No Rain by Blind Melon

You have no idea how much you're holding inside until your kid starts singing along with this song on the radio and you ask her, "Have you ever seen the video for this?" and she says "No" and you start describing it to her and end up with your voice squeaking like a mouse and water leaking on your face

This gorgeous kid is off to the prom

Have fun, Mr. C!

The joys of growing out the gray...

It's a real laugh riot.

The phrase "if hairs be wires" comes to mind.

Being at the beach

always makes me so happy, I wet my pants*

After spending the night in Sequim, Washington, last night, we drove to Clallam County and visited Salt Creek Beach, off the Strait of Juan de Fuca. What an incredible place!

Today being Mother's Day, I was extremely happy to be in such a beautiful spot with Brian and two of our babes. It was a fun trip.

*I will never not use this joke whenever possible

Playoffs Game in Lacey, Washington

This was a bummer.

Brian: "Carter and his school teammates unfortunately lost in the state playoffs today, 3-2, to top-seeded Gig Harbor. They had a great game and season."

But, the good news was, after this game, we drove north to beautiful Sequim, Washington, and spent the night.

Harrison's Birthday

Happy Birthday to our wonderful "Herson!" The last almost 20 years have been a laugh riot with you around. So proud of you! Hope your first day of the new job is awesome!

At Salmon Creek Kaiser

Her Last Middle School Parade

Long Beach, Washington

We so hope she'll continue on in high school.

Hijinks

....at the farmers market.

The kid on the far right is C's friend Titus

Ye Olde Front Door

It's a work in progress.

Go figure

Today, as an experiment, I turned off my phone between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm. It was great - I was able to get so much done. 

When I turned it back on, I had 46 text messages (my family on a group text) and four Facebook messages. The dumb thing sat there and "dinged" for about three minutes. 

So, yeah, the phone is a major distraction.

Warning

Solicitors, peddlers of religion, consider yourselves warned.

"I tried many times with the polite but firm "I'm never interested, go away forever" but I found it helps to just let them talk while I bend over to take off my shoes, then socks, then shirt. They usually leave before I can get my belt undone."

- random Internet stranger

🍒

The View From My Piano Bench

I love having a job where I get paid to do one of my favorite things.

I love the people I work with.

It was a very foreign and almost uncomfortable experience, learning to work with a different church's music and belief system. 

But eventually I realized that God and Jesus belong to everyone, and ultimately everyone should get to decide what to believe about them (if they believe anything at all). 

This church's interpretation of Deity and Christianity is just one among many flavors.

I appreciate the Methodists, particularly this congregation, for being such a truly Christlike group.

Wearing the old Bob Ross socks...

...for good juju at choir today, because Bob would want me to rock it and be happy.

Update: the socks worked.

Saturday Morning Dreaming

There will be tripping

Ernie: "Good, that's the first step to manifestation."

Today, on Nat's Wild Bed Head

Since becoming a blonde (and then home-dyeing it brown), my hair does weird stuff. 

Today's attempt was pretty epic.

Later, I attempted rag rollers, and now I can say I've tried it and never need to do it again. The results were not picture worthy.

Winter Sowing, Starring Catness

Winter sowing is a gardening method where you take containers and plant seeds in them and set them outside in winter. Nature is supposed to do the rest. So I doctored up these milk jugs, and of course Kitty had to get in on the action.

Happy Anniversary Baby

What 26 years looks like

I love this man so much.

Kells Irish Pub

Mom, Ernie, Mel and I were here in Celtic food heaven having dinner tonight. I had the corned beef and cabbage, which was excellent. Ernie was sad because no haggis.

TRAIN TRIP

Enjoyed a cozy trip from the Couve to Pasco this evening, where I was met by my mom. We spent the night at the Best Western Plus in Pasco. Mom brought birthday gifts! Sweet!