MINE!

I have fond affections for my truck. Yes, MY truck . . . Justin thinks he’s part owner, but, in reality, is mine. Don’t tell him

It’s not a top of the line anything. It even has a few years (11) of usage under it’s belt. It doesn’t matter. I still hold it’s black gargantuan self on a pedestal of love and appreciation.

It eats gas like its made of cotton candy . . . melting my money away in the saliva of life.

I had it “trip checked” at Les Schwab before heading out on our drive to my parent’s. I also had the oil and other levels checked at Oil Can Henry’s before hitting the highway (I might be a tad paranoid). Oil Can Henry’s employee told me the coolant was near empty and to keep an eye on that during our trip.

It never acted like it was getting hot, so I didn’t worry about it until the next day, after arriving, and my dad and I checked it. We added nearly a gallon of coolant.

Yeah, that’s bad.

My Aunt Bev and Uncle Rick have lived here for 30+ years and they recommended their mechanic at Tri-City Auto Repair (Pasco). I explained my coolant was leaking and brought it to them this morning.

Afraid it was going to be a 200 dollar repair, I was prepared for bad news . . . But, thank God, it was only a 75$ repair. A clip was bad on the upper radiator hose (there must be more than one hose to the radiator, learn something new everyday).

Grateful it was so minor!

We had a great time picnicking at the park today. Someone invited the Seagulls. The boys fed and chased the gulls, played in the water features and on the playground. After spending even more time out in the backyard in the kid pool and getting into Grandpa’s decorative rock in the flower beds for the umpteenth time, nap time ensued. 3 hours later, they are up and watching cartoons in Granny’s room; a favorite.

I miss Justin. He had to stay behind due to work, tons and tons of work. 😦 Distance makes a heart grow fonder . . . true dat!

I hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July weekend!! No crazy plans here. Maybe go down and watch the fireworks over the river. We’ll see.

Life at my Parent’s

I haven’t lived at home since the first year Justin and I were married. We rented the basement of their home, at the time. That is nearly 9 years ago.

Since then, my parents have moved twice. It takes about 4 hours drive time to get to them now.

The boys and I loaded up Monday morning and took the drive through Portland afternoon traffic and then suddenly solitary on I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge and over into Washington at Umatilla. One of my favorite drives of all time. It even wins over the Oregon coast . . . well, they’re closely tied anyway. 🙂

I shut off a part of myself. Relax and just go with the flow when I’m here . . . stepping outside my little world and breathing for a moment. I drink good coffee and eat great dinners.  I laugh and hang with my parents; realizing with every moment how precious these times are, how precious my parents are. I’m blessed to have such parents that I can do the above with! They are loving and gracious towards my high energy boys and so loving and supportive of me!

Visiting my parents solidifies and even builds, that sense of family and belonging; support unparalleled. I love my boys and husband, that sense of family is priceless  . . .  but there is something irreplaceable about the extended sense of family as well . . . and it goes together wonderfully. I know, when it comes to family I be blessed! 🙂

We’ve been here since Monday and, so far, have done little more than hang out, take walks and play with Max, the Blue Macaw.

Visiting the mom and pop . . . LOVE it!

Here’s to another, almost 2 weeks of family time. . . 🙂

Tri-Cities

Hey, yep, we’re up here again . . . visiting my mom and dad.  One last, last minute, trip before school takes over.   Tobias went in for evaluations Wednesday . . . he starts next Tuesday.  Mornings from 9am – 12.

Weird.

I’m here for that reason and to bird-watch my parent’s Blue and Gold Macaw, Max.

I met Max, for the first time, yesterday.  He is all of 4.5 months old . . . but he is largish already.  The only creature that I’ve been around that is, truly and honestly, busier than my 4 and 5 year combined.  Always talking, always playing and climbing and wanting attention.  Fascinating.  Something to have after kiddos grow up and can, either help take care of it, or their grown up and out of the house.  🙂

Parent's Blue and Gold Macaw, Max

We had a fun drive up.  Justin drove the boys and I to Multnomah Falls, where my mom and my Aunt Bev met us in the truck to take us all back up to the Tri-Cities . . . oh, and Byron. 🙂

As we were crossing over into Washington

The fall time clouds were beautiful!

I rode in the back with the boys for the three hours into Washington.  Now I know why the front seat is where I usually ride . . . thats all I’m gonna say about that.

Entertaining themselves . . .

Samuel turns 4 years old on Sunday.  I know I say this a lot.  But I’m really really not sure where the last 3 years have gone.  Samuel is my snuggle bug . . . sweet and easy going.  He falls asleep within minutes of being in the car, most of the time.  Pretty much anytime he is eating he stuffs his mouth to the limit . . . especially candy.  I’ve unlodged something from his throat more times than I want to count — less as he gets older. 🙂 He is obsessed with Toy Story of all three varieties.  Buzz Lightyear is FANTASTIC.  He asks to go to the movie theater on a regular (sometimes daily) basis.  He loves going on walks and playing at the playground . . . playing in the river is a favorite of this past summer; the sunshine turning his skin a golden brown.  He likes to be silly with his brother and make silly faces at the camera.  Heaven forbid we smile at the camera. 🙂  He starts preschool in two weeks.  TWO WEEKS!  I so don’t want to send my baby!  But Tobias loved it and I know Sam will too.  Somehow my boys are quite social . . . simply a miracle with their inverted, hermit of a mother.   I’m glad I don’t buy diapers anymore . . . all potty training done.  Relief.

So Justin is meeting us up here on Sunday afternoon and we’ll have a little party with my parents.  Celebrating 4 years of blessed life.  Samuel Caiden

Samuel Caiden . . . Happy Birthday!

Photos

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Random photos of our time up at my parent’s this past weekend.  Relaxing and so enjoyable . . . the usual. 🙂 Blessed with amazing family!!

Witty Witmeister

Yeah, witty is not something I possess. But I had grand plans . . . you know, thoughts that lasted 2 seconds a piece . . . to take pics at the Vegas airport, also known as Mcarren Airport . . . and lay out our trip home.

But, alas, leaving one’s parents for an undetermined amount of time after visiting for two short weeks . . . well, a bit more emotional than I had imagined.  Hey, its been two years since I traveled down there.

So, camera forgotten in the midst of tearful goodbyes and nap-dreprived tots, there are none to share.  And the camera was buried at the bottom of my diaper bag . . . really really buried.

Because an event with me never goes uncomplicated I managed to forget to replace my missing drivers license before trying to fly out December 25th . . . I had my expired license, but they don’t much care for those.

So, feeling like somebody trying to get away with terrorism, I was searched, patted down and just plain complicating the, already toddler-complicated, process of getting through security.  I think its some subconscious thing for me to make sure all aspects of anything I do are slightly askew . . . organized-easy is not my way apparently.

Not so bad in Eugene but Mcarren (Mccarren?) bad . . . oh so complicated. Good thing I have a patient and loving husband.

Oh, there is my really hot man now . . . we had so much fun painting the Vegas strip red the other night.  Ok, well, at least painting it coffee colored. 🙂 hee hee.  We’re at the Venetian there, I believe.

Well, boiled down, we packed, cleaned my mom’s house, loaded the car and truck (yep, Toyota Prius cars do not carry 5 people, much less with car seats, luggage and the like, so my dad’s work truck was recruited for hauling purposes) and drove to the airport.  Checked luggage in, made our way via tram to D gates, waited a whole 30 minutes, loaded our plane.  We then entertained two tots for 2 hours, then unloaded the plane, met uncle Jason outside the baggage claim . . . where we, ironically, claimed our van and our dog (which the Millers so graciously took care of while we played for two weeks), drove the 1.5 hours home . . . in which we unloaded baggage, unpacked, fed children, went grocery shopping (amazing what goes bad in 2 short weeks), and then dropped off to bed.

In what took me 2 minutes to write took approximately 7 hours to complete.

All worth about ten identical trips . . . vacation, it was truly.

Good to be home too.

God Bless!

Though the sunshine will be missed . . . as well as the loverly park down the street from my parent’s house.  Tobias has already inquired when we will be heading there next . . . not to mention the 50 times, just today, asking where Granny and Papa are. 😦