We're Back!

This trip to Portland and Washington was so much fun! We did several things we haven't done before, fun things that we have, and we got to play with baby!
The road trip out was easy, unadventurous, and a nice way to start the trip off. When we got to Tolman and Audreys, Chris and Eve came over with Severin, and we tried on the hat I bought him. I don't think he liked it too much.

So kissable!

Sunday after church, we all headed out to the coast. It was too cold to get very wet, but the kids still had lots of fun running around, collecting shells, and playing in the water, while the grown-ups mostly sat and talked.

When we went to breakfast Monday morning at a place called Fat Alberts, this sign was out front; the theme for our trip!

Monday we headed up to Poulsbo, WA, to visit cousins! We had a bbq on the beach and watched the sun go down, while the kids just ran and ran, played on the swings, collected more shells, and ate lots of smores.

Tuesday morning we took the ferry into Seattle. The kids were so excited to ride the boat, and thoroughly enjoyed their public transportation experience!

They've never even been on a bus, other than for school, and they rode the ferry, the monorail, a taxi, a bus and a train.

I ate my very first clam chowder! Kimmie was quite disgusted with me.

We walked up to Pike's Place for the market, tried lots of different treats and watched the fish guys throw some fish around.


Then we walked to the mall to catch the monorail to the Space Needle, where the kids played at the children's museum, rode the ferris wheel with Grandma, and then we all squeezed into a taxi to go to dinner.

After yummy spaghetti, we took a bus back to the ferry, went back across, left the kids with Blake, and Melisa, Mom and I went to see Mamma Mia! It was a late night, but much better than going back to the house and putting the kids to bed! Thanks Blake!!!

Saturday, Mom and the kids, Audrey, and I drove up to Tacoma to see a dance festival that Melisa helped organize and run. It involved 2300 kids and 11 stakes, and it was amazing! She was so stressed about this, and after seeing what she was going through trying to make sure she had all the paperwork, I will never again be neglectful or late in turning in permission slips for things! It was a learning experience for me.

Sunday we went to Severin's blessing, which was great, and had a party afterwards. It was a long week, and so nice to be able to just relax for a while and eat lots of yummy food. It was such a fun trip, and it was so great to be able to go with Mom. She was hilarious, and so much fun.

Runaway!

So, I have run away. I'm leaving for Portland tomorrow with my mom, Alli and Zach, and I am at Kimmie's! I don't have time for this!!! But I made time. I spent all day yesterday doing laundry, paid Alli to clean up my scrapbooking mess on the kitchen table, ran around town doing a bunch of errands so we can leave, and now that my day of insanity is over, I get to be here. Last night we went to Pizzaria 712; so good! We had a yummy salad and an amazing pizza; smoked mushrooms and potatoes, sweet onions and some kind of cheese I haven't heard of. Then we watched "My Favorite Wife"; there's nothing like Cary Grant late at night.

Today I get to run more errands to get ready for tomorrow, and then Kimmie and I are hitting a double feature of "The Dark Knight" and "Mamma Mia"!

It's finally over!

I had a yard sale to help take care of some of Mom's stuff, well, Steve's stuff for Mom, and it's finally over. My garage isn't exactly empty, but you can walk around in it now, the people are gone, the "will you take 70 cents for this?" is over, and I can finally quit worrying about it. It's just a yard sale, but it's astounding how much time it takes! The kids wanted to have a lemonade stand, which was a great idea, and we thought cookies would be a good idea, too. I think they only sold about 10 cups of lemonade, but they sold out all the cookies! They even had people coming back for seconds, and one person wanted a recipe. It was a good day, all things considered, and now my arms and knees have a nice tan.

The funny for today

I first saw this about a month ago, and then, stupid me, I showed the kids. It's just so funny, and I had to share. However, the kids walk around picking parts, and singing me a lovely rendition of it a few times a day.
Ron, Ron, Ron WEASLEY!

Fireworks, Food and Family

I hope y'all had a fabulous weekend! We had a crazy busy weekend, down in Utah with Kimmie and my mom, and then in Rigby for my niece's blessing. We left for Kimmie’s Thursday afternoon, and went to roast hot dogs up Provo Canyon.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

We got up so early, after a really late night, so we could go see the balloon launch. It was so beautiful, but I’m afraid we were all a little too tired to appreciate it.

Then we headed over to University Avenue for the parade, where we all got a little sun and had some breakfast.

After we all took a nice long nap, we went over to Kimmie’s library where we watched “The Court Jester” in their media room. It was so nicely air conditioned, and the screen was big, the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

That night we had a picnic and watched the fireworks at a park near Cougar Stadium, played bocce, Mom read, and we all just took it easy. Zach tried juggling with the bocce balls, and gave himself a black eye.

The next morning, Kimmie, Mom and I went down to Salem and Santequin to the cemetaries where some of her relatives are buried, and we went to the pond where she’d play with her cousins when she was little. We also got to see the house where her grandmother lived.

Sunday morning, we were able to go to Rigby for Macy’s blessing.

By the time we got home from that, we were all completely worn out! We had so much fun, ate so much good food, spent so much time in the sun, it was time for a really really long nap.

Girls Weekend!

So, for her birthday this year, Alli wanted to go to Utah to see a play again. Lucky for her, "The Drowsy Chaparone" was coming to Salt Lake! Lucky for me, too! This was the funniest thing I have ever seen! It was a fabulous musical, and we had so much fun!

And of course we had to go shopping, because what kind of a girls weekend would it be without shopping and eating?!?!?!?
We discovered that Alli has grown into a ladies size 6, and so she tried on several pairs of "grown-up" shoes.

And Kimmie gave her a pedicure.

We went to P.F. Changs for lunch, watched movies, ate so much ice cream and fried food, and really had so much fun. It's awesome to have her old enough to be able to go for a girls weekend and be able to enjoy it.

Together is a good place to be

Losing someone is always hard, but it's so nice to be with family. Steve, my stepfather, passed away the end of May, and the whole family was able to be here. It was so nice to see some of my siblings and their spouses, some of which I haven't seen for years.

I will always be grateful to Steve for making Mom happy.

Grandma with all the grandkids.

Zach with cousins Jude and Levi. Who's the toughest? We may never know.

Alli and her cousin Grace playing with the camera.

Zach and Cache doing their best to embarass their parents at Johnny Carinos.