Traveling In Makati

This is my first Jeepney - originally Jeepneys were converted from old American World War II Jeeps left behind. They are a main form of transportation here. Just hop on the open back and pay the conductor inside your coins - 7.50 Piso minimum. It was actually quite effective. They have routes printed on the front.

My first delicious breakfast in Makati

It wasn't so strange to sleep all day yesterday- I was exhausted. There was an amazing thunderstorm that seemed to shake the building. I've never heard such a boom - never such loud thunder as this. It was very cool. It was strange, however, to wake up when it was dark and go to work. Carla is my travel companion :) She's the supervisor here in Makati. She took me to this great Teriyaki restaurant. It was delicious.

The Awesome CSG Call Center in Makati!

My first view of this great team yesterday!

Made it to Japan

Leaving the Pacific Northwest...

Seeing Japan for the first time in my life was pretty neat. On the northernmost point as we were flying in I could spot windmills all up and down the coast. I love windmills. I must have been exhausted because at first I thought the whitecaps on the waves were seagulls/white birds that kept diving into the water... that was why they were disappearing. Ya... I got to see a Japanese Golf Course, Japanese Target, really neat to fly in on a clear sunny day. Again, I must have been exhausted - once I was through security and walking to my gate I saw a neat display of folded paper and thought wow - this reminds me of The Paper Store in Bellevue - it's amazing the neat things that can be made from paper folding. Then about 3 minutes later read the sign and remembered the Oragami that is famous in Japan.
I slept in the airport so I'd have my brains back by the time I got to work in Makati. :)




Our flight took us over the Alaskan Aleutian Islands - beneath the clouds - hard to see in pictures.

The Pacific Northwest is so gorgeous - I've always loved Mt. Baker. I could see it out my window working in Everett... loved viewing it when I lived in Bellingham.... and from a high peak seeing from Mt. Rainier to Mt. Baker... there are not many things that are more lovely.

My Big Boy!

He looks so old! he wanted a blue haircut: Heather at Regis in Woodinville - she is the best! :)

Gavin's Gavinism Today

Mom - I'm (happy) you pick me up. We need Safeway and we need Costco (pronounced kah-ko). We need yogurt. We need strawberry yogurt and we need muffins. We need chocolate muffins at Costco and we need yogurt - the strawberry kind. And we need bananas but we need bananas at Safeway. Three things, Mom. Because I'm three chocolate muffins at costco and at Safeway we need yogurt and bananas. and that's all.

Yes, this was the first thing out of his mouth when we left preschool. That is pretty much word for word how it went down. As I'm nodding and sighing and cracking up.

Thankfully, he settled on going home and playing stickers on the kitchen floor while I did dishes from Monday and made spaghetti. I forgot how hard it is to keep up with housework when working so much.

What movie have we been watching?

Let's see, hints:
Gavin took a broom out to the playground and somehow climbed himself and the broom up - then jumped off. I got to run the the playground to his wails. Thankfully, just some bruises and cuts -nothing broken.
Gavin asks lots of questions all the time - yesterday asked, "Mom, is potion healthy?"

You guessed it - Harry Potter! We learned that Harry Potter can fly but Gavin Gardner cannot - and potion can be healthy or bad depending on how it's mixed. mmm hmmm. (SIGH) :)

And more pics

Franklin Falls More Pics

Franklin Falls Hike

My sister, Rebecca, came to visit with her husband and 4 kids for my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Momma! We spent Saturday out in the mountains and hiked to Franklin Falls. Ok, maybe it was more of a walk to the falls, but it was beautiful and the falls were great.

MMMM and ZZZZZZZ

More Camping Pics

Camping at lake Crescent

After we got back from Spokane - as in the very next morning - we went camping with my friend Jen and her kids Tyler and Rebecca. I was pretty impressed overall with how good the kids got along, how great the campsite and food was, and of course how STUNNING the lake is. We scored a campsite on the lake, rowed in a boat around the lake, and spent lots of time throwing rocks :) The water was so beautiful. We went swimming and played with Jen's puppy. It was a blast.

More Spokane Pics

Spokane Pictures

During my hiatus from work.... we spent a few days in Spokane visiting my dad "Grandpa Bill." The drive was nice. I love warm summer clouds. When we left Seattle grey and rainy it was awesome to drive to sunshine. Gavin got to ride his bike - then Grandpa fixed it - so he could ride more... We played at the park on the toys and frisbee. We ate good food, painted a blue snake, and spent some quality time with Grandpa Bill. Love you, Dad!

Updates

Well, I have pictures to load... but a few stories to share first. Gavin and I have enjoyed 3 weeks of together time. We spent time with my sister and her kids in Oregon, Seaside OR Beach, my dad "Grandpa Bill" in Spokane, and went camping by Lake Crescent. A few favorite stories:

Driving back from Spokane we stopped at Subway and then were getting back into the truck. Gavin was mesmorized by the two men getting on their motorcycles. "Get in the truck, Gavin." "Get IN, Gavin." "GAVIN GET IN THE TRUCK." I repeated several times. Gavin turned to me and said "Easy now Mom, Easy now." I had to laugh - hysterically. We watched the motorcycle guys drive off then he could get in the truck.

Yesterday I told Gavin to make sure his lights were off in his bathroom and his bedroom. He said, "Ya mom because then I'll have more energy." This cracks me up because I know that I've mentioned we need to save energy... apparently I have a little more teaching to do.

We have a thing we do to keep Gavin in bed - if he gets out after his last hug and kiss he gets a spanking and I throw away a toy. Last night he was understandably excited about his first day at school today. He had trouble staying in bed. As I spanked him and picked out a toy to throw away he started in hysterics "That's a toy Grandpa BILL gave me!" I felt horrible - (I try to pick out something that is either broken or he doesn't play with) I had to give him one more chance - he keeps the bug by his pillow if he gets out again he loses it. And he stayed in bed. We very rarely have going to bed issues. I was really glad that I didn't have to throw away his toy from Grandpa Bill. Not sure why I was so amused by that - but I was very amused.

Yesterday we were driving around and talking about things he would learn at school. Gavin said "Mom, two words start with E - Ethan and Elephant." He cracks me up.

Anyways - I've enjoyed being a stay at home - vacationing - mom. But grateful and excited to get back to work and thrilled about Gavin's new school.