Several Firsts...... this trip!

The kids are off to their cure cancer walk...Mike is taking pics. I am here with Elaina today...a girls day today! I am thinking pedicure's for us. Yesterday, her mama went for a mani/pedi and a massage, all by herself. First time in "years" she said.

Ethan kissed me back for the first time yesterday....and even let me hold him. He laid his head back and watched a cartoon with me. Hurray!! I also watched him reach up and open the bathroom door by himself. Hide your cell phones!

Elaina had a difficult bedtime last night...so she came in to my bed and laid with me till she went to sleep. She complained to me about her parents for the first time. Not sure what she was mad about but she was over it this morning. They probably wouldn't let her have a popsicle in bed...those damned parents! :)

Elaina cracked 4 eggs into a bowl this morning and not one shell fell into the eggs! Another first. She decided to add cheese to the eggs...and pepper but that's all. We cooked em up and they were 'licious.

She is helping me make brownies and later this afternoon, she says she wants to help me make the roasted chicken...if she doesn't have to touch it.

I'll be home tomorrow eve. I'll be happy for the quiet...for about 3 days and then "the missing" will begin again.

Gramma, can I sleep with you?

When Elaina asked that question, I had all kinds of thoughts; how sweet, oh no, my snoring will wake her up, will she ever go to sleep, wonder if she'll turn "wheelies" in bed all night, will I get some sleep? I said, "sure, if it's okay with your mom". Hell yes... is what I suspected her answer would be. Turns out, Elaina is quite the snuggler. She snuggled me clean off the bed. She also talks in her sleep. It was cute. The second night was better...and the third was the best one of all. She actually slept all night long in her own bed last night...first time ever. Elaina also loves to say that word...actually. Ethan is a daddy's boy..and mamma's boy...but at least he doesn't scream anymore when I go near him. He is so cute it is unreal...actually.

Jenn and Mike had friends who have a beach house in Oceanpark, WA. Mike agreed to do a family photo session in trade for a few days at their house. Nice. It beat the alternative..which was a broken-down cottage that smelled of mold and very, very old people. I think Slingblade's parent's lived there.

Anyway...this other beach house was beautiful..new, with all wood floors, granite counters, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The ocean was about two blocks away. I've never seen such a desolate beach in my life...and it was ALL ocean. No cliffs, no rocks...just beach and ocean. We drove down the beach!

Here is my question? How old do kids have to be before they can entertain themselves for awhile? It seems like my mom threw us outdoors at dawn and let us in for lunch and dinner..and then for bed. I don't recall having to entertain my kids from morning till night...but then, I wasn't that great of a parent either. It seems like the adults could play cards or watch some tv and the kids were off playing by themselves. We'd throw em some snacks from time to time...ya know, to keep em alive and such. [I feel sooooo old].

It's naptime.

Back in Portland

We are back. Can only speak in short sentences. Nice time. Cold water. Nice clams.

later......

Off to Long Beach...Washington

We are driving to the coast and then northward. The kids arranged for a little seaside vacation till Wednesday. Everyone is packing up; Mike is marinating the ribs and steaks for the cooler, Jenn is packing the kids' stuff, I just finished dancing with the kids and am packing up some fruit and other travel treats.

Elaina, Ethan, and I have watched two short princess movies since I arrived. It was funny...the one princess was a geologist and the other one chose not to marry the prince..she wanted to travel and be free. It'll be interesting when two princesses ditch the men and marry each other!

Well, I hear trouble upstairs. Ethan just dropped mommy's camera in the toilet.

See ya when I get back!

[keep hitting the vote for me sign please...it's for a good cause]