Tiffany to rock Europe

She's been rocking Interlake and our world for some time. Now preschool teacher and sage Tiffany is off to Great Britain with life partner Nick. We're coping. And wishing her all the best!

Team Orange at the Fat Salmon

A chilly Saturday morning in the midst of a a chilly summer.

I'd had a cold. Eric had been REALLY sick. Plus we had all too much to eat and drink at Pies & Pints the night before. Nevertheless, we showed up for the Fat Salmon.


Fred navigated throngs of bicyclists on their way to the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride to get us to the race start. They were meeting one park over.


I wore my new socks, which bore the slogan, "Be brave, be kind."


Here we're suited up and snapping on our caps.


Body glide around the neck!


Surveying the landscape -- and vowing to never do this again. :)


The lake temperature was 68 or 69 degrees F -- and it felt downright balmy compared to the air.


Eric and I both spent the first part of the race thinking we would never make it, ready to raise our hand and call for a boat. There's something really crazy about those first few minutes.

But sooner or later, we fell into a rhythm (of sorts). Still, we found lake-swimming much harder than swimming laps in a pool -- the last quarter of the 1.2 miles was especially wavy. Even the kayakers complained.

My stroke was a mess (sorry, Helenita!).

Eric rocked it, finishing in 45:44. Here he's getting his chip removed.


It took me 57:12 -- just a little better than last year.


While we were swimming, Fred schlepped our stuff around (thank you, Fred!) and bought us cookies.


Shelly paddled a support kayak (thanks, Shel!).


She also brought us Theo chocolate (Yay, Shelly!!!!).


To next year? Heh.

Spring rolls

Bryan makes the best spring rolls ever! And now I know how to make them, too. There are a few secrets: blanch the carrots, soak the cucumbers, add jalapeno strips, be generous with the cilantro, basil, and mint...and it helps if you serve them with homemade raspberry pie. :)

Family gardening day

Midsummer family portrait while weeding our little Mother's Day planting in the front yard. Notice the overalls and long sleeves. Yeah, it's been that kind of summer. Brrr.

Apple eaters

Such a fun visit with Jonas and Jember. I love the way they say my name: "Ah-na."

Swim lessons

Tristen with his swim class, looking all proud of himself.

This time next year, he'll be swimming the Fat Salmon right along side me. :)

Cranky eyes

Tristen made this crazy face one day.

Me: What is THAT?

Him: That's my cranky eyes.

I'll say. :)

We chalk.

Super four!

Tristen in his new cape, just a few days before his birthday.

By the growth chart in his bedroom, he's grown 1.25 inches in the last month. No WONDER he's been so out of sorts. :)

Actually, things have been really fun again for the past couple of weeks. Goodbye 3s. Hello, 4.

What if there were only lovey swords?

This morning we were sitting on the couch, and Tristen asked me who would take care of him if I died before he grew up. I told him I planned to take care of him for a long, long time, but if something unexpected did happen, his daddy would take good care of him.

Then he asked what would happen if we both died. I reassured him that there is no shortage of people who could take care of him -- and we listed them all by name. He seemed satisfied, raised his hands and shoulders, and said, "Yeah; apparently we ALL die sometime."

Apparently?

Then, as if all this talk of mortality made Tristen consider his own role in killing, he said, "If I had a real sword, I would just leave people alone. I would not kill them." I said I thought that was a good idea.

He was quiet for a moment.

"Mom?"

"Yeah?

"What if there was only lovey swords?"

Birthday roadies

Thanks to Aunt Mamy and Cousin Abigail for helping with Tristen's birthday party. They helped set up and clean up -- but they were also on task with the tattoos.

Birthday slideshow

Tristen and Galen, from preschool, shared a birthday party at Carkeek Park. LOTS of fun. Check out the slideshow below! j(For those of you viewing on Facebook, here's the link to our Picasa album.)