My grandmother's hands.

Summer 2010 was an eventful one.

One Saturday just before school got out, BB and I went to say goodbye to my maternal grandmother. I sat there for about an hour, held her hand, talked to her, responded as best as I could to the nonsensical things that she was saying. I watched her lovingly knit socks for the bear that she held on her legs. I marveled at her hands. Her hands... I hope I never forget her hands. I sat and thought that those were the hands that held my mom as a baby, who loved her, cared for her, diapered her, fed her. The hands who packed and unpacked the boxes every time her family moved. Hands that as my mother grew, learned to hit her and hurt her, hands that I had to defend myself from. I remembered her hands that taught me to sew, taught me to knit, taught me how to not treat people. I remembered her hands holding her cozied highball glass of wine, shuffling the cards when she played solitare, held the cigarette. Her hands, capable of such love, and destruction; powerful hands.

She was a teacher for 35 years and in true fashion, died on the first day of summer.

The first Monday of summer was a beautiful day filled with a trip to see Aunt J. at school and have lunch with her, then a little shopping. While we were out, we called Nana and found out that G.G. had died that morning. We all felt sad, that she was gone, but relieved that she was at peace. Altzheimers' disease is cruel, sad and so misunderstood. We miss her

We went to MN for the funeral in July and enjoyed hanging out with family. My grandmother hadn't been back to MN since she buried my grandfather 10 years ago. She hadn't lived in MN for 50 years give or take, but I thought as we put her remains in the ground, "a MN girl, home for good." She is where she belongs, were she loved.

She is missed.

Things I want to remember

I want to remember:
Big Bug's reaction to hearing about our new car... We were clicking into car seats at Safeway, and I told her "our new car's doors don't open" She looked at me puzzled and then said, "They slide" and giggled and waved her arms and legs in excitement... too cute

I want to remember:
Little Bug being upset at the grocery store and instead of coming to me, she walked past me and hugged Big Bug. Big Bug consoled her and Little Bug stopped crying, then I started. I marvel at their relationship.

I want to remember:
How scary it is to buy a car. May it keep me good at saving so that I don't have to feel these feelings again.

I want to remember:
everything!

Summer 2010 kick off

Today we kicked off summer vacation in a big way.
On the way home from our usual routine trip to the farmers market I got an idea. The blow up pool we bought in early spring had 3 holes in it and I was not willing to fix it again. SO.... Let's get a new pool, one that is hard plastic, with a slide (a must since the old blow up one had one). But then it wont have the sprayer like the blow up one had, BB was upset. I looked at D and we said, sounds like home depot. about $20 later we had the perfect solution.... watch....

Taking a bow...

For almost 3 years now, we have dinner on Tuesday night with our friends Matt and Marissa. Tonight, LB and BB excused themselves from the table to use the restroom. I helped LB go, and before I could get her diaper on, she was out the door. She walked up to Matt, and said "Potty! YEAH!!!!" clapped her hands and then, with naked bottom and all, put her left hand in front and right in the air behind her and bowed saying "Thank you!" Needless to say, we all busted up laughing.

Monterey Bay Aquarium.

After a morning of pancakes and packing up the camp, we headed to Monterey.

LB took a nap and BB played car bingo. It was really fun! We had lunch at El Torrito and watched the Kayak-ers and the otters play, the geese and gulls bob up and down, and the waves crash into the rocks. The girls were mesmerized.

We then walked Cannery Row to the Aquarium and enjoyed the exhibits and a presentation on otters.


Plate impressions. These were great! Molly loved the impressions that she could make. In the end, we came home with 2 awesome hand drawn originals.

My little shark!
Pink Flamingo! These are so cool, they're hot pink.

Watching the hammer head shark and other large fish.
An otter swam right in front of BB and Daddy.

After a stop at the gift shop were BB chose a flamingo (cause it is pink) and LB chose an otter we left with a huge thank you to the staff for an amazing experience. We had a cookie and ice cream for snack and headed home.

A great afternoon! I can't wait for the next trip. I wonder where it will be to?

First Camping trip

Big Sur 2010.
We took the girls for their first camping trip. Big Bug was in love, Little Bug wanted to go home. It was great to be back in the outdoors. We went for 1 night, and for LB, that was plenty. She was cold at night , and missed her carpeted floor to sleep on. She did however, love the hot chocolate. Molly thinks that roasting food makes it taste better!

Easter

A fun filled, very busy day. We opened baskets here at the house, then found the eggs in the front that the Easter Bunny left. Then went to Nana Papa's for brunch and an Easter egg hunt. Home in time for a nap for BB and a visit with Art and Pat.