Light

When we moved here we didn't have any living room furniture.  We added a couch and a chair, an entertainment center for the TV and a table for the littles to use.  No ends or coffee table.  So no lamps.  I didn't want any floor lamps that they could tip over.
Fast forward to now and I bought a lamp off facebook for $15.  Moved the end table Dave had refinished for me last year by the couch.  Set the lamp on it and viola.....light.  And the total ambiance of the room changed.  More homey.  Amazing that.  Love it.

Back to Hantwick

We haven't walked the trail at Hantwick Trailhead since 2012.  I thought it was time to do it again.  We walk a mile down and a mile back and it takes a long time with little legs.  We did this trail many times with Papa and a stroller.  I'm slowly getting used to all these things we used to do and now do differently.
It was lovely walking in the shade of the big firs and oaks.  We chased butterflies and dragonflies.  They loved the pond and the big rocks around the picnic area.  We were fascinated with the moss and the baby fir cones.  They loved being able to take their own pictures.  The one of Audrie and me is taken by Connor.  He didn't do too bad.  Experimenting with another creative outlet.
And like my post from the other day....they both fell asleep in the car exhausted from a two mile nature walk.

Lucky Children

I've gotten several comments about how lucky my children are that I do so many things with them. I do and they are.  We have a lot of down time also, I just don't make big deals about that.  I take a lot of pictures and share with my friends so it looks like a lot.  Sometimes small activities gives us the most pictures.
I think we do the things we do because we can first.  There is just the three of us.  We don't have to plan our outings around any one's schedule but mine.
Second I have found that keeping them busy is a good thing.  It engages their minds and their bodies.  They get to stretch their muscles and grow.  They get to think, think, think.  It always amazes me when I introduce something new and it is small how much it can wear them out and it has to be brain work that is doing it.  An example is a nature walk makes them more tired than an hour on a playground.
My little man and little woman are very busy children.  Not actually hyperactive, but very busy.  And keeping them busy makes them easier.  So that is a good third reason for our activities.
I'm always looking for new things to do and to introduce them to.  I try to get a variety and not just things I am interested in.  That is hard.  I think we do okay though.  And soon we bring sports into the mix and that is definitely not my forte.

The Newspaper

Jodi texted  me this morning to call her.  So I did.  She said Audrie was in the paper.  Sure enough her picture was in the paper this morning.  You can see it here.  You may have to scroll through a couple of pictures first.  In the print version she is the only picture to the hot weather article.  I saw the guy taking the first pictures and thought those were his kids or grandkids.  There were many of us taking pictures at the fountain on Saturday.

A Busy Park Day

On this hottest day of the week and the weekend we headed down town to the Farmer's Market.  Played at the playground.  Then we looked at some recycled art. The recycled arts festival has grown and with that came higher prices and some super cool stuff.  Made me think of the last time we explored this.....Audrie was in a stroller and we were with David and Papa.  Lots of changes since then.
After that the littles played in the fountain for an hour and a half.  What a great way to keep cool.  We had loaded up on sunscreen before we left home so it was all good.
On the way out we purchased some cherries, strawberries and peaches.  A good fruit week.  And strawberry shortcake tonight.  I thought I had missed having that since I missed our local berries.

Working On It

Patience.  Persistence.  Playing.
I notice some of the interactions between some of the parents and children in our complex.  They, the parents, seem so much more patient than I am.  And I love how they play with their kids.  I love how they play with my kids.  I love to hear the laughter, the giggles, the love.
And so I am learning through example to do what I can.  I don't have the limberness, balance or stamina to do a lot of what they do.  But I'm working on doing what I can.
I discovered that the littles love when I stupid dance to some of the music on TV.  They giggle and giggle and tell me I'm funny.  And I say "Yes, yes I am funny." And I think it is good for them to see it and experience it.
Trying to do both worlds is hard.  I never get to be the spoiling grandparent.  I always have to be the parent.  And it makes this dynamic different than any other one I have had before.  Learning as we go.  Working on it every day.

Grazing

We heard there were some more raspberries at Papa's house. So we went and checked it out.  Sure enough there were quite a few and this is after two pickings.  So we found a bag and picked a bunch more.  The littles grazed while I picked. Nothing beats berries right off the vines. When I add them to the ones we got from Marti I think I have enough for a batch of jam.
The blueberries are just coming ripe and the marionberries are loaded.
I'm thinking cobbler soon.

An Ease

After we planted the tree I felt it all change.  I no longer feel anger towards Dave.  I have forgiven him for leaving me  and making choices that killed him.  We can't go back and change any of it.  We can only move forward.  I knew this change was coming and that he wanted me to move on ...so to speak.  My dreams changed and then changed again.  It's like I can breathe again.
I still have a lot to deal with with the littles.  They so obviously really don't understand.  I have no idea how long it will take till they truly do understand.  For now we take it one day at a time and just handle it as it comes.  We talk about Papa all the time.  I want them to remember him and how much he loved them.  And some day when they are much older we will talk about all the rest of it.
But for now.....I am mending and I feel better.

Bike Adventure

The Kia is big enough to haul their bikes so we did.  We took them over to the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail.  We parked further away and headed for the playground.  Well.......
The little woman would pedal for about 40 feet and then stop.  She did that like three times and then claimed she couldn't ride her bike and needed training wheels.  Nope.  First chance he got he took her bike leaving me to walk his bike, part of that time with her on it.
They played for about an hour on the playground and that wore the little man out.  So we headed back and they had a break to play in the creek.  Pretty soon I was walking two bikes with two kids on them.  Wish the fitbit counted those steps as extra.
It got warmer and I got worn out.  Finally we are about a quarter mile from the car and I ask her to please please please ride her bike.  And she did.  Pedalled off without me all the way to the car.  And then naturally he had to do his own pedalling and catch her.  They planted themselves on a big rock in the shade while they waited for me.  She was proud of herself and I was proud of her.
We met dogs and played with bugs.  I saw a snake that he almost ran over, but neither one of them saw it.  He made friends at the playground and she played on the swings.  It was a good outing even if we got a bit warm and a bit worn out.  Worn out for them is almost always good except for those few minutes before they crash.

Time Off

I got the evening off.  Elizabeth came and babysat the kids while I attended a birthday party for a coworker.  I got to the pizza place early.  Ordered a glass of wine and sat outside until the others arrived.  It was nice to have grown up time away from work.
Audrie was sad when I got home because it meant Adrianna was going home.  She had a little meltdown.  I just told her to go hang at John's.  She immediately stopped and went to his house and was fine.  Funny that.

Summer Solstice

So Father's Day fell on the first day of summer.  First day of summer means root beer floats.  Pat came over and we had dinner.  Mom wasn't feeling up to family dinner so we just changed it all up.  So Pat and the little man had their floats before dinner.  Audrie was having a late nap.
We watched most of a movie and ate dinner.  When she got up she didn't want a root beer float saying she doesn't like root beer.  So she had ice cream with chocolate for her celebration.
Happy summer.

A Boyfriend

Hahahahaha.  So my brother has a girlfriend.  She is the second one that I know about.  And they seem to be doing fine in the beginnings of their relationship.  We like her.
So I'm talking with Mom and she pops up asking when I'm going to get a boyfriend.  NOT.  Guess that will be her new obsession.
Right now I am way too busy.  My plate is full up.  And even if it wasn't.  Most men my age are done raising children or almost.  They aren't just starting out with pre-schoolers.  And I'm not looking for someone to fill the parenting role with my kids.  And since I am raising pre-schoolers I don't have the time to play like others my age.
I still tend to gravitate towards alcoholics and I don't ever see that changing.  And while I like them and could date them.  I don't like all the other crap that goes with alcoholics.  The disease progression, the clean up, the walking on eggshells, etc.
Maybe some day I will find another grandfamily or two to hang with and see where that might go.  But right now I don't even have time to find them.
And I'm still missing Dave a lot.

Dads

On this day of day for fathers I thought I would share this story. I hadn't thought about it.

On the day we went to first Friday at the Children's Museum.  We had taken Adrianna with us.  She is the littles' cousin.  Once they all settled down they started having a conversation in the back seat.  I just drove and listened.

The littles considered Papa to be their Dad.  After all we were raising them and we were the parents in the house.

They started off asking Adrianna if she missed Papa now that he had died.  And of course she had.  They made some comment about Dad and she pops up with her dad died too.  Oy.  My heart did a little drop.  Adrianna doesn't remember her dad since she was only 9 months old when he died.  But she knows what she is missing.  The littles continued on and then told Adrianna that they miss her dad also.

Sometimes they need to process at a kid level and they can only do that with other kids.  Maybe that conversation was good for all three of them.

So Happy Father's Day Papa and Jason.  Your children miss you and love you.  Keep watch over them from your perch up high.

Big Trip

We have lots of little things planned all summer long.  Camping, yurting, family reunion, Clark County fair.  But in the back of my head is this long road trip down to San Francisco.  My neighbors did it on a weekend.  I'm thinking a bit longer.  I would like to see the big trees and maybe drive some of the coastline.  Connor wants to see the Golden Gate Bridge.  Jeremy lives down there and maybe we could see him and meet his daughter who is Connor's age.  I was thinking maybe fall, but Audrie will be in school.  Decisions.

Errands Errands

We went to the bank.  The littles naturally got suckers.  Then we went and got our free car wash at the dealer.  We were in and out pretty quick.  Found a play area inside while we waited.  That was wonderful.
Then we hit the grocery store and stocked up.  Came home and Connor with his generous heart shared our food. All the strawberries and the breadsticks.  Oy.
After we were home I realized we forgot the gas station, so it is first on our list tomorrow.  I don't care if the roadside assistance will bring me gas.  I don't want to run out ever.

Buckley Visit

Adding to our long days when we drive to Wenatchee.  Last trip was a stop by Chad and Ky's.  Today we swung into Buckley and saw the littles' aunt, uncle and cousins.  We hadn't seen them for two years and I thought it well past time.  Wasn't for a lack of trying on our part, we just couldn't get the stars to align.  So we just stopped on the off chance that we would see them.
Last time the little man and Braedan were buds.  This year he was more enamored with Corbin.  They played and played.  And later I noticed that Corbin even got in on some drawing action with Audrie.  It is kind of funny how they change and what amuses them at any age.  Audrie still loves the dog.
It made a nice break in our long day of driving.  It was nice to catch up with Treva and Isaac.  Good to see how big their kids have gotten.  Time is flying.

Okay

No one went and picked up Mike.  He hitched his way down and showed up in the middle of the night.  When we woke up this morning he asked for a ride to Wenatchee.  We gladly gave him one.  I knew just taking him to Chehalis was too good to not mean I still had to drive to Wenatchee.

Oy Again

Mike lasted two days at ABHS.  And then he left.  Now he wants a ride.  I told him when I dropped him that I would not be picking him up if he left the program.  He would need to return to Wenatchee and figure out how to get there.
So when I refused he actually talked his sister into it if she can get gas money.  So from there he is trying to get me to give her gas money since I won't have to send him anything while at treatment because he is not at treatment.  Oy again.
I think I am going to bed and I turned my machine and phone off for the night.  I hope his sister doesn't do it, but she probably will.  I'm sticking to my boundary.

Paint

We made our first foray into painting.  $13 for paint.  $13 for brushes.  $1 for paper plates.  The pure joy priceless.  They had such a good time just playing with the paint.  Several of the neighbor kids got in on the action and every one smiled.  We had lots of painted hands and even some concrete. Those are my little man's hand prints.
The paint said it would clean up with soap and water.  And it does.  Off people, brushes and clothes.  Not so much off concrete.  Oy.  Sure hope it wears off so the apartment manager doesn't get mad at me.

We Are Back to Three

After work we drove Mike up to Chehalis to ABHS for inpatient treatment.  Here is to hoping he gains some insights while there.  And the house is quiet or at least as quiet as it normally is.  And the stress has dropped.  I am breathing again.

Welcome Kaden Gene

Today is a joyous day.  Kaden Gene made his appearance weighing in at 10 pounds 7 ounces.  He is a blessing.  He is my great-nephew.  My sister Denise became a grandma again.  She sure is collecting a few of those grandchildren.
Kaden Gene is again named after my dad.  We have many family members with his name as their middle name.  Starts with my brother, then my son, then my grandson and now Carey's son, who is also a great-grandchild of my dad.  Dad would be so proud and honored and somewhere he is smiling down on us.
Welcome Kaden, may light and love always be around you.

Another Rider

The little woman had asked a couple of weeks ago to have the training wheels taken off her bike.  We finally got around to it.  Gave the tools to Daddy and he and she took them off.  Then he ran beside her for about eight steps and off she went.  I knew she was ready.  Now I have two bike riders.  Her first comment when done was "Connor, I did it."
I was happy that Daddy got to do one of these firsts.  He has missed out on a lot over the last five and a half years.

Family Dinner

We had an impromptu family dinner at my mom's.  My brother bbqed burgers for us.  He is such a good bbqer.  Mike goes to treatment tomorrow so we won't see him till he graduates from the program.  And then he has to go back to Wenatchee to finish out his probation.
It all goes according to Hoyle he will be back in September.  I'm not making any concrete plans though because I know how this works.  He may or may not stay out of trouble long enough to make the transition back.  And my way of thinking is, if he isn't going to make better choices then he can just stay up there.  My life is too full to deal with that kind of stress all the time.

Uh-oh

He already has girls riding behind him.

Raspberries

Papa's raspberries just aren't going to be big producers this year.  That is what happens when they miss their fall clipping and their spring care.  So when Marti invited us over to pick hers we jumped at the chance.
The little man helped me pick. And then both kids went and played with Marti's nephew.  Afterwards Alan added to the snacks that his sister had brought.  So the littles tried peanuts in shells and my little man liked them.  Alan had smoked some shad he had caught and then canned it.  It was delicious.  He opened up some canned peaches and pears from last year.  Afterwards he gifted us a few jars.  Yum.  Made me kind of nostalgic for the days when I did all that stuff.
We are going back next weekend for another picking.  Thanks Marti for letting us have the opportunity to do so.

A Family Picture

Picture People sends me emails all the time trying to get me to come have pictures taken.  Most of the time we don't.  And then they send a really good coupon and we do.  So this week we got the $10 coupon for three sheets.  That gives us an 8x10, two 5x7 and 16 wallets.  It's not time for a sibling picture or their birthday pictures.  

But Daddy is here and I had a thought.  So I scheduled an appointment and we all went and had a Daddy and children picture taken.  The photographer really gets some great shots.  But there was a consensus on the picture we purchased.  

My thinking is.....we never know what curve ball life is going to throw us.  We never know who will be in our lives tomorrow, next week, next month, next year.  I wanted to have something that shows the three of them together.  

A Bed

We were getting ready to head to Wenatchee yesterday morning when the PO called.  Turns out Mike has a bed date for Monday in Chehalis.  So Mike requested to stay here until then and it was granted.  So Monday before work I have to run him to Chehalis.  Keeping my fingers crossed but still not holding my breath.

Oy

Well Mike's friends who were hanging out for a day decided it would be all right to steal neighbor kids' bikes and spray paint them.  Well we caught on and I told the friends to leave.  It's not all right and maybe I should have called the cops but I just didn't want to.  I just wanted them gone and the neighbor kids got their bikes back.  So.....
Today Trysten asked me about her little bikes.  The ones I threw away about three weeks ago as they were nothing but garbage.  I wanted them gone before the manager does the pressure washing.  Last time the neighbors didn't move them so the cage didn't get pressure washed.  I no longer felt the need for permission to throw away garbage.  And those bikes were garbage...one was completely seized up and the other one close to it.
When she asked where they were I shrugged.  I honestly don't know where they are at this moment in time.  Well she decided that the bike thieves must have taken them.  Well now.....that is a bonus for me.  It's all good.

New Attitude

When we first moved here we had the notion that this was our neighborhood.  This was our community.  And so we did things to help our community.  We cleaned up the playground many a day.  And then slowly things changed.
I guess I got tired of cleaning up other children's messes.  I never see another parent out there doing any cleaning.  And so I stopped and just got annoyed.  And I felt sorry for the apartment manager who then got the clean up job.
Even with all the drama this last week here I have had a change of attitude.  It is my neighborhood and my community.  And maybe, just maybe, the kids will get the hint if they see it happening.  And I make one or the other of my littles come help me.  So I am teaching them something anyway.
Then today I took that one step further.  I do laps to get my 10,000 steps in.  I started picking up garbage along the way.  I go past the dumpster every lap so why not.  And it makes that much less work for the manager.  Although I do NOT pick up cigarette butts.  Only those that fall from above in my quad.
Today my neighborhood looks pretty good.  And the extra kids have not trashed the playground like normal.  They probably will tomorrow.  ;p

Campus Playground

I needed to get back to the college bookstore.  I wanted to buy a hackeysack that they had for Cameron to go in the box being sent to MN.  While there we played.  The littles searched for bugs.  They ran around and climbed on the rocks.  They rolled down hills.  We found fountains to play in and things to study.  Connor is fascinated with dandelions and fir cones.  And bugs.  Boy do they like bugs.  But only when they want to see bugs......otherwise someone screams.

On the way home he fell asleep.  Funny how new activities wear them out.  Maybe it is the brain work part that does it.

Getting Ready

I know I am out of the slump.  I have started looking for art projects for the littles to explore with.  I think we are going to venture into the world of painting.  Work had some cool acrylic paints on sale for 50% off.  So I picked up six colors and a wonderful set of brushes that has many different kinds.  I like the sponges.
I have been perusing a couple of blogs aimed at art and kids and family.  I know I am not artistic.  And I don't want them to be left out on anything they might do just because I don't do it.  I did think that zentangle looked interesting and something I could do while they paint.

Ready

I'm ready to take Mike back to Wenatchee.  First he wasn't in jail long enough to get clean enough for it to show in his attitude or his desire to stay clean.  And so the littles and I are just ready for our household to go back to normal.
My apartment complex has been pretty much drama free before he came and then wham.  We are right back in it and I don't like it.  I like it all nice and quiet and the only person talking about me is Josh.
I have appreciated the breaks I got.  But I'm not sure they were worth the expense that they costed.  A lot of same old same old went on.  And there won't be any more breaks while he is here because it can't happen now that he no longer cares about appearances.

Down Day

The littles and I took a down day.  We have been on the go, go, go so much lately.  We didn't stay home all day though.  We had to return Greatgrandma Gayle's camera, which she left at Grammy's house.  We also needed to stop at the store and get milk.  Neverending that needing milk.
It was so warm that we mostly just holed up at home in the house.  Rested, relaxed, recharged.

While their daddy has been visiting I have taken advantage of some time by myself.  I have gotten in a walk every day but one.  I have mowed without paying a babysitter.  I got to visit with my friend Karen sans kids.  Just enjoying a little free time.  Thursday will be back to routine and having a babysitter for some things.  ;p   And that's all right.  A little break once in awhile is nice.

Tree Planting

We all showed up and watched as Mike planted the tree.  Betty gave him pointers. Now we have to make sure we give it lots of water over the summer.  Here is hoping it has a long life.  We had hoped to put a few ashes in with the tree, but it was not to be.  Betty still hasn't even heard back from Doug.  Guess he is done putting on a front for her also.  Sad.  Sucks to be him.
Afterwards we had pizza.  I overcooked one of them.  I can tell I still don't know all the eccentricities of a gas stove.  But we all ate and there was only a couple pieces of pizza left over.  So I must have guess right on how many pizzas we needed.  Four.
We discovered that Mom's living room is not as big as we thought.  Thirteen of us don't fit all that well.  We managed it, but it was crowded.  Good thing we mostly ate outside.
Light and love Dave.  I am home as you wished me to be.  I'm going to be all right.

Memorial Tree

Today we planted the tree to memorialize Papa.  It was family dinner night and we invited the rest of the family over for the planting and eating pizza.  Every one showed and the tree was planted.  The bottom picture is to show what the leaves look like on this Flaming Peacock Japanese Maple tree.

Papa was a big part of our grandfamily.  He and I started down this path of parenting our grandchild and then parenting two grandchildren.  Life being life threw me a curve ball which left me holding the bag so to speak.  We take it one day at a time.

We loved Papa and we miss him deeply.  We have broken hearts that will someday mend but will never be the same.  We talk about him and hold him in our hearts.  And now we have a Papa tree.  We would much rather have Papa, but it is what it is.

Welcome

Welcome to our new blog.  We are a grandfamily.  If you don't know what that means I will explain. I am the grandparent of my littles.  I am raising them.  The circumstances of their beginnings made it so the best possible place for them to be was with me.  And so it is.  There is a huge population of us grandfamilies.  We who would take on the job of parenting again for the sake of the children who we love more than anything.
My little woman is 5 years-old and starts kindergarten in the fall.  My little man is 3 years-old and all boy.
This blog is a place to have a diary of all the things we do and all the growth that is.  So pull up a chair, have a cup of coffee and watch us go, grow and love.

Night Out

Since Mike is here for the week I took advantage and had a night off.  Planned it for a week.  Taking the night off that is.  Then when it came time....Pat had other plans and David partied too hard the night before. I was in a quandary as to how to spend my night off.  I have a pretty small social circle. And then it hit me.  I would go visit Karen.
And I did.  I had no time constraints other than the feel of bedtime.  I visited with her and Sam for three hours.  Heard about the trials and tribulations of their duplex and the last renter.  They will be moving to the duplex this fall after all the repairs are done.
I asked her if she still watched slasher movies. Back in the day we used to watch them together.  She still does.  I outgrew them.  Although I do like thriller movies.  So that led to a discussion on movies.  It was a really enjoyable evening.
Then I hit Walmart and got all those things I have been forgetting for the last month.  Seems like my brain shuts down when I go there with children.  Either that or we never get past the toy section.

Another First Friday

And first Friday rolled around again. This time we had the plan in the works to be able to take Adrianna with us.  She is almost too old to enjoy it.  But not quite.  And she had a blast.  We were there for three hours and still did not do everything we could have done.

Rose Festival

We hopped MAX and rode downtown to the Cityfair of the Rose Festival.  As we crossed the bridge we got a good look at the top of the navy ships docked along the waterfront.  We found a great cat sculpture as we got off MAX.  Since we rode in on the yellow line we had to walk a few blocks.  Got down to the waterfront and entered Cityfair.  We stopped and listened to a Fleetwood Mac cover band.  The littles enjoyed that (they should super enjoy the blues festival). We found the animals and the kidzone.  We ate some curly fries and tried to win prizes at the vendor booths.  After that we walked along the waterfront and checked out the ships, boats, dogs, people and the sailors.  Then the littles got hungry so we headed back to MAX.  Along the way we ran into a trio of homeless people playing guitar.  Connor just popped himself into the group and helped play.  Afterall he learned how to do that at camping.  They were very good sports and let him.  The guy taught him how to use the pick.
It was a fine outing even if Audrie did whine about not doing rides.  Thanks again Betty for a great time.  We do enjoy traipsing down there and checking it all out.

Wenatchee Morning

We got up early and found Mike.  We had missed him at the library because he didn't expect us until later at Safeway.  And that is where we found him.  We had time before he could check in at DOC to find out about trip permit and/or bed date.  So we drove over to Shari's for breakfast,.  We cross a bridge on the way and there were two deer running across it.  They got really spooked and jumped.  Mike thinks they probably died.  I'm not so sure.  I think they hit the edge of the embankment.  Hope so anyway.  We also did a little Walmart shopping.  Connor needed new black shoes and Audrie got a couple more tank tops for summer.
Mike got a trip permit to come home for awhile.  That made all of us happy.  Before the long drive back we decided to spend a little time at a playground. The littles needed to burn off some energy before we cooped up in the car.
It was a lovely morning.

A Late Drive

Mike wanted us to come up and see him.  He was in limbo until Wednesday.  Waiting for a bed in treatment, staying in Wenatchee or coming home.  And he would not know what what was what until Wednesday.
So we planned it.  Chad and Ky had gotten ahold of us last week.  They were passing through and hoping for a visit, but we were busy.  So I texted them and said we could see them on our trip up.  So that got mixed into the plan.
We left after work to break up the trip. Somehow a five hour drive became 7 and I know we did not hang at Chad's for two hours.  We did have a nice visit with him, Ky and Gaye.  They had gotten the littles a couple of new summer outfits.  What a lovely surprise and great appreciated.
Back on the road and we were doing the last pass in the dark.  The moon was mostly obscured by the clouds.  But as we came up over Blewett pass at the summit the clouds opened up and the full moon shone.  We stopped and just looked at it.  Funny how an elevation of 4100 feet make it look so much brighter and bigger.  It was gorgeous.  That alone was almost worth the trip.
Got into Wenatchee at 11 and got to the hotel.  Connor was already asleep.

A Question

So the secretary from the school Audrie will be attending called and left a message.  It seems she had a question about Audrie's registration.  I got the message on the weekend and decided I better return her call today.  I couldn't think of anything I missed on the registration paperwork.
So she informed me that Audrie was already in the system.  Ah.  That was from her speech therapy before she was three years-old.  Yes.  Well in the system Dave is listed as a contact and the secretary needed to know if he was to still be listed as a contact.....I hadn't listed him anywhere on the registration paperwork. No, I don't think we need to keep him listed as a contact.  She was a bit flustered when I commented about him dying last year.
I remember stuff like this from Dad.  I bet for twenty years every so often he would get a call or mail or something that just throws you.  So I'm sure it will be the same with Dave.
Light and love Dave, but I think you are too far away to be any help if Audrie has a problem in school and that is why I didn't list you.