cute:

....along with some blue upholstery fabric (not pictured) that I couldn't wash, all in the same grab bag for $10.

I also found another BIG OLE BAGGA YARN. One remnant matched the blankie I crocheted for R a few years ago, so I'm adding it on (although not right this minute):

...and a couple of toys and items for the house. M and the grandprincesses were with me. We had fun finding treasures. 

Also today: work - I left early since I'm still battling this cold; WinCo for CAKE MIXES and other birthday cake-related stuff; and resting. 

It's always amusing

when a student emails her professor with a sob story about the bookstore being a wretched hive of scum and villainy for not having her books ready, when in fact, she herself didn't order her books in time for classes. Then, her professor forwards you the email. I tell ya, these are the things WE LIVE FOR.

Was "going to college" an emergency that suddenly popped up out of nowhere?

(Normally we're not this petty or arbitrary, but it's fall quarter and one really does get tired of the procrastination, followed by the "show up at the bookstore and have a tantrum when I can't buy my books" tactic.)

This email was sent after she came into the bookstore and was an absolute butthole to the employees, because she wasn't allowed to walk back and grab her own textbooks and purchase them right then and there. We have rules, people! Fit-throwers will be MOCKED!

:::::Laughs in haughty bookstore employee-ese::::

P.S. Still recovering. Stupid illness. 

Sick Day

Staying home from work with this cold. Ricola's sugar free lemon mint cough drops are my new best friend.

Along with resting, I ended up dealing with the victim advocate and probation officer again. Someone filed a grievance against my stipulation that he stay away from my workplace, because apparently, he plans to start taking classes. 

Also, he thinks he should get a job as a bartender, a job he has been previously fired from, for over serving.

I'm just amazed at the audacity. Nothing he does should surprise me anymore, but it still keeps happening.

The victim advocate used the words "psychopath" and "a real piece of work," along with sharing the opinion that he seems to be using every legal way possible to continue to harass our family. I couldn't agree more.

SICK AGAIN

Can't stop coughing. DAMMIT. 

At least it's just a cold this time!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 2023

Happy Back To School Day from these two cuties! 

Fall quarter started here too. It was a long, busy day! I'm tired, but fun was had. 

Autumn Equinox 2023

And it was almost like the rain was watching the calendar, because it showed up right on time.

On our way north for a soccer game 

We enjoyed watching our girls play and took them to Olive Garden afterwards. 

It's over

This sweet little guy and his mom are heading back home today. Grandma and Auntie drove cross country to pick them up.

It's been a tough few weeks for everyone involved. Hopefully now, folks can calm down and move on.

Safe journeys, little W.

So tired of this stuff

The lies are particularly tiring

"STOP THROWING TAMPONS AT YOUR GIRLFRIEND"

...is the latest entry on my list of Things I've Heard Myself Yell At My Children

This morning we drove up to visit R and H. R had a hard week and needed some parental time, and we were glad to have some time with her that wasn't soccer-related. Hubby and I had read fun things about Summer, Washington, so we headed over to check it out.

1) Lunch at a cute cafe famous for its pies

2) Shopping for books and antiques

"Do you have Prince Albert in a can??"

Below: two new-to-me bells on the right top shelf, found for me by the girls 

3) Costco and Crumbl (no pictures, sorry)

We left around six pm, bought gas and snacks, and enjoyed a beautiful drive home. C & K were there and we hung out with them for a while, and then H surprised us with a quick visit! It was so nice to see ALL FIVE KIDS today. Now that C has moved back in, it won't be such a big deal, but for a couple of years it was such a rare occurrence that I kept track of it whenever it happened.

Life is good.

Resolutions

C & K and Kitty Serabella are moving back in this weekend, and we are thrilled to have them back. This afternoon I picked them and a car load of their stuff up at the old place and brought it home. Feels amazing.

After B's shift today, the three of us picked him up and we drove up to our favorite park for our second river excursion of the summer. It's definitely September and almost autumn, and the water is definitely getting colder. Standing in the sun felt great. The water was crystal clear all the way down to the bottom, and little fish followed us wherever we went. They moved away whenever we moved, but when we stood still, they would come over and swim close to us. 

Tonight we took another unexpected trip to Longview (to "rescue" L, at her mom's request), grumbling all the way, and did not meet our intended objective, but had fun anyway and also spent some quality time with my fellow grandmother. We're kind of getting tired of all the shenanigans, but we're trying to keep Mr. Baby safe. 

We have a very fun day planned tomorrow.

Parked Out

...for a remote meeting regarding this, after work. It was quite difficult but we have more information now and can proceed accordingly.

Loving these last summer days. 

These Durn Kids

...came to visit us today. We always love seeing them. We had breakfast, played Phase 10, and took the bikes out for a ride. It was so lovely and fun. 

Hanging at the Thrift Store!

And you know what that means!

Oh heck yeah. As soon as I step into one of these stores, my bodily functions kick into hyperdrive and it's only a matter of minutes before I'm asking a store employee for the code to the restroom. I can almost set my watch by it. 

Scientists cannot explain this phenomenon (or maybe they already have - I'm too lazy to look it up). But I know Melanie has the same thing happened to her, so maybe it's genetic. 

Having a Napoleon Dynamite moment: "I WANT THAT."

The Pleasures of Employment

1. Money 

2. Awesome coworkers. Bryton brought a home-grown strawberry plant for me today.

3. A lovely computer monitor, on which to keep up with the shenanigans of Seaside

It couldn't be more perfect

Life is good, my fellow blessing-counters.

It just gets weirder.

M received a message from CPS up in L & D's county, asking her to give them a call. M was understandably freaked out, so she called Hubby at work. Hubby was able to leave, so he came home and they both called and answered CPS' questions about L and the baby.

Meanwhile, L texted M, and asked if L could take the girls to PA for a week. M said ABSOLUTELY NOT, which L had a problem with. Too bad. 

When I came home with Hubby...

Baby W, L & D's little boy, was sitting in the girls' stroller parked in the living room. M said that L&D were at Walmart, buying dinner for everyone.

What.

They came back a while later, bringing frozen pizzas to bake. Absolutely shocked by all of this, we let L use the oven and everyone ate pizza. Except me, I went outside and worked in the front yard. I was too angry at L. 

M put the girls to bed as usual, but instead of leaving, L&D went and sat at our back porch table. We were still just absolutely shocked. Like, who does this? 

Eventually Hubby very sweetly told them it was time to leave, and they left, around 10 pm. The whole thing was so damn weird.

Labor Day: The Goose Goes Back To School

She came home for a quick weekend visit. Now we're heading north again.

Please excuse my vulgar children 

At PLU soccer field. Not pictured: a phone call from L's mother, S, in Pennsylvania. Major un-fun shenanigans are happening currently. Yuck. 

Heading back to their apartment 

P.S. L asked M if L & D could take the girls camping. M said no. 

We think L & D are living in their car with the baby.

L texted

...and asked if she, Baby W, and her boyfriend D could stay in our basement. We said no.

L dropped by

...to visit the girls. It was unplanned.

Pride is a Sin

But I can't help it, I'm proud of my artwork.

Coloring and watching Working Girl were on the agenda today. Good times.