Birthdays!

Hi,

MaryEleanor and I were blessed by our kids, including son-in-law Dayton, spending the weekend with us. Paul popped over from Bellingham Friday night late, too late for either of us to hear him arrive. By the time ME finished her shower Saturday morning at 9:30, Caitlin and Dayton arrived. The house was instantly filled with noise and laughter. What a great day of catching up with everyone.

Dayton loaded a ton of movies on our laptop for ME to enjoy. He also brought cables to link the laptop to the TV for better viewing. We all wandered outside for a photo session. The goal was to take the official Christmas card picture, which we did. The new picture on the blog is an outtake of the various shots.

A few of us took naps in the afternoon while Caitlin and ME talked up a storm. We all enjoyed an awesome surf and turf dinner. We celebrated Paul's 22nd and Caitlin's 25th. I bought a very rich chocolate cake at Costco. Nothing small comes from Costco! Everyone was scrambling for milk as we barely touched a quarter of the beast. Thankfully, it is now safely on the west side of the mountains, far from us!

Caitlin and Dayton headed back to Bellevue around 8PM. Paul stayed the night and helped me with a few things around the house before heading out this afternoon.

How's ME doing? Considering a year ago she was just finishing her first week at the U inpatient rehab program, she is doing awesome. She's spending half her day up in her chair and doing stuff, normal stuff. Naps are now few and far between.

We can't wait for Thanksgiving as it will mean our home will once again be filled with noise and laughter. MaryEleanor really enjoys the visits from our Yakima friends each week. She loves keeping current with the local goings on.

Apple harvest is winding down for the season. Grapes are off the vine being massaged into a delicious nectar. Hops are done and being brewed. A little frost on the pumpkin this morning. Fall is definitley in the air. Damn Huskies!

Happy Halloween!