Cruel Summer

This classic Bananarama song comes to mind a lot these days. It's HOT, but we're trying to swing with it and have fun! Most days have been spent like this: In the backyard playing in the sprinkler, water table, pool, and hammock. Often in our underwear or equivalent! Last night was spent with friends (who happen to be neighbors) at an impromptu BBQ since none of us were excited about cooking at home in 95 degrees! I love our neighborhood. It reminds me of my neighborhood growing up. We were really tight and they all became my family and contimue to be so! We are very blessed.
Beth spontaneously made awesome capes for all of the kids, who spent their night running around the cul de sac being superheroes after splashing around in the pool. She then delivered the finished ones today along with (gasp!) one of those gel cooler things for your neck for moi! It was in use all day - literally. Kealan asked what it was and I told her it was Mommy's Cool Necklace. Thank You, Beth!

Last weekend was spent at Lake Cushman at our annual Blankenship Camping Trip. I don't call it camping, as the use of tents is not involved. It's "cabinning" for us as we're relaxing in a rockin' 2 bedroom cabin with a flatscreen, full kitchen and bath! Not too shabby! We had a fab time, as always, and it was great to catch up with everyone since we missed our Christmas gathering this year due to the storms. It was extra-special this time because Mom and Dad were in town for the week to attend a friend's wedding and were able to make it.

Tiernan discovered Doritos

Kealan and Trynne

More K and Trynne

Tiernan and Mara

K and Sydney - The Butterfly Girls

"Rock"

O'ma Loves

The big news at the Gardipee Hale is that G is on "sabbatical". We were notified in April that his facility was being closed and last week was his first as unemployed. He has a few things in the works, but is looking forward to spending a while at home with us. With the weather being what it is, I think he may be regretting that decision!

Thursday held another trip to Children's for T - this time a scheduled visit to the Hematologist. When checking in, I was offered a permanent Security Badge instead of the one-time-use ones. Does that tell you how often we're there? His neutrapenia isn't improving, but we have a plan and they feel that he will still outgrow it at this point. T has become such a pro at having blood drawn - he puts adults to shame! As soon as we walked in the room and he saw The Chair, he held out his right arm (the easiest one to get blood from) to the nurse and only said, "ouch" when she lost the vein and had to dig. Not a tear or a whimper. Needless to say, she fell in love!

Sunday was my birthday and what a good one it was! Saturday we resumed our monthly Date Night Swap with April and Gregg and G took me to El Gaucho in Bellevue. We originally were going to El Gaucho in Seattle, but found out that morning that there was the Capitol Hill Block Party, events at Qwest Field and Key Arena, an M's game, the Torchlight Parade, and the Torchlight Run all at the same time and our destination was 1 block off the parade route! Bellevue was able to fit us in and it worked perfectly. Dinner was GREAT! The next day, my birthday, was FABU! I did NOTHING. I didn't even shower. G let me sleep in and he and the kids had a day planned of playing in the sprinkler and on the hammock. During nap time I read and took a snooze on the hammock as well. Ahhhhh. Dinner was even takeout Thai Bistro so I didn't have to leave the house. Divine!