Trip to Seattle...

We were up early Friday morning and out of the house at 5am to the airport. It was the most quiet ride I have ever taken. Jacob was fast asleep in the back seat, and while Jim is a man of few words, they are even fewer at 5am. But he was a good sport about it. And it gave me time to imagine the dip, followed by the long smushy kiss goodbye I might get at the airport from him.

So yeah anyway after my peck goodbye, we found our friends Steve and Michael checking in... they were going to Seattle on the same flight to see the Mariners Game, the same game we had tickets to. I was fun to have someone in the airport to talk to, and we were all excited and talked about how much fun we were going to have at the game. The boys were pretty groggy still, but they were excited enough to chat.

Figured out how to get the pics off my camera with the usp attachment... thanks Mom D! We arrived in Seattle and the welcome wagon was there to pick us up... one of my favorite things is the welcome at the airport. It about killed me when they changed all the rules and wouldn't let you go out to greet at the gate anymore.

Homemade Pies ~ YUM!! Sis and Jacob :)

Papa and Nene took us out to breakfast, I forgot to mention it was at the Casino Restaurant, and they have the biggest bestest most reasonable priced food around, and they make their own homemade pies... YUM! WE gave Aunt Lynn her birthday presents... I had made her a journal jar which she had been begging for, since we made one for her husband last Christmas. Okay now she is happy... I want to read postings for your stories out of the jar on your blog now Sis!!

Nephew Jerad and Jacob ~ who dressed you guys? :)

We stopped by my nephews new State Farm office he opened officially August 1st... I am so proud of him, he has turned into a great young man. Plus he encourages Jacob every chance he get's to go to college and not sluff off in high school. So I love him for that! It's much better when they hear it from someone other than the parents.

I forgot the trip to Lowes to pick out paint for Mom's newly remodeled kitchen... it needed it, and since I was the painting fool now, I thought I would just help her over the edge of scary colors! She picked a nice sage green looking color ~ very good taste Mom! Can't wait to see it on the walls.

We met Sergio at Lowes (didn't get his pic), he was totally focused on customer service... the best employee they have, which it's so hard to find good help these days. He made the whole trip! He knew his inventory and when we were looking at tiles and I was too proud to ask for help after way too long looking for a number of a tile, even though I thought I had mastered there inventory numbering system... he walked right to it and pulled on out for me. Sergio you rock! We are putting a good word in for you with the manager!

Then we went to watch the Mariners play Boston. Nene got us all lined out with snacks in a backpack Jacob was so gracious to pack around all night, and even an extra bag of trail mix and extra candy bars for Michael... he has a new adopted Grandma whether he likes it or not. Unfortunately, we didn't get to hook up with them at the game, we looked for them, but never found them. The snacks were great to have, but we couldn't avoid sharing a big heaping pile of garlic fries, of which we still smell like this morning.

Jacob took some pictures of the favorite Boston players for Michael.... although we were in the top of the stadium and I am sure Michael could get his own better shots from the 5th row 3rd baseline where they were sitting... it was all good, I want my son to be a budding photographer and we all have to practice right!

Yes, he's a nut too!

Me and Sis!!

Ortiz

The view from the top...

The real view from the top!!!

Ichiro ~ we love his batting ritual!!

I can't wait for today, we are going with my brother and his wife and her family to go fly kites at Fort Casey!!

Wahoo!!!

I made it through the pile!!! (ok I got enough done to make it work anyway)
I am finally packed and excited (well as excited as one get's at 4am) to go to Seattle.
We found out some friends of ours are going to be on the same flight this morning, and they will be at the Mariners Game tonight too!
A good time will be had by all!!!

The Pile...

I have to get through this pile of work so I can go to Seattle in the morning.

The good news is each slot represents one company I do work for, so you can see there are 3 companies in pretty good shape. The bad news is the other 3 I have to plug away today to get them done before I leave. They look like a big ol' huge mountain to me. I have to keep remembering... small and simple, small and simple, small and simple....

Not to mention all the housework that has piled up since I was gone to camp.

Jacob has been slow to motivate this week. We are down to 3 loads of laundry today.

But he is putting off the lawn mowing and unfortunately the longer he waits the hotter in the day it gets... and today there is no putting it off until tomorrow.

I guess it is good for him to suffer the consequences once in a while, and who am I to talk with "the Pile" I have to do.

I am trying to keep it all in perspective, and I know it will be here when I get home.... but I will enjoy my time so much more, if I don't get any long distance phone calls and have to send Jim into "the Pile" looking for something. And I won't have it on my mind while I am gone, so I can fill my head with other things. That seems to be the trend as I get older, not as many things fit inside my head at one time and when I try and squish too much in, I don't have any control of what falls out... and sometimes it is important stuff I should remember.

What I am grateful for today is that I have Jacob home to help me out with all the chores, and his loving smile even when he is grumpy and obstinate. I am grateful for my dogs who stick with me wandering from room to room trying to remember why I went in that room. I am thankful for my husband who is getting up really really early with us in the morning and let's me go spend time with my family while he stays home and works so we can have so many wonderful things in our lives. Did I mention he is also really great about not pointing out to me I am wandering from room to room, or questioning why I wander in the house. I am so grateful for a forgiving Father in Heaven, that helps me to understand my divine roll as a mother and wife, and when I just don't get it right, gives me more chances to try again and learn from all my silly mistakes.

It's beginning to feel like an all nighter, because I haven't even thought once about packing for the trip.... I can't wait for this part to be over, so I can get excited to go.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday Sis!!

What a great day for a birthday! It's my sisters birthday today.
I am sad I can't be with her to celebrate, but we are kind of holding off and doing the celebration on Friday when Jacob and I get to Seattle. She get's the day off of work and we arrive at 7am, so we will have a full day to celebrate her day, or as we so fondly refer to it as the Birthday Holiday Week Extravaganza!

I am so sad, I called her this morning and I have been so busy trying to get things ready to go to Seattle, that she actually said to me "Ah I have a sister". I guess I have been neglecting her, I have to keep working on my priorities... I get to wrapped up in things at times, I forget what is important. And I need to call my family and keep in better touch. I try, it just doesn't always come together like it should.

It is a big birthday month in our family... also celebrating today our niece Megan who is 20 and going to college in Utah. Our Nephew Trenton in Utah on the 3rd, another niece Wendy in Az on the 3rd, another niece Jeanie in Az on the 25th, and yet another niece Chloe in Utah on the 28th. Three of these 5 are in the same family! Their mom, Patsy, has her birthday plans full I am sure!

Happy Birthday August babies!!!

Fly by Weekend...

This weekend went by so fast.... I just blinked... and it was gone.

Morgan is still clinging to me everywhere I go, and laying on top of me, so when she falls asleep I have to wake her up to go anywhere. It is cute. I love her so much, and she is a great companion. I think I finally got caught up on my sleep. I got out early to go walking before it got hot... of course she was again right by my side. She loves to go walking with me in the mornings.

Jim and Jacob had an opportunity to go out on a friends boat to go fishing Saturday morning. They just took a few pictures, but the Snake River looked so pretty first thing in the morning. They were home with their catch for the day by noon, because it was too hot to stay out any longer. It gave me a few more hours to catch up on my sleep and rest. Jim showed me how to cook up the fish with a batter made with Krusteaz pancake mix, it was sooooo yummy!

We had to borrow a fillet knife from Aunt Fay... according to Jim if you don't have the right knife, they just don't turn out right. So she had just the knife, and we had enough fish to share with them.

Sunday was a great day. Jim and I got our new bar coded recommends. And our friends who went to Nauvoo, IL for vacation came over and shared their pictures, and brought us souvenirs. They were giving us a bad time for being in our PJ's at 7pm, but after 3 hours at church, then back in our clothes for a 2pm meeting, and back in our clothes for a 4pm meeting... we were not close to getting back dressed up after that. I love my PJ's on Sunday afternoon. It is my favorite family time!