13/365

This is my homage to never having to find someone with jumper cables to jump start the minivan again!! A bought a new battery a week ago and my loving husband did his manly thing tonight and installed it.

I didn't realize the battery was dying until we went to the car one morning and it made a terrible sound, but didn't start. We turned off the interior lights and waited 5 minutes. Then it started up. Whew!! A week later, same thing. I let the kids sit in the car to watch the end of a movie and I barely got it started to get Miss R to school. Third time (you think I would have learned), a kid left an interior light on...all night...after waiting an hour, I still couldn't get it started. I called a friend to jumpstart the car. Now I'm panicing, but I'm not the brightest crayon in the box. 

I think I've charged the battery up by driving a lot over the next few days and leave the kids to watch a movie in the car while I get Miss M from her friends house (car was parked in the driveway). When I got in, the movie was still playing, but the car wouldn't start. My friend had jumper cables and I was at Costco the next morning to buy a new battery. Turns out they don't install it and I drive around with the new battery in my car for a week. 

Today, I did everything I could. I parked the car. I turned off the engine and pulled the key. I turned off all the interior lights. The kids and I sat at the pond to eat lunch. When I tried to start the car, it wouldn't. Again!! I left the headlights on. The sun came out and I forgot they were on. After swearing a bit and jumping around and berating my poor husband, I took his advice and called our roadside assistance. I found a plug at the preschool to charge up my almost dead cellphone and waited. Luckily, it was only 5 minutes and I was back on the road.

Good ending to the story, I worked out...twice...with my Wii Active to burn off some frustration. And, my darling husband installed the new battery. Hopefully, that was all that was really wrong with it. I'm looking for a piece of wood, now, to knock on.

Cama State Beach

Sunday we went for one of our "wanderings" as I will call them now. We usually have a general idea of where we are going, but half the fun is the journey and then the destination. This day, my brother calls and says, "let's go to that beach on Camano Island." So, we're off. It's about an hour North of us. We see the turnoff to Camano State Beach and a sign for Cama State Beach in 1/2 a mile. So, we go off course and go to Cama State Beach instead.

It is property converted from private ownership to state ownership 2 years ago. They have small cabins, deluxe cabins and 2 bungalows that can be rented any time of year. The great part is they are only $35 in the off season. It's a great little getaway spot. They have horseshoes, TONS of shells on the rocky beach and a few swings for the kids. In the summer, there is a wooden boat house that you can rent boats from to paddle out into Puget Sound.

Our little offbeat path led us to a new find and a great day walking the "beach" with the kids. We went around the corner to eat lunch on the beach at Camano State Beach to finish up our afternoon and then wandered back home.

12/365

I finally got contacts again!! Don't get me wrong, I like my glasses (even though I need to get them refitted) and I love my prescription sunglasses even more, but I LOVE being able to wear contacts. Especially the "night and day" brand. I can see when I wake up in the middle of the night. These one's are "violet". It's hard to tell though over my blue eyes, but I like the color. It's fun to change my eye color and my hair color.

11/365

Why feet? Well, Marc was running with Mackenzie and heard a "pop"...turns out he had a large bone spur that he broke while running. He was brave enough to go for a walk with us Sunday despite the pain. And the socks? We had a months worth sitting in a basket. Marc was kind enough to fold them all while watching TV.

10/365

My photo was taken at Cama Beach. My husband has become a true PNW (pacific northwesterner) by wearing shorts and boots in January just because it's 50 degrees.

9/365

This is my photo that represents the next 8 Saturdays. My oldest two, Miss M and Mr C are playing basketball in 2 different leagues. Pro: They are learning to be aggressive and quick. Con: Their next 6 games overlap in playing times by 15 minutes. We will be driving 2 cars to each of the games so that we can watch them both play!

8/365

I forgot to take my intended photo today. But this is an important item for me. A note has been passed around facebook to put the color bra you are wearing as your status for the day. For one, it confuses the men. For two, and more importantly: we are spreading hope and awareness for cancer, specifically breast cancer. Finding a cure is very near and dear to me.

My Mom died from Inflammatory Breast Cancer 5-1/2 years ago at the age of 54. Unlike regular breast cancer, IBC spreads very quickly and forms sheets of cancer cells. It is a rare form that few women know about, but all women should be aware of. The symptoms mimic mastitis. If I can educate even a few women in my life, I feel I am doing my share of saving a mother, sister, aunt, grandma, or daughter.

http://www.ibcresearch.org/ for more information.