2nd Annual Pig Roast

It was again, maybe even more fun this year, but a wonderful time with friends, family and amazing food. Dave and his bro brought in a 90 lbs sow (last years was 60 lbs) and prepped it the night before, got up about 6am and began cooking. People started arriving about 2 and we were 'pigging-out' about 3:30pm.

We have learned that a 90lbs sow is probably the largest

that our grill can hold and successfully cook.


A view of our backyard: our new deck, tents up for shade, a hamock for lounging in the sun... a place for everyone!

Anton brought his 'professional' volleyball net and set it up for some adult volleyball fun, a 'true' tournament. So after slip-n-slide, they all dried off playing V-Ball.

The new sandbox and painting station (not pictured) got SO much use. If a parent could not find their child, that is where they went. :)

LOVING our new deck!

The most amazing pork chef ever!

Thanks to Tracie, we have now a AWESOME 100 foot slip-n-slide!

Adults and kids the same loved it... nothing a little baby oil wont do to make slipping more fun!

Once the adults were finished sliding as far as they could go, Mat here almost got to the end...

The kids all went on, splashing and sliding and falling and who knows what...

but they had FUN!

We concluded our evening with a fire and the best stories in the hamock. We would of had smores' too, but the cat ate the marshmellows... so lessoned learned for next year!

Mark your calendars for July 2011
3rd Annual pig Roast is set!

Tall Ships

Back in June, my parents took us to see the "Tall Ships" in Gig Harbor when the y were visiting there. The Tall Ships travel all up and down the Weast Coast (maybe other places too that I am unaware of) and they are AMAZING. If you get a chance to tour one of them, Do It. If you get the chance to go on a couple hour excursion, it is so worht it and a total must. Isabelle loved it!

The Lady Washington

Yes, that is smoke coming from the other ship, the two ships had a mock canon fire battle which was very cool! Isabelle really enjoyed it all, as she was a pirate too, she just thought the canons were too loud.

We sailed out on the Hawaiian Chieftain.

Isabelle making friends with the cook.

There was no, and I mean NO wind on this particualr of one of the windiest weekends in June, so both ships sent some men out in the dingy's, attached a line to the main ship and turned the ship around in order to catch some wind. It was a hilarious sight!

'Peter Pan' was on our ship as well!

In actuallity, this pirate was blowing bubbles from way up on the mast, but as Isabelle was the first to point out to all of us on the deck, there was 'Peter Pan' in the sail. She is so observant!

Look closely, all the little dots are the ships mates climbing up the rope ladders to lower the sails.

Coming in on the evening tide,

A beautiful sunset

and a full moon.

A perfect ending to a fun sailing adventure!

Picture Catch Up

Grandpa's visit from Florida, and all the cousins.

4 generations!

And now its ...

... almost September, in 2 days time.

Oh, where does the time go? My guess is that having two kids makes things a bit harder to update websites. Hmmm. The good thing is that I am still taking a ton of pictures, but even with that I am leaving them on the camera, not even uploading them to the computer.

And with school starting next week, full time (trainings all this week), and going back to school to get my pro-cert (since the state does not see me as a professional yet even after 8years)... wow. I did have to give something up though, in order to keep around som elevel of sanity... and that was my head coach position for the gymnastics team. I will still be the district rep type person, but practices and meets are no longer something that I will do... at least for a while, I may decide to go back someday.

Though, short and sweet, I am off to bed... pictures my come eventually.

What?? August Already?

Well, I guess that July just got away from us here in the country. Quickly in the bullets below, I'll show you what we have been up to and as this week progresses (hopefully... might go into next week too) i will get pics up and be all caught up. It is a goal at least.

So July consisted of:
- Eric's grandpa visiting from Florida
-Isabelle on a couple of sleep overs with her cousin
-The 2nd Annual most amazing Pig Roast with a 90lb sow slow roasted and devoured, and of course a 100ft slip-n-slide!
-My first mani/pedi ever... got a french manicure - the jury is still out
-Isabelle going to swim lessons for 4 weeks (which we are still in till mid August)
-Isabelle starting tennis lessons
-Going to and photographing one of the most amazing weddings (3 days of wedding fun in Cle Elum)
-A few trips to music in the park and a few infant/child photo shoots.

And now here is August. I have no clue what is in store just yet. I see my calendar sitting there on the table, but i really dont want to look at it. I think I will let it sit there till at least tomorrow, maybe the next day. :) But as I promised, I will catch up with photos are stories.

Till then... ;)

On our way to 50

This weekend, we celebrated 7 years!
I got up early and set up this little cozy on the deck, basically a little breakfast in bed but outside on a wonderful morning.

This direction does not have a good backdrop - however...

(a close up - 7 years is copper and wool - wool is not sold in the summer for obvious reasons so no wool, and copper is super expensive at the moment... so a really nice mixing bowl and some coppertone sunscreen will just have to do. :)

... The view when laying on the hamock is perfect!

Isabelle couldn't wait for some cinnamon roll!

Cuddle Time

Happy Anniversary... Here's to many many more.
I love you!

Been Busy

So, an update to those that read this on how we are:

Eric, still working at MS... until Sept, when he is going to take a month of paternity leave when I go back to work.

Isabelle is growing like a weed, and she completely exhausts me... not phyiscally, but mentally, since she is non-stop chatter. Gotta love it and all that she comes up with, her mind simply amazes me!!! I will have to really start writing down all the things she comes up with... hopefully I can find the energy to keep up. She will be starting preschool in the fall, a couple days a week.

William is long and 3 months old... he is smiling a TON and he has started to chuckle a bit here and there.

Me... well, I am currently still stay at home till Sept, when I go back to teaching in Tahoma ... still 8th science... but there is a change. I will be going back full time!! I have waited for this opportunity for 3 years and am excited to accept the offer. I am also super busy with all the photography... word of mouth is working!! YAY! The down side is that I am too nice, weak, something, and none of what I have done, am I getting paid for, all favors. I am chalking it up to experience.
Last weekend, I had four (4) sessions... a graduation / party on Fri night; a bridal shower sat; then Sunday an action session where I photographer moving bikes (both pedal and motor) and then went to a family portrait session that same afternoon. Hopefully Eric will be updating the website soon. I keep saying that, for months now, and it still has yet to happen. hmmmm

It is bedtime, but I must print the Father's Day photos super quick first. Sorry, cant post those here yet... it will ruin the surprise. Good Night

Memorial Day Photos

As promised, here are the photos from Memorial Day, in which Isabelle rode, with help from our friend Mark, and she had an absolute BLAST!!!

We made sure of all the safety precautions, as you can see... and adult riding with her, and a very large protective helmet.

Tripple Door Concert

Last night I went to the Tripple Door, a theater that has fine dinning, located in Seattle. If you have never been, then I HIGHLY recommend it!!! It is an old 1920's stage theater, refurbished and made into a dinner theater, where you can order from an amazing menu (mostly Asian food), eat and have great conversation, meet people and then enjoy whatever show you came to watch, from the comfort of your booth/table. If you are into concert where dancing or mosh pots are involved, this is not the place for you.

This wonderful night of June 2, 2010, I went to enjoy the amazing sounds of the twisted fiddle AKA the 6 string electric violin of the talented Geoffrey Castle and special guests Beth Quist (amazing vocalist with a 8 octave voice) and Dan Connoly (guitarist). The opening act was the most talented Gothard Sisters, who are three young ladies that are great Irish dancers and on top of that, fiddle players too!

Over all, it was an amazing night!

Something that I found very hard to do... take photos during a concert. All sorts of cameras were aloud (videos, stills, etc) however NO flash! Ok, no problem... but that made all the photos I took SUPER dark and on top of that the random colors of stage lights proved hard to work with after the fact as well. So these are a few of the photos I took that I was able to work with.

Hopefully I will get more chances to practice taking concert photos too, after much research first.

Memorial Day Weekend

The long weekend was nice! Well, the part of it that Eric was home for 4 days was nice. The part that the monsoon type weather never let up, not so nice... all our plans of doing things around the house, well more out in the yard, (like lawn mowing) did not happen.

We know I am attempting to build a sandbox for the kids, and I am so close… but due to the rain mainly (and the fact that I don’t like circular saws and have to wait for hubby to cut some wood), but again, mainly the rain, it is taking forever!!! It will be a very cool sandbox and a unique one too, when it is done. No kid will have one like it. Originally to be a 8x8, it is now closer to a 9x9 but no side is the same length. ;) The dimensions are off, on all accounts, however it is level. Really all that is left to do is make–shift a massive cover for it and then dump in the sand and then play. Like I said… so close. Good thing I did not go into construction of any sort. hahaha I did spend some hours out there working on it, even in the rain... but... maybe next weekend it will get done and then I will post some pics of it.

Isabelle had another first this weekend... hmmm... Pics will come of this too. I did not bring my camera with me to the BBQ we went to, since it was raining... I didn't think I would 'need' it. Well, I really should have. Good thing my friend had hers!!! While being safe and wearing a very large helmet, Isabelle went on her first motorcycle ride. It was just around our friend's property and of course our friend Mark went with her... drove the bike really and she just held on. :) She had a BLAST! It was on one of those little bikes that I guess you can put training wheels on (another friend so generously pointed out).

It was a good weekend.

And it is still raining...

Graduation

Yup, Sweet cousin Sophia has graduated...

... from Pre-School