tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.comments2024-03-10T09:53:54.308-07:00The Island of PhelpsRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978112515173586772noreply@blogger.comBlogger771125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-34875179334195474712024-03-10T09:53:54.308-07:002024-03-10T09:53:54.308-07:00It was a car ferry! It only takes about 15 minutes...It was a car ferry! It only takes about 15 minutes to drive from the south to the north end of San Juan Island, but we definitely would've been more limited in the activities we could do if we were walking everywhere! As for G, I think they enjoyed the novelty of being on their own.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10636146366627166656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-74885135634130064802024-03-09T14:05:47.460-08:002024-03-09T14:05:47.460-08:00Just curious--was this a ferry where you could bri...Just curious--was this a ferry where you could bring your car, or did you park it and then have to walk everywhere on the island? If you walked everywhere, that is a LOT of walking. <br /><br />Sounds like a worthwhile, interesting trip. Hope G didn't miss you too much.Momof8https://www.blogger.com/profile/05459740445023756616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-28233925337191678562024-03-04T05:54:20.100-08:002024-03-04T05:54:20.100-08:00That sounds like a lovely break and I'm glad t...That sounds like a lovely break and I'm glad the weather was nice for you! I had never heard of the Pig War, so thanks for including the link!Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-40487051800353786482024-01-26T19:24:10.483-08:002024-01-26T19:24:10.483-08:00I just realized today that I hadn't checked yo...I just realized today that I hadn't checked your blog for awhile. What a reward to read about the interesting things you've done and made. I love that you share them with us. I especially love the photos. The foggy one was cool. We get fog once or twice a year, but I'm not usually out in it while it's dark and mysterious. I grew up walking or biking most places, and I enjoy walking with my friends each weekday morning for a couple of miles. I need that nervous energy release and time to express feelings with my women friends. <br /><br />I'm glad we got a phone call with you on New Year's Day. It was really nice connecting and hearing about some of these things I'm just now reading about.<br /><br />I totally get the "alone" time, too. I think we cherish it when we get it because it is rare. <br /><br />Momof8https://www.blogger.com/profile/05459740445023756616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-15772863251778190822024-01-09T20:44:28.051-08:002024-01-09T20:44:28.051-08:00I loved "An elderly lady is up to no good!&qu...I loved "An elderly lady is up to no good!" Great book!! Hope you enjoyed it, too! Nice holiday post!Myrnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450610418971329885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-85890716223945162482024-01-08T16:54:42.944-08:002024-01-08T16:54:42.944-08:00Aw, thanks! It's been a lot of fun to have Rya...Aw, thanks! It's been a lot of fun to have Ryan get into wok cooking. As for walking, I think it helps that I grew up with a semi-walkable life. I walked to/from school for grades 3-12, we could easily walk to Main Street and walk or bike to friends houses or the community pool as we got older. But there was still a lot of driving. I've never enjoyed driving myself and when we lived in Indiana it felt like everything was at least a 20 minute drive away and that was annoying. Living here I've gradually realized that walkability is near the top of my priority list - there's something really empowering in being able to walk to everyday needs and not have to worry about parking or other crazy drivers on the way and I think it helps me feel more connected to my community as well. Downside is most of the US isn't built with walkability in mind, so we're pretty limited in the places we could ever move to. Even our current neighborhood I worry that as they push to add more housing they'll add *just* housing, even on streets that really should be street level shops/restaurants with housing above them. And if they do that then eventually the walkability of the neighborhood will decline. <br /><br />We went to Paper Source for the paper! The fancy ones definitely won't be something we get often because they're pricey, but it's fun to splurge once in a while just for the fun of it or for a more special gift. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10636146366627166656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-42491648693508715952024-01-07T17:43:44.678-08:002024-01-07T17:43:44.678-08:00I always think I'm a pretty good cook until I ...I always think I'm a pretty good cook until I see the stuff you make in your kitchen! I'm so impressed (and intimidated!)! <br /><br />I've never lived somewhere walkable-- I sort of think I'd hate it, but it's silly to assume that. I'm glad, for your sakes, that it doesn't really rain as much in Seattle as they're always telling people! That would make for a miserable walk.<br /><br />Where in the world do you buy pretty wrapping paper??? Those were gorgeous, and definitely not what I'm finding at Target and Costco!!!Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-65214331949785415842024-01-06T11:31:33.318-08:002024-01-06T11:31:33.318-08:00Ohh, don't get me started on Kaiser. They'...Ohh, don't get me started on Kaiser. They're great until you have a chronic disease. They're terrible about covering formula, even for kids with feeding tubes. We often have to let a Kaiser doctor manage the nutrition orders even if they have no clue what they're doing because that's the only way Kaiser *might* cover it. I know our doctors have similar frustrations, so it's not just the formula coverage but specialty visits and medications as well.<br /><br />Isn't it delightful to have things stay clean?! Also, I think some of my enjoyment is that I've never really had a chance to live alone. I went from my parents house to college roommates to married and, while the thought of living on my own made me nervous at 20, at nearly 40 I look forward to solitude in the house occasionally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-30427846536355036232024-01-05T13:28:40.072-08:002024-01-05T13:28:40.072-08:00Our insurance won't cover fluoride treatment a...Our insurance won't cover fluoride treatment at the dentist. I can't even express how much this enrages me. And it's only $30, but when you multiply that by 7, it starts to cost quite a bit! After leaving Manassas, Sarah and I frequently bemoaned how much we missed Kaiser Permanente-- they were so great about actually taking care of their people. (No clue if they still are, or how they are on the west coast, but ten years ago in Virginia they were GREAT. My hospital births, even the c-section, cost me a $100 co-pay!)<br /><br />I'm amazed at how much I enjoy being home alone now. Wiping down a counter and returning a few hours later to it still being clean feels like magic. I'm glad you got to enjoy that while you were working so hard!!!<br /><br />And finally-- what's with these sons of ours playing trombone and hiding in the back??? Bentley at least played drums, but he was so short then that we couldn't see him in the back even though he was standing!Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-79961696746348894262023-08-21T16:36:30.306-07:002023-08-21T16:36:30.306-07:00I struggle so much with the same dilemma, Alanna! ...I struggle so much with the same dilemma, Alanna! G is usually game to try anything, so we haven't had to do too much of that with them, though the pandemic did leave some anxiety around random social things or things like travelling out of state, so we are having to push a little on those points. But M never wants to do anything new or that they perceive as challenging and gets very upset/digs their heels in if we try to push, so it's a definite dilemma. Things like swim lessons are obvious, essential life skills. But camp? Learning an instrument? Reading an unfamiliar book? Camp I ended up pushing because we really wanted our time away haha. But other things I give in on because it's exhausting to constantly battle over everything.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10636146366627166656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-9677865963166180502023-08-21T05:06:07.182-07:002023-08-21T05:06:07.182-07:00When you mentioned the farm, I wondered if it was ...When you mentioned the farm, I wondered if it was the one I'd read about, but alas, that farm was on Vashon Island!<br /><br />Anyway. I love that you guys have a getaway like that while your kids are gone! Those are some major relationship goals for me! And awesome that your kids are growing into themselves at camp! It's so hard knowing how much to push them and when to baby them (I usually land on pushing them, but that doesn't seem to be the trend for a lot of society...?).Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-25096048517662415652023-08-14T15:55:44.043-07:002023-08-14T15:55:44.043-07:00I love going to zoos. We frequently hit the Point...I love going to zoos. We frequently hit the Point Defiance zoo when we're visiting Natalie and it's lovely! This one looked fun, too!Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-69488275993015922902023-08-14T15:53:36.042-07:002023-08-14T15:53:36.042-07:00What an awesome trip! I visited my sister once wh...What an awesome trip! I visited my sister once when she lived in the Bay Area, but I was really only there to see her and to go to a friend's wedding, so I didn't explore at all (I also had baby Ryder with me). One of these days I need to get there...!<br /><br />(Also-- when you mentioned getting sunburned but it was cold and windy so you hadn't noticed it. YES. Preach! This gets me every time!)Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-34754626427890452002023-05-29T10:52:37.475-07:002023-05-29T10:52:37.475-07:00I'm so impressed with people pole vaulting-- i...I'm so impressed with people pole vaulting-- it looks like the most unnatural thing in the world, and yet I imagine doing it successfully must be so exhilarating! Go G!!!<br /><br />And good luck with the plants-- you've already proven on your blog that y'all have greener thumbs than I do, so I'm sure the plants will do fine!Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-72621008164577295542023-05-17T17:51:15.768-07:002023-05-17T17:51:15.768-07:00Woot! Go G! That's amazing and very impressive...Woot! Go G! That's amazing and very impressive!<br /><br />Good luck with the plants :) The look like the kind that take over the world if properly cared forkristine Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08202917905756050811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-59243317724493692842023-05-12T04:50:31.411-07:002023-05-12T04:50:31.411-07:00So cool about the plant sale! So awesome that G po...So cool about the plant sale! So awesome that G pole vaults!! Myrnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450610418971329885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-8478431766932089732023-04-24T10:46:32.400-07:002023-04-24T10:46:32.400-07:00G's birthday cake looks wonderful--great job! ...G's birthday cake looks wonderful--great job! Seems like the older kids get, the harder it is to find gifts that you can actually wrap. Experiences with them seem to work better. <br /><br />I hope you have many years of enjoyment out of that deck. Can't wait to see it. We just had some outside work done, and it sure feels good to get to the other side of it, at least this part of it. Home repair/maintenance is never really "done."<br /><br />I love that you love what you do so much, Erin! Thanks for sharing!Momof8https://www.blogger.com/profile/05459740445023756616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-49397620305068710102023-04-24T08:09:45.657-07:002023-04-24T08:09:45.657-07:00Such yummy things going on at your house!
Your d...Such yummy things going on at your house! <br /><br />Your deck looks beautiful! We need to fix our deck (which I'm not looking forward to) and repaint our house and, and, and, and...it never ends! Ugh! Hahaha! I totally feel you on that and I'm sorry it was such a headache, but I'm glad it's a usable space. <br /><br />(And that baby made me jump!)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08631734965938273438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-51030291439901302062023-01-27T20:18:38.834-08:002023-01-27T20:18:38.834-08:00Do read "I am not your perfect Mexican daught...Do read "I am not your perfect Mexican daughter" if you get a chance! It was so good. I had no idea it had been made into a play. Very cool.<br />Myrnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450610418971329885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-40202687912099345162023-01-09T09:06:40.134-08:002023-01-09T09:06:40.134-08:00What a wonderful holiday you had!
(I'm alway...What a wonderful holiday you had! <br /><br />(I'm always finding things stuck in books; I recently found a birthday invitation I had stuck in one of my textbooks and, well, let's just say we didn't make it. Hahaha!)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08631734965938273438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-52305838391335046032023-01-06T08:11:32.074-08:002023-01-06T08:11:32.074-08:00Sounds like a lovely, peaceful holiday. Every tim...Sounds like a lovely, peaceful holiday. Every time I eat a grapefruit, I think of you. I only had one this season, and it was delicious. Sabrina and I have finished a couple of puzzles now. We didn't get started until New Year's Eve, so we just finished the second one last night (Jan 5). Good times! We just might do another one or two. <br />Thanks for keeping us updated. I love reading your blogs!Momof8https://www.blogger.com/profile/05459740445023756616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-22905472385256742952023-01-03T12:39:36.646-08:002023-01-03T12:39:36.646-08:00That is very good-looking grapefruit! I am glad yo...That is very good-looking grapefruit! I am glad you found your missing recipes!Myrnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450610418971329885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-56490499731718432162022-12-30T13:03:24.951-08:002022-12-30T13:03:24.951-08:00Wow, there was A LOT going on in this blog post. ...Wow, there was A LOT going on in this blog post. I would honestly be pretty shocked if your mental health hadn't taken a hit from all this. I hope you're feeling a bit better now with the holidays (almost) over. Ugh. Life is not for the feint-of-heart. I feel like I should say more, but it's hard to say anything very meaningful in a comment. But I'm thinking of you and your family through all this.Alannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895073619356841356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-19621828660250047902022-12-19T19:05:54.353-08:002022-12-19T19:05:54.353-08:00Wow. I am so sorry about that school shooting in G...Wow. I am so sorry about that school shooting in G's school. So sad that school shootings are hardly even news anymore, when there are only a few victims. Meaning I did not hear about a school shooting in Washington at all! How very stressful for everyone, and how very extremely sad for people most directly involved. Virtual hugs to all who need them.Myrnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450610418971329885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516488777599629236.post-90721366926710508162022-08-29T11:33:23.082-07:002022-08-29T11:33:23.082-07:00This sounds so wonderful! I'm so glad you wer...This sounds so wonderful! I'm so glad you were able to take the time out and enjoy it. Dad and I stayed in a nice cabin, kind of like this, for one night a few years ago and it was absolutely marvelous.<br /><br />Hope the boys enjoyed camp as well; I imagine it was nice to have an interesting break from home just before school begins.Momof8https://www.blogger.com/profile/05459740445023756616noreply@blogger.com