Friday, July 30

Wear Pink for Cora


Wear Pink For Cora

Today is July 30th...8 months since little Cora was born.
In honor of their beautiful daughter, her wonderful parents launched
Wear Pink for Cora.

On the 30th of every month people around the world wear pink to honor Cora but this day isn't just about wearing pink. It's a day set aside to do acts of kindness, perform good deeds, show compassion, express love, and much, much more.

To read just a sampling of what people did today, click on the
Wear Pink for Cora link above.

To read the story of Cora's brief but beautiful life and her legacy, visit Cora's mommy's blog.

Once you read her story and see what has been done in her name, you'll find that Cora will grab your heartstrings and suddenly you want every day to be Wear Pink for Cora day~your life will be changed for the better and you'll want to reach out and
touch someone else's life for the better too.



Sending love out to Ben & Kristine on this special day.

Monday, July 26

Saturday, July 24

Lake Washington

This was the first time I've been to Lake WA...it's about 20 min from our house to the park. And it was gorgeous! Grassy knolls sloping down to the water. Beautiful water. Little coves of water with trees reaching into the lake. And little copses of trees for picnicking. (One family actually had a picnic with real teacups & saucers and a delicious looking homemade carrot cake...I was tempted to ask them to adopt me!) Anyway~it was a perfect day: hot but with a great breeze. A delight!



















Friday, July 23

Ava's Rose...

...has finally bloomed!







(The yellow rose is from Van's rose bush)

Wednesday, July 21

Crescent Lake & First Beach

Just wanted to share some of the incredible pictures of the Crescent Lake area here in WA. It's a huge glacial lake that has the most incredible colors imaginable! From light aquamarine to deep cobalt blue. It was breath-taking!!!













Seriously thinking of renting a cabin here (if we can find one) for my birthday! It was so peaceful!!!

We also visited First Beach, in La Push. This is on the Pacific Ocean...the drift wood was incredible, more often than not they were huge trees & branches versus small sticks. Even the rocks were worn smooth. It was gorgeous~the fog was just starting to roll back in...























The ocean was so gray after the blues of Crescent Lake...and everything seemed a bit more savage~imagine the force of the waves to push an entire tree up onto the shoreline! Yet just around down the road was a peaceful creak that was running out to the ocean. I loved the contrast.






Monday, July 12

Summer Sickness?

Did I mention that since the big 4th of July party, every child there, and many of the adults too, have been sick?

Last Wednesday poor lil Teag had a high fever and obviously felt terrible...her fever was so high, that we stripped her down and I got into a cool tub of water with her. Then she sat & cuddled with Gramma while both her mom and dad dropped what they were doing and quickly drove to get her. (They were both about 45 minutes from our place~though in opposite directions from one another.)


For the next few days she didn't feel good and she still has a little cough. :-(

In the meantime, Gramma got the cold (or flu or whatever it is) & spent several days in misery~fever, sore throat, achiness. She, too, still has a cough.

Yesterday, Ava got the dreaded thing. She felt poorly all day and then ran a fever in the night and has a sore throat today. She has kept herself entertained with jewelry making and drawing...




She also ran through the sprinkler yesterday before we could stop her....





Ava also sounds as though a horse has decided to camp out in her vocal chords! Yesterday, I had to run to the pharmacy to get children's pain reliever. I thought I read the darn carton correctly, but after Ave had popped 4 in her mouth I realized what I'd purchased actually did contain aspirin, so I quickly ordered her to spit them out. For those who aren't aware, giving children aspirin while they have flu-like symptoms or chicken pox, can contribute/cause Reye's Syndrome, a deadly disease, that strikes swiftly and can attack any child, teen, or adult without warning. All body organs are affected, with the liver and brain suffering most seriously.While the cause and cure remain unknown, research has established a link between Reye's Syndrome and the use of aspirin and other salicylate containing medications, over the counter products, and topical use products. My cousin died from Reye's Syndrome about 30 years ago, so you'd better believe I take those warnings on the back of the box seriously!

So, back to the pharmacy I went. They gave me a full refund; I came home with the safe medicine & Ava perks right up while its effects last. Then she wilts.

As you  can see, both Ava & Teagan felt well enough to play dress up today for a bit~before Teagan had to take a nap & Ava had to lay back down.
 












Teag found her baby swing & decide it still works for her!!!

As for me...I can't tell if I caught the thing or not~seeing as feeling achy & poorly & feverish is par for the course. I think I had a touch of it yesteday...all I wanted to do was lay on the couch.
 
Come to think of it, I must have been sick, because I willingly watched a Hannah Montana marathon leading up the new season kick off last night. (And I totally enjoyed myself!!!) But today am feeling pretty good. Although...wait...is that Miley Cyrus I hear playing on the TV??? Gotta go!!!!!!!!