Home, Sunday May 20

Debbie and I did our Starbucks run before breakfast this morning since breakfast at the hotel was not until 8:30am (late in my book).  Everyone was there for breakfast this time except for Sharon (cousin) who had left Saturday night to go back to Seattle.  Pam, Debbie and I got a last visit to the exercise room.  All before 10:30am, which was when we were meeting in the lobby for our final good-byes.  I still had to shower and finish packing.  I was a little frazzled I think.  I hate good-byes and try to put them off.

At 10:30am we all went in separate directions.  Pam and Linda started their drive to Washington, DC with all of Linda's worldly possessions.  Debbie went with Steve and Jennifer to the airport.  Jim, Nathan, George and I went in another car to the airport.  We left a little earlier than they did but they got there first.  Our GPS led us in a few extra circles and we stopped for gas.  Steve and Jennifer were flying Southwest and so they were in a different terminal. The rest of all connected at the airport once we had gone through security.  Our various gates were pretty close.  We had time to sit a Chili's to wait for our flights.  Jim had the first flight.  Debbie and Nathan were on the same flight for the first leg of their trip.  George and I flew via Dallas.  We got to Portland at 7:15pm.  Rebecca met us at the airport.  We got home safe and sound.  I heard from everyone else, too.  Everyone made it to their various locations, safely.

Jim, Sharon and Pam with the proud graduate, Linda.  What a fun trip we had with family.  

 One of my favorite pictures, the cousins.

The under 5'2" club.

So this is good-bye until my next trip.  Check back again in July when we go to Alaska to visit Nathan.

Saturday, post graduation

We started our day with the usual complementary breakfast at the hotel.  At least this morning there was no rush.  The main thing on the agenda was to help Linda move out of her apartment. So we went to care boxes down 3 flights of narrow stairs.  Many hands makes light work.  It did not take long to finish.  We also fit in a short walk in Forest Park.  We have been told that it is bigger than Central Park.

 The front door of Linda's home for several years.

 We found a great place for lunch - a creperie.  What an array of great choices for lunch.  It was fun.

 I had the Brittany - it was fabulous

 We had a leisurely afternoon.  We went for ice cream at Maggie Moos.  Sat and chatted.  Some people watched the Preakness, the horse race.  I guess it was pretty exciting.  "I'll have Another" won.  Debbie and I fit in a short spell in the exercise room.  I used the treadmill.  I have not been getting my walking in and the meals have not been very WW friendly.  But they have been quite tasty.

 Supper we had at the Coastal Bistro.  My steak was very good.

The desserts were all shooters.  I had the cheesecake shooter.

We all leave around 1pm today going our separate ways.  Pam and Linda will start driving to Washington DC when we all leave to the airport.  The have a van which is now full to the gills with Linda's stuff. They won't have the help moving in that they had loading up. 

Clayton, MO

Here are some scenes of Clayton, MO. 

The floor of the entry way of the hotel.

 

 painted electrical outlet box for the traffic signals.

 Waiting at a metro stop

 Not sure about this santa tea kettle by the BBQ

 One of the college metro stops

 art in the metro stop

Mangos - Peruvian restaurant.  Very good.  This is the closest we have come to the St Louis Arch - we saw it off in the distance. 

 Main entrance to Wash U.

 We stopped at an old fashioned soda fountain for ice cream.  It also was a gift shop with a wide variety of unusual items for sale.

 A lamp post for Sharon

 Salt restaurant.  Very nice.  We were in an upper room at the restaurant.  This was the graduation dinner.

 We felt like we were being watched during dinner.

 A variety of salt things around.  Not sure that I understood the decor

Before the graduation ceremony

 After the ceremony.  They were pretty fast - getting things put away.

The main graduation was today but not really a photogenic day.  Got some good family shots.  The ceremony was impressive.  Stared at 8:30am and was done by 11:30am.  The commencement speaker was very good.  It was pretty warm by the time it was finishing up.

Linda's graduation

There are 2 ceremonies for graduation.  The one this morning was to give out the diplomas.  It started at 9:30am with the processional of the graduates and ended at 12:30pm.  Very uncomfortable bleacher seats.  But we could stand up.  We had a perfect location.  We were right  up front on the right side so we could see Linda walk across the stage.  These seats were ALL filled with graduates.  

 I got a picture of Linda at her seat before things started happening.

Linda graduates.

 After the professional photos she went right by us to go back to her seat.

 Linda with her proud parents.

Nice array of food at the reception.  The cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese was served in a clever way.  Bunch of sandwich roll-ups.  I tried to be good.  We then headed back to the hotel and relaxed for a little while.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

It was an early morning trek to the MAX and then to the airport for an 8:20am flight to St. Louis.  My younger brother's younger daughter is graduating from WashU.  We got in around 5:30pm and headed straight to the hotel after getting our car.  The Crowne Plaza is a very nice hotel.

 We connected with my Jamie (my younger brother), Pam and Linda (the graduate).  Walked up the street to a very nice Italian restaurant, Cafe Napoli.  You can't really tell by this picture but the wine menu was an ipad.  WOW .  Very classy place.  Had a delicious New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc.  I had the Medallions Bordelaise.  YUMMMY.

 This is the Nova Scotia Salmon

Linda in her apartment.  She is on the 3rd floor.  Her apartment building has a lot of personality.  She will miss it when she heads off to Washington, DC. Very nice evening.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tristan is quite the Frisbee thrower.

Tuesday was kind of a "work" day.  Laura spent a lot of time trying to pack for their trip.  We were all flying out Wednesday morning.  So Jeanne and I tried to keep Tristan, Liam and Emmet occupied.  Jeanne and I still fit in our morning walk but the rest of the day we were on duty.  We did get Tristan to the park for a little while.  Laura made a delicious tomato soup from scratch for dinner.  They got Tristan to bed early since the next day would be an early rising time.  I had a 6am flight and they all had a 7am flight to Sacramento for Ben's (Jeanne's son) 30th birthday celebration.  I wish I had taken a picture of all the stuff.  3 car seats, various suitcases and backpacks ... Jeanne and I went to the airport by taxi at 4:30am.  She took one of the big suitcases with her to check in.  I headed off to my gate and she waited at the entrance for Laura and the 3 kids and the rest of their stuff.  Wilhelm dropped her off.  He will join them on Thursday.  It was a complicated trip but they made it safe and sound.  I also made it home safe and sound. I am tired but I had a very good time.  I hope that I was a help.

I think Liam and Emmet are pretty identical.  But I guess they only way to know for sure is to do a genetic test which is expensive so they are not doing that.  Liam has a little spot on his left ear.  So we all were looking at the ears before we would know who we were holding. Tristan calls them both Me-am.  Tristan was learning a lot of new words.  Fun to watch the language development.

Stay tuned - in a week I will be off to St Louis for a college graduation of my niece.

Monday, May 7 later

It took us a while to get moving today.  But after a lunch feeding.  Laura, Jeanne, Emmet and Liam went to do some shopping at the mall.  Tristan stayed with his dad.  Went to a couple of stores and then it was time for the next feeding.  So we went home.  Laura decided that she needed to take Liam to see the doctor about a possible eye infection. Jeanne and I took Tristan and Emmet to the playground.  Emmet was content to sleep on a  blanket on the ground.  Enjoyed the fresh air. Tristan love the playground.  He did not want to leave.

 

 They wanted to go to the store.

 We had bratwurst for dinner.  A food picture for you all. :-)

Time for bed.  At least it is time for me to go to bed.

Monday, May 7

Yesterday we all went to church.  Wilhelm was still at the bicycle racing weekend.  It is a work weekend for him.  After church they had an all church Spring Cleaning Event and potluck.  I had Tristan duty while Laura, Rebecca and Jeanne cleaned.  Liam and Emmet slept.  The potluck was good - as usual.  It was pouring when we left.  I was drenched by the time I got to the car. Liam and Emmet took turns being upset all afternoon.  We left Laura with them to take Rebecca to the airport.  Tristan came with us.  Just as we got home we got a call from Rebecca. Flights were being canceled right and left.  Her flight was delayed and she would miss her connection.  It took them a while to finally book her on something else. So Jeanne and I drove back to the airport - with Tristan to go get Rebecca.  We had had dinner while she was arranging flights.  Laura made a delicious Leek and Ham soup.  I will have to get the recipe from her for that.  When Rebecca got back she had some of the soup as well.  Strawberries and ice cream hit the spot afterwards.  Wilhelm finally got home about 10pm .  He showed us a picture someone took of Tristan doing a wheelie at the bike racing event.  They have times that people can ride who are not racing and a time for kids to try.  Tristan has a cool bike that he rides.  His feet reach the ground.  In Germany they do not believe in training wheels but have these bikes instead.

This morning at Oh-Dark-Thirty I drove Rebecca to the airport.  I know she got on the plane here.  Hopefully she will make it home ok.  It has messed up a lot of things for her.  She had to call work and tell them that she would not be in.  She had to change her nursing program to sometime in the fall instead. That was the most disappointing thing.  You are not allowed to miss the first class - no exceptions. The real disappointing thing is that if she had gone ahead and gotten on her original flight she would have made it home ok because her connecting flight had also been delayed. Hindsight!!

Saturday, May 5

It has been a quiet day today.  Every morning Jeanne and I go for a walk before everyone wakes up.  We get showered and are usually at the table when Tristan wakes up.  He comes down to join us.  Later Laura comes down with the twins. We get to hold them while she gets her breakfast.  I can't keep track of Wilhelm's schedule.  Sometimes he is out of here early - off to work and sometimes not.  Today he went early to a race.  After lunch Laura took off with Tristan to join Wilhelm at the race.  She left Liam and Emmet with Jeanne and me.  We did one feeding.  Then when they were sleeping Jeanne went to take a nap.  Rebecca had gone out.  As you can see the twins did not make me work very hard.  No rain today. Laura hopes to be home in time for the next feeding.  We shall see.  Not a lot of pictures today.

Friday, May 4

 dueling pacifiers

 Fun at the park.

 The bedtime ritual.

Tristan is practicing with his doll.
No rain today.  A couple of trips to the park.  I made my African Chicken Soup for supper.  Rebecca made brownies.

A bouquet of dandelions.

 Flowers in the back yard

 Liam and Emmet like to snuggle.

 Tristan likes the homemade bread and jam that Wilhelm makes.

Tristan is a big help.

 Rebecca is handling them both.

 We did fit in one walk - in between rain showers.  Tristan likes his bike.

Laura & Wilhelm's home.  It is a very nice neighborhood.  I am getting my "baby fix".  It is exhausting.....even with 5 adults and 3 kids.  I am having a great time.