8/7/17 day 28, I think. At an Oregon State Park Desi recommended, Sunset Beach,near Coos Bay, early morning with birds chirping and crows barking.
It is hard to believe that two weeks ago we arrived in Wa. One thing that stands out in my fettered brain is that being around the kids and brands makes me miss my brain. We had a week before the wedding so we were busy during the day making decorations, running errands and churning laundry. A trip to Costco for food and booze, a hunt for a leather soccer ball to replace the one Lucy got hold of and ripped which proved fruitless, so we settled on a gift card which allows Anders to buy what he wanted. Rob said they had about 12 leather balls between the two of them (I thought that was an exaggeration of their manlihood, myself).I helped with these things and recalled the days of never ending laundry for the four of us while working, but hardly imagined what laundry for 6 involved. Everyone had his or her own laundry basket to ease the sorting, but there was always random pieces I couldn't figger out. Nora's or Eva's, Chassies or Anders's, then there were the orphan socks! Rob took the helm with dinner prep each night and with various custody arrangements, Eva and Chas joined us first then Nora and Anders. The Hen House filled with the girls as I had sleep overs with them, watching movies then crashing. First it was Eva then both the girls. Sleeping with Nora proved a challenge despite saying she sleeps as a cocoon. NOT! Monday evening we went to Rob's soccer game after some more errands (haircut for Anders, ice cream for Nora and Jane, more books for Tony and a selection of dinner options at an organic, grocery/deli called something like PCB, but not. A good friend Syd joined us on Tuesday. She came from Milwaukee, Wi., and has a close relationship with Desi and her kids having lived with them for 9 months about 3 years ago. She was a huge help playing with the kids and keeping them busy.
On Thursday we left for Tacoma with Susan, Chris and their kids arriving around the same time from Royal Oak. Waze sent us in the wrong direction, but after switching to Google Maps, we arrived shortly after the rest of the crew. The Air Bnb Desi secured overlooked Lake Washington and the bridge that collapsed soon after being built in the 40s. The venue was down the hill and a short distance from the house. The house had an upper and lower level with separate entrances. The upper level was occupied the first night, but we managed quite well in the lower level until the next day when ALL the kids were relegated to the basement apartment with poor ole Syd. The house had a fifth wheel that was also rented the day we moved to the
entire house. It was well equipped, food was readily available up the road and Susan of course, found a Starbucks! We had a hot tub and an area the kids could play in which included basketball nets and trucks for Topher. The front yard was quite large with a hammock, patio table and chairs, and a chaise to loll in. Very nice.
Our fifth wheel friends were gracious and tolerant. They came from Fla. He is a "retired" and successful Investment dude. They have a 9 month old little girl.Mom
a remote teacher for home schoolers. They did not look like they were more than their mid 30s, traveling the summer in a Suburban.
On Friday, people arrived who were from Olympia along with their children. These were close friends of Desi's. I can't remember how many there were, but there were a lot. Desi and her girlfriends along with Susan hunkered down for a briefing of what needed to be done both as maids and with decorations. All the kids were hungry. Feeding them proved a challenge as we (Syd and I) did not expect them to arrive hungry. Cora questioned whether the tortillas, cheese, carrots, dip etc were "organic" announcing she only ate "organic". Our response was that her mother purchased the food, so if it was ok with her mom it should be ok for her to eat. They were very interested in the kid beverages we had for the wedding and had to keep them at bay from those. I lost my S--t and was sent to my room by Susan.
Desi's dad arranged a Taco truck to come and we had about 30 people from out of town join us for a gathering. The Taco truck had a wide range of offerings, a dude who took orders and a cook. Neither spoke much English, but all was well. The kids ordered whatever they wanted and did repeats as needed, as did the grown ups. My sister, Jill and her man friend (is that what you call them) came from Southport NC. They visited his son in Oregon and my niece in Seattle prior to coming and representing the Robson side of the family which I dearly appreciated. The food
8/7/17 day 28, I think. At an Oregon State Park Desi recommended, Sunset Beach,near Coos Bay, early morning with birds chirping and crows barking.
It is hard to believe that two weeks ago we arrived in Wa. One thing that stands out in my fettered brain is that being around the kids and brands makes me miss my brain. We had a week before the wedding so we were busy during the day making decorations, running errands and churning laundry. A trip to Costco for food and booze, a hunt for a leather soccer ball to replace the one Lucy got hold of and ripped which proved fruitless, so we settled on a gift card which allows Anders to buy what he wanted. Rob said they had about 12 leather balls between the two of them (I thought that was an exaggeration of their manlihood, myself).I helped with these things and recalled the days of never ending laundry for the four of us while working, but hardly imagined what laundry for 6 involved. Everyone had his or her own laundry basket to ease the sorting, but there was always random pieces I couldn't figger out. Nora's or Eva's, Chassies or Anders's, then there were the orphan socks! Rob took the helm with dinner prep each night and with various custody arrangements, Eva and Chas joined us first then Nora and Anders. The Hen House filled with the girls as I had sleep overs with them, watching movies then crashing. First it was Eva then both the girls. Sleeping with Nora proved a
challenge despite saying she sleeps as a cocoon. NOT! Monday evening we went to Rob's soccer game after some more errands (haircut for Anders, ice cream for Nora and Jane, more books for Tony and a selection of dinner options at an organic, grocery/deli called something like PCB, but not. A good friend Syd joined us on Tuesday. She came from Milwaukee, Wi., and has a close relationship with Desi and her kids having lived with them for 9 months about 3 years ago. She was a huge help playing with the kids and keeping them busy.
On Thursday we left for Tacoma with Susan, Chris and their kids arriving around the same time from Royal Oak. Waze sent us in the wrong direction, but after switching
to Google Maps, we arrived shortly after the rest of the crew. The Air Bnb Desi secured overlooked Lake Washington and the bridge that collapsed soon after being built in the 40s. The venue was down the hill and a short distance from the house. The house had an upper and lower level with separate entrances. The upper level was occupied the first night, but we managed quite well in the lower level until the next day when ALL the kids were relegated to the basement apartment with poor ole Syd. The house had a fifth wheel that was also rented the day we moved to the entire house. It was well equipped, food was readily available up the road and Susan of course, found a Starbucks! We had a hot tub and an area the kids could play in which included basketball nets and trucks for Topher. The front yard was quite large with a hammock, patio table and chairs, and a chaise to loll in. Very nice.
Our fifth wheel friends were gracious and tolerant. They came from Fla. He is a "retired" and successful Investment dude. They have a 9 month old little girl
was very good. We had a keg of beer, cider and Margaritas for the adults. There was some confusion (by the adults) who thought it was lemonade and accidentally mixed other booze with it. Stupid not to have labeled it, but no real foul. Our first wheel new BFFs joined in the fray and thank goodness the Vick's finally made it after hassles with air transport from Cali. So good to see them. Chris and Rob grew up together. He is married with a lovely wife Caryn and daughter Isla. They live in Whistler, he works for the Fair,into hotels and Caryn, a nurse is enjoying a years maternity leave with 60% of her salary for I believe 4 or 6 months!. They were is Ca. to see Chris's brothers' family, well timed for this event. Helen and Jim came from Chicago. Later in the evening, the boys adjourned for scotch and cigars out behind the fifth wheel, away from the non smokers. Cigars compliments of Alan, the fifth wheeler. Topher, of course was a hit with all the kids. He especially loves Anders often asking where he was and climbing all over him. At some point Topher changed Anders's name to Dominic (Chris's cousin) and so it became a joke.
The maids, sans Susan retired to the hotel for a night of female bondage, got up and commenced decorating and alternating hair and makeup. I was first in line for a wonderful cut and then shuffled off to help. Desi made a spread sheet, emailed and hard copy of times and who, when , where we were supposed to be. A true single parent and teacher, highly organized.Syd was in charge of the little ones. Desi's sister did their hair, Chris got them in the shower and somehow they all managed to converge at the venue dressed. The boys in bright yellow Converse shoes, grey shorts, pale yellow Oxford shirts and varietal bow ties. All threatened with their lives not to get sweaty and dirty. The little girls dressed with the moms and Desi escaped (by demand of the maids) and got Starbucks in her wedding dress! The little girls had dresses that they could wrap around in various configurations. None of them had anything but flat chests, but the attire suited and excited them. Cora and Eva in pink, Nora and her BFF, Natalie in yellow. Crowns of little white flowers and near heels that they minced around in, feeling very special and pretty.
The caterer's and I worked in an ill equipped and tiny kitchen to get fund and tables set p. Jill and Mike presented me with a Hen House themed jig saw puzzle and a pair of socks that saved my sore dogs as the night moved along. They said "I'm not bossy, I am the boss". And somehow, it all finished on time for the ceremony. Rob and I walked down together and then after what seemed like an interminable amount of time, Desi came down following the little girls tossing petals and the maids who stayed in the background with her 90 year old grandfather and father. The little girls sat in front on the floor. Desi looked like Marilyn Monroe in her vintage style gown, hair and hat with makeup to match. Rob and his soccer buddy Mike, the officiant looked on, Rob smiling proudly.
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