Hey - Check these out! PICTURES!!!

Ok - so last time I posted I tried to upload some photos from our trip(s) to the pumpkin patch(es - count 'em - five trips in all) and I was thwarted by my not so reliable wireless configuration... (where have all my computer geek friends gone??)

So I'm going to attempt to re-post them now. Because? Well apparently, some of you care! And I re-connected with an old friend (sorry - he's not really old... but we knew each other BEFORE we could drive!) and I thought it might be nice to have some more current photos up. Yup - for those of you reading this thinking, oh sure - she's worried about some friend she hasn't seen since... well about 15 years ago but not us... hey - sucks to be you. You know I love you. But you all KNOW how cute my kids are. He has no clue. Besides - he was my original computer geek - and I'm secretly hoping he'll offer to come by and fix my stupid wireless internet. Yep - I've always had a soft spot for the smart geeky ones. Love 'em. What can I say. :)

ETA: Stupid wireless internet keeps crashing when I try to add pictures.

ETAA: Sometimes cursing under your breath and cutting their power WILL coerce bad computer components in to cooperating...

My Name is Janet...

...and I'm a poor excuse for a blogger. I think I may start BBA - Bad Bloggers Anonymous. Of course, we aren't so anonymous when friends berate us publically for NOT posting frequently (Anne). I mean really? I didn't think anyone cared. Anyway, starting a new support group for people like me has been on my list for sometime now... might as well get started with that one.

So... what have I been up to for the past 10 13/15 months (HA - Math? I'm good at.)
Weeellll.... let's see....

There was that consulting gig I took where I was supposed to have time to blog some more... (and I'm guessing you have figured out by now how THAT worked out for me...)

Then there was a lot of kid stuff over the summer...

And that cute little restaurant I own...

Oh - and the twins. Handfuls - both of 'em.

Maddie? She's actually quite self-sufficient. If you don't count the constant reminders to Do your homework-Brush your teeth-Brush your hair-FLUSH the toilet PLEASE-Turn your homework IN today please. Smart kid though. Pretty too.

So... really the most exciting news lately is that one of my dear friends just had a baby yesterday - Beautiful Gracie Joy Schmidgall joined us in person yesterday morning - wee little thing - just 7 lbs 3 oz. Beautiful baby - of course she has it in spades in the gene department... so it's not like we were expecting a troll.

And even better??? I'll get another new baby in the next few days (I'm guessing maybe Sunday now Sarah... sorry - you still look too good to be delivering any sooner...)

That's the really big news for now... although if all goes well, I'm hopeful we'll have some more exciting news to share of our own. (and... if anyone out there that knows me at ALL thinks I'm hinting at an addition to our family? BITE. YOUR. TONGUE.)

Home Again...

and once again I'm so grateful for our wonderful friends and family...

Our trip down to California for Grandpa's memorial service was long and busy. The service was so perfect for Grandpa... some of his artwork was used for the program and we had a reception following the service featuring - what else? - ice cream. Just as he would have wanted it. We also got to spend a really nice time with Aunt Madeleine, Uncle Joe, Kate, Dan & Nana... The kids got to have an early Christmas - and now it's going to be hard to live up to the royal spoiling they got! We also spent a day at Knott's Berry Farm - the little kids loved the rides, even the fast ones that they were tall enough to go on. Maddie, well, she kept the benches warm with Grandma. Someday kiddo - you'll realize what all the fun is about, and then we won't be able to stop you!

It was really nice to see extended family and long time family friends... many of whom I hadn't seen since my wedding. It was also so comforting to know that my friends back here at home were keeping an eye on things for us. From the animals that didn't travel to the daily operations at the restaurant, we knew everything was safe and cared for.

Now it's back to work... not just my job, but preparing for the holidays. I was so excited to be able to stay home and help my kids establish some traditions of our own. Guess I'd better get on with the show... I know you are all anxiously watching your mailbox for my Christmas cards (oh the pressure...)

A Day of Mourning on a Day of Thanks...

I am thankful for so many things... my beautiful family, healthy kids, sweet dogs and the best friends I could have ever hoped for.

But on this day when I had so much to be thankful for, I also had to mourn the loss of someone that has always been a part of my life. My grandfather, Henry Rae Simonson passed away last night surrounded by his wife and children. He was nearly 93 - just 3 months shy of that actually - and had been so fragile in the last few months it was hard to believe he was the same man that built houses and lived on boats several times in my life...

His influence in my life extended far beyond the typical grandfather role - I grew up living with my grandparents for extended periods of time while my parents separated, and divorced. By the age of 12 they were living next door and were part of my daily life for the next decade. My grandfather was not always sweet and kind, but he was a great example of what a person can do when they put their mind to something. An entrepreneur from a young age, his adventuresome spirit and faith in God and humanity was evident.

His love for his grandchildren (8) and great grandchildren (he had 7 at last count) was evident by the pride he showed when telling of their lastest accomplishments. While he was never big on lavishing compliments or praise on the child he was lauding, he would tell the world of his love for them.

He taught me how to swim, how to sail and quietly - scratch that - LOUDLY encouraged me to be the best person I could be. My nickname for him when I was young was Old Faithful - just like the geyser at Yellowstone - also something he showed me. It was understood he'd lose his temper about something on a regular basis - but he was always there and ready to help build a bookshelf, a playhouse or a coffin (he still owes me a pair from a visit to their home on Lake Tulloch).

He will be missed - Jack will want to know where Boppa Rae is when we go down to California next week... Sophie will look around and ask quietly for him as well. Jack will miss playing ball with him, and Maddie will miss his jokes.

All my love and prayers go out to my family - aunts, uncles, cousins and especially my mother, for she has been their constant caregiver and support for many years now. My grandmother - my namesake - has been such an inspiration to me in recent years - her patience, kindness and ability to make the best of a difficult situation are what I constantly strive for (often falling short). Now in the coming days I only hope I can provide some strength and solice for her as she mourns the loss of her life partner... my grandpa.

Halloween Photos

Ok... thanks for being patient! Here are a few photos of the kids... er, I mean, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Cleopatra. They all had a blast, and even Lucy got in to the act by dressing up as Nana (the dog from Peter Pan). The photo of Sophie with her face painted is from their Harvest Party the day before Halloween. Then there is Carter & Maddie, and Tink & Peter Pan. They sure were cute! More to come I'm sure. With kids these cute, how can I not take pictures?

Okay... so MAYBE weekly was a bit optimistic...

Yes, I know I promised in my last post that I was going to try to keep it more up to date (for those of you that read it and/or care...), and for misleading you I apologize.

In my defense, that was probably a bit ambitious given that I was spending very little time on or near a computer. But things are looking up for me! I have 2 new clients that I'm going to be working with... I'm going to step away from the restaurant a few days a week (and let someone else handle the lunch crowd!). I'll still wait tables a couple (or three for now!) days a week, since I know Rob likes for me to be there... but I have to find something that gives me a little more satisfaction than whether or not I got a good tip from Table 5!

I'm going to be consulting with a new office here in town, and also doing some work for my dear friends that own Willaby's Catering. I even have a desk in a really cute office that I can call my own! No more snatching W-4 and I-9 forms out of the twins hands after they've already colored all over them... no more late nights searching for paperwork that "was just here on the desk a few days ago..." I'm so relieved!

Of course, now I'm going to be near a computer more... well, let's not get our expectations up, right? You just check back every now and then... and I'll do my best to keep information up to date and relevant. Oh, and maybe next time I'll post some pictures of those cute kids of mine...

NO... SLEEP... til BROOKLYN....

why oh why is this song from the Beastie Boys (white Jewish rapper boys from New Jersey, popular in the late 80's and early 90's for those of you that may read this and not recognize that group) running through my head at 3:30 am???

Ah yes... because at 3:30 am lots of things that are unimportant and ridiculously random seem to pop in to see if I'm awake. And... apparently this time I am. And so now, "Who needs sleep?" from the Bare Naked Ladies (again, pop culture reference here - Canadian band popular in the early 90s) rattles around. When I was pregnant with Maddie, Robert and I used to joke about making a "lullaby" CD with some of our current fave music that had insomniac themes... here I am nearly 8 years later contemplating it. Sigh.

Maybe it's the guilt that I'm not very good at keeping this blog up to date... That must be it - so I'm going to attempt to keep this updated at least weekly - and we'll see if that assuages the sleepless guilt. :)

On to the recent news... (or lack of it, seeing as how it wasn't really all that important until sleep eluded me...)

Last week I got to spend several days with one of my favorite people - Jean. She had a couple big events (she & her hubby own Willaby's Catering, and have been friends of ours for nearly 10 years now) and asked if I could help her out. Thursday I got to mix Italian Sodas for a luncheon out at the winery... that was a blast! And then on Saturday (Jean's b-day no less!) I helped her get a wedding set up out at the Oregon Garden (someplace I hadn't been since I before I was pregnant with the twins... but was a regular part of my daily life when I used to manage Wooden Nickel Catering). I got some beautiful pictures of the wedding - set outside in the Bosque Garden which features raised ponds and some spectacular views.

Pretty huh? The band was really good too... and the guests all seemed to have a really good time. Jean did these absolutely gorgeous Mango Martinis to greet the guests after the ceremony and they practically glowed during the sunset... I got some great shots of them all set on the table - before I dropped my camera in to one of the aforementioned raised ponds while trying to get the floating candles lit in the gusty wind. grrrrr....

And so... (Saturday Night Live - pop culture reference #3 for those of you that are counting... or care) with that, I think I'll try to get a little more sleep... seeing as how I have to get up with my little beasties in a couple of hours. Oh, and they are loving pre-school. No big surprise huh?