Go Mariners!!

My husband and his dad have gone to the Mariner's Fan Appreciation night since he was a small child. When I became Gregg's "Special Friend" (what Dennis Gregg's dad use to call me before we were married) I got to go to the games as well. As the girls have gotten older they have also been able to be part of the tradition. Last Friday we went with Dennis and Sayra to fan appreciation night. Here are a few pictures of that experience.

We did have a few balls come our way that night. Good thing Daddy brought his glove.

Going to Rehab

For those of you who are close to me you know that my brother, Eric, has struggled since he was 15 with drugs. This past January I received the dreaded call that he was in intensive care from a drug overdose. The next few days my dad, Christine, and I took turns sitting at his bed side. We prayed, we read, we waited. He became well enough to be transferred to a detox unit across town. After two weeks he CHOSE to go to a thirty day program in Wenatchee, after thirty days he then CHOSE to go to the Salvation Army Adult rehab in Seattle for a six month program. After all these years it is the first time he has really stated that he could not do this on his own. Well last Wed the girls and I took a bus (with my dad and his friends) down to Seattle to see him graduate. He has been eight months clean. He was the only one who completed his entire program and did it well. He became the head guy there. We are so proud of him. Please pray that he will continue on his journey and find the support and help he needs to stay clean. Here are a few pictures of the events of the night.

Emma's First Day of Preschool

Emma has been waiting for this day for two years! She has circle time by herself, reads to her "friends", and tries to sneak into class with Madison. Emma loves her teacher "Teacher Kodi". Emma had to wear her new "preschool kitty" shirt on her first day. (Although it was suppose to be 84 degrees she had to wear that long sleeved shirt.) Daddy took Emma to get a chocolate donut BEFORE school. Only a dad could get away with this. This is the picture I get on my phone...I was a really worried but she made it without chocolate on her kitty shirt. This was the sign we met when we got to school. It was too cute.

Saturday at the market.....

We started out our Saturday morning at Mc Donalds. A rare occasions since Gregg and I are not fans. The girls love the pancakes and playing on the (germ infested) play equipment. So away we went. We then stopped off at Barnes Nobles bookstore to look at books and listen to Story Time. We discovered a Bernstein Bears book we did not have and were so excited to get it. The girls love these books especially since Daddy read them when he was little, and most of the books we have are his. We then headed to the Saturday Farmers Market for some fruits and veggies. Emma discovered the blueberries and was in heaven. She also was excited about the gourds and their different shapes. One of the vendors gave Emma a duck shaped potato. (By the way Emma loves rubber ducks, so she was even more excited). We bought some corn and apples. The girls tried out some hullahoops. We then headed out to Fairhaven. They were having a big outdoor concert so we were able to eat our lunch to live Jazz.

2nd Day of School.

So cute. Love her.

Gertrude Emily Rees (Obituary)

Today our beautiful Mother, Grandmother, and Great- Grandmother passed away. Her courageous fight against the evil cancer finally ended. On August, 24th 2008 Gertrud "Trudy" Emily Rees passed peacefully, her traditions honored, with her children and grandchildren holding her hands. Reading to her from the Kabbalah, the Tanakah, and her favorite chapters from the Bible, her loving family witnessed her passing as Trudy met with God and was reunited with her son Patrick "Pepper" John. Trudy was born Gertrud Emily Horlacher on January 14, 1935 in Heilbronn, Germany. Raised in the culture of a traditional Jewish farming family, she survived the persecution and trials of the holocaust when her village was bombed and occupied by the Nazi government during WW II. Trudy completed her formal education in Heilbronn representing her school as medallist high diver and attended post secondary school as an apprentice bookbinder. As the occupation of the Americans progressed and the ravages of the war ended, she met and married Charles Eugene Rees and immigrated to the territory of Alaska to live with his family. Trudy adapted to the remote and harsh culture of Ketchikan with the same tenacity and self-accountability that the territory required from its natives. She began raising her growing family on the Tongass Narrows, learning to speak English by reading food labels, and soon became an active and loved member of the small community. Trudy then moved with her family to San Francisco and Concord, California, Eugene, Oregon and Kent, Washington before settling in the Skagit Valley in 1978. Trudy raised 9 children and 1 foster daughter, with discipline and integrity. Trudy worked for many years as a propagator for Skagit Gardens, and delighted in promoting the growth and appreciation of beauty. Trudy was an active volunteer in her community, serving the Women's Prison in Curlew through the Jaycee organization, children with cancer through the Linus blanket program, and providing meals for members of the Moose Lodge. She loved her family and her faith above everything else. Trudy was mentor and friend to every one of her children, 25 grandchildren and their spouses, and proud to have been an influence in the lives of her 23 great-grandchildren. Trudy will be remembered for her endearing German accent, her great German cooking, her love and knowledge of the Bible and the Torah and love of history, her ability to knit or crochet anything you could imagine, and most especially the way she touched each and every person who was fortunate enough to have known her. We are all better for having loved and been loved by her. She will never be gone from our lives. Trudy is survived by her sister, Rose Longwell and family; brothers, Karl and Peter; her loving children, Joyce (Bob), Chuck, Tim (Katie), Tony (Leona), Raymond (John), Thomas (Shirley), Willy (Kelly), Celeste (Jay), foster daughter, Marci (Bob); numerous relatives and "children" that have been, and continue to be, a part of her family. She also leaves behind a well-loved and cherished group of friends. Trudy was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Emily Horlacher; her son, Patrick John; and her grandson, Christopher Michael. Trudy was a woman who did not compromise the values and principles that guided her life. She expected her family to live lives that represented and honored their heritage and did not accept anything less. She gave to us a traditional and lasting influence that will guide us all for the rest of our lives. Special appreciation to the staff and physicians of the Cancer Care Center, Skagit Hospice and Rabbi Levi Backman. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to the American Cancer Society or Children's Orthopedic Hospital. A memorial service will be planned for a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Affordable Burial & Cremation Services, LLC of Mount Vernon, Washington. Cards of condolence may be sent to the family in c/o the funeral home.

My Baby is in FIRST GRADE!!

So Gregg and I dropped our little Madison off at school. First Grade to be exact. She is attending St. Paul's Academy. Uniforms are required dress. She was very excited to make friends and get on with school. When I picked her up she told me she had three play times outside, made a friend, and sang songs. She was also excited to eat her banana for a snack and kept telling me how healthy it is for you. I just have to thank God at this point because we fought that G-Tube for four years and to hear that child excited about food is a miracle. What more could you ask! I did however open up her backpack and found that I have some homework to do tonight :(. They are learning the 7 Habits in the 1st grade!

The last days with Oma.....

The past two weeks have been busy and eventfull. I spent last weekend with my cousins, aunts, and uncles surrounding Grandmother Gerturde (Oma) with love and care as she passed on. She was a Holicost survivor and a strong German/Jewish women. We met with a Rabbi and attempted to ensure that the Jewish traditions were upheld. We took part in the hand washing ceremony, clothed her properly and read to her from the Torah. She also love the book of Ruth, James, and Hebrews. We all took turns reading to her through four days. We camped out on the floor and bonded telling stories, laughing, crying, and caring for her. We had a family BBQ and a Family Celebration of Life.