Our latest project...

Tom and I just finished it last weekend.

Isn't she a beaut?!

Winni-poo's Special Day!

Yesterday was Winston's !!!9th!!! Birthday - Yikes!

He wanted a 'Titanic' shaped cake, so I gave it my best effort.

Here's what he got...

 He seemed to be pretty happy with it.

 He must have lots of girlfriends because

he took lots of little puffs to blow out those candles!

One of his birthday present requests -

a journal of his very own.

Another request - a stuffed frog

(He is the toady-boy).

I don't think he was quite sure about this one

(love his face in this picture - like 'You got me a truck???')

I'm not sure what he was expecting here.

Brother Preston gave him a Star Trek book.

That put the smile back on his face!

Look Grandpa Chick - I got a 3-wheeler before you did!

Winston and his Pops enjoying cake and ice cream.

After such a great birthday, he got to start school today - boo.  Actually, he was pretty excited to go to school this morning.  We had a really good morning send-off for Keaton and him.  I can attest that one of the best things about being unemployed is getting to relax and have breakfast with my kids instead of going crazy to get them and myself ready to go.

  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

HOT, HOT, HOT

Yesterday the thermometer here at home was at 95 degrees!  That's hot for here!  We were glad when a thunderstorm came through last night.  It cooled everything down.  Today is 73 so far - we're comfortable again.

Oh, and the sky turned orange.

Dyddiau Llawen!

Look who moved in yesterday...

It's Gruffud and Heulog!

They are Welsh Gnomes.  They've decided that our place would make a good home, so they magically appeared on my kitchen table.  I think they're adorable.  The boys think they're kinda creepy.  When I see them sitting on my window sill they put a smile on my face.

Oh, and I believe Dyddiau Llawen in welsh means 'Joyful Day'.  The sun is shining and all my boys are home today - so it will be a joyful day!

It's not all about me, you know.

Actually, this post is all about me.

I wonder if there is such a condition as Paranoia Nervosa.  Yeah, I made that up, but I think it must be a real condition - just under a different name - and I think I suffer from it.  Go ahead, you can roll your eyes if you want to. 

I went to the school registration yesterday.  The whole time, as I saw people I worked with last year there and neighbors and acquaintances, I was shaking in my boots so to speak.  I actually broke out in a cold sweat.  They would ask me questions or try to carry on a conversation with me, and I would find myself thinking 'Why is this person asking me that?'  or 'What is their alterior motive for that comment?'  And then all I could think about was 'I gotta get out of here.'  That wasn't the first time that's happened to me. 

I often feel like people are talking about me when I spy them speaking in low tones with each other.  Even people I don't know, and who do not know me in any way, and surely would have no reason to be talking about me.  Or I think there's this big conspiracy where everyone thinks I'm a weirdo and nobody really wants to have anything to do with me.  Then all I want to do is shut myself up in my house and not have to deal with anyone other than my immediate family - and sometimes not even them.  I find myself beating-myself-up mentally over things I've said in social situations - or things I should have said.  Or I think of all the times I clam up - can't possibly think of anything to say to anyone - Or start talking nervously about mundane things that don't even make sense to the conversation.

Tom tells me "It's not all about you, you're thinking something that just isn't there. People don't have time to be thinking about you all the time."   I remember my father also saying that to me years before.  So I've been this way for some time.  Am I so self-involved that I think everyone is paying attention to me all the time - and everyone is out to get me?  Or do I have a chemical imbalance in my brain?  Or am I just normal and everyone feels that way from time to time?

I have no answers - and I'm not looking for sympathy.  Just airing some things out, maybe seeing if anyone has any ideas.  I worry that I could cripple myself socially and emotionally if it keeps up.  If you do happen to notice me being a little 'unsocial' from time to time - and I'm all shut up like a hermit in a hole - just know it's my condition having a condition.  If you've noticed it before, well, now you have an explaination as to my 'quiet' or 'extremely talkative' behavior.  I'm just nervous.  It's not you, it's me.

p.s.  now I'll be paranoid about posting this!

Beautiful Summer

As summer rolls into harvest time, then into autumn, here are a few pictures of what we are enjoying before summer comes to an end...

And a little boy, soaking it all up.

His summer is about to come to an end really soon.

Feeling at Home in a Beach House...

The Beach House

These are the last of my coast vacation pictures.  Enjoy...

Dad, in the living room watching the ocean from the window.

Gathered together for a family dinner.

Erik, Jill and Grandma sharing the confines of the galley kitchen.

Ali and Emily - precious!

Harley and Hank in their special doggy place.

The kids enjoying the hot tub with a sunset background.

Tom and I at the Newport warf.

This is Winston's first attempt at using the camera!

Winston, overlooking Depot Bay.

The sea lions at the Newport Warf.

What a wonderful trip!

HIIIIIYAHHHH-CHOP!

I could really use John Belushi's samauri sword about now.

This zucchini is dang tough.

All Aboard!!!

The next boat is here...

Fun on the beach!

The little guy waving is Grandpa Larson.

This plane was flying so low, we thought he was going

to knock Grandpa right over!

Erik, dogs and kids, getting ready to play in the waves.

Emily, Winston and Harley (or is it Hank?)

Ali, gingerly checking out the water.

Mom, Grandma and Dad,

reading, phoning and enjoying the coastal atmosphere.

Look out!

Dad's loaded his camera and is looking for something to shoot!

Grandpa Larson and I.

Jill and Ali.

The Great Canal Construction Project - object is to get water to the castle moat.  This was Tom and Erik's BIG project that took several hours, but provided much entertainment.

Aha!  We have water!

Fine-tuning the irrigation system.

These sandcastles and moats take a lot out of a guy, (whew).

Missing Children...

The boys, mocking their father.

It's so strange... Preston and Keaton loaded up with four other of their 18- and 19-year-old friends and drove off last night.  They were headed up to Farragut State Park to go camping and visit Silverwood.  The house feels a little bit more lonely since they came into their 'adult-hood'.  It's just strange not having them around all the time anymore.  Then when they are home, Tom and I are soaking up as much as we can from them, knowing that things are changing so fast for them.  I have to say, our kids are our best friends.  We sure miss them when they're gone.

Get ready for a boat-load of pictures...

On our first day at the coast we got there a few hours before we could check in at the rental house, so we went to our favorite beach at Roads End in Lincoln City.  We spent about 3 hours there playing in the sand, soaking up some rays and playing with the sealife.

Winston was REALLY fascinated with the starfish this trip.  Later at the beach house he confiscated a 'deceised' starfish that Erik's dogs found.  He named it Peter.  He was hoping to bring it home with him, but his father convinced him that Peter should stay at the ocean.

  

Winston and I had fun gathering supplies of driftwood, stones, sticks and shells for building a little fairy beach cottage.

Winston adds some 'trees' for the final touches.

Tom napping.

Giving that white belly a chance to get some sun.

Tom dug a massive hole,

then proceeded to bury his youngest-born.

Look Mom!  No Legs!

At Cape Lookout, they have the cutest little gift shop there.  The water was really turquoise blue that day, but you can't tell by the picture.  We had perfect weather every day at the coast, although the last day was a bit colder than the rest.

Erik, down at the beach walking Harley and Hank.

A muddy Emily.

A sandy Winston and Ali.

Soaking up the sunset.

Hang on, another boat-load will be along soon!