Backtracking November 2010

Im still here!!! I've been in a blogging "funk" lately, but am determined to find my way back. I can't believe its been since last October since I wrote. Between extra work stuff and training for the marathon, I ran out of steam in many areas. So here is my measly attempt @ catching up.


Noah made a apple pie this year for Thanksgiving....amazing how he can't remember where shoes are, clothes, clean his room, but when it comes to food, his brain is suddenly clear. I've never even made an apple pie! It was delicious. Way to go Noah!


Daniel turned 44 this year. He is officially in school full time. We are determined to finish sooner than later- God willing. He's doing amazing, & is finally getting recognition for his amazing mind. He also plays Mr. Mom on his off days. I don't know any other guy who has gotten more of a taste of what its like to play this difficult roll. BTW most know this but the beard is for playing St. Nick @ some Christmas parties in December...the kids love him!

And, completely out of order...is Halloween. Im sad to say this is the first Halloween we were not all together. My older kids went in different directions w/ their friends and I didn't get any pictures of them. Only my sweet angel Annie-Grace.

Bloedel Reserve

There is this place on the Island that is so amazingly beautiful. It is a 150 acre nature preserve and garden. It has a lovely 2 mile walk through a Japanese garden, Moss garden and water pools etc. I cant wait to see it in the fall, its supposed to be gorgeous.
So, just trying to entice any visitors.....The place gives a whole new meaning to the color green!!!!
Hope "ya'll" are settling into fall, school, and sports schedules. Dan is in school full time this semester, Im still training for a marathon and the kids....well the kids are great. Some are taking a break from activities and just playing:)
Blessings to all of you! We miss ya!

Summer Birthday Mania!

Its still amazing to me that Dan & I have four kids w/ their birthdays all with in 6 weeks of each other. Annie-Grace is 9, Lucy 11, Wilson 13, and Noah turned 15 this year. Their birthdays were a blast. Lucy got a bike, which she loves and has been riding everywhere- even on my training runs. Annie-Grace got new shoes, clothes and earrings. Wilson, an new phone and Noah a guitar. The boys also received baseball gloves. Just a quick THANKS to grandma and grandpa Wilson for all the great birthday clothes and gift cards. Aunt Courtney & Uncle Kory, the girls loved, loved their bracelets. And thanks to Pa-Paw for Noah's guitar- great gifts and thank you so much!!!

Time is flying by, they are all growing so fast. I have to brag and say they are amazing kids. Lucy spent many summer mornings selling lemonaide to golfers, Wilson did yard work, washed cars to earn all his money for Young Life camp. Noah walks dogs for extra money. So proud of all of them. Dan and I are some blessed parents.

Sweet!!!!

Last week Dan and I had a great opportunity to go to a Mariners game in Seattle. We sat with some of my work mates in the Virginia Mason suite and gorged on free hot dogs, popcorn and soda pop....hmmm:) Thanks to a manager @ work, who wasn't able to go, thanks Shirley! She gave me her ticket, and that meant one Donohue child could come with....Wilson was the pick. (too hard to explain why he was chosen) Anyway, a very fun, exciting game against the Cubs that tied until the 13th inning.....sadly we lost, but if your going to lose, at least it was to the Cubs, right? No, but what can you do?
These pictures were taken by Sally and her new camera, she's on the far left...and continuing on is Laura, Kate, Andrea, Valerie, GiGi & daughter Chloe, me and Katie. Several others were there too, but must of left early...Danica, Adam, Pavla.....hope I'm not missing anyone. Lovely time w/ all of you!!! and thanks Virginia Mason!!!!

Launching

To launch kids into high school, Woodward middle school has a huge 8th grade banquet, with dancing, games, dinner and big fun. Its an almost formal event.
What I can't believe, is that I will have a high school kid in the fall. Its amazing to me how Noah has grown up, and continuing to grow up into man hood. His voice has changed and he has hair on his legs! He makes money dog walking and baby sitting. He recently went on a gofer hunting trip w/ my dad, brother and some of my cousins in Montana. He has much to learn, as we seem to be confronted with daily, however, he is a good young man, and a pleasure to be his mom:)

Go Run

My Lucy likes to run. She joined a girls running group @ school this spring and had her first race. Sometimes she joins me on short runs- does part of it and heads home so I can finish my other half. Her end of the season was completed w/ a Viking Fest 1 mile fun run. Poulsbo is the next town north of us and its a little Norwegian sweet spot, thus the 'Viking' in Viking Fest:) I was so proud of her and have secret ambitions of her and I doing long runs and races when she's older, but for now I glowed and watched. Ok, teared up and watched. She was awesome, did her 1 mile in 9:21 min. and the best part was she had fun, and wants to do it again. I think she may have discovered the "runners high"!

Bad blogger:)

Well, since it's June and I completely skipped April and May, I thought I would give some updates. Summer will be here soon and hopefully I can play catch up on some blogging. The kids are busy getting final projects turned in, Daniel his grad. school papers, me, well I got sucked into Monarch of the Glen. A wonderful little Scottish miniseries on BBC:) And, I have signed up to run a full marathon in November. It's the Seattle's 40th anniversary marathon and I will be turning 40 that week. So, I'm taking the plunge, and hopefully I will still enjoy running after it's all over. Why do I run? Well, I've asked this question to myself many times. The best answer....It get's the "yuck" out of me. All those unnecessary worries, thoughts, fears seem to get worked out a little better after a good sweaty run. I'm a better wife and mom for it, I hope. So, I'll probably be adding some blogs about my runs intermittently with the family stuff.
Blessings on everyone's summer, ours is still 14 days away....