Sailing - kind of

(I wish I could tell you what is wrong with my camera - smudges maybe?? It bugs. wish my big one weren't so big to lug around. Contradiction, I know.)

Last weekend we tagged along on a beautiful sailing ride to check out the sunset and the lights of Seattle. My brother-in-law's father took us out on his gorgeous boat. It was a beautiful evening with just one small glitch - not ONE lick of wind. So, we motored out to the bay, he put up the sail for a minute, took it back down, we marveled at the beautiful sights, and motored back. Thank you, Larry!

Miss M checking out the sunset

Pretty spectacular

DH and Mr. A - big helpers, as you can tell

Dusk

Mr. A finally got to go down and check out the "cubby" of the boat

Quoting and Thinking

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.The fact is, most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey–delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." - Jenkins Lloyd Jones

I've liked this quote for a long time. President Hinckley cited it often too. He had good reasons to. I especially appreciate the part about the occasional beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. As our time here in the Northwest winds down, I feel so grateful to have had more than our fair share of beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. It has been one spectacular ride.

We have all learned a lot. My Miss M learned to walk here. Heck, she's mastered running too. My Mr. A learned about making friends on the playground with perfect strangers. He also learned about family and about being grateful for his family. He learned about boundaries and listening. Miss M learned about teeth breaking through (those darn molars!) and the first steps in the communication process - grunting and pointing. The two of them learned how much fun they can have together. They learned how to laugh at each other and with each other.

I learned that when life slows down around me, I can easily slow down too. I can even still get stuff done! I learned that family is a whole lot of fun to have 2 miles away. I was reminded that there are great people all over the country. I learned that my DH's happiness is contagious. I even learned about the kindness of Seattle strangers when we paid face value for every "Wicked" ticket I scapled on the corner 30 minutes before the performance (all 4 of them - can you believe that? - never in NYC). I learned that my priorities in life are pretty much right on.

10 more days of this great rail journey. And we truly do thank the Lord for the ride. He knew what we needed and when we needed it. He's pretty good like that! :)

Business School - 5 years later

If you've known me long enough you know that I talk about my "Defining Moments" in my life quite a bit. Going back to business school ranks up there at the top of my Defining Moments list. I made some dear, dear friends and learned a whole bunch in the process. A few weeks ago, several of us got back together to reminisce, laugh, remember, and rejoice in all that we'd done in the 5 years since we graduated! Where did the time go?

My dear girlfriends - there weren't that many of us, so we had to stick together!

Know any great single gals? These two are on the market (and we like them a lot!)

Some of the crew that came out for the picnic the day after the dinner (I forgot to take my camera out for the dinner, so if you're reading this and you have pictures, please send them to me!)

While in P-town, I got to see my lil' bro. Isn't he cute?! We also took in a pathetic BYU vs. FSU football game. But, the company couldn't be beat.

These 3 dear friends all celebrate birthdays within a month of each other. So, I did what any good, efficient friend would do - I took them all out to the Sweet Tooth Fairy for a 6 cupcake sampler and a bottle of milk. Happy Birthday to all 3 of you. I am so very happy you were each born. Loved being with you.

Celebrating

I'm super late in posting these, but DH and I celebrated 9 years with a most delicious breakfast at the delightful Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie Falls. So yummy!

You gotta check it out if you're out here!

Only in Philly-delphia

Mr. A and I were talking the other night about what will happen when we go back to Philadelphia (he calls it Philly-delphia...cute). I asked him what he missed about it.

"Ummm, Wii Fit.....and Xbox....and Jesus."

"Jesus? Really? Jesus is in Seattle too."

"No, Mom. Jesus only in Philly-delphia."

Just in case you were wondering...

15 Whole Months

I haven't documented too much about my Miss M's milestones as of late. She is a funny one. And, we love her. Now that we've got that out of the way, let me brief you on all the things Miss M likes to do...
- drink her morning bottle of milk over a 1/2 hour while she plays with all sorts of things (toys, Blackberries, cell phones, shoes, etc)
- shake her head "no" and when told to say "yes, mommy" instead she nods her head two times and then goes back to shaking it
- Walk everywhere
- Run away from you if she knows you're coming after her with that knowing giggle trailing behind her
- Sleep with her binkie and her blankie (the one her Auntie Lexy made her when she was born - it's still her favorite)
- Play at the park and endlessly climb UP and DOWN the stairs to the slide (there are 4 of them) without actually going down the slide
- Eat mushrooms, yogurt, pasta, peaches, grapes, blueberries, hot dogs, pretzels, apple jacks, broccoli, fruit leather, graham crackers, marshmallows, cheese, oatmeal, eggs (with mushrooms in them only), pancakes, and watermelon
- Drink Danimals yogurt drinks from her sippy cup
- Go to the refrigerator as soon as someone has opened it and pull something out that she'd like to eat
- Say "eat" in sign, except she just puts her hand over her mouth repeatedly to tell you she'd like to eat (like at least 2 times an hour - the girl is one hungry chica!)
- Take showers and sit on the shower floor filling cups with water and putting balls in the cups. Endless entertainment.
- Play with her big brother, Mr. A. They're becoming pretty good little buddies and Mr. A looks out for her a whole bunch.
- Give many, many open-mouthed kisses when asked for just one. She thinks it's a pretty fun game.

Miss M pretty much rocks, in case you were wondering!!! We're slightly smitten!

I love my blue ball

Happy face

Her cousin and his friend thought they should play with the ball instead - she wasn't so impressed

Mugging with her dad

The Island Tour

(Note: I should have uploaded all these pictures as separate posts, but too late...sorry for so many).
On Labor Day we went on a grand tour - 1 15-passenger van, 2 ferry rides, 3 islands, and many meals throughout the day. We went from Edmunds to Port Gamble on the ferry, drove over to Poulsbo (pronounced Paul-sbo for you non-locals), hit the best ice cream shop on Bainbridge Island, and ferried it back over to Seattle. It was a lovely day with wondeful company, tasty treats, and plenty to see!

2 bugs contained - no overboard passengers, thanks

Miss M so happy in her element -the outdoors (she brings me her shoes every morning as soon as she wakes up)

Mr. A taking shelter from the wind

Our attempt at a family shot - we took 6 and this was the best we got

At a state park in Port Gamble w/great playground equipment and rock throwing "beach"

Miss M trying not to fall - those rocks aren't so stable

Pondering the future of the rock - in my mouth or throw away?

The Swanky Six - on the top of Big Rock on Poulsbo Island

Cute Poulsbo (it is the black licorice capital of the US - my favorite - and has a delectable bakery with cinnamon volcanoes - a lot like cinnamon rolls but inverted with a big cream cheese frosting pool - yum)

We went out on a boat ride in Poulsbo and these seals were just frolicking in the marina

Look who came to visit for the weekend! T, K & G - we miss you already!

2 peas in a pod - DH and his DB (devoted brother)

Miss M checking it all out - one observant little gal, she is!

S & Mr. A playing some annoying table cup swap game they created

Miss M was a bit sleepy - no 2nd nap by 3:30 pm = give me my binky and blankie, thank you very much

And the red cherry on top of our day? Lola Fely's Filipino feast that awaited the cranky, tired Island-hoppers. Thank you, thank you!! There is nothing like Pansit and Lumpia to make you feel warm and fuzzy all over.

Parks, Parks, and More Parks

The great outdoors does not disappoint here. There are more awesome parks in the town we're living in than there are in the city of Omaha probably (no offense, Nebraska-ites)! It's quite impressive, actually. We love spending time in all of them but have taken a particular liking to the one Mr. A lovingly calls "Net Park." All sorts of nets and rocks to climb all over.

Mr. A and my cousin's son, R, climbing up the big rock!

"I did it all by myself, Mom!"

Slobbery pretzel stick anyone?

It Continues

Tonight I asked Mr. A what story he would like me to read to him.

"The Boo-la-la-la-ga-ga Story" (he's in that phase where he makes up words, ya know?)

I don't know that one. Why don't you pick another one.

"I want a love story."

A love story?

"Ya, the love story, Mom. You know, like Taylor Swift?"

Big smile. Aaaah - THAT love story. Sounds good.

ps - we had a great labor day weekend with family - more to come with pics, etc - but we went out on a few boats/ferries yesterday and mr. a asked if Taylor Swift was going to be on them. Seriously??

Family Obsession

Lovin' my little ones right now. Was feeling neglectful to not have taken their 3 yr and 1 yr pictures, but this little session melted that wistful feeling away like chocolate chips on a hot stove - pronto! Thank you, Lisa, for your magnificent time and talent. Go here to see more of her magic from the day the thunderstorm threatened to - but didn't even - ruin all our fun.