AHHHH! THE JOY OF SUMMER!

I love summer. I love being outdoors. I love the 4th of July. This year, I deceided to find a parade, something the West family have always done on the 4th but not since the 6 years we've been in Seattle. Edmonds City has a parade, so Jeff, Jill, Clara, Emmett, Gigi, Gramma (me) and papa (Layne) piled into a car and went to the parade. Grampa & I walked away and had breakfast and then we watched a great little hometown parade. So much candy being thrown to the kids, free plastic beach balls, bubbles and so much more. Fun! See pic's. Gramma got the privlege of getting off work early on Wednesday, July 9th and picked up Clara & Emmett at day care. Jill was swamped at work and Jeff was traveling in CA for work. I arrived at daycare and went to pick up Clara first. She was just coming in from running through the sprinklers and they were having their afternoon treat. I told her I would sit beside her. Another cute little blond girl said, "Hi, Clara's gramma!" Clara quickly held her hand up and told the little girl, THIS IS MY GRAMMA! As the next few minutes went on, I felt so wanted because the little girl wanted to show off for me and Clara wasn't having it. She didn't want to share her gramma. Emmett's face went into enormous smile mode when he saw gramma and he nearly ran me down to hug me. We went home and the kids played in Gramma's fancy swimming pool. (A molded plastic one). They thought it was so fun to splash Gramma and actually it was so much fun. We all had dinner when papa got home and it was overall one of the nicest days ever!

Seven Food to Keep You Young

MSN say;s that 1) yogurt 2)salmon 3)olive oil 4)nuts 5) dark chocolate 6) wine 7)blueberries are foods that will keep you young. Considering the list above, I figure I should be about 30 years old. The only thing keeping me from jumping back to my teens is the wine. Hmmmm. On the other hand La (Layne) should be about 32. He doesn't eat blueberries, salmon, yogurt only occasionaly, no wine, a little chocolate and tons of nuts!



I think we both better evaluate our diets. Should you? Comments are welcome.

Fathers Day, Sunday June 15, 2008

We had a very nice Sunday on Fathers Day. We attended our church meetings, the Dad's were given a huge chocolate chip cookie wrapped & ribboned. Then we picked up Mom and went to the Ballard Locks where they had a bag pipe concert. It was wonderful! Bag Pipes are one of my favorite things because it is reminiscient of my high school days (we had bag pipes and I was in the tartan drill team where we preformed the highland fling). We so enjoyed the concert. Then all of us loaded into Jeff & Jills car and went to the University Village, where Emmett and Clara played in the water fountains and had such a great time. Their little chins were just shaking from being cold, but they didn't want to stop.

Days like Sunday where the weather was so warm and we were with those we loved make all the other not so good days just fade away!

ANOTHER CLEVER EMAIL FROM LAYNE TO HIS CO WORKERS

Okay, so here’s the deal. I’m tired of looking like Clint Eastwood and prefer to go back to my Leonardo DiCaprio days. So you people need to nominate me for an extreme makeover to include some major face work. It’s just embarrassing to go out to eat and have the waitress lady automatically give me the “senior discount” without even asking for it. I guess I could try and pull everything up and super glue it in place but I don’t think I could blink if my eyes were glued open. I also need someone to donate a large bunch of hair so I can get a weave or rug or something to cover up the empty spots on the old noggin. Anyway, get together and write up some cheesy document that will insure I get the face makeover thing. Do it now before the skin gets anymore loose and just sags to the floor. I love you guys-buddies for life, or at least till I get a new face.
Oh yeah, throw in some cash so I can get a good down payment on that fancy red sports car that keeps tugging at me to buy, buy, buy. I need some new clothes too, so see what you can do about that. You people are generous to a fault. Thanks again, cough up the cash.
Get a committee together and get going on the makeover. I will put Kelly in charge so work it out with her. All donations should come directly to me, cash only I don’t take checks. In the event I do not win the makeover, I will certainly return whatever cash is left over.

Layne

Layne West
Parking Services
206-529-8993 direct
206-729-0590 main
800-828-4197 toll free
206-729-0990 fax

My One & Only Nephew

Recently, I (Lorraine) went to my niece Tracy's wedding in Southern California. This was preceded by my niece, Jenny's wedding in Southern California as well. I have 4 wonderful nieces, Jenny, Tracy, Lauren and Courtney, whom I love dearly.

Out there by himself, is my one and only nephew, Justin! Saying Justin's name just puts a smile on my face. He is one totally awesome nephew. When he was little, I would bribe him with candy, to say that he loved his Aunt Lorraine more than anyone. He would always take the bait, despite my brother's indignation over that whole exercise. Now that he is "16", I think he would see through the whole candy bribe. Whenever I get the chance to see Justin, he gives me a hard time and I give it back, but this nephew of mine is very special to me. He doesn't shy away from his goofy aunt as other guys his age would do. So, Justin, here's to you from your favorite aunt (?). Keep being the great person you are and you will go far in the world. Until next time, make a goofy face for me. Love, from your Aunt Lorraine

BEACH GIRLS GONE WILD!!

So last weekend, my 3 friends and I had our twice yearly beach outing to Pacific Beach. Sue, Linda and Virigina and I leave at noon on Friday and stay until Sunday. There is alot of irreverant talk, laughter and all manner of ill behavior (still tame :( by most standards). Anyway, the girls get wild by going into Aberdeen and shopping at WalMart (we don't have one near us). We separate and tell everyone to meet at the McDonalds in the store when done and then we go and see how much damage we can do. Usually, Linda & Virginia win but this year Linda and I won the contest. Virgina wasn't on her game. Then we had lunch at Duffy's....yahoo! We had a favorite gift shop we usually stopped at but unfortunately it closed. Then we go to our favorite clothing store but alas, they were closing too (not much good about the economy in Aberdeen), so everything was at a discount! Virginia & I made out like bandits. Its alot of fun to be with my friends and act like we are 20 again.

LA & LO- IT IS WHAT IT IS!