Seattle

The girls and I have spent a lot of time in Seattle the last few weeks. On Sunday the first we got a phone call letting us know that my grandfather was in the hospital, and wasn't doing well. On Monday the girls and I went over to say good bye and be there to support my dad. My grandfather died on Thursday morning. That week we spent the mornings visiting with Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, and the afternoons we spent playing in Seattle. We went to IKEA, one of Catherine's favorite places. IKEA is so much fun because they have Catherine's favorite lunch, Meatballs, and they have a ball pit. So much fun for a kid. Then we went to the Science Center, another one of Catherine's favorite places. Catherine loves the section with the human body display. She loves learning about bones, senses, muscles, and such. Wednesday it was the Zoo. Here the hippos are our favorite. We didn't make it all the way around the zoo, we played in the African villiage and pretended we were visiting Africa just like Daddy did. Then Thursday morning Catherine woke up to the news that Grandpa Calkins had died. She was sad, she liked him a lot. She loved to play ball with him and sing to him. Mostly Catherine grieved for her G'pa's loss. She cried because G'pa would miss his daddy. Over all she handled the illness and death well. She told me all about how Grandpa Calkins was with God now, and that we would get to see him again someday. Elizabeth was her happy self. Because she is too young to understand what was going on, she was her normal self. She laughed, played and gave us all hugs and kisses. She brought us all joy in the midst of our greif. Her laughter, and baby talk was just what I needed to remember that Grandpa's legacy continues through the next generation. Although the week was long and emotionally dificult it was great to spend time with my Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins and dad.

Birthday's

Catherine had a great birthday weekend. We began the weekend with Catherine's birthday. We didn't have a big party on Friday because we went to Matthew's party instead. Matthew is the son of our good friends, and he shares a birthday with Catherine. Catherine loves Matthew very much and would love to spend every hour of every day with him. She often tries to convince Paul and I that she could go and live with Matthew and his mom and dad. She tells us she is going to marry Matthew and they will live with Matthew's parents. Unfortunately for Catherine Matthew doesn't feel the same way. He loves her a lot, but he is OK when she isn't around. He moved away over two years ago; he seems to have made the break well, but Catherine still cries herself to sleep occasionally over the move. She often asks if things could go back to the way they were, when she and Matthew both lived in Pullman. When something reminds her of Matthew, Catherine will break in to tears and become inconsolable. It is sweet that she can love this strongly, but I wish she could also learn to let those she loves grow, change and spend time away from her. Catherine had a great time at Matthew's party. There were some tears when Matthew wanted to play with other friends, but Catherine was reminded that she has a sister she can play with, and she eventually recovered.

Saturday was another birthday party. This time for a little boy in her preschool class. G'ma and G'pa also came up on Saturday. Naomi's Great Uncle Charles also got married on Saturday, so Grandma Calkins came over to Spokane for the wedding. Catherine didn't get a chance to see Grandma Calkins, and that was a little disappointing, but over all Catherine had a great day. We took her to Chucky Cheese for a family party on Saturday night.

Then on Sunday we had her birthday party and invited her friends. She had a lot of fun getting the house ready for her party. Due to many conflicts and some illnesses only two of her friends were able to come to the party. Catherine didn't care at all. She was just happy to share her birthday with some friends.