My middle child has watched his older brother and younger sister have sleep overs.  He has watched them leave to go play with friends.  He has tried with friends to have a sleep over but they have all gone home.  He has dreamed of playing with friends and spontaneously having sleep overs.  The other night that is what happened.  His dream has finally come true.  It's not that we've ignored him or not tried, its just that his friends haven't been ready or their parents haven't been ready.  Often I tell him, "You need to call one of your friends to play today."  Sometimes he just likes to be, sometimes his friends aren't available.  One of his dreams is to be able to go back and forth between our house and a friend's house during the day.  This maybe his year. 

His friend that spent the night is moving out of our neighborhood sadly.  They aren't moving that far away, maybe a mile, but we'll still miss them being close.  While spending the night, this friend also listened to Job read a story out loud that Isaac wrote.  They curled up on the hide-a-bed and read the whole story (about 20 minutes).  It touched my heart I tell you. Job thinks the world of his brother and it's evident when he talks to his friends about Isaac. I love the fact that Job and Isaac are buddies, but am also glad that Job is developing his set of friends too.

Job avait un reve.  Il reve d'avoir un ami se coucher chez nous.  Ses amis ont essayer mais ils n'ont pas pret ou les parents n'ont pas pret.  Job voulent vraiment de jouer avec ses amis et decide spontanement se coucher ici.  Ce semaine ca passe, et c'est un reve deveint vrai pour Job.  Malheursement, le garcon demange cette ete.  C'est pas loin mais ce n'est pas dans notre voisinage.  Alors il ne peut pas courir chez eux ou chez nous.   Il avait un autre ami pres de nous peut etre c'est l'ete de jouer plus avec l'autre ami et courir entre les deux maison. 

I also read an article about a landscape designer who planted all sorts of plants around his kids' tree fort to make it feel junglish. I knew right away that the wisteria should twine around the tree fort. In my mind I thought it would be a cool place for the kids to hang out with vines being the roof and walls of the place. At first we had a tarp for the roof that become ragged so we replaced it with a brown tarp. That eventually became ragged too.  The wisteria grew, John pruned, the wisteria grew some more and John pruned some more.  Finally after years of pruning and growing, the wisteria has become the plant that I envisioned.  Now when it is flowering, it is one of the prettiest places to have a tea party.  When it is done flowering and the leaves have fully come out, it is a perfect location for a secret lair.
 Le glycine est autour de la fortresse. C'est un place parfait pour des biscuits et du the avec tous les fleurs. Quand les fleurs sont finir, c'est un place de cacher.

Isaac fait bien au college et nous sommes en fier de lui.  Il fait le mieux dans des classes du mathematique et de la science.  Je pense c'est parce que nous avons deja fait tous qu'il faut faire dans la classe de mathematique l'annee avant. Mais nous devons celebrer, alors je lui achete des lunettes du soliel.

Right now my plans have been scrapped.  Right now I'm waiting.  Right now I'm chomping at the bit for ...
Maintenant il faut changer mes plans.  Maintenant j'attend.  Maintenant je voudrais un.....



































A Sunset.  nuit claire pour prendre un photographie le coucher de soliel.

For the last four years summer has always included certain activities.  One is taking the boat out on the lake.  John grew up with a small boat on a small lake.  I didn't.  John learned to waterski.  I didn't.  John is typically more daring in his activities.  I'm not.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  I love to get out and have an adventure but I'm fairly cautious in my activities.  About four or five years ago we purchased a small 14 ft boat.  We loved it.  I could take it to the lake if I wanted to.  I could put it in the water, take it out of the water while John was at work.  It was great.  Then it died.  Actually it burnt up while we were on the lake.  So we sold it.  And started to look for another boat.  We found another beater of a boat.  We only buy beaters.  If they sink, it's ok.  This one is an inboard motor.  We can take it on Whatcom because it meets the environmental requirements.  We've had it for 1 1/2 years now.  Every year there is work to be done on the boat.  This year was no exception.  John worked on the boat for a couple of days and was able to make it run.  There is more work to be done but I think that's why they say "B-O-A-T = Break Out Another Thousand". 
Of course once it started we needed to try it out on the lake.  Lake Wiser (aka: Duck Poop Lake) is our small go to choice.  It's dirty, only 6 boats at a time can be on the lake, it's close, it's fairly calm, and it's warm.  We were able to get in a couple of hours on the lake after John came home from work.  Loved it.  Every year we start slowly with the kids on the tube.  Go slow, no bumps, no going in circles they tell us.  Every year we plop them on the tube and rip them around the lake and then they are ok.  This year we could finally get Isaac outside the wake and then we dumped in the water.  The kids are so light and then they sit in the middle of the tube so it's hard to get them outside.  Hopefully soon we'll get them up on skis again.
Cette ete, nous avons prennons notre bateau sur un lac.  Nous avons un bateau depuis presque cinq ans.  Chacque annee, il faut que John a travaille sur le bateau.  Il avait un bateau quand il etait petit, pas moi.  Il apprennait faire du ski natique, pas moi.  Il est plus aggresive que moi.  C'est d'accord.  Cette ete, il faut travailler sur le bateau mais ce marche maintenant.  Alors il faut que nous essayons sur un lac.  C'est un petit lac, tres sale mais c'est pres de nous.  Il peut seulement six bateau sur le lac a le meme temps, et ce n'est pas frois.  Au debut d'ete, les enfants aime que nous allons lentement.  Mais au fin d'ete il y plus aggresive.

Lona had her final dance recital for the year.  We started to get ready for it at 1pm.  Her hair was done by 2:30 and by 3:00 we were at the theatre for the dress rehearsal.  By 4:30 we were home for a quick dinner and back at the theatre by 6:00.  (We had to go back for the tickets that I forgot.)  It really is an incredible production.  We left the theatre at 10pm.  It was long but the dancers did a fantastic job.  Some of the numbers made me want to learn to dance but I really have no rhythm.  The little kids between the ages of 3 and 5 were hilarious.  They did so many funny things such as running around the stage, turning at the wrong time, slipping and falling down, walking off the stage back into the wings.  Both the boys just laughed when the little ones were on.  The youngest kids are so funny because they don't always do what they practice and they leave stage, stand and wave or even fall and cry, however they are adorable and tend to steal the show.  Lona's group was towards the end of the evening and I thought she did amazing.  She is the youngest in her group.  She's eight and the oldest is 15.  But of course this is just a mother's opinion.  We are definitely going to do this again.

C'est le fin pour la dance.  Elle a un grand production.  Dans sa classe elle est le jeune.  Les autre filles sont entre 10 et 15 ans.  Je pense que Lona est magnifique.  Je la suis en fier.  Nous commencons a 1 heure apres midi avec ses cheveux.  Apres une heure et demi, nous sommes finis.  A 3 heures apres midi, nous avons au theatre pour la repetition.  La production commence a 6 heures et demi, alors nous retrournons chez nous pour le dinner et allons encore a 6 heures apres midi pour la production.  Sa classe danse a le fin.  La production est 3 heures, c'est longe mais agreable.  Les garcons aiment de voir les petits enfants dansent.  C'est amusent parce qu'elles ont arrete ou tourne ou donne des bisoux a ses mamas.  Quand c'est temps pour Lona, je pense qu'elle est parfait mais je suis sa maman. 

So this week we had an appointment in Woodinville with Isaac's doctor.  We drive to Woodinville four times a year.  Since we are in the Seattle Area anyway I try to schedule something to do.  This time we chose to visit China Town.  Isaac was studying Washington History in school.  So a little about China Town.  It was created for Asian immigrants.  There were strict laws about where you could live if you were an Asian immigrant and it was in a small 7 block section of town.  Also the immigrants were generally all single males, being that US Customs wanted these people to go back to China. 
Sometimes whole families would leave for the US but at different exit points so that they could meet together once they arrived in the US.  This way they weren't denied entrance into the US.  We were told that they are not referred to as Asian immigrants anymore but Asian Americans because they even though they could not become US citizens, own property, vote, or live anywhere outside of ChinaTown they contributed to American life.
We went to the Wing Luke Museum and purchased our ChinaTown tour.  ChinaTown wasn't what I or the kids expected.  Yes, we walked the streets of ChinaTown, took in an apartment, walked through a tropical fish shop, and bought fortune cookies.  Fortune cookies were invented in San Fransisco of all places.  They evolved from a way to thank costumers to placing "fortunes" inside.  I guess that I expected more history and a more colorful area. I don't think that I would go on the tour again and Isaac said he wouldn't recommend it.  Unfortunate because it could be good.  We next went to the Museum. 

By this time the kids just wanted to go.  Not usual for our museum trips.  Normally I have to tell them its time to go.  They did have a glass exhibit which was really cool.  the artists used glass to make 3D sculptures.  The other exhibits I was interested in was the Asian Pacific Adoptee exhibit and the Alaskan photos.  These were pieces of art created by Asians who were adopted.  Each person had a different story and their experiences were found in their pieces of art.  One really grabbed me.  A pencil drawing of a family except that the little girl's face was missing.  She asks could you tell she was Asian if her face wasn't there?  In all her drawings, the face was missing.  The Alsakan photos were taken of men who worked in Alaska and synopsis of their experience. 


On the way back to the car, we were looking in shop windows and I snapped a few photos when we were approached by a lady.  She smiled big, looked into my eyes and quickly mumbling asked for a dollar.  I said sorry, the kids stood around and watched her.  Then she leaned into Job's face, his eyes became large like saucers and he leaned backwards as she leaned closer and she said "hello" and walked away.  I was trying to get Job to step back and away but Isaac was right behind him and didn't move.  It happened fast.  It was weird but I think that there are many homeless people there.  I think the potential is there for ChinaTown but someting is missing.  I think ChinaTown is dying.
Nous sommes alles chez doctor pour Isaac en Woodinville, pres de Seattle.  Apres nous avons decides de visit la ville de Chinoise.  Pendent le debut de siecle, il est necessaire que les chinois habitent dans une place.  Ils peuvent pas habiterou ils voulent.  Alors le nom de la place est La Ville Chinoise.  Nous avons payes pour un tour mais c'est pas tres bien.  La ville est salle est il y beaucoup de gens qui n'avait pas un maison, qui se coucher dans la rue.  Je pense quand je lire de la tour, qu'il y a beacoup des histoires de la chinoise mais ce n'est pas comme ca.  Il faut que je demmande beaucoup des questionnes parce qu'elle ne parle pas beaucoup.  Apres la tour nous avons alles au musee.  C'est interesant mais les enfants n'aiment pas.  Nous avons vu les pieces d'art qui sont fabrique avec le verte.  Je pense que nous ne recommendons pas la Ville Chinois d'autre personne.  C'est cher est ce n'est pas interesant.  Il y a la possibilite deviant bien mais je pense que la Ville Chinois commence de mort.

Welcome summer.  I think what really is the beginning of summer for us is the day we put up the pool.  It is involved.  Here are our 11 steps.
1. We clear the area of sticks and toys by having a bonfire. 
2. We rake out the dirt, fill in holes, and decide where the center of the pool is going to go. 
3. We place a stake in the center and with a 10ft piece of string and some flour mark out the pool.  Our pool is an 18 ft diameter pool. 
4. We haul in a couple of truck loads of sand.  Due to the fact that we can't access our backyard with a vehicle, hauling in sand means that we shovel wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow into the backyard. 
5. After the sand is placed within our flour circle, we smooth it out and level it.  Yes we use a level. 
6. We bring out the pool and determine where the pump is going to go. 
7. We layout the pool and connect the poles. 
8. We smooth out the wrinkles of the liner after we have about 2 inches of water in the pool. 
Now the kids are ready to slip and slide as the pool fills up. 
9.  Haul out the frame for the solar heater and the solar heater. 
10. We determine the best location for the solar heater by watching the sun for a day.  The solar heater doesn't work in the shade.
11.  John then makes a run to the hardware store to purchase items for the pipes such as replacing missing or broken gaskets and pipe.
This process takes about two weeks.  But the kids have been in the pool ever since we placed two inches of water in it.  Growing up I always wanted a pool at home.  They just weren't as convenient or mainstream as they are now.  Our current pool is going on 3 years and we love it. With the solar heater the water in the pool has reached almost 80 degrees after a few days of sun.  When the pool is up, we see a lot of neighborhood kids that we may not see during the winter.  I've had kids here from ages 5 to 16 all in one day.  I don't mind.  The older kids are nice to the younger ones and they play all sorts of games.  My summer job is a lifeguard and I have my chair, umbrella, and side table.  I have a few rules about the pool. 






1.  No PEE in the pool.
2.  Bring your own towel and dry off before entering my house.
3.  No cussing or lewd remarks.
4.  No showing underwear.  I tell all boys that I don't want to see their brown streaks.  Underwear stays hidden after that remark.
Maybe this summer I may make a sign to post with these rules.
Notre piscine est ouvert.  Il faut que nous netoyons le jardin.  Nous avons un feu avec les batons.  La place est plat.  Nous achetons des sables pour la place.  Nous mettons la piscine sur la sable et attachons les formes.  Apres quelques centimes de l'eau dans la piscine, nous laissons les enfants de jouer.   C'est finir en deux semaine. J'ai quelques regles pour la piscine.
1.  Ne faisez pas pee dans l'eau.
2.  Prennez votre serviette.
3. N'entrez pas tout moyer dans la maison.
4. Ne montrez pas votre sous-vetements.
Moi, mon travaille pour l'ete est garder les enfants qui utilisent la piscine.  C'est dur mais il faut que quelqu'un le fait.

Before cleaning Avant arranger

I am a sentimental person.  I attach memories and feelings to things.  If someone gives me something and says "this was my so and so's thing" then it becomes something of value.  Someone bought or made it and therefore it becomes sentimental. Another thing about me is that if I purchase something and don't use all of it well down the road I might have to purchase it again so I don't want to throw it out.  I also love having a project to do.  Some of my projects I'm fairly proud of and some are junk.  I like to craft and try things.  Sometimes I read blogs and think, "Hey I can do that."  And so I run out and try it and realize that I can't do that.  I have aspirations for projects and it turns out that they aren't so great.  I place most of my "I'm going to get to this project or I'll place this here so that I can get it" stuff in the junk room, I mean in the laundry room.  There is no room in my laundry room.  I would love to have a little laundry room like this gal (Cameras and Chaos).  It's clean and pretty and there is room in the laundry room to do laundry.  Not so much in my laundry room.  So I am enlisting help.  I was mentioning to a gal that I am a packrat and she's going to help me go through my laundry room/ kitchen and school room if we have time and pitch/give away things. I took photos of before in  my laundry room.
I see the streamers I bought for my wedding 16 years ago.  I'm not sure how long of a shelf life sunscreen has but five bottles of it purchased over the years needs to be whittled down.  How about some lace that I've never even touched but was given?  And then there is the matting for photos that I have.  I do have the aspiration to use it to frame my photos but then I look at my photos and think, hmm are these worthy to be framed?   There are the clothes to be ironed but I need to replace the cover for the ironing board.  I'm going to sew that but need to haul out the fabric to cover the ironing board.  How about the corn husks in the craft basket and the basket with unmatched socks from when Lona was a baby to now.  You never know when I might find that other sock or the child that left with one sock may return to find their other sock at our house.  On the floor is a basket full of hangers.  When I do laundry the kids bring down their hangers and place them in the basket.  Then they hang up their own clothes and put them away.  I like the clothes to get hung up so that they can find them and we don't forget about something until it's too late.  There is the laundry sorter but it doesn't fit under the cabinet like I wanted.  Maybe I need a different one?  This is just my laundry room!  My goal for my laundry room:  To fit everything in the cupboards.



Apres, After

Je suis un personne qui garder des choses.  Si quelqu'on me donne quelquechose et dit "Ma grandmere fait ca"  je pense que c'est un objet de valeur.  Aussi, si j'achete quelque chose et n'utilize tout, je le garde si j'avais le devoir encore.   J'aime aussi de faire des choses comme des couverture, des livre des photos, et broderie.  Je mets tous dans la salle de lavage.  Je voudrais un chambre nettoyer et calme.  Alors je demander quelqu'un de m'aide.  Avant elle arrive, je mets tous dans la salle a manger et met des chose dans un boite de donne a une charite.  Et il y a quelque chose que je n'ais pas sure de donne ou garde et elle m'aide.  J'ai organize ma salle de lavage et ma cuisine.  Prochaine j'espere d'organizer ma salle d'ecole et mon placard.

The people sit in anticipation waiting.  The doors swing open and they enter, each smiling, excited and nervous, walking down the isle, dressed to the nines.  They approach the front and turn standing in two lines the micro phone is passed from piano student to piano student as they each introduce themselves and name the number of years playing the piano.  "Hello, my name is Isaac and I've been playing the piano for 2 years."  The microphone is passed to a younger version of the previous boy, "Hello, my name is Isaac and I've been playing the piano for two years." he repeats.  The first boy looks over and motions like he's going to bonk him on the head.  That is how the recital went last year.  This year we again had a rehearsal before the actual recital.  These same kids filed into the same small church and practiced introducing themselves.  "Hello, my name is Lona and I've been playing piano for 3 years."  "Hello, my name is Isaac and I've been playing the piano for 3 years."  "Hello, my name is Isaac and I've been playing the piano for 3 years."  Again, this smaller version of the older boy just repeated what he heard before.  We burst into laughter and he had no idea what he had just done. 
Again these piano students didn't just study piano but they were encouraged to arrange their own compositions and to create a project based upon a composer the whole group studied.  This year that composer was Mozart.  They also learned a little about the culture of Mozart's day. They each created a mask that reflected themselves.  These children worked almost every weekday, setting their timers to keep track of their minutes, finding the correct piano keys, reading about Mozart, creating a computer quiz, a Lego movie and an embroidery of Mozart. 
Here is their program.
















Your efforts have shown through in this recital.