The Picnic That Wasn't

It was going to be the funnest day ever, a picnic with all finger foods and lemonade at the park. 

Thunder showers were predicted and happened, spoiling the day. 

I was nervous to make finger salad, I should not have been, everyone liked it.

 Plus we had chicken watermelon and brownies. 

Happy indoor picnic!

Mom, This One is For You

My first Marigold flower bloomed.

 Thousands of buds are there.

 Stay tuned for the next picture.

 It will be lovely. 

New is Quieter & Better

When you have been using something for awhile you don't realize how much better a new one can be.
 Proof of this is below:

The new washing machine is so quiet I have to open the closet door to see if it is done. 

 It washes the clothes cleaner!

A belt got replaced on my treadmill....a world of difference. Both quieter and smoother.

New vacuum is quieter and more efficient.  Plus a self winding cord, any trick to make cleaning more fun.

A new sewing machine is so nice.  I was using my sister's hand me down.  What a difference a new one makes.  It has perfect tension and it is so quiet and  sews PERFECT!!

Look out Kim!

What do all these things have in common??

Washing Machine

Air Conditioner for the House (a few parts fixed)

Jake's Car (tires and strut)

My air conditioner in Sparky

The Battery thing that feeds the battery in Sparky

Vacumn

Sewing Machine

Treadmill Belt

All these things have had to be replaced since June, June people!!!

"Loving That Seattle Skyline ..... In Washington"

Driving up I-5 and you round the corner and there it is: The Seattle Skyline. There is nothing more beautiful.

Today was a beautiful day in Seattle, blue skies and no rain. 

"" Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane .....in Washington"

This picture was taken in Pt Defiance Park in Tacoma. I stood under the tress and looked up and almost fell over. I was amazed at the stillness and peace I felt under the trees. It was a thick forest.
 Something I took for granted until I moved to the desert.

I cried and made my kids get out of the car to feel the spongey dirt and pine needles.  The moss growing on everything was the best.  If I thought it would live I would have pulled off some of that fuzzy goodness, stuffed it on a Ziplock bag and brought it home. 

Kelsi and Logan on the Pier at Gene Coulon Park in Renton.

Kim and I with the beautiful water and land behind us. 

This is the road heading into Gene Coulon Park in Renton.  It has not changed a bit.  How we loved this park, a swimming area, a boat dock and an eating area with 2 restaurants, Ivars and Kidd Valley.

Boeing is right next to this park.  They actually have prime real estate!  Loaded on train cars was this piece of a jet.  Boeing is such a strong force in the Northwest.  It is commonplace for the people who live here to see this and I had forgotten what a part of their lives the airline industry is.

Cute kids, beautiful surroundings.

Ivars Fish and Chips!

"Oh The Places You"ll Go ..... In Washington"

Datec in Southcenter, Tukwila. I worked here for 4 years. While I was there they remodeled and when I went back to visit, it was exactly the same. Even the same In/Out board to keep track of the employees.
 I stopped in to say hi, but it was lunchtime and all my people who I remembered were at lunch.

Who remembers eating at Ivars?  I do!  In the olden days you only could get it downtown
 right by the ferry terminal.  Now I was so surprised to see it at a mall. 

Look what a snazzy counter and set up. 

Pure delicious ness

We drove down Rushton Way in Tacoma.  Not a thing has changed.
 I rolled down my window and heard the seagulls and smelled the smells.
 Oh what JOY!

Boats in the dry dock.  I believe this brings back a memory. 

The boat with a rail road track beside it.  I went on many car ride on this road and it was before cars had DVD players so we looked out the window at all the sights.
 My fear is we are raising a generation of children who won't know how they got somewhere.
 They all watch movies in their cars now.

I did not realize I missed the huge boats until I saw them

Love this view.  Water lapping right up at the gravel  Seattle in the distance.

"The Friends You Will Visit ..... in Washington"

My dear friend Janet, we met as visiting teacher companions and it just stuck.
 She has been such a treasure to me for a long time.

I met this dear friend when I worked at Datec for 4 years.  Julie got me through that job.
Her cheerfulness and can do attitude really inspired me to be a good employee.
 We ate lunch together, Taco Time, McDonald's and Costco were some of our favorites.
 Sometimes we just ran errands during lunch together.  

My across the street neighbor, Margie and her son Alex.  So many times just spent talking outside. 
No one has ever been like her.  We have a connection.  I truly miss her as a neighbor.
  One that you just pick up talking again where you left off.
My Logan played with Alex but we called him the Zan Man.
 Watch for him in the Tour De France someday.  Yes, he is that good. 

Many, many people I did not get to see.  My friend Heather, who was a best friend during so many years set up a luncheon I had to cancel out on.  I was so sorry not to see people I wanted to. 

"So Much Loving Family You Will See .....In Washington"

Kelsi and Logan with their cousins at Grandma Betsi's house for a pizza party. Each brother has 2 children right around Kelsi and Logan's ages. They laid and laughed with their phones in their hands.

 A bunch of kids that can multi-task, visit and text at the same time.  

This is all the brothers together.  They have a crazy sense of humor and always are laughing.  It was so good for me to see them all together.  They have all grown into fine men who work hard every day and have families they support and love, cute kids who are driving and succeeding in school and wives that love them and that they love.  I loved seeing everyone growing up. 

As many who could fit on the porch. 

Aunts Uncles Grandma Grandpa Grandchildren Brothers Cousins and even a dog. 

 (Betsi will love this picture)

Cara, Earls wife could not make it to the pizza party so we went to her house.  This is her and her cute family. Sadly we met SueAnn, Ken's wife later that day and I did not get a picture of her.  Both women laughed and talked with me like I was still living there.  I remember getting to know them at family get together's and looking forward to visiting with them.  So fun to be together.  

All of Kim's brothers wives are gems.  They all work and are mom's (the hardest job ever).

Me and my Mom in Spokane,  She made us the best picnic dinner when we came to her house.

Me and my brother Patrick, it was soo good to see him. 

He ate with us and provided some of the meal and a lot of laughter. 

My cute dad.  He is retired and his house is perfect.  Immaculate yard, closets and garage. 

 He is a delight to visit with.  Always happy.

My sister's daughter Evey who I have never seen.  We met her and her family at the Alderwood Mall. 

 We had such a nice visit.  What a delightful family they are.  I love that my sister is a school teacher. 

 She is amazing and told us some great stories.  

She has classroom control which I admire, I can't even control my church class!

I loved, loved loved seeing my sister Bethany.  She is 18 years younger than me and I miss knowing her and then we meet and we are instant friends again like we have been our whole life. 

"The New Friends You Will Meet ..... in Washington"

Colby's girlfriend whose name is Alida grew up in Federal Way. We wanted to meet her sister and dad. Alida's mom was currently in Thailand while we were in Washington so we did not get the chance to meet her. Alida's sister was watching these 3 children and they came to dinner with us. They were so well behaved we hardly knew they were there and they were so cute to talk to. We enjoyed meeting her family. 

This is Alida's dad. 

Alida's dad and sister.  I like this picture for how he is looking at me. 

 Smiling and his arm is around his daughter. 

Here we all are.  Kelsi and Logan were there also but not pictured. 

Inside the restaurant.  Since we have been home we have talked to Eddie, Alida's dad and he has said the funniest thing.  He wished he had taken us somewhere nicer cause we were so nice........

and what if we had not have been?

"Things Will Tug At Your Heart ..... in Washington"

This is Merle. She is 96 years old. We planned a family get together at the Brydsons' Monday night and guess what she did? She made me shortbread. Merle remembered that I love her shortbread at Christmas. I used to make a big deal about it. So even though it was a very hot day and she is older, she made me shortbread. She said when we saw me, "Michelle, I have never made shortbread in July or when it is this hot." I just love her. I actually cried and hugged her.  She was very sweet to remember me and my likes.

Angie has a daughter who I have never met until now.  What a cutie. 
Just like her mom.  4 generations of Reis family.  What a pleasure to see them and visit. 

Kim's family together.  Kelsi and Logan got it for the first time how I grew up in my early married days with these brothers of Kim's and their wives.  How we all got together and became friends, sister in laws,  how we talked, laughed and were having kids at the same time.  Kelsi and Logan have a lot of cousins within their ages.  What fun to see the family together.