Back to School is Here

I've been seeing pictures of kids going back to school for weeks now.  I think we must be the last ones to start.  I have to admit I'm looking forward to three days a week on my own and two days with just Katherine.  I'll miss Graysen so much.  We've had a lot of time this year with just the two of us and have come to enjoy doing a lot of things we don't do when there's two of them.  Now I'll have Katherine two days a week on my own.  I hope I can keep one step ahead of her!

Emily and Ryan took Graysen Wednesday for her Meet the Teacher time.  I met them there since I'm going to be taking and delivering some, so I wanted to learn my way around.  The school is just a block from the apartment, so I'm familiar with it.  It's beautiful with the mountains behind it.

We were all kind of excited and didn't take pictures of the room.  So sad, because it was an awesome room, just full of exciting things.  Big windows, lots of color.  Graysen was excited over all the books and getting to pick out her box color for her cubby - purple. She went in shy and scared but came out really, really pumped up and ready to start.  Her teacher is Lori Boyles, and she is lovely.  Great laugh, huggy, obviously loves working with little children.  Graysen responded to her immediately.  I think she reminds her a lot of her mama.

She forgot to give Graysen her night-before-school envelope and ran down the hall to give it to her, and that's when I thought to take a picture.

The thing we were so excited about was the library.  Just looking in the window made Graysen jump up and down and clap her hands.  Little reading nooks, colorful displays, hundreds and hundred of BOOKS!  And already children inside learning.

She found the names of some of her friends on other doors.  Everly is just across the hall, and we ran into them leaving.

 I guess this is the combination cafeteria and auditorium and where we pick up in the afternoons.

Later, Emily and Graysen and I went to Issaquah for her to do something for work and for me to fax something.  We stopped for a treat at Starbucks before we left town.

 She really didn't want to bite this kitty but finally did eat his ears.  I only got an iced coffee that was just perfect.  Whatever Emily got had four names, but I tasted it and liked that too.  I was just in a mood to be pleased maybe.

Emily stopped by her office to check her schedule.  It looks really colorful to me.  She's going to work on changing it around to let her do more school pickups and time with the girls.

It seemed pretty busy to me, but everyone said it was a slow day.  Graysen got some spinning time while we chatted with Em's co-workers.  Such a nice happy place.

We had decided to go to PCC for lunch.  I had seen it but never been in, and I probably won't go back much because of wanting to buy way more than I can afford or need.  I didn't get any good pictures because we were too busy eating.  Emily and I got a sandwich and Graysen a slice of pineapple pizza.  We had a few containers of salads, and after choosing my favorite, I found out it was tofu. And delicious.  Everything was very fresh and yummy.  I didn't love the kelp noodles, but everything else was good.  They do cooking classes and are publishing a cookbook this fall.  In the meantime, there are hundreds of recipes if you want to get adventurous.


This was a really good day.  I love to hear the girls say that, especially if it started off confused or someone got their feelings hurt.  If we're in a good spot, someone will always, "This is a GOOD day," and this always makes me feel like I've done my part.

And today was Katherine's day to go to her new school and look around and meet the teachers.  For two years, she's been the little sister, the one on the outside looking in and envying the big kids playing on the playground and with the animals.  So today was her big day.

Now we have the weekend and Labor Day before we get into the routine of actually attending these schools.

Instead of going inside yesterday when we got to the apartment, we decided to walk up the street a little bit to a tiny little park.  They like the rock fountain and playing in the bushes.  Very fancy, but they love it.



Debby sent the blue kitty thing as a topper for Emily's tea cup to keep it warm, but it got stolen away for an adventure.  I was telling her earlier that I was impatient for the afternoon to be over so I could relax and be on my own, but the longer we stayed her and listened to the peaceful sound of the water, the more relaxed I got.  The girls played designed and played in their very own little house in the trees, and chattered and laughed for maybe 30 minutes.  I didn't have a book or my phone (charged), so I just enjoyed having no deadlines and no one telling me what to do.

They got a little chilly playing in the water and so wanted hot chocolate when we got home.  Then I let them have 30 minutes on the most exciting thing I've purchased lately - their "Pink iPad."  It's a Kindle Fire with a pink cover just filled with cute things for kids their age to do.  If I didn't limit it, they would never put it down.



And tomorrow is the beginning of September, always my favorite month but now kind of touched with sadness.  It's a sign of a new beginning anyway, so we'll see what we can get into next.

Ending Up the Summer

It was an exciting time for the girls since Grandma and Grandpa Bindert came to stay a little over a week.  It was a nice rest of Mimi too, since my only duties most days were taking and picking up Katherine from school.  They did so many things with their more adventurous grandparents.  They brought a pool and water cannons and I'm not sure what all else along with peaches and tomatoes and a watermelon.  Graysen loves to walk with them to Safeway to get a doughnut, and they did that a couple of times.  I'm not sure if Katherine went.  They don't get that with me, since you have to make your way across the parkway.  I did meet them one morning after dropping off Katherine, and we enjoyed some coffee and doughnuts or bagels at Starbucks.

They all went to a lake one day, Rattlesnake maybe, and stayed very busy going for walks, going to the parks, going for milkshakes, playing in the hot tub.  Emily had a family work-related party one evening, so Millie, Al, and I went and got dinner at the North Bend Bar and Grill.  It was my first time there, and it was pretty nice.  It was just good to get out with people close to my age and without children.  All three of us adore the children, but it's fun to have grownup talk without being interrupted.  We were all sad when they left.

I only took one picture of them the whole week.  Maybe I can get a few from Emily.

Speaking of grownups, I did have conversations with people this week that were over 40 and not related to children - mostly.  I met a grandmother at the park with her grandchildren.  She stays during the week to keep the children and then drives to Eastern Washington on the weekends.  She got my phone number, so if we don't meet again at the park, maybe we'll get together.  Unfortunately, Graysen and her granddaughter never really seemed to develop a rapport and play together much.

Emily and Ryan's neighbor Debby from across the street saw us sitting in the swing on the front porch and came over, and we ended up talking over an hour.  She has been wanting me to play bridge with a group, and I once thought I might, but I just came to the conclusion that's not something I think I would enjoy, relearning all that bidding/trump/ruff stuff with people I don't know well.  I've gotten to the age when I'm just able to say no.  I did say yes to her invitation to come over for coffee.  She got a new Keurig and got a big sample box of K-cups, so as soon as I have a free day next week, I'll go see if she has any cinnamon roll cups.

I had another dinner last night with Phil and Marie, my former neighbors who moved down to Snoqualmie.  I miss them, and it was really good to see them.  Phil is never serious, and Marie and I just hold on for the ride.  I walked down to the Infusion Bar and Grill (second bar and grill in a week), which is a block from the apartment.  It was another beautiful night, and they walked back with me to see if they could find any other people they knew.  I'm going to miss Phil being there to make sure the stairs were safe when it snowed or iced and clearing my windshield.  A couple of times, I threw him the keys off the balcony, and he cranked my car.  Yep, I'll miss that when those cold mornings start.

End of August - sweater weather.  I've been wearing a jacket in the mornings and forgetting to wear them home, so I now have two of them at Emily's.  I think Graysen is looking forward to snuggly days with hot chocolate and a fire.

Last week was a warm day though.  Graysen's new school is a block from my place, so we walked over and met Emily for a playdate for new kindergarteners.  Emily was to give out Boeing tickets for the golf tournament right near there and was going to change places with me, but it seemed easier for her just to stay and let me go to the playdate.  Graysen was very shy the whole time and would hardly talk to anyone, but she did find two little girls and two boys who are going to be in her class.  There are five K classes, and the only girls she knew from Rooster Valley are in two different classes.  The new friends seemed nice, though, and she'll do fine.  Her neighbor across the street is in her class, Shreta (sp).  That will be nice too, to go in knowing someone.

On the way home, we stopped at this little park we've been meaning to check out.  It's tiny with not very many things to play on, but we were the only ones, and she had such fun by herself.

She's getting the hang of the monkey bars - I don't think they call them that up here - and when she saw Emily later that day and was telling her about it, she said, "Mama, I monked all the way across."

Thursday was a busy day.  Emily said I was trying to get back to being favorite grandmother, but we just decided to go over to Kidz Bounce all of a sudden.  It was packed, and Katherine was a little reluctant to get involved in a mesh cage with 10 or so kids in it, but she managed to have a pretty good time.  Graysen just takes off and boinks and bounces and slides with all the others.  

We went to McDonald's for lunch, which still remains their favorite place.  No playground, and they don't love the food, but they go for the excitement of people watching (and commenting).  

Friday we went to Bartell's for an ice cream cone.  Graysen always gets mint chocolate chip and Katherine "purple."  The only purplish this time was raspberry sorbet, and I was a little afraid she'd hate it, but the server offered her a little spoon of it.  She gagged.  So, good call.  She ended up with cookies and cream and ate every bite.

Bears are still roaming the streets.  There's a new sighting every couple of days, but I haven't seen one.  The weather is beautiful, and I'm enjoying every bit of it.  

August Days

I really do need to write down what I do every day, because I'm having to really struggle to remember yesterday.  The Win-Bins returned from their trip and had a great time.  I have hundreds of pictures now but haven't had a chance to go through them and put them in a place where I can download some here.  The wedding was on a mountain, and the guests rode ski lifts to the site.  I told Emily it's a good thing I didn't go, because I would be staying behind!  She said it was even more fun coming down because your choices were a luge or a bumpy bus.  I almost wish I could have ridden a luge just to say I had done it and a ski lift too.

I believe that's Mt Hood in the background.  It's so beautiful.  Mike and I enjoyed seeing it when we moved up here and came through California and Oregon and then again from the air when we went to Palm Springs.  It's just breathtaking.

 I don't even know the bride and groom's names.  They were friends from South Dakota who moved to Portland separately and rediscovered each other.  I think.

I'm pretty sure no one had any more fun dancing than Katherine did.  The dresses were Christmas gifts from Rosanne and Lou and couldn't have been any more perfect.

I love this picture for so many reasons.  The death grip Graysen has on Katherine's neck; the view; Micah - I haven't seen him since Emily and Ryan's wedding in Atlanta in 2009.  And then trying to figure out Emily's and Graysen's arms.  Whose are whose?

So back to reality.  Monday Emily worked at home, and Graysen and I took Kate to school and went to the library.

She loves to put the books in the book drop and had a good many to return that I just couldn't read this time.

But we keep trying.  I see a few more for me to try.

I love going in on Monday morning and getting the free Seattle Times just so I can get the book reviews and the NY Times crossword puzzle out.  Keeping up Mike's traditions.  It made him so happy, that Monday morning trip - to get something free!  And, of course, to carry on with the librarians.  I go home and make a new list of books that sound good to request.  I think I overdid it this time, and they all came in at once.  I'm not much good at the crossword puzzle, but I'm giving it a try.  These are the things I miss most, sharing those Mondays.

We've been following the construction of the new hotel with interest since it was just a pile of dirt.  Most people on the Ridge were upset about cutting down all the trees for it, but I think it's needed, and it will have a beautiful view.

This is a mystery building that's going up next door to the hotel.  No one knows exactly what's going to go there but hopefully not another Starbucks.  I guess it's just going to be shops and a restaurant maybe.  I love the mountains and trees and all, but it sure is good to have that Safeway just a few blocks away instead of having to drive 10 miles to buy groceries.

Tomorrow Grandma and Grandpa Bindert are arriving to spend a week, so first thing this morning the girls were making them some welcome signs for their door.

Paw Patrol stickers or more Paw Patrol stickers.

Then they got dressed and we went to deliver more packages to the post office and went to the grocery store for a few things and then on to Nick-Donald's for our weekly trip.  We went to Ana's, the Mexican restaurant down the street from my apartment, but it was really expensive, and I don't think they enjoyed it as much as just picking up Happy Meals and milk shakes and taking them home.

This was on the corner at Twede's Cafe.  I wish I weren't driving, so I could take pictures of all the hanging baskets and pretty flowers in North Bend.

And the rest of the day went well.  The girls played nicely together and separately, and let me have a cup of coffee and maybe a small nap.  Then we read all the new library books and Graysen decided to fix my hair - Lella, the hair-doer.  It was worth it to hear the gales of laughter as she "styled" it.  I told her it didn't give me much confidence if she was going to laugh at her work.

Once the new grandparents get here, I get a week off, so maybe I'll get some reading done.  I've just about sold all those sewing magazines on Ebay that I found in the garage and have made around $125.  I may have already spent most of it on a pink Kindle Fire for the girls to use at my house.