The Graduate

It's finally done! Joe graduated last Saturday the 17th at Safeco field in Seattle. It was a HOT 90+ degree day. I was sweating in the stands and that was nothing compared to Joe in his long black velvet robe in the direct sunlight for two hours. It was so good to have lots of family in town and we spent the entire next week having fun with them.
Just a little trouble getting the hood on this particular graduate.

Lately I've felt something has come between us.

How does he fit all that into that brain?


SeatTleUlawgraD

Grandpa was not about to relinquish that little bundle!
The Bachelors

Tess loved hiking around Mt. Rainier with Grandpa.
I've almost got it . . .

With so much to see, we spent a lot of time in the car.

And for some it was all too much.

Others stripped to their skivies on the shores of Lake Wilderness

Jarom and Joe prove that their dad can and will sleep through anything.


Gunner decided the waterfall was pretty enough and his smile wouldn't matter. So much for this picture making it into the Christmas card.

We spotted the Wright brothers and Amelia Erhart at the Museum of Flight.

Aspiring spider men and women, we're gender neutral.

Betsy got a little freaked out by this friendly Orangutan.

But LOVED her birthday presents.


Cousins, is there a better kind of friend?

Hmmm, I wonder, perhaps someday. . . .

It's been a good year!

Betsy is now a one year old. She wasn't born yesterday, she was born Monday and thankfully she is unaware of it because amidst finals week we have had to put the party off until the weekend.
She truly is a terrific baby; mild and sweet with just a touch of 'tude. We all love her very much. Some of her accomplishments so far include, cruising saying mom, dad, uh-oh, and "this" while pointing at any random thing. She can play a nice game of peek-a-boo and down an 8oz. bottle in under two minutes. you know it's a good baby when you wish you could freeze them this way forever. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETSY!

Joe Speaks.

I haven't been the best about writing on the blog. I have been a little preoccupied you might say. I have a little time between meetings so rather than putting myself in the Boeing trance and waiting for time to pass I will holla at y'all. I did have what I thought was going to be a round robin "get to know ya" at Perkins Coie (the largest and in their words the most prestigious law firm in Seattle, heck the United States and if the US then the WORLD! THE WORLD I TELL YOU!) It was a pretty gruelling battery of interviews. I think I did OK but can't really tell. The last interviewer was a Harvard grad so I already knew he would be draconian and so I was spitting my best game. He went through my Law school transcript class by class asking me why I did poorly in certain ones. I was trying to say that I could get any grades I want but I couldn't spend the time to memorize because my kids and wife need me around. Basically, that at home alot was riding on me. I even told about how Scottie was able to speak at a young age but after a year at law school she stopped being able to speak and the doctor said she had disfluencey and it was all our fault. So he is listening to all this with the most sceptical look on his face. After the interview which actually went very well he took me to the elevator and said, "so are you headed home?" I said "no I have three classes tonight."
He said "whoa, why so late?"
"I work full time and I am taking classes in the evening."
I could see it dawn on him that the sob story I gave him was making sense. He was probably thinking about how when he was in law school he learned to sail, drank every night and only attended half his classes. He wasn't made aware of anything about my specific situation. So the elevator was better late than never but we will see what happens.
I also wanted to say something about Pat and Patricia. I sat in the back seat with Patricia for probably 10 hours and I tried to tell her things about Pat that would shock her or test her devotion. She already knew everything or wasn't surprised by anything I said. Which is one great thing about Pat, what you see is what you get. He isn't hiding all his nerdy tendencies and uncool hobbies, he is just lucky to find a girl just as nerdy and appreciates that about him. She does have a vision for how Pat will be after she is done shaping him but what wife doesn't (e.g. eating habits, grooming, his glued together glasses, his plaid shirts (I disagree with that one), his lateness, his disregard for his own health). I think we can all agree that she has her work cut out for her and don't hold your breath.
One little tid bit, she really wants her produce washed and one time she spent about 20 minutes polishing an apple and then gave it to Pat. He was a little confused because he didn't want an apple. I though wow she is so generous. Then she gave a little gesture and Pat said, Oh! and started biting off pieces and giving them to her. It was cute just like the daddy loverbird regurgitating food into the little birds mouth.
I also gave them so much flack about always hugging and kissing and touching. If we were out of the car they were walking while hugging. In the car she was massaging his back or running her fingers through his "hair". I remember those days and I know as the male in that situation it may not be your first choice but really its your only choice.