01-25-26

 

Seahawks viewing party at Xander & Alison's.  And lots of Poppy time.

01-24-26

Grandpa showing Poppy the dragon display at Southcenter mall.
 

01-23-26

 Made it to Friday, taking the underground tour with Alison's Mom.

01-22-26

 Misspelled, but on the project org chart now.

01-21-26

Out in the cold for an after dinner walk.

01-20-26

How does your Gardyn grow?  Fast, very fast!

01-19-26

Mendocino Farms for dinner with Mom.  Love their salads!
 

01-18-26

 

Mother-son outing to see a Neil Diamond musical. So fun, so fun, so fun!

01-17-26

 

This is so darn cute I almost hate to open it.  Alison got it for my stocking.

01-16-26

Made it to another Friday night, with more weekend work ahead.  We walked to Chinatown for dinner, Bruce couldn't handle walking by one of his buildings without taking me inside.  Fun artwork.
 

01-15-26

Just call her monkey girl.  She was so insistent that her feet not be in the high chair holes at our Mod Pizza outing.  She was content to eat broccoli and bread sticks and watch the other diners.

01-14-26

Oops, I broke the glass that I soak my retainer in.  Must be tired, I dropped it in the sink and it shattered.  Little pieces of glass everywhere.

01-13-26

I've been playing with overnight oats.  Today didn't get a chance to eat them until the mid afternoon, this new role is meeting heavy and very little down time.  Wasn't sure I'd like cold oatmeal but it is pretty good.
 

01-12-26

Said nope to two meetings to hang out with this gal and the family.  Photo credits to Grunkle, he gets great shots.

01-11-16

 Happy birthday Alison!

01-10-26

 I've worked so many hours this week already and now I have mandatory weekend overtime.  Ugh.

01-09-26

 "I need a drink!"

What a week!

Landed at Cottontail for a Year of the Snake drink that came in a Chinese to go container.  Fun way to try to wind down from a really really difficult re-entry week.

01-08-26

Wendy's date with Poppy, lovely way to help get through the week! 

01-07-26

Yesterday was a 13 hour day, re-entry has been ROUGH!  Today was late too, but it's been great to have dinner ready when I get home.

01-05-26

Unofficially worked a bit the past two weeks, but on my terms and my schedule.  Now it is officially back to the grindstone.  With a new role.  At least I get to ease in from home.

01-04-26

 

On our way home from our great weekend we took a stroll around Ruston Way.

01-03-26

 

Poppy drew her mom for stocking shopping.

Grandpa helped.

She picked a purse of care products.

Then promptly highjacked it for a binky purse.

What a gal!

01-02-26

 

Merry Christmas take 2!

We're all in the same rental house in Tacoma to enjoy Christmas together, including stocking shopping.

01-01-26

My 2026 word is whimsy.  What it means to me:

·       Playful & Imaginative: Seeing beauty and creativity in everyday life. Seeking magic in the mundane, since it is expected to be another low travel year.

·       Spontaneous: Less logic and structure, more trusting my gut and making time and energy for what my body, soul, and relationships need. Less concrete goals.

·       Quirky & Lighthearted: Having a sense of humor and charm that is slightly offbeat. 

·       Childlike Wonder: Continuing to lean into grandparenthood and Poppy’s point of view.

Stop doing: Hitting a certain productivity level before going to bed.  Using screens right up until bed.  Feeling ill equipped.

Keep doing: theater, movies, reading, time with friends and family, quality time with Poppy.  Protecting sleep, Sabbath, prayer, solitude.

Start doing: focusing on the big things, let the little things happen as they can, don’t beat myself up for what doesn’t get done.  Watch TED talks as time permits.

I had to find a new necklace supplier and style this year.  I knew I had found the right one when the seller tied her journey to a wildflower verse:

“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” – Luke 12:27

Which is similar to my favorite verse:

"And why do you worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" - Matthew 6:28-29

Funny thing is, I realized later that I clasped the dandelion necklace wrong and when I wear it right there is less of a gap between the three necklaces, which I like even better.