Happy Halloween

October 29, 2015

What a month!  We went to Laguna Beach and Port Hueneme on a business trip.  It was so good to see Dawn, Tyler and the girls.  Dad had a very successful business conference.  It was fun, informative, and flattering.  I had booked a hotel on the beach that was highly rated, but when we got there it was pretty sad.  We got our money back and rebooked at a nice hotel on the south end of town.  They asked what room I wanted and I described their most expensive room.  Why not?  They gave it to us for the week at an incredible rate.  We're only guessing that it was because it was available and we were booking Monday through Thursday.  Who knows?  It was wonderful.  Then we drove to Port Hueneme.  We have come to appreciate Google Maps and the way it charts routes and finds the fastest route.  On the way back to LA it took us through a canyon and through Thousand Oaks.  Very beautiful.  When the Pacific Coast Highway is slow, it is really slow. 

We enjoyed bbqing with the family, drawing dogs, reading books, taking the girls to church.  I especially enjoyed talking to Dawn.  She is exercising a lot and looks beautiful.  We look forward to seeing them again as soon as possible.

We were home for a week when I flew to Seattle to help Jenni and Danni.  Finn was still overdue.  Jenni felt well but was tired of waiting.  I really enjoyed walking through the woods to the boys school and eating breakfast in Ballard with Jenni.  Fortunately she went into labor that night.  Finn was born at about 5:45 the next morning.  They were only at the hospital for 2 1/2 hours before he came.  The boys were so excited when they woke up!  Danny came and picked us up and drove us to the hospital.  What a sweet experience it was to see each brother hold the new baby.  He is so cute.  He has dark hair, but blonde eyelashes and brows.  It think he will spend a few years as a blonde.  He smelled so sweet.  The first few days went well.  Then I came home and Jenni's sisters came to help her (and hold Finn).  I wish you all could have been there.

Now we are trying to clean out the laundry room.  Our contractor, Derek, is going to finish it for us.  We have allowed a great deal of stuff to drift into there.  I keep telling Dad: pretend we're moving to Port Hueneme, or Seattle.  What do you want to keep?  Time to edit the junk.

Tommy and Rilee returned from Hawaii.  They had a terrific time and a scary time.  Somehow they ended up on the Hike from Hell.  Really.  Sloping narrow clay path with a sheer drop to the ocean.  I think the island attitude is "Oh well.  Just another tourist."  Apparently the locals don't hike it much.  They highly recommend a family gathering for us in Hawaii. 

Alex is very busy.  I think he would agree he is too busy.  He is lecturing, taking tests, writing and publishing.  And winter has come to Ithaca.  It will be so good to see him at Christmas.

Travis is getting busier at work.  His knees and ankles still act up from his marathon.  He would like to get running again.  He has a lot of fun activities going all the time.  Don't you think if a marathon made your knees and ankles hurt you need more cushioning in your shoes?  Just a thought.  Not that I plan on running one.  He recently went to a lecture given by a famous writer on the Polish/Jewish experience.  Ask him.

Well, time to go load the Ex up with stuff for DI.  We had so many crusty old gym bags and back packs free from vendors at dad's work.  Heavy and brittle.  Time to dump them.  There are a lot of good memories in the camping closet.  Even my memories from girls' camp.  But a lot of garbage has collected.  Next I'm sorting through the Christmas stuff.  I only want to decorate with stuff I love.  Why is it so hard to edit decorations? 

Lilah had her birthday on Saturday.  Ty and Dawn had a bouncy house for her and about 13 friends.  They also had a barbeque dinner.  It was fun but exhausting.  She pretty much had a dinosaur birthday party.  The next day all the girls stayed home and played with dinosaurs.  I love that we get to recycle this stage with each child.  Dinosaurs are fascinating!

Now we have Tyler and Ivy's birthday on October 3, Finn's Birthday on Back to the Future Day, October 21, 2015, Lilah's birthday on the 24th.  October is turning out to be a great month.

Next is Jak's birthday on Nov. 26th, which is smack on Thanksgiving.

I bought Halloween pretzel bags for trick or treaters.  Dad is not very excited.  Who doesn't like pretzel bats and pretzel pumpkins? 

Take care and stay warm.

Love, Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW TO IVY AND TYLER

Tomorrow is Ivy and Tyler's birthday.  Happy birthday to the daddy and the daughter.  We hope it is a beautiful, fun day for both of you.  We look forward to seeing you in a week!