Brett is 45

You know you’re old when your kids are middle-aged. We will have a traditional back yard party with a twist on the gifts. Now his sons buy him things they want so they can all play together. I promised a cuckoo clock from Switzerland and I got it here by mail. We had one from Uncle Almer when Brett and Cyd were small so I guess he’s into some nostalgia.

We had lots of together time in Santa Barbara and initially I was bummed because Cyd and Dave weren’t coming with us. During our visit I decided it was best they didn’t come along. California is very different from Seattle suburbs with their homeless folks in the parks and the prominent ethnicities everywhere. We did have a great time sightseeing and doing the museums and cultural centers. We’ll be ready for a trip to Chicago one year soon as we’ll have the best tour guide there. Really the boys loved the beach and jumping the waves. We spent several hours there each day.

We arrived home on a late plane at 1:00 a.m. Miles has never been awake at that time of night so he was having difficulty walking to our car. He kept saying the worse words he could think of-stupid and shut up-over and over. His preschool never let the students say the first word and I said the last two words I never let my kids use so he put them together and tried his best to irritant us. Ignoring worked while we walked to the car but I decided I may need to teach him some better bad words for times when he needs them. I suppose he will learn them soon enough on his own.

Here we are at the Montecito Country Club. You just have to know the right people. Where was Linda when I needed my picture taken?


Barb, Rachel, Ryan and Collin stayed a few nights at my house but, of course, I wasn’t there. I hope next time we plan a little better.

Saturday is a little big bike ride for three hours. Sunday I have visitors with Cyd’s family and her neighbors with three little girls. I can use some girls around here. I believe the boys will behave better. I know they show-off more.

Are you planning a big party for September 13th?