Happy Mother's Day

Merry Christmas!

....

Mom "Asher, are you okay?"
Asher "Mom, I have thunder in my tummy"

Lucas Family: A complete profile in three photos

This about sums up the dynamics of the Lucas family--an essay of sorts in three photos.

1. Mom and Dad are nowhere to be seen:  We are old and tired and would rather die than post in public a photo of us in our swimming suits.

2. These photos at a hotel pool in Seattle:  a) We are slacker parents and rarely take our kids swimming at home.  Thus, they are swimming deprived and want to live in the pool even when there are tons of other cool things to do.  b) We let them because sometimes doing tons of other cool things is just too much work.

3. Matching floral suits:  We have super nice friends from Hawaii.  Thanks Laurie.

4. There is a line to push the elevator button:  My kids fight about EVERYTHING.  GRRR.  It takes an excell spreadsheet just to keep track of who gets to push the button to call the elevator, the floor number and the "close door" button. 

5. Allie has a purple hat on:  a) She didn't choose pink b/c she thinks it's a bit immature--can someone tell me why the pre-teen stage starts at five? b) She wanted the hat to be like her dad.  He's her superman.

6. Asher has the most mischevious smile and is checking for escape routes:  Self explanitory to those who know him.  He takes a while to warm up, but once he does, watch out. And NEVER underestimate how high he can climb when there is chocolate involved (future post needed).

7. Naomi's eyes are covered with hair and she's taken a defensive stance:  a) She will NOT keep ANYTHING in her hair.  She pulls her hair out in order to remove even the most innocent ponytail.  b) As the youngest she's developed a stradegy of self preservation that involves running when she thinks her siblings want to hug her.

8. Life jackets:  a) The kids are fearless and although they love to swim and are somewhat capable, think they can do more than they can.  b) We really do love each other and value each other's safety.

Little Pig, Little Pig

Updates since I last wrote on this pitifully neglected little blog:

1. I love the Pacific Northwest (photos and stories to follow). I want to live there. I think I'll settle in Hood River, OR (the land of my Grandmother's nativity) or Bellevue, WA. Either would be fine. If anyone would like to leave me the $5,000,000 necessary to make living there possible, that would be fine too.

2. Allie turned five and Asher three. Both are exceptionally beautiful/handsome/intelligent/talented kids and would be making the above mentioned millions by curing horrible diseases, building sky-scrapers out of Lego's, writing best-selling novels and forecasting market trends if only their mother would let them work before they are fourteen.

3. Duran is gearing up for graduate school and (I think) has finally chosen the schools/programs that will make him two masters degrees smarter, four years older and forty thousand dollars poorer (I know, I know only in the short term). He's also aiming for his own brokerage in the near future, so by default I have become an office manager and have added the title of accountant to the already reluctantly acquired titles of property manager, secretary, and investment manager. I may forgo my dreams of a JD for CPA just to make my life easier.

4. We have a new baby. Actually five of them. We are the proud parents of five healthy and thriving baby guppies. I have to admit that the fish tank has been better than I expected. Duran has kept his promise to do all of the cleaning. We are now negotiating on a bigger tank.

5. We still live in Salt Lake but would really not be surprised to move soon. One never knows when a great house will pop up. And I won't be surprised if we stay here. Love grows best in little houses. Right? I can feel the love right now...and Naomi's baby stroller by my bed and Asher's Lego's in the middle of our living room and Allie's dress up clothes.....

That's a bit of where we're at. I'll post great photos of Seattle and other silly stuff shortly.