Portland

We all had a great trip to Portland in August!!!

We spent 2 wonderufl nights at our Aunt's house, which is remodeled and the most gorgeous place I have ever seen!! We all had an excellent tim in the pool, which was my first time in the pool in the 10 years I have known Eric... crazy!!! Isabelle had a blast, riding on all teh floaty toys and showing off soem of her new swimming skills she learned this summer.

Daddy showed off some of his diving skills!

I also got to spend some time with one of my closest ever friend, from High School!! She and I got so family time where the kids got to play and get to know eachother... and some much needed girl time with coffee and walks! There are 10 years that we are still catching up on, and we seem to be doing great at that and making new memories as well!

Us girls!

(L to R) Patty, Me, Karen

All the girls!!

And the boys!

Can't wait for our next trip down... I promise that it will be more then once every two years!!

Swim AND Tennis

This summer my parents helped out and got Isabelle some swim lessons which she absolutely LOVED! Below are just a few of the many photos... there are also some short videos but they are not uploading, but they are fun too.

Isabelle with her teachers and other kids in her class

She starts out with good jumping form and then ...

... falls in

There are some things that we need to continue working on.

Jumping, going under water... maybe next year.

We had to walk past the tennis courts every day to get to swimming lessons and everytime, Isabelle said she wanted to do that too. So... we put her in 4 tennis lessons, just to start and see how she would like. She did!

Tennis we can practice against the garage doors.

More lessons next summer!

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... ;)