9/28/13

Last weekend we had Edie overnight and Saturday we went to the science center. The hamster made a couple escapes. Lot's of hammie shenanigans!
Monday night we had back to school, so Lydia stayed at her friend Willa's and the next night Willa's parents went to hers, and she stayed with us. The week was somewhat uneventful otherwise. Lydia is having a flare up of homesickness. She is missing her friends badly.
As tomorrow is my birthday, we were going to do an overnight at Depoe bay(you can google that) but some bad weather is coming through, with 30 mile per hour winds, so we will do it another time. We instead went to see Monster University at the cheap theater and then went to the mall. Had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Apparently the power had been out, but by the time we got home it was back. While Ed was parking the car and I was taking Ayla out, the hamster escaped AGAIN! It was not looking good and I had to put Lydia to bed. She and I were reading when we heard Ed yell AYLA NO!
Sesame was found again, the three of us managed to corral and catch him. He was a bit wet from Aylas mouth(!) but not much worse for wear. I can hear him now, running his nightly miles on the wheel.
Our wedding anniversary is tomorrow and we have tickets for Tuesday night to see Chris Thile play. We don't have a sitter yet, but think we will. Ever the flaky ones.

9/24/13

I am trying to find where my pictures went, but here are a few. Movie in the park and some bad apt. shots just to give you a visual. Our Heron. And Lydia being cute. But don't tell her! I'll try to get some better ones up at some point!

9/17/13

Yesterday was a tough one. As we were walking off to school, Lydia started getting nervous. The walk was a stilted one and came to a complete halt in the woods. I got her that far but could move her no further. I finally broke down and called Ed for help. Luckily his office was a stones throw.
I heard the school bell ring in the background and knew that it was only going to get more awkward for her at this point. How humiliating to have to walk into a space you feared, with dried tears, puffy eyes and terror all over your face. I was angry, but I understood. After deliberating for a bit we told her this was her one turn and that tomorrow(today) she would return to school on her own or be carried in.
It was a very very long day at home. She did well, there was no t.v. during school hours and she entertained herself.
This morning Ed has meetings from 7:30 until 9:30, and we all(including Lydia) know that I cannot carry her. But she was great. We talked last night about how I wear Mama Bea's ring and what it means to me. She started looking for something she could wear with the same purpose and found a bracelet that her daddy brought her from one of his trips. When it was time to leave she started looking for more. I took her in my bathroom and dabbed her tiny wrists with my patchouli oil. I got her to the front door and kissed her palms so they would stay kissed, and out the door we went.
I told her last night that I would leave Ayla at home so that I could walk her in as far as she needed me too. As we started up the hill she faltered, I said "I spy..." and then we were off! The game didn't last long but we talked about how we are going away for a night for my birthday, which of course in turn, began a conversation about her birthday, she wants to swim with whales. And from there she started to tell me how long whales and dolphins can hold there breath and how deep they swim.
We made it through the woods without a pause, I could see the playground and hear the kids, I felt a little panic in my gut, fearing she would balk, we kept walking and went all the way into the center! And there we stood, only talking a little, looking for her friends, though she didn't feel ready to run off. So we stayed until the bell rang, there were other Mom's too, standing and talking. Lydia and I were in our own little bubble. When the bell rang, she turned to me, said I love you, and with not much fear showing, kissed me as she went to school.

9/15/13

Not much to say for today. A late start. We went to the Columbia employee store with a pass that Edie's mom gave us. Lydia was not very happy today and our trip was short.
Blah for today!

9/14/13

Today we had Edie over and took the girls to ride the airtram from the south waterfront to the top of OHSU(Oregon health and science university) it has a lovely view of the city and the mountains in the distance. Afterwards we went to the food carts and ate with the homeless in the park. Then we came home and walked Edie to her apt, talked with her folks for a bit and came home to empty the garage onto our patio. We rented a garage, anticipating the need for a place to put our extra crap. But have since decided to put it on the patio under tarps, with positive thoughts of selling our house and not needing to renew the lease here.
Lydia and Edie were so cute together! They asked to go to a park so they could wrestle! So we did. It's as if they have known eachother always. It was just a lovely day!

9/13/13

Another week done. Lydia survived and has made a new best friend. Her name is Edi(Edith) and she is from Queensland Australia. She lives here in the complex and they are two cute little peas in a pod. Now the sad part. Edie is moving in a couple weeks to another part of town and will have to switch schools.
We went to a back to school picnic last night and hung out with her parents. Nice folks.
I am doing a little better getting out and driving the busy roads, getting familiar. Stepping into gear for the job search.
And Ed is still blissed with work.
Have I failed to mention that we got Lydia a guitar??? She is pretty good, she has D and G in memory and practices a little here and there. Thank you Taylor Swift!

9/10/13

After picking up Lydia from school and having to tell her, sadly I had not found Sesame, she was home in her room playing with the door shut, when Ayla started obsessing over the corner. I heard little shouts of "I found Sesame, I found Sesame!". I don't know how that little hammy found his way back to her room, and he does look a little worked, but I think he will live to see another day.
I'm so glad we didn't have to wait for the smell!

9/10/13

Today is sucking so far. I awoke to realize that I did indeed get a shitty hair cut yesterday. Got Lydia ready for school and we were going to have a hamster holding session. She has not been able to hold him yet because they say the adults should for the first week or two, to tame them. She caught him(no small feat) because I can't, and he wriggled out of my hands, I almost had him but then he ran under the couch and I have not seen him since! I held Lydia's tears at bay with the promise that we would find him(not saying dead or alive). But even Ayla, who so wants to snack on him, has found no clue.
I flipped the couch, shook it and peeked inside, but nothing. So I got dressed and we went for our walk. I just came back and decided I would try to rid my dresser of moth ball smell. I sprayed a drawer and put it on the porch, narrowly avoiding locking myself out there.
If I was tired I would put on jammies and go back to bed.

9/7/13

Today our neighbor Heidi dropped off her daughter Colleen, to spend the night. We took the girls to OMSI(Oregon museum of science and industry) and then to Sweet Tomato's(Souplantation) for dinner. It started off a little rough with the girls sharing, but they clicked at the science museum. And combining that natural silly with the sugar after dinner, they were crazy!
  They are now watching a movie I hope they don't stay up to late and,  I sure hope they don't wake up too early!
Ed and I have been relocated to the bedroom where I will gladly hide until tomorrow.

9/6/13

Lydia woke in the middle of the night with diarrhea and had to stay home yesterday. It was a long one for us both! She is still expressing some nerves, and at times I just nod and let it go and she does too. But this morning I caught myself doing something well! She was starting with the "i'm not going" talk. I had that moment of, you must be kidding, it's time to walk out the door. I stopped and kneeled to where she sat on the floor with her arms around her knees, lip sticking way out. I told myself and I told her, that I could see this was a moment where she needed me to acknowledge her feelings. She said it, "I'm not going, I'm scared" I said "I know, I'm sorry". And then we both stood up and went to put her shoes on. She stopped once again on the walk, but it was quickly passed. She had asked me to walk her across the playground where the kids were running around, but she didn't want me to walk her THROUGH them, we had to go around on the grass because she didn't want the kids to see her walking in with her mom! I was proud.
And then she spotted Marly. One of her new little friends. We walked over and in less than a minute I was given a kiss, and the day had begun.
It's been raining these last two days, our walk was a soggy one, but it really is a pleasant way to start the day, walking through the woods. Have I mentioned that part? Oh yes, I already spoke about the snakes.  We didn't see any on day two, but we sure were nervous walking along.
Ed will return this afternoon from Camp Magruder, at Rockaway beach, he says it's a beautiful place and we need to return together. To the area, not the camp.
  We still have some repacking to do, some half filled and some empty rough totes here and there. Getting there oh so slowly.
  The hamster, Sesame, has been with us a couple of days now. I'm not sure how I feel about him. He's super cute, and fun to watch as he get's caught in the momentum of his wheel, flipping around with no control until he is tossed out the side. Oh the laughs! The negative is that he is tiny and extremely fast and agile. He is constantly trying to get away and pooping in my hands. OH the poop! Lydia is the only one who can catch him, but she isn't supposed to hold him until we can get him somewhat tame. That doesn't seem to be happening. Ayla, is hovering, waiting for the opportunity to scarf him up. She is rather obsessed with the poor little thing, always nudging the cage with her nose, when it's in reach.
Speaking of Ayla, she is adapting to the wet grass pretty well, albeit it out of obvious necessity. We did try to get her some booties, but they were ridiculous and didn't even stay on. It was good for a laugh though, watching her try to walk down the Petsmart aisle.
  All for now.

9/4/13

So I forgot to mention the other day...
We ate lunch at our favorite food cart in O'Bryant Square, with the Luz/Wallace crew, and as we were walking to our car I watched a woman get side slammed by a car! It was crazy! Full force, bike and girl thrown. She jumps up, starts screaming at the driver, hops on her bike and rides off! He's saying "don't leave wait!" And off she goes with her friend speechless.
I've never seen such a thing. Yeesh. On another note.
 Lydia went off for day two just now. Twice on the walk she stopped and said she wasn't going. I just kept going and she came along. Luckily! Yesterday went so well. The night before she was really nervous and adamant that she would not be going. But when she woke yesterday she was in a happy mood and hopped right to it. Our walk is through a lovely little stretch of woods. On the way to get her in the afternoon I came across a couple of snakes on the path. Now, I don't mind snakes, but when I am not expecting them, and wearing flip flops, that is NOT okay! A woman told me they like to sun themselves there in the afternoon. So when we were walking back together, I tried to send out vibrations with my feet so they would move before we got to them, but they didn't all get the message, we came across one or two. And the snake holes! Oh those are creepy!
 We did make it home, unscathed. I had made a cake for the first official day of school for them both. Lydia frosted it, then we got the hamster cage clean. Ed had a school dinner, so Lydia and I ate together and then ran off to Petsmart to pick up our little Sesame seed. He is a Robo Dwarf Hamster. He's very cute, but VERY fast! We need to handle him a lot in the beginning, but we can't catch him! And he jumps too! If he hits the ground we will have a problem. Ayla has a great fascination with him, I imagine she would try to eat him if given the chance.
 Ed leaves today on the senior trip. Off to the beach. He will return Friday afternoon. His days have been extremely busy this week and the work is piling on. But he is still very happy and would not go back.
 I sure hope Lydia doesn't throw a mutiny while he is away. My back is killing me and there is just no way I can carry a screaming, thrashing eight year old down that path, dodging snakes!

9/1/13

Happy September! We spent today exploring with Chris and Matt and Aunt Zoo. Ended the day with dinner at Baghdad in Hawthorne. There never seems to be enough time to get to discussion. Maybe it's just me.
I feel like I always end up leaving my family without saying the things that should be said. Or the things that are in my heart. In any case it was nice to have a visit.
Lydia held on for a great part of the day, but finally collapsed on the way home for a rest this afternoon. The poor kid kept it contained as best she could. And then held out for a late dinner. After a late night last night, and another day with a lot of walking, I am impressed.
So tomorrow is our last day before school starts, I know she and I are both nervous. I know she will be fine after she gets going, but it's all building up now, and I can only hope that Tuesday morning goes smoothly and leads into good following days, easing her into her new life.
And then I will have to begin mine.

8/30/13

What a great day we had! Slept in and were out the door around noon. We took Ayla with us to the Saturday market and spent a couple of hours walking around. Came home to drop her off and went back out the door an hour later to meet Chuck Sanderson and his family, and some friends, at a restaurant downtown for dinner. It was so lovely! After dinner the group of us walked to a place called "Salt & Straw" to get ice cream. The line was out the door and around the corner! They had some funky flavors. I had coffee/bourbon(tasted like coffee ice cream), Ed had corn waffle and salty caramel, or something like that, and Lydia had honey /lavender(gross).
We just had such a great time!