along came july

Hard to believe it is July in a few days. Happy early-birthday to Uncle Brad on the 1st. Happy 8-weeks early for Peter and Caleb. My birthday present arrived via UPS today - thanks! darling husband!! Hooray for Deadliest Catch, my most favorite show ever, and the Time Bandit, most amazing crab fishing boat and crew ever.

Feeling tired and a bit down. One of the girls' friends died yesterday, drowned in the Lewis River. The news report says he and another boy were in a canoe, not wearing life jackets, and capsized. The other boy was able to swim out. The next couple days may be difficult for the girls. I remember how odd and frightening and sad it was to be young and lose a close friend. Everything will be different from this point forward for them. It always is.

If you've been following the blog, you know that Rick has been in Flagstaff AZ since last Thurs. I think we're both still slogging through some sleepless nights - it gets better after about day 6, so we're close.

Rick reports that he may actually begin work tomorrow. Some gliche in the project management, waiting for materials, yada yada. Sound familiar? Just like D.C. last Christmas, only warmer. A lot warmer. I don't expect him home by the 4th as originally planned, but maybe soon after.

On a good note, Rick got to go to the Grand Canyon yesterday. We were talking about it last night and figured out that he and I may actually have both been there in the summer of 1977. That would make me 12 and him....about to be married. No, not to me. I was only 13 when Ryan was born. You didn't actually think that was me, did you?

The girls and I are still on target to road trip to Utah for baby-support on the 17th. Hang in there, Lori! I heard rumors that Amy was heading down this week to do a shift. And I talked to Papa just before he left for Ghana, and he said the babies were growing and eating and growing. Always a good sign. I am excited to spend some time with my baby sister and all her babies. Good old "Ant" Lori.

Wondering if taking my tired self to bed will do any good....

Sherri

Instructions

Well, it doesn't show up very well...but these are the "instructions" for assembling this year's model TVs to the stands...

Here in Flagstaff, totally snafu'd as the job isn't clearly defined and the arguments over the definition and scope go up and down the chain of command...

the saddest duck ever

Aaaaaaawwwwwwww. :-(

The Momgoose

hey! I got a new shirt!

I was so excited to get a bit of birthday money so I went out and bought a new shirt! What do you think?!

I'm sure Papa and Grandma will love it.

xoxooxox

Sherri

project introspect

School is almost over, and Becca presented her core project: Introspect. She selected a word that described herself from a compilation of words collected from her friends and family.

Then she drew her artwork to represent herself and her word. She transferred the drawing to a piece of wood (what luck that Rick is a carpenter!).


Finally, for almost three weeks, she burned the drawing into the wood with a wood burner.

Now there are only seven school days before summer break, and nothing left to do. Final final today. Nothing but the end-of-year parties left.


Never fear—English 101 begins on June 30. The children will not be bored for long.

The Momgoose

Caleb and Peter

This from Lori:

"Just wanted to send out some first pictures of our little babies born Saturday May 30. They were eight weeks early, but are doing well and making progress for thier size. They will be in the NICU at Davis Hospital for 3 - 5 more weeks. Thanks for all your support; we can feel it! "

Caleb Michael Wangsgard. 4 lbs 4 oz and 17 inches long. Older brother by eleven minutes.

Peter Robert Wangsgard. 4 lbs 4 oz and 161/2 inches.


They carry some names of power and spirit with them.

We already love them both.

And Happy Birthday to Lori! My baby sister is 29 today. (sigh)

Sherri

pokemon!

Becca and Kristen performed in the ASL Showcase tonight. It was the final performance of their language classes, and it was all done in dance, song and poetry. The girls presented a duet of sorts of the Pokemon theme song. They signed all the words and backed it up with some fancy choreography. It was EPIC.


Becca also performed So Happy Together with another pair and Michael Jackson's Thriller, complete with zombies and the traditional Thriller dance. Our girls will be well prepared now should they need to translate Japanese cartoons or bad Michael Jackson song lyrics.

Actually, I was touched by the grace and beauty of their movements. I know some ASL at a basic conversational level, and both Becca and Kristen were clear and their movements concise. Plus, they actually danced, so you could tell there was music - just in case the non-hearing audience couldn't hear it.

Root beer floats all around!

~ The Momgoose

p.s. Tomorrow is Becca's 16th birthday. Although the real story is that she was born at 11:55 p.m. on June 2, but the doctor bumped the time over the date line so that I would be able to stay a full 24 hours in the hospital due to insurance regulations. So even though her birth certificate says 12:05 a.m. June 3, we know she is actually 10 minutes - or a whole day - older. It's a good birth story to have. ~ M