Summer 2009, part deux

Michael and I took a little trip for our 18th wedding anniversary. Yay for Grandpa who lives close enough to stay with the kids! We took an exciting little trip down the White Salmon River, including this 14 foot waterfall. We were the only boat that didn't lose anybody over the falls!



We also took a beautiful hike up to the top of Multnomah Falls. Gorgeous! But very crowded. We were glad we started early because it was super crowded on the way down.





I spent a great weekend in Seattle with my sisters. They have been going on little Sisters' Weekends for the past few years, but I have never been able to join them. It was a pretty laid back weekend, but lots and lots and LOTS of walking! We stayed right downtown in the tiniest little apartment and we were just blocks from Pike's Market. Very cool!



We took a fabulous food tour with Savor Seattle. Excellent guide! Really great tour! All three of us love it. We did the Off the Beaten Path tour. A little taste of Spanish cuisine, some very interesting African food, Bavarian meats, Scandinavian pastry, amazing varieties of popcorn and the very yummy Vietnamese food pictured above. If you're ever visiting Seattle, I highly recommend it!








Although my kids started school in August, Labor Day is the sentimental end of summer. Walla Walla had their Frontier Days fair that weekend, with the big downtown parade, of course. Wa-Hi's band marched in the parade and McKelle was front and center. She was first chair flute all last year, but she has moved up to the higher band, so we'll see if she might need to put in a little more practice time this year. She's the flute right in the front of the second row from the left.



Mason and Max joined Mommy to watch the parade. Dad came over after a morning at the hospital. It was a really, really long parade! The boys did enjoy rootbeer icees from the Farmers Market and got a few pieces of candy from parade participants, but we finally left after a couple of hours in the sun. You can only enjoy so many rodeo queens on horses!



McKelle and Matthew started Cross Country, even before school started. This is Matt's first foray into high school sports and he seems to be doing pretty well. McKelle's track coaches from spring season convinced her to drop soccer and go out for cross country. Since she made the Varsity squad at the meet on Saturday, it was probably a good choice for her. I, however, will miss the excitement of her soccer games. CC is hard to watch since they're off running...well, cross country...and the fans really only see the beginning and end of races.


Enjoying the summer weather on a swing! Mason's favorite.


This boy! What a kid.
We were standing at the bus stop the first day of school, waiting for Max. Mason got bored (the bus was very, very late) and started doing some kung foo moves with a stick. He started pounding it on the ground and shouted "this stick will kill everybody in the whole, wide world except me. Bye, Mom."
The funniest part was that he just said it so matter-of-factly. Just total deadpan. The kid cracks me up. Drives me crazy, definitely, but absolutely keeps us all in stitches.

Hope you enjoyed your summer! We definitely did.

Our summer in pictures...

McKelle enjoying a bit of water play at Holland Lake, MT.



A ride around Holland Lake lulled Mason to sleep on Daddy's chest.



Micah, McKelle and Matthew enjoyed a wild ride! The kids were thrilled to tube, ski and jet ski during the Stott family reunion. I was so happy to go back again. One of my favorite memories of childhood is going to Holland Lake every summer.



Guess who started looking at Skidoo ads as soon as we got home??



Max always manages to find a girlfriend, everywhere we go. He had a blast with all the second cousins!



We sent McKelle off on her very first solo airplane trip. She flew down to Utah to help Aunt Nyla out with the driving trip back up to Washington. She was the first of our family to meet the darling Samantha and fell in love with this adorable littlest cousin. The plane ride went off without a hitch, except for a too-big lotion bottle that she had to toss to me while going through security.



The kids spent some great cousin time together this summer. It was so nice to have Nyla and her kids up for a week. Very hard to get a good picture of all the children.



The "orange cousins" look like they had a good time at the water fight/5th birthday for Max/16th birthday for Matthew/35th birthday for Giana



How in the world am I old enough to have a 16 year old child??



Max had a pool cake for his 5th. Appropriate with all the water being thrown around. Chocolate cake for Matt, pool cake for Max and cheesecake for Giana!



A trip over to the Tri-Cities to Macy's Nana's pool was a great way to beat the heat (110!!) we had this summer. Mason thoroughly enjoyed the pool, even jumping off the diving board himself.





Some of my favorite pictures of the summer! Uncle AJ got a workout throwing all the kids in the pool!! Nyla's oldest Parker was a repeat visitor...many, many times!



A little hula-hooping is a fitting ending to Summer 2009, Part 1.

Wordless Wednesday

Poor, lonely neglected blog

I have no excuse. Or I have every excuse. Summer was a blast. Summer was BUSY. Fall is shaping up to be even busier. Yikes! My mom was hoping I could commit to some time next summer for a reunion. I can't even commit to time tomorrow for a shower!

The kids are back in school. Max started kindergarten, which leaves one lonely little Mason here with me. Playing with mom all day is just not that exciting and he keeps asking if two years are up yet. Matt and McKelle are running cross country this fall (after much pressure from the track coach for McKelle to switch from soccer to cc.) Seems to have been a good choice as she made Varsity after the intra-squad meet Saturday! Matt is doing fine, but this is his first foray into high school sports. He'll do fine - just needs to stay motivated.

Micah, Mitchell and Max are playing soccer. This is another bee in Mason's bonnet since he can't play til he's 5. I'm kind of glad he isn't because I don't think I could fit another soccer taxi run into the schedule.

Having Mason home all day has put a bit of a damper on my creativity. I can no longer send him off with Max for half hour or so and escape to my scraproom. He's much more apt to get into mischief than Max (speaking of mischief, I spent a weekend in Seattle with my sisters in August and while I was gone, Mason shattered the upstairs shower door, killed a frog and knocked down a flower arch at a wedding reception Michael attended with the kids. Oy!)

I did get a chance to spend some time down here yesterday and polished off several layouts. I'm in love with the pictures of the two boys on the front porch and have done several pages already. I will probably do more! Every once in awhile, I luck out and get a few great photos!

All the layouts except "Pucker Up, Santa" and "with my MOUTH open wide" are done with Studio Calico kits. Love them!!

All is lost...or is it?

Anyone have experience with data recovery companies?

Our desktop died about a month ago. I found a place certified to do Apple repair (thanks for the info, Chick!) and took it in last week. Hard drive is dead, kaput, totally gone. And they were unable to recover any data. All 4,500+ pictures in iPhoto. All my kids' iTune downloads, all the Photoshop actions I have purchased, all the fonts I have either purchased or downloaded....all gone.

Had a good cry over it, especially my photos. Most had been printed out. But the last 3-4 months had not. Dad's wedding. Mason's 3rd birthday. Stuff that is irreplaceable!

The computer shop gave me a brochure about a data recovery company that has great success with dead hard drives. Their services START at $500. Holy cow! I'm sure I'll eventually decide it is worth it.

Get a back-up system in place. NOW. Get two back-up systems in place. I was working on it with a new external hard drive, but had only just started. Hard lesson to learn...

New layouts

but an old photo on one and really, really old product on the other (Mrs. G stickers!)

For today...

Outside my window... heat, heat and more heat. No relief in sight this week.

I am thinking... that after all the birthday prep this past week and weekend, I feel the need to head to my scraproom for some creative time.

From the learning rooms... doing a lot of pondering on the talk cousin Lisa gave in church yesterday. Very insightful and thought-provoking.

I am thankful for... a house full of family over the weekend, including a surprise visit by Uncle John, Aunt Katie, Hailey and Colton.

From the kitchen... watermelon, cherries, canteloupe, just-picked blackberries and raspberries and tomatoes from Dad's house. I love summer food!!

I am wearing...my robe. Haven't managed to find clothes I want to wear yet.

I am reading... "Inkspell" by Cornelia Funke. It's fun to share books with my kids!

I am hoping... to find a tent that will fit our family.

I am creating... some great photos out of my camera lately. Now to carve out some time to scrap them...

I am praying... that the recovery company can get some of the data off our defunct hard drive, mainly the 4000+ pictures in iPhoto.

Around the house... balloons and streamers and leftover birthday cake.

One of my favorite things... mint body wash. A fabulous way to wake up!

A few plans for the rest of the week... driving to Spokane tomorrow to pick up McKelle from the airport and heading to Montana on Thursday for the Stott family reunion at Holland Lake!

Friday fill-ins #133

1. Fresh artisan bread from Costco and cold cuts/cheese make a quick and easy dinner.

2. "Inkspell" is the book I'm reading right now.

3. July brings back memories of family reunions at Holland Lake. We're finally going again this year!!

4. That Harry Potter #6 would be brilliant was obvious.

5. They say if you tell your dreams people might think you're loony. I had a doozy last night - Michael and I getting married, but me dressed in orangey-yellow to match his blue and yellow tux. All sorts of crazy followed that!!

6. Taking time to think it over is something I do almost too well. I'm definitely an over-thinker.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to baking cakes, tomorrow my plans include a triple birthday party for Max (5), Matthew (16) and my sister Giana (35) and Sunday, I want to watch proudly as my oldest is made a priest!

Something new for Monday...

For Today...(inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook)

Outside my window... the aftermath of a good rainstorm, complete with thunder and lightning. Much appreciated after all the 90 degree plus days.

I am thinking... about all I need to get done before my sister arrives tonight from Utah.

From the learning rooms... reading several books on photography and photoshop.

I am thankful for... a clean fridge!

From the kitchen... almost nothing! I've been too busy for grocery shopping. On my list to do today. I did make a yummy cheesecake last night and there is a small slice of leftovers....unless one of the boys found it.

I am wearing... jeans and a navy blue t-shirt, no shoes.

I am reading... just finished "The Other Boleyn Girl", "The Boleyn Inheritance" and "Kathryn." Yes, I was reading them all at once. I picked up "Inkspell" this morning. Should reread HP#6 before I see the movie tomorrow night.

I am hoping... for one particular child to realize that laziness will never equal happiness.

I am creating... lots of scrapbook pages with my Studio Calico, Jenni Bowlin and Scarlet Lime kits!

I am praying... for my brother and his family.

Around the house... slightly messy after boys came home from rafting. Waiting for my cleaning angels to arrive this morning.

One of my favorite things... my little room piled with elements of creation and design.

A few plans for the rest of the week... hugging my daughter after she arrives home from her trip to Utah, hosting my sister for a night, meeting my niece Samantha for the first time!! planning a triple birthday party for the family - Max was 5 Friday, Giana will be 30-something on Friday and my oldest will be 16 on Saturday!!

Max is 5!!

He woke up this morning and asked if it was time for school!

Time flies. I can't believe my sweet, mellow boy is old enough for kindergarten. We'll be celebrating next week when all the kids get home and the "orange cousins" arrive from Utah.

More layouts to share...

What I've been up to...

Wordless Wednesday

Aaaaargh!! Apple equivalent of Blue Screen of Death??

Our desk top iMac is not working. For the last couple of days, there have been strange clicking noises when I started it up, but then it seemed to run fine. Yesterday, I got what I think might be the Mac equivalent of the PC Blue Screen of Death. White screen, little file folder icon blinking in the middle with a big ol' question mark. Won't do anything else. Just sits there, blinking at me.

Just uploaded hundreds of photos (and deleted them off my camera card) including Dad's wedding, Trev's birthday, the boys playing outside in their new sprinkler. I have close to 4,000 photos on iPhoto and I just started putting them on an external hard drive last week. Didn't get very far since we had visitors this week.

I'm going to cry!! The nearest Apple store is in Portland...or Seattle. The darn thing is less than three years old and we have never, ever had any problems with it. Waaaaah!!

Manic Monday meme #170

If you joined the circus, what act would you most want to perform?

I've always love the motion of a swing and heights don't bother me in the least, so flying high on the trapeze would be my choice.

Would you generally be overdressed or underdressed at a party?

I did wear a skirt last week to a church function where everyone else was dressed in pants, so if I had to choose one, I'd probably say overdressed. I'm pretty careful to dress appropriately.

Do you feel that children should be sheltered from unhappiness?

Absolutely not. Learning to deal with sorrow, life's troubles, trials and tribulations is an essential part of our existence. Making our way through the hard times molds character and creates a person of fortitude and strength.

Friday Fill-Ins #127

And...here we go!

1. I'd really like to make a decision about our home. Are we going to buy it? Are we not? I have plans, so many plans if we do. I have bags of fabric and other fun stuff just sitting in my sewing area, waiting for us to decide if we really want THIS house as our home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been salad, salad and more salad. It has been too hot to cook. Love a good salad on a hot day.

3. The neighbor's dog says bark! bark! bark! And then uses our yard as his personal potty. Darn dog!

4. A nice long walk with Michael is often just what I need. We can talk, we can be silent. All is comfortable when we walk.

5. My little sister told me some some good news. They're having a boy!! Congrats Giana and AJ!

6. When all is said and done, relationships are all that matter. How you treat people, how you interact with those around you. And sometimes relationships are really, really hard, but almost always worth the effort you put into them.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing my in-laws and doing something for Granny's birthday, tomorrow my plans include hanging out with Granny and Boppy and Sunday, I want to spend a little time at my scrap table, but it probably won't happen because I have meetings all morning.

Mid-week creative

I had a wee bit of time to play yesterday between loads of laundry. And yes, you've seen those Easter pictures of Max before, but I can't seem to get enough of them! Thanks for looking.

Wordless Wednesday

Manic Monday meme #169

Imagine you're packing a picnic lunch. What would be in your basket?

A toasted BLT. Strawberries. Sliced red and yellow peppers. Multigrain Tortilla Chips with Jalepeno Artichoke Dip from Costco. And mini-cheesecakes for dessert, of course!

If your life were a weather vane, which direction would it be pointing right now?

I'm pretty sure my vane is spinning!

Too much drama. Drama for my daughter and all her teenage friends. Drama (and heartache) on the extended family front. Drama...or at least a bit of chaos in my church calling. Drama on the housing front (do we really love this house? Do we like it enough to spend $$$$$ buying it?) I'd like my weather vane to point to a nice vacation, lol!

What's something that people do in traffic that really annoys you?

Tailgate. Drive 25 in a 40 zone. Drive 40 in a 20 zone. Apply make-up. Fiddle with the radio (or whatever) so that the light turning green is not noticed. And, BTW, have turn signals gone out of style???

Driving is one thing that gets my blood boiling more than almost anything else.