I finally uploaded some pictures off of my camera. When I was in Seattle earlier this month, a friend drove me to Snoqualmie Falls. All of grainy look in this photo is actually mist. The look-out gazebo that hangs over the cliff and gives you a better view of the falls was being inundated with mist so bad that I didn't want to risk damaging my camera (you really got wet standing there).

There is a resort that sits right next to the top of the falls - I bet it is a nice place to stay with an amazing view (and probably and amazing price too).

We are thinking about karate or tae kwan do for Zachary. He really needs something to help boost his confidence, and I think the discipline would be good for him. There is a one week karate camp - that cost about as much as a month (maybe even two) of karate lessons. Chris was considering the camp, but I wonder how much of the day is spent on karate - is it really intense - making the total number of karate hours equal to a month of lessons (making the cost worth it). I doubt it.

I'm really excited today. Today I made the hotel, airline, and park ticket reservations for a little trip to Disney. I am actually going there for a conference with work. My hotel/food/airline is paid for. The perfect time to take the kids along, stay an extra day, and take the kids to their first Disneyworld trip. One of the work days is only 1/2 a day, so it really works out well. My sister is going to come with us (Chris can't go - it is during the semester and he has to teach). She will stay with the kids and take them to the parks while I'm working. I'm really looking forward to it. This has been a possibility that I've known about for about a month, but today I solidified the plans and made reservations. We got great airline rates ($181 round trip, non-stop flights). The kids don't know yet. I'm trying to decide if I should use it as a carrot and tell them now - though I can't get my money back, so even if they DON'T behave, we are going (and I HATE idle threats), or if I wait. But I'm so excited I don't know if I can hold it in. It is only 2-1/2 months away, but that can be an eternity to a 6 or 7 year old. I don't know if I'm ready for the "how much longer till Disneyworld?" questions. Philip's been doing the "how much longer till my birthday" thing since May - and his birthday isn't until August.

Still no word from the insurance company. I'm going to have Chris call the adjuster tomorrow to see if he has the report from the engineer, and to see what our status is. Word on the street (ok, in the news/on the radio/etc) is that the insurance companies are dragging their feet as long as they can. There is an August 29 deadline to settle claims (1 year anniversary of the storm). And what I've heard is that they don't have to pay if it isn't settled by the deadline. What I find VERY hard to believe is that if you are in a dispute, they can just ignore you, not return your calls, and not give a judgement on your claim - just holding out for the deadline so the whole thing is just dropped. That doesn't seem like it can be completely true. Otherwise, no insurance company would pay any claim, and just wait it out until the deadline has passed. I'm still hopeful that everything will work out, and Chris assumes we will be denied and stuck with a sinking house that had no signs of sinking prior to the storm. So typical ... I'm always very optimistic, and he is ever the pessimist.

I found a new Vietnamese Noodle place that opened not too far from my office. Picked up dinner last night (instead of cooking). I was hoping to avoid cooking tonight too, but the kids weren't crazy about the dinner. Actually, Zachary just wasn't feeling well and did not feel like eating, and Philip refused to try anything I put on his plate. He ate 2 shrimp, several bites of plain white rice, and left the rest. Of course at bedtime he claimed he was hungry. I told him his plate was still waiting for him at the table (truthfully, it had been sitting out long enough and had seafood in it - that I wouldn't allow him to eat that - but I would make him another plate of the same thing). His dad gave him 1/2 a banana (I wouldn't have done that), and he went to bed, still somewhat hungry. I'm not a short-order cook, and you eat what the familly eats. But, I need to make sure that I make things I know he will eat interchanged in there with giving him new foods to try. I know he will "eat when he is hungry", but I'm not trying to tortute the kid. I just want him to get over this "I don't like anything but junk" attitude. He hasn't been allowed junk at all recently, I'm hoping that helps.

It's still hot out there. I'm hoping to take the kids swimming again tonight after dinner, but it depends on how fast I get dinner cooked.