Go team 

The Van 

Back of the van 

Lexie and Grammy decorate the van at McDonald's in St. Helens at 5:00am 

Lexie and iPod in the van 

Rachel, Sandy, Chris, and Lexie 

Grammy handing off to Shannon 

Here is Katie handing off to Frank 

Here comes Shannon to hand off to Katie 

Van 1 

Van 2 

We did it! 

Ba Ding ding ding ding ding, da da, Crazy Frog!

Ok, I'm calling it a loss for the day. At work anyway...When I tried to get out of my car, the right lense in my already defunct glasses popped out. Then I can't log onto the network, and the pulley on the dumb-waiter is broken. I'm in the confernece room on the computer while Alex tries to figure out why my computer is fighting the network. So, forced to take an early break. If he doesn't have a solution in 15 minutes, I'll bring my work in here. That might be a quiet, refreshing break. The chair is more comfortable anyway...and it rocks...but this keyboard will take some getting used to.

I'm going to try to post some PTC relay pics soon.

I watered the front yard last night only to wake up to an absolute downpour this morning.

Word(s) of the day: OBSEQUIOUS

Lexie log: She really enjoyed the tour of the Tumbling Tots class, and it looks like she may enroll. I hope so, but I sure would like to be able to attend. Oh well...swimming with Mommy and tumbling with Daddy. -- Her pre-school is in limbo at the moment. We got word last week that Loretta had sold the school to a group that was turning it into a Russian/American academy. So, we knew we would have to look around at different schools, but she was supposed to be in school this week, and we got a strange voicemail from Loretta this weekend saying that something bad had happened during the closing of the deal and she felt compelled to pull all her stuff out of the classrooms and get out of Dodge, so to speak. No school this week...or next, and no swim either. God, I wish it wasn't so hard to find a Montesorri close by that opened early. That one was too good to last, I guess. -- I'm thinking of a project where I take a picutre of Lexie every day and save it to a file. I have thought about it before, but yesterday I saw a short film on atomfilm.com titled "Me" that was the same concept, and it was neat. So...one head shot and one full shot per day. I'll even try to post them on the blog.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, life, laughter, music, water, glasses holders, kleenex, coffee, weekends, and painfree joints.

You might as well be walking on the sun...

Whew, what a feeling. What a blast. What a strange and wonderful experience. The Portland to Coast relay, 127 miles, of which I completed 10.95 of, over the coastal range in summer heat. Two vans filled with 12 adults and one amazing 3 3/4 year old mascot girl, Lexie. My hat goes off and my heart goes out to the following amazing and wonderful people: Carrie, Christine, and Darlene, thanks so much for volunteering and driving out to the boonies and taking on such a large responsibility; Lana, your spirit is amazing and your kindness neverending; Cherri, your humor and compassion are a thing to marvel; Debbie, your courage and determination are amazing and by far outweigh your spacial relationship issues; Karina, without your help I'm not sure I could have done it-your natural leadership skills and organization where a God sent gift, thanks; Lynette, your enthusiasm and support are phenomenal and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your stepping up to the plate at the last minute; Jeff, thanks for carrying such a load for us and putting up with a van full of women for over 48 hours; Sujata, your spirit and positive attitude were undying and it was like having two people in one; Katie, your youthful spunk and attitude kept the van's sleep deprived mental state in laughter and you accomplished two of the most difficult legs under the harshest conditions; Shannon, you're amazing-you made me feel as if I'd known you for years and I certainly hope we can get together in the future-you did three legs! and difficult ones, part crazy, and I just love your sense of humor; Frank, my dear husband I appreciate being stuck in a van with five tired women for 48 hours- a few times you had us rolling in laughter and I loved you constant support over the walkie talkie and your strength for doing this with your knee injury-I love you so much; Mom, you are the greatest-I am constantly hearing how wonderful you are from all the other gals and I just beam with pride at my mommy- your courage and determination are amazing and I can't tell you how much you mean to me; Lexie, oh my precious little angel doll, you brought something to this experience that almost brings me to tears-I'm so glad we couldn't find a sitter for you, it just wouldn't have been the same without you there-you precious girl, I love you so!

Word(s) of the day: ONOMATOPOEIA

Lexie log: She is so cute, I'm not sure I can re-count the countless things she did over the weekend to amaze me. She kept us laughing, that's for sure. She handled the 38 hours mostly in the van time really well. She told stories, sang, made commentary, etc. -- She went to swim yesterday, and today Grammy took her to a tumbling class. I love her.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, all the girls on the team, the relay, fun, weekends, and life.

Down bring me down, no, no, no, no, no, oooh uh whoo.

Fun activity to waste time while getting your 30,000 mile service maintanance at the dealership: Log onto the Internet via the dealerships complimentary customer computer kiosk and go to Google. With the cursor on the Google search bar, arrow down. Paruse through the bizarre list of previous searches from complete strangers. That was fun.

Oh, the Wheel in the sky keeps on turning...

For some reason that song, and any other song from that album, remind me of Iowa. Hmm. My moms tapes when I was in the fifth grade. Red duplex, Meridian, bunk beds, basement, Strawberry, stripped shirt, DangerMouse and Penfold, snow boots, blizzard, hail, lightning, walks where the cats would follow us. How's that for a stream of conscious memory sprouting from a song on the radio? Oh, the power of music.

Things are moving along swimmingly at work. I'm grateful that we finally have a future auditor replacement. Whew! Between all the electronic service we are getting and finally having a full staff, we should really be able to crush our A/R. I love my job! Everyone here is so happy, we are like family, and it just feels right.

All our volunteers went to the meeting, well, one emergency stand in, but we are good to go! One week from today and we'll get the van, and then... I'm excited.

Word(s) of the day: SCOOT

Lexie log: My little angel. I don't know why, I keep leaving earlier for our breakfasts, but still end up late for work. Oh, maybe it's because I enjoy it so much that I keep pushing it till the end. I think, well, we're leaving at 7:27, that should be plenty of time, but then there we are at 8:54 still sitting there. Today there were two other little boys at school when we got there. That's the first time this month that she hasn't been the first one there. And...except for that one day, the second day, she hasn't fussed about going. I think we've worked out a pretty good schedule. -- We've been taking evening walks before bed the last couple nights. Night walks in the dark. Lexie, Thumper, Daddy and me. We walk around the block or up to the pool. Daddy walks Thumper, Lexie holds my hand. Thumper does this really great back leg kick out thing every time he pees on a bush. It's hysterical! He's kicking out his back legs, and kicking up dust and grass, and we're laughing. It's a great before bed activity, the walk I mean.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, my job, my PTCR team and volunteers, music, weekends, walks, and life.

The Middle of the road, is a private culdisac...

Well we drove the PTC course yesterday afternoon. Didn't get home until 10:00pm. We went of track a couple times adding about an hours worth of extra time to the whole thing, but that should'nt happen when the course monitors are there. It really is a beautiful course. We are all getting terribly excited about this. Even more so now that we have Broadway Medical Clinic as a sponsor.

Work is just as busy as ever, but at least I see a light at the end of the tunnell as far as getting our staffing hole filled. Hoorah for that!

Word(s) of the day: LOVE

Lexie log: She is still only in class with one other kid until after labor day. Her Grammy is going every Tuesday to read to her class in the afternoon. So far they both love it. Lexie and I started a school morning tradition. We leave early and have breakfast at McDonalds, it has been great. -- She was such an angel for being couped in a car for seven hours yesterday. She entertained us with songs and a long story that started, "Once upon a time, there was a dragon, a prince, and a dog, and a cat..." and fifteen minutes later ended with, "The End!"

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Betty, weekends, yards, cups, pens, and life.

The night before the big camping trip. These two make quite a pair.

Lexie and Thumper horsing around in the office

Nice little path to the lake. The edge of the trees iis the beach.

Trees, glorious trees...

We're here!!

Camping girl appears to have a look of distress upon her. My guess is that she really, really wants go down to Patty's site, and we're making her wait for some reason.

The view from our campsite looking down to where Patty, Karen, Amy, and Cole are camping.

Lexie runs around the campsite with some water thingy from Chris and Roxannes campsite

Lexie and Thumperin the Lake.

Swimmer dog actually puts his whole head in the water. He literally swam circles around me.

Ahhhhhhh. We love camping.

Lexie and Marissa play in the upper bunk while watching movies.

Good looking pooch! He broke another leash, so Frank had to tie on this chain in knots. He is a very strong dog.

A dog and his campfire. He was a little sad to see those perfectly good chew toys get burned.

Hey! Where's everyone headed off to?

Amy and Cole take Marissa and Lexie out to the jet ski

Lexie climbs aboard

Lexie, Amy, and Mrissa wave from the jet ski as they are heading out for some fun. Lexie kept begging cousin Amy to go, "Faster! Faster!" Cole and Tyson attending to the gals.

Lexie sleeping in the RV

Lexie and Thumper play

Super dog! His head is all wet from putting his face in the wate trying to pull up bolders.

Lexie plays in the lake

Lexie and Marissa have pancakes with whipped cream in the RV

Boris the Spider, Creepy, Crawly, Creepy, Crawly

It's nice to have the cube to myself this week. I like my cube-mates and all, it's just that I like not feeling claustrophobic and...Well, it's just hard to explain. Things are cooling down here, but still busy enough to make the days fly by. Pretty much perfect if you ask me. Coming to work late on Lexie days is only painful because of the habit of thinking 3:30 is quitting time. I'll tell you what, no matter what happens, by 3:30pm I feel like I've been here since 7:00am.

I am so excited about the Portland to Coast relay in less than 20 days!!!! We are going to drive it this weekend and see what our 'legs' look like. I really think it's going to be a blast.

Word(s) of the day: SCIATIC

Lexie log: Day three of my driving her to school. I'm really enjoying it. Last Thursday she put up a fuss, but we got through it. I think we will make it a habit to go to eat breakfast first. She seems to really like that. She was cute as a button this morning. -- She's also doing really great in swimming. She is quite the story teller also. She loves to tell make believe stories, usually involving a dragon, a little girl, flowers, and flying. -- Yesterday she went on a long walk with me and Thumper. -- I can tell that even though he could probably use the break from ms. energy a couple days a week, that Daddy is still having separation anxiety from his little angel.

Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, the PTCWR, water, and life.

B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-o

Super quick blog. I'll type more this week, but things over the past two weeks have been out of control. I'm hoping to post some pictures too. Just a quick note to say that we still exist.