the fair recap...

It was perfect fair weather on Friday. 

Before heading out we stopped at Jack's Bicycle shop and purchased a brand new bike for Carson.  I think this the first major item he has gotten new.  All his other things have been hand me downs from big brother.  It was great to see his face light up when we walked in and he realized what was happening.

I work for an amazing company.  For the past several years they have purchased our tickets to get in, unlimited ride bands and they have given us money for food.  The fair is that much sweeter when someone else paid your way in.

The first stop was this:

I love these things.  I am so happy I can not get my hand on these things throughout the year.  If I could, I would be in major trouble.

We looked at bunnies, chickens, baby cows, baby pigs and my favorite a baby goat.  We rode a ton of rides (I even got in on the action).  The carnies in the teen section are way better than in the kid section.  And don't even get me started on how they clean up a slide (gross and yuck).

We did lots of walking, lots of eating and had a great time.  Carson was an animal on the darts; he popped 4 balloons with 3 darts.  Griffin was up for any ride but he loved the slide the best; he went on it over and over again.  Randy won me a stuffed animal on the drag racing game, and I walked out with a few extra dollars in my back pocket.  I am already looking forward to next years memories.

last weekend of the summer...

How can it be September????  We have had a full weekend so far:

It's the last weekend of summer and I finally put on a bathing suit for the 1st time this summer - hello, what have I been doing all summer that I didn't go swimming till now???  I have no idea.

Spent yesterday with my family down at my brother Mark's house.  The road trip was great, and being in the same car made the time go by much faster.

Met an old friend at the Great Wolf Lodge; can't wait to take the family there this winter.  Coffee was great, hope I can do it again - thanks lady!!!!

Going to a BBQ this afternoon.  Great friends, good food, fun times!!!!  It may be cold but I am pretty sure a can mix up a drink that will warm all of us.

our last day...

Today is our last day of summer vacation. Griffin starts school tomorrow - yes!!!! I am looking forward to his return and for the fall season becuase of so many reasons; but I am also dreading this time of year for the same number of reasons.

Today was pretty darn good. We did a few things around home then headed to the board walk for some crab hunting. We ran into a few friends; what a great way to say "good bye" to summer.

saturday surprise...

What a Saturday.

My brother Brett, his family and my family headed down to see my parents for a BBQ yesterday. Once I got to the pool I felt a bit lost. There was a piece of our family puzzle that was missing. It was the middle piece and no matter how hard you tried not to look at it; it would stand out. My other brother Mark and his family were not there.

Over the past several months my older brother Brett and I have gotten close. This has been an amazing experience for me. My brother is so happy and his life seems on track. When we do get together my soul is filled with joy but also a bit of heart ache. Mark lives a few hours away and is unable to join us if we decided to do something last minute - that was the case yesterday (or so I thought).

We were all swimming in the pool when I see Brett's face change. I look at what he is staring at and what do I see, my sister in law Julie! It took me a few moments to realize yes, she really is here - my brother is here - my niece and nephew are here. I jump out of the pool and run for them. I am sure they were not to happy to have a very wet, screaming woman running straight for them.

My family was complete. Cousins had fun jumping into the pool, siblings had fun being together, parents had fun watching the kids get along.

By far, this was the BEST Saturday I have had in many, many years! Thanks to my brothers - family does make you complete!

I have many funny pictures of G-man running in to the pool!

i'm melting...

I seriously am melting here.

I was not made for this kind of heat. My home is 89 inside - it has NEVER gotten that hot. I bet you we will get over 90 before we go to bed. I do not know if I can take another day or two of this crap. I am looking into Alaska cruises right now. Hello ice berg, will you be my friend?

I am sending a plea out to Jen - can I please move in with you????? Please don't tell me how cool your home is.

Hope everyone out there is staying cool. My work has opened it's doors to employees and families to hang out in the air conditioning till mid night. We can watch a movie on the big screen or play wii. If I didn't have a photo shoot I may have headed over there. Thanks MA.

say goodbye to summer....

The weather was perfect today.

Lyndie invited us out to the beach for one last time this summer. The boys and I jumped at the chance, packed up the car and headed north.

I couldn't of dreamed up a better day. The 4 kids played in the rocks and the surf (yes, they ventured into the freezing water) while L and I sat back and enjoyed the view. One of the best things about our friendship, is we don't have to "chat" the whole time. I brought out some magazines for L while I curled up and read some of my book. 4 hours of sun, reading and relaxing - it was pure heaven.

It was sad to pack up and head home. We have a lot of memories of the summer and I can't wait to get a few mini books made so we can look back and reflect on the past 4 months.

Goodbye summer, you may have not been here long, but you will be missed.

this is how we beat the heat....

I was not made for this weather.

I am enjoying it. Love wearing my flip flops every day. Love getting some color on me (even though I live with SPF 50). Love the fresh air coming through the windows and LOVE hanging out on the deck with the boys in the pool.

Next year we will move the pool to the grass - so much better. But with Carson who likes to bolt we have to keep it on the deck.

can you smell it in the air....

The fair is here! We are headed out after lunch. Hope to post some pics tonight.

update....

Last day of vacation.

It's been wonderful, relaxing and fun.

Will post more with photos later. Just wanted to say "hi" from vacationland.

sundays are great....

The weather was amazing today so I packed a picnic and the boys and I headed out to eat in the grass and play in the fresh air.

It was refreshing to lay on a blanket with my husband, watching the kids run around and feeling the warmth of the sun soak into my bones.

It was perfection (well almost). We were invited over to one of my best girlfriends house to celebrate her little one turning 2. Due to some issues we were unable to make it. I feel horrible about it but my friend says she understands - I hope she does. I woke up very sad that I could not be there but I will be celebrating with them this Friday with ice cream. I missed you guys today, I hope the party was a blast. K, you mean so much to me, I am blessed to have you in my life. Thanks for understanding on this one!

this is how to start your day.....

Who needs coffee when you wake up to this!

It didn't stay around but was amazing while it lasted.

the beach.....

My baby eating a marshmellow!

This weekend I headed out to Birch Bay.

Randy was gone on Friday so Lyndie and I decided it would be fun to head out to the Bay and spend the night. OK, she had been there a few nights and I decided to crash her party (thanks lady).

I was a bit nervous spending the night, not sure how the kids would do. They did fantastic! Carson was all giggles when it was bed time, I think Griffin fell asleep before him. They shared one room while Lyndie's kids took the other.

After dinner we headed down to the beach to have smores by the fire. After we got lots of sugar in the kids, we put them to bed than headed out to the porch for some girl talk. Once the kids were asleep we watched a movie and ate warm cookies from the oven (yummy). My butt is not very happy that I ate some many warm delights after 10:00 pm!!!!!

I slept great, not long enough, but still I felt refreshed by morning. After a relaxing day of games, plenty of walking, ice cream and more playing in the sand I headed home. I was exhausted by the time I hauled everything back in the house.

I am so looking forward to my next visit! I love making memories and new traditions. I can't wait to look back on the pictures of the bay over the next several years. They will each tell a story; describe what that summer was like. Griffin is at the age where memories are sticking. He will have these images for the rest of his life. My goal it to make as many positive images as I can; as soon as he is a teen he may not want to spend that much time with me. The short window is slowly closing so I have to cram as much in there as I can.

Griffin picking up a wishing rock for me.

today is the day....

My photo class starts today! I am so excited, will let you know how it goes.

Side note, weekend was AMAZING will post about it soon.

vacation...

I have two mini vacations planned, one is the first week of Aug the second is the first week of October. No plans, just house projects and hanging out with my boys.

I really want to go to Whistler. I have never been, any suggestions on where to stay, what to do up there????

the zoo....

Yesterday we headed down to Seattle to the zoo. We decided to bring Jackson along for the ride. Griffin and Jackson were talking non-stop on the way down, they sounded like school girls. I love to see this side of Griffin.

The boys are so excited, they started running up the trail.

Once we got to the zoo, we started off by looking at the Giraffes. They boys loved that. The next request was the penguins. Unfortunately, we were headed the wrong way and they were at the end. So for the next 2+ hours that's all Randy and I heard about. Funny thing is, once we got to their exhibit, it was closed till summer of 2009! The boys handled it pretty well.

Randy took them into the play building while I sat out and people watched with Carson. He finally fell asleep and their was no way I was waking him up. I could have sat their forever, it was so much fun to look at people and make up little stories about them. People make me laugh; its amazing to see what sort of "couples" are out there.

It's our family tradition to stop in Lynnwood and go to Chevy's for dinner. The food was very yummy and the boys were pretty good, minus Carson's throwing abilities. I think every thing on our table ended up on the floor at least one time.

Part of our yummy dinner.

summer is here.....

The sun has finally found Washington.

This weekend it has been hot, hot, hot (my friends in California can stop laughing, 80 is hot for us). I am loving it but it zaps all my energy. Today I am basically a plop.

Yesterday was a blast. Griffin and I headed out to Boxx Berry Farms to pick some strawberries. We met my friend Heather, her two kids and her mom. What a great group to go with. Griffin and Brady had fun running in the dirt. I have never, ever picked berries before in my life. I had a blast. I was amazed at the size of the strawberry plants, they were huge. After we picked $16.00 worth we headed up to the main barn area and had ice cream and strawberry shortcake (yummy, yummy). Then the kids were off to ride on the barrel wagon. I did take a few pictures but had my setting wrong so most of them did not turn out.

On our way home we passed the cemetery that my grandmother is in. I haven't been out there for over 25+ years. I wanted to see if I could find it. I remember being there as a little girl (she died in 1980) and by her grave there is a grave of a baby that had died in 1926. I have that image of the baby booties on the gravestone burning in my memory. I walked to the corner where the babies grave it and sure enough, I found my grandmothers. Wow, it was nice to go visit. A bit weird talking to the dead with your child around.

Griffin and Randy spent the night out side in the back yard in a tent. Me and Carson were left inside to deal with he heat. Next year it will be the 4 of us out there, can't wait for that. Today Randy made me help him wash the windows. They look great but really, of all days you have to pick today. God love him.

Here we are on our way out the door.

Here we are after we had picked our berries.