Saying Goodbye to Skippy

1995 - 2012
With your voluptuous shape and proudly swaying cat belly,Those lake-green eyes and that pretty terracotta nose,Your Cleopatra eye makeup and single orange toe; We joked you were The Chosen One--
Always game for a rumble, a wrestle, a snuggle, a chase,Addicted to warm, sunny spots and sardines,You harassed us with your obnoxious-but-winsome meow--You weren't one to be ignored.
With your I-own-this-place saunter And your refusal to move over, scramble away, or hide out,You endured Ollie's advances with stubbornnessAs though saying, "I was here first."
How can you--with your gladiator spirit--be gone?It's so hard to accept it, Skippy. But it's true. 
Mike found you the morning after your escape,In the ivy-tangled fringe of our garden. We cried--And braced ourselves for the awful task of telling the boys:"We found Skippy. It's not good news."
We wrapped you in Mike's favorite T-shirt, And each of us held you in turn.We buried you, And now you are chasing butterflies with Jenga.

We all helped paint the stone we placed over Skippy's grave.

We can see Skippy's grave from our kitchen window.

Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day. My own mom is on board somewhere in the Pamlico Sound / Intercoastal Waterway in North Carolina with her hubby on a little vacation this week. Though I can't spend the day with her, I really enjoyed reading her blog post dedicated to her mom (my grandma): http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/05/mother-knows-best-i-know-because-she.html

Now that I'm a mom myself, I get to enjoy Mother's Day in a whole new light. Today--after being allowed to sleep in ("Aaaaaahhhh")--I woke to a breakfast of bagel with cream cheese and lox, tea, and fresh-picked flowers from the yard. My two little angels delivered the goods:

Mmmm, my favorite breakfast! Thanks boys!

Isn't this sweet?

After breakfast, we got ready for the day and drove about
20 minutes to the Snowqualmie Falls. Ollie in his peach
shirt beside the peach-colored rhododendrons was too
good to pass up...

The trail to the base of the falls is closed until March
2013, but we enjoyed the view from the upper observation
deck. 

Gorgeous! And so close to home. A perfect day trip.

We could be honeymooners....

In the historic downtown of Snowqualmie, we wandered
into a curio and antique toy shop. 

After we ate lunch at the Snowqualmie Brewery and Tap
House, I snapped this pic of my two cutie-pies
while we waited for Mike to pay the bill and come outside.

In the afternoon, we stopped by Home Depot, bought a very basic, entry-level gas grill ($99) as well as a portable charcoal hibachi-style grill ($39). The gas grill won't be assembled and ready for pick-up until tomorrow, but with out little hibachi, we were able to grill out tonight. Yay.

Before we got the grill fired up, though, we took our neighbor up on her offer to user her paddle boat any time we liked. At first, I just took Ollie out alone but since he couldn't peddle, we just kept going in circles!!! So, I talked Mike into joining us and the kids both hopped on the back. It was great to finally had the chance to get out on the water a little bit and explore. Lots of people were on the lake today (non-motorized craft only), some people on innertubes and rafts, some in kayaks, one in a canoe, a couple of kids on stand-up paddle boards, one rowboat, and two different floating swim platforms. The water is still COLD but getting warmer. People who were swimming had wet suits on. I totally want to try out the stand-up paddle board. It's supposed to be an awesome workout. And, best of all NO SHARKS in the lake! Ha ha. We are also scouring Craigslist for a good deal on a used canoe. Can't wait to spend our summer on the water!

Our little hibachi on top of a rock wall, the hot tub cover standing in as our
buffet. Merrit looking out at the lake. :) 

Waiting for the burgers to cook...

Lazy Week

We've had a bit of a lazy week. Here's a little of what we've been up to:

Hanging out in the hot tub.

Some sort of dwarf cherry tree has been blooming in the yard. It's so pretty.
Also blooming: rhododendron, azalea, and lilac (smells HEAVENLY!).

Not entirely sure that these ethereal blue flowers aren't a weed, but I
am enjoying them so much, they're staying. 

A camelia that we can see from our bedroom window.

A lazy day after work. I'm reading my Kindle, Mike's napping, and Merrit
is snuggling with Skippy. (I believe Ollie was jamming out to his air guitar.)

Last weekend we went out for brunch at a lakeside cafe in Kirkland, then
walked around the marina.

A little family of ducks came to say hello.

Gorgeous wooden boat. So nostalgic. 

Me at the waterfront. 

Just across the lake, we can see the Seattle skyline.

This little car was actually a bike. Wow, looks like a death trap to me.

Ollie eating his quesadillla al fresco one day before school
this week.

I made chicken and dumplings for dinner one night this week to the excited
cheers and smiles of my boys.

And the after-dinner snooze. Yep. Carbs will do that to you!