 |
| Jack, Brooklyn & Bradley Sutton |
Just returned from Seattle, Redmond to be exact, helping Melissa with new baby and enjoying her family. I arrived Wednesday afternoon, after arriving home from Utah the prior Sunday. I only had two days to unpack and repack, take care of usual business plus two evening commitments. Paul Cox was visiting San Francisco to speak at conference, so graciously agreed to do presentation about his research on neuro-degenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer. I hosted in our home despite your dad still out of town in Idaho fishing with his dad. It was very informative and exciting possibilities as his lab enters into human II trials on one drug plus breakthroughs on two others. Marlene and John Jex were co-hosts with about thirty in attendance.
 |
| Cache gets on bus. |
 |
| Jack home from Kindergarten |
Tuesday evening was the regular Orinda City Council meeting. Nothing of import on the agenda, but the "ban leaf blowers" advocates were back after being rejected last year. Apparently national news must be in lull as the Orinda leaf blower issue made the New Yorker magazine coverage last year, now a Sunday morning national talk show. Not much sympathy for the cause from this household, as my public encouragement for good neighbor considerations, tolerance and personal responsibility to avoid blowers, was met with publicly calling me "Marie Antoinette." So much for civility.
Baby Liam Levis Sutton arrived right on cue Thursday morning, September 22; his due date, avoiding big brother Bradley's 8th birthday the following day, and only hours after my arrival. Fortunately I had connected with Melissa on school bus times, lunches, ball games, etc. As I urged Bradley and Jack there were only ten minutes left before school bus arrival, Jack responded that was 600 seconds. I inquired how he knew that and he nonchalantly explained that five minutes was 300 seconds, so of course, ten minutes was 600 seconds. Duh...grandma.
 |
| Jack, Brooklyn, Jack, Melissa, JD welcomes Liam |
 |
| Snoqualamie Falls |
Brooklyn and I had great potty training moments, making good progress despite some set backs. The prize basket was a big hit, especially the "special twin baby dolls." We enjoyed the walks around the neighborhood and down to the river. Jack helped me pick blackberries one afternoon, then bake a blackberry cobbler for family home evening dessert. We managed to fit in various shopping trips. On our way home from the outlets, we stopped to view the Snoqualamie Falls; much larger than Burney Falls, much smaller than Niagara Falls. I somehow managed without any TV, but the new bed/mattress on floor more than made up for it. Looking forward to returning end of the month for Bradley baptism and Liam blessing.
