Thank you Ashley and Ashlee for sharing your “girls trip” with me. It was so fun to have you nutty girls around.   What a treat to be able to spend Mother’s Day with my (all grown up) baby.  I’ll let Ashley share the details of her trip on her blog, but will post a review of our “Savor Seattle Tour” soon!
Category Archives: Family/Friends
Continuing a Tradition
I just learned that my sister, Kristin, has adopted a very important family tradition. I’m so delighted!
It began when Ashley started dating. The first time a new suitor would come to do the door, I would answer and greet them.  Unbeknownst to Ashley, The dialogue woud go something like this:
  boy: Is Ashley home?
  Me: Yes, she is – but first, a song.
  boy: Huh?Â
  Me: A song. You need to sing me a song.
  boy:  (visibly weighing options) Umm… what song?
  Me: Oh, any song will do. Maybe ________ (then a suggestion).
  boy:  really?
Some took a bit more convincing – not wanting to look foolish, I’m sure. But when they realized I was dead serious and they were NOT getting in the house, nor was Ashley being made aware of their arrival, they’d give in and sing.   Some even enjoyed themselves, and those were the boys I knew would be fun dates for Ashley.
I heard “Give Said The Little Stream“, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” among others.   My all-time favorite response was Ashley’s friend Josh – all 6’4″ of him…. without batting an eye, he launched into “I’m a Little Teapot” (which he chose) and even did the actions. He got bonus points.
One kid, named Richard, absolutely REFUSED to sing and I eventually relented in letting him in. But I knew he’d be a very POOR MATCH foor my daughter (which he was… not a fun bone in his body)… and after a far too long dating spell she finally realized it too 🙂
Justin, now her husband, performed Rod Stewart’s – “Have I told you Lately That I Love You” beautifully… ending up on one knee, I believe.   The two of them are still singing today!
So…. today I learned that J’Neil (my neice) had her first suitor arrive today – and Kristin was serenaded with “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”  I nearly cried with joy.
Since J’Neil is just entering her dating era, Kristin would love a list of song suggestions…. any ideas?  Â
Did, or do you have any “first date” traditions like this?
Three Cute Chicks
I recently spent 10 days in Salt Lake, celebrating my birthday and enjoying time with family and friends.  Of course I haul my suitcase of camera equipment with me so I can photograph my favorite subjects.  Here are my three grandaughters at our Spring Party / Easter Egg Hunt… Aren’t they cute?Â
It was so much fun spending time with them – though when the three of them get together they go nuts!  They enjoy each other a lot, and wear all of the adults out with their enthusiasm.Â
Their parents are pretty cute too…
Happy (Belated) Birthday, Kathleen
One of these years, all of my piscean friends need to be together for our birthdays…   but for this year, at least, I was able to spend time with Kathleen on her day (which is the day after mine) and got her to sit for a photo. Â
She is so much fun. Ashley, Kennedy and I stopped by with a small gift and Glaus French pastries (I have yet to find a comparable bakery in the Seattle area) and we had a great visit. Especially Kennedy, to whom Kathy ALWAYS gives her personal attention.Â
Kathy and I spent a couple of days with each other the next week, dining, running errands, watching movies, shopping, laughing and just catching up. It’s good to spend time with friends – and this is one I just don’t see often enough.  Thanks Kathy. Can’t wait for your visit next in May!
Happy Birthday, Buns
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Happy Birthday to my best friend, Michelle….  Â
aka Honey, Goob, Shell, Shelly and Buns (nickname given to her by the neighborhood buys who appreciated her cute derriere).Â
We’ve been best friends since 9th grade (which is a lot longer ago that it feels) and some of my best memories, most embarrassing moments, and my greatest laughter, have been shared with her. Â
She’s smart, wickedly funny, talented, compassionate, a loyal friend, and looks as great today as she did 20 years ago. Maybe even better.  Including her “buns.” I’m jealous.  Â
I don’t know why, but when we are together we are very different than when we are apart.  Something synergistic happens and creates a force to be reckoned with. Together, we were (and are) nuts. Immune to peer pressure… or family pressure…. fashion sense or any other boundary. We were good kids – but we truly didn’t care what anyone else thought of us when we were together. We did the silliest, dumbest things – and kept ourselves laughing constantly.
Things I’d never do on my own. I could write volumes about the pranks we pulled and things we did together…. Umbrella tree fiasco, belly button filters, pantomiming food while walking down the street, tea parties, prank phone calls to our classmates that led to their embarrassment in the classroom (that is my favorite)….
Some people were really annoyed with us, some jealous (we got away with a lot)… and there were a good many who just loved to be around us to see what would happen next.  I’m sure my siblings will concur….Â
I love that when we’re together EVERYTHING is funny. We could look at a piece of toast and burst out laughing.  And Michelle is full of the best one liners… really very witty.  She kept me in stitches on our trip to Butchart Gardens last year. And she’s good sport, not afraid of looking foolish or laugh at herself, and she’s willing to be poked fun of and accept teasing as good natured fun.  Thank you for letting me draw hats and faces on your toes. Have I mentioned she is really funny?
A true friend – knows me well, all my faults, my embarrassing secrets, and more – and loves and accepts me as I am. Doesn’t matter how much time has passed, when we connect it’s like we were together yesterday. I hope we’ll be making a lot more memories together in the next phase of our lives….Â
Love you!  Hope your day is great!
Gelly
And now, an honorary entry and exciting announcement from my sister, Kristin.
I’d like to introduce you to the new member of our family: Gelly. Gelly. Like Jelly. But Gelly, short for Magellen. Named such due to his adventurous spirit and his strong desire to explore his world. I thought perhaps it might be a bit of an adjustment for Gelly to move into a new house with a new family he just met, but he simply headed right out on an expedition that lasted most of the evening, and then settled down happily for a nap, and now you’d think he’s lived here forever. Craig is hoping that Gelly will soon learn that despite the mystic draw it has, he cannot explore the depths of Craig’s desk and office equipment.Â
Gelly has enjoyed his safari this afternoon and has checked out both the kitchen cabinets and the upper shelves of my bookcase. This morning he had to be rescued though, because he got stuck – wedged between the back of my credenza and the wall – and couldn’t get himself out.
More about Gelly:Â Gelly is a delightful 4 month old who loves to give sweet kisses.
Gelly was abandoned at a farmhouse when he was 4 weeks old. He was in bad shape when he was found and rescued, but he was given tender loving care and was bottle fed and he grew in “strength and stature”. He is now a sweet, playful, content little kitty who is happy to go wherever you go, whether he follows you down the hall, or you carry him in your arms, on your shoulder, laying sideways or upside down.
Gelly seems to like sleeping in high places. He will often find the highest comfortable place he can get to, and that’s where he’ll take his nap. He likes the top of the couch quite a bit, where he can nestle into the throw blankets, and from his happy vantage point see the action going on in the kitchen, the family room and the TV all at the simultaneously. Last night Gelly spent a comfortable night sleeping in the laundry basket on top of the dryer.
He has the sweetest little squeeky voice. Almost like a little peep. If he wants to be with you, but can’t find you, that’s your clue. Little soft squeeks as he wanders up and down the hall.
Gelly likes to play and he loves feathers. They are his favorite, although he had a fabulous time batting around a “crunch berry” on the hardwood floor this morning, and he decided he need to teach the rubber band he found on the carpet the afternoon a thing or two about who is boss.
Athough he is being outvoted, Craig would like to call him Ernie’s Mother. This is because he sucks his toes (a reference to a Bob & Doug MacKenzie skit where they talk about their friend Ernie, who had frost bite and so “Ernie’s mother sucked his toes…”) Gelly likes to suck his toes, probably because he was prematurely parted from his mother and did not nurse long enough. Sucking his toes is a comfort. Or now just a habit. Or a fetish. I don’t know which. But in order to prevent him from sucking the fur right off to the point of damaging his skin, we’re taking some action to correct this uncommon behavior now, before he’s totally addicted. He’s been getting a taste of hot sauce today… Doesn’t like it so well.Â
So meet Gelly. He’s a sweetheart.
Just because
I have the best daughter in the world. Look what beautiful suprise she sent me this week (not my Christmas gift) – accompanied by a note that made me cry (in a good way, of course.)   She said they are “just because”…  Â
They arrived as buds and have been opening one by one since Friday morning… and they smell delicious. I love flowers.  Thank you, Ashley!
Kennedy’s compliments
I just returned… well recently returned from a brief trip to Salt Lake to visit my kids/grandbabies…. photos forthcoming. However – before I forget, I just had to share some cute Kennedy-isms.  She is so entertaining.
On a visit to Aunt Kathy’s house, we were chatting while Kennedy (age 3) played on the floor near Kathy’s feet.  After awhile, Kennedy looked up at her and said, very earnestly, “Your feet smell like roses!” ….  to which a bemused Kathy showered her with hugs and kisses.
I slept at Kathy’s that night – and the next day when Kennedy & Ashley came to pick me up, Kathy walked out in her nightgown and blue/flowered housecoat.   Kennedy poused only a moment and then said, “I like your pretty dress….”    and was rewarded with more hugs and kisses.
Later that day we had lunch with my mom. During a break in our conversation, Kennedy looked up at my mom and said, I like your eyebrows.”  LOL. . .      Â
That one had to be my favorite.
The Sunshine Tour – Part 2
Day 4: Shopping!
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Even shopping offers photo opportunities. While we were taking pictures of Kennedy in the pumpkins at Central Market, a Japanese family was admiring the pumpkins. One of them just plopped right down next to Kennedy and had the others take her photo. Â
Kennedy was only slightly freaked out by the whole thing. I had to snap one because it was such a crack up. What do you imagine she would do with that picture?  Post it on her blog, perhaps?Â
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We dropped by a kids consignment shop to see if there were any Halloween costumes that would catch Kennedy’s eye. She tried on dog costumes, bunnies, a giraffe, and several others – but none were perfect.  As we were walking out the door, Ashley noticed a pair of glittery red shoes, just Kennedy’s size.  Kennedy tried them on and just beamed.   It was decided – she would be Dorothy.Â
We went back to Country Village where Ashley did some shopping, we watched some belly dancers performing, and sampled some great Kettle Corn. Apparently to make authentic kettle corn, you must appear in costume.
Oh, and Kennedy modeled her new ruby slippers.
Then we went to Molbaks, of course. Just try coming for a visit WITHOUT stopping at Molbaks. It just isn’t done.
Anyway, each year during the holidays, they put on children’s plays – really well done. This year it was “Little Red Riding Hood” – an updated version.Â
We chose a performance that also had ASL interpreters for the deaf (Ashley is trained as an ASL interpreter). Kennedy loved it. Here is a photo of her with “Red.” Â
While there, we took advantage of Molbak’s photo opportunities.
Final day: Pedicures!
It finally rained at the end of the Sunshine Tour. So we spent the day just hanging out at home, only venturing out for Ashley and Kennedy’s first pedicures.Â
Kennedy actually didn’t have a full pedicure – but had her toe and fingernails painted orange, with little flowers and bats applied. She was SOOO good, holding still for the whole time as we enjoyed our pedicures and her nails dried.
After a dinner and a little more shopping, I sadly waived goodbye at the airport. Â
Stop, wait, come back…
Thanks, Ashley for bringing Kennedy to come visit me (and thanks Justin, for parting with them for 5 days). It was so much fun to have you here – I’m already looking forward to the next visit!
Warmed by Raes of Sunshine
And now – the long awaited presentation of Ashley & Kennedy Sunshine tour to Seattle.Â
For those unfamiliar with the whole Rae of Sunshine thing:Â
That has been my daughter’s nickname – Ashley Rae of Sunshine – since she was a little girl, because of her absolutely sunny personality.  Her daughter Kennedy bears the same middle name, and that same sunny streak. So now you know.
I picked Ashley and Kennedy up from the airport early Thursday afternoon (10/11) and had my first “aaaaaahhhh” moment as we were walking along the skybridge to my car.  Kennedy was pulling her little princess suitcase behind her, and out of the blue she turned to me and said, “I love you, Grandma Alli”   And that set the tone for the rest of the wonderful mother-daugher-granddaughter bonding trip : )
The traffic is the only drawback to living here, and I try to avoid making extra trips downtown if I can avoid them. So while already out, we headed straight downtown to the Pacific Science Center to look at giant bubble machines, dinasaurs and other cool stuff.    That night we met up at Cosi for dinner with my brother Jeston, his lovely bride Eve, and cousin Emily.  Of course we topped it off with Smores.
Day 2: The zoo.  Kennedy wanted to see the animals, so after lunch we headed off to the zoo. We hoped it might solidify her Halloween costume choice, since to this point every time we asked she wanted to be something different.   The weather was lovely and the zoo not very crowded. I took lots of great photos, but you can’t see them. The flash card has errors and the only photo I was able to salvage from the day is this lovely gorilla family portrait.  Â
Costume choices? Giraffe, dog, bunny, rabbit or fireman.
You might be wondering how kitty handled visitors. No? Well I’ll tell you anyway. He adored Ashley – took right to her and was often curled up in her arms. Kennedy, on the otherhand, was a cause for great alarm.  Run away! Run away!
Day 3: The Park.  First we browsed Country Village shopping center (very cute) that was having a harvest festival, had lunch a local cafe, where Kennedy entertained us with songs and overall cuteness.  I wish I could remember all the funny things she said – she really kept us in stitches.
Then it was off to the park to feed the ducks, play on the swings, make friends on the playground and pose for more pictures.   All in all, a lovely day.  And aren’t my babies beautiful??
I’ll have to stop for now, because today is my LEAST favorite day of the entire year – the day when I must set my clock forward and lose an hour of sleep.   But be sure to come back – you want to miss the exciting conclusion of this high estrogen adventure!