While trying to find me...

...I found someone else.
I was looking on gigharbor-life.com to try to find a picture of Maddy and I that the editor had taken.
Instead I found this article from 1998.

"A local physician whose ties to the community go back five decades and more than 4,000 delivered babies died Wednesday.
Dr. Frederick Edgar Drew, of Port Orchard, died at his home. He was 75.
Drew was a family-oriented man with strong ties to the two churches he belonged to in Kitsap County, said his daughter, Dorothy Freemantle.
The spouses of his children were like close friends and included in all the traditional family activities, including annual camping and fishing expeditions to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and one of Drew's favorite activities, cooking.
""He was from the South and he liked to cook Cajun food,"" recalled Ms. Freemantle. Family members would each be given their chopping, mixing or blending assignments, ""and since we had a large family, it would take up the whole house,"" she said.
He also was avidly involved in genealogical studies.
Dr. Drew was born Nov. 6, 1923, to the Rev. Edmund and Emma Drew in Grand Bay, Ala. His parents preceded him in death.
He was raised in numerous states including Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Michigan and spent time at Central College in McPherson, Kan.
He attended Seattle Pacific College and joined the Navy.
On Nov. 11, 1942, he took fellow student Lucy Marie Fine on their first date aboard the historic ferry Kalakala from Seattle to Bremerton.
The couple was married by Dr. Drew's father on Sept. 25, 1944, in Winnsboro, La.
Shortly afterward, he entered Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
After graduation, he began his internship in 1948 at Naval Hospital Bremerton.
In 1950, Drew left the Navy and became one of the first three physicians at the new Doctors Clinic.
He spent the next 4412 years at the clinic in general practice and doing obstetrics and family medicine.
It wasn't unusual, his daughter said, for a grandmother to meet him in the hospital and recognize him as the doctor who had delivered both her children and her children's children.
Drew had a special concern about alcoholism and for many years worked regularly at the Kitsap County Alcoholic Rehabilitation Program, known as ""Dry Doc.""
In 1995, Drew retired and moved with his wife to Port Orchard.
First as a member of the Bremerton Free Methodist Church, his father's denomination, and later as a member of Grace Bible Church in Port Orchard, Drew found special joy sharing his musical gifts with his family and community, his daughter said. He sang solo and in the choir, and composed.
With the help of a fellow church member, he had just completed a new gospel composition before his death.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Freemantle of Olympia and Cheri Kilmer of Bremerton; four sons, Raymond of Edgewood, Mike of Port Orchard, Pat of Purdy and Mark, a student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; grandchildren Drew Freemantle, Brian Kilmer, Lori Flanagan, Ricci Kilmer, Christopher Drew, Christian Drew, Jesse Drew, Sean Drew, Devonne Drew, Kelley Drew, Emma Drew, Alesta Drew, Lydia Drew and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 21, 1998, at Grace Bible Church, 7070 Bethel-Burley Road, Port Orchard."

I just thought it was weird to stumble upon.

Procession of the Species

Here are a few pictures of our Procession of the Species, held annually near Earth Day. Participants are ALL ages. There are babies in front packs and backpacks, Moms-to-be with painted tummys (the globe was my favorite), people in wheel chairs (see turtle above), people on stilts (one absolutely AMAZING dancer on tall stilts), configured and jointed bicycles, many paper sculptures, masks, and hats of fish, animals and plants. The crowd beats drums and shakes rattles and dances down the street. The best in that category is our samba dancers - great rhythm and dancers of all abilities. The whole parade is a symbol of inclusion and FUN!

Larry, Rick and I left early enough to pick up veggies at the Oly Farmers' Mkt. and check in on Artswalk - where EVERYONE (again all ages and abilities) displays art in galleries, cafe's, banks, shoe stores, bike stores . . . Some beautiful work at Childhood's End and a very fine example of Zoe's portraiture at Peppers, a Mexican restraurant.

He's a cute one. isn't he?

Garrett Walker Ramer

Garrett is here...

Garrett is finally here! He arrived at 3:41 pm. He 6 lb 15 oz. That's all I know at this time.

Garrett is willin' . . . he's just a little shy.

Devonne called at 5:26 this morning.

Garret is on the way.

As of 11:21 am, he still hasn't shown his face.

What is wrong with that boy?

I'll post what I know when i know it.

Pat

Waiting for Garrett Walker

its devonne, still pregnant waiting for baby garrett. We are so ready to make this a family of 4. Billie keeps talking to my tummy telling Garrett that its not scary out here, and to come out. Very cute. Billie is so ready to b a big brother, he has no idea how his little world is gonna change. lol. Well, i will post pics when he comes. meanwhile say prayers, cause patience is a virture i lack. : ) devonne

i am 3 days past my due date.

Gunner's First Visit to the West Side

Gunner made his first trip across the mountains to see family this last Easter weekend. He is now 8 lbs 13 oz and is 21 inches long. He is starting to stay awake and look around a little bit more each day. He is in the habit of sleeping solidly from about 6pm to 11pm, which means that by 5am he really doesn't have a whole lot of interest in going back to sleep. So anyway...enjoy the pics and Gunner is looking forward to meeting those families members he hasn't yet at the family reunion in May.

Maddy & Alesta.

Maddy sunbathing. April 6th, 2009.

Maddy wearing Mommies shoes. :)

Baby Gunner and Maddy moo.

Containing Maddy in the Fred Meyer bathroom.

Maddy and Auntie "Yidya!"

Hello family! Maddy's second birthday is just around the corner. :) She has grown so much, and so fast! This girl remembers everything. She really surprises me everyday. We are going to start going to a Mommy & Me group this Wednesday. A girl around my age came up to me at church and asked me if I would be interested. Definately!

Maddy like to count to ten in Spanish, and Tyler taught her one through ten in German also. She loves to sing! Sing sing sing, all the time. Such a sweet little voice she has. Lately, she loves "Mary had a Little Lamb" and "Muffin Man".

I am working at Albertsons still. Supposed to be getting a raise soon. It's pretty much same ol' same ol'. Pizza is pizza, and thats what I do there. Sometimes I work in the Customer Service. No plans to move out anytime soon. I really dont want a room mate. So I'm just going to have to wait to save lots of money, and find a screamin' deal. Also! This summer I am going to Yakima to babysit Gunner, and see Kelley and Jesse, for two months!!! Excited!

I'm turning 21 April 20th. :)

All is well over here. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the pictures of my little sweetie.

-Alesta.