To quote Mark Twain --

-- "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

It was my idea to do a blog so that it would be easier to keep in touch, or at least ensure that everyone got the same information at the same time instead of trying to depend on my emailing everyone ... hmmm, turns out this is a nice idea but it's not happening that way... probably I am just lazy. But I am still here.

The past 6 weeks have sort of been a blur with so much to do and time seeming to get shorter each day even though the sun is now rising earlier. Dayna's wrist surgery means she needs "full time help" and even though it's not truly "full time," someone has to be around for things like diaper changes that are just impossible to accomplish one handed and can happen at any moment. It would have been so much better if she could have broken her wrist (which is essentially what she did) at a time when she didn't have a baby to care for. Not complaining, mind you -- it's been a great time to get acquainted with both Danelle and Thea -- but the days sure do fly by. I have no idea how Mom and Dad did it for those years with Tanya's little girls. And so I was in Kirkland for about 4 days after the surgery, then Amy and Renae took turns, and Dayna and the girls came over here for a few days (these are not in order); I was back there for another 4 days and now they are here until at least the wedding on the 9th. Six weeks down, six to go ... the cast is driving her nuts with the itching too. I plan to post some pictures of my time over there with the girls as soon as I find time to download them from the camera... yeah. Like maybe by Labor Day ...

One week from today I will truly know the consequences of my procrastination when we are frantically setting up chairs and decorations at Montlake Park for the celebration of marriage/wedding ceremony of Jason and Rachel (finally!) and setting out food for the guests to munch on afterward. The good news is that it will be a semi-formal/informal event and so hopefully nobody will really expect perfection or perfectly matched decorations. I am mostly going for no rain and very little wind, but a slight occasional breeze might be OK if the sun actually comes out -- not too much to ask, right? Rachel and Jason arrive here on Wednesday so she can help with last minute details she wants done. I am pondering sound systems (do we need one?) and music and wondering how to set it all up, and how to feed 75 people a little something ... and trying to make lists of what to remember to do so I don't forget something at home (you know I will). Bob put it into perspective when he said to me last night "Oh, you moms. Don't worry about it. We're just celebrating what has already happened." I know that, but ... and he's right; we do have a nice professional cake ordered and the flowers are going to dress things up well (Ben walked to within 3 feet of them sitting on the table the other day and asked if they were real); I have Danelle's flower girl dress finished and the wedding gown is in for "realteration" ... so I think all the most important things are taken care of. It's always the details that drive us crazy, though, isn't it? It will mostly be a great day to have everyone together so those who have not yet met Jason can do that and they can tell all about their life in Tennessee, and we can celebrate this together.

Things will will all change for them as soon as they get home again, close on the house/property purchase, and get moved before the little guy arrives in September when life will really change! Kelli and Artis (from church) are throwing their third baby shower in 2 months this Wednesday for Rachel (the other two were church gals). Artis is so great to hostess all of these at her house, and Kelli is one of the best organizers out there. One more chance for Rachel to see some of her local friends and actually be able to visit some before she and Jason have to head home again on Sunday morning. It will all go by way too fast -- I will try to focus on enjoying it instead of stressing out too much ...