Saturday in Seattle...

Saturday morning, up early and out for a ww meeting.

 Lynn looks and feels so good, she has been so successful with weight watchers.  She inspires me and I am so proud of her!

A new milestone, Brooklynn can zip up her sweater all by herself now.  It's a tricky zipper with a big learning curve. Yay!

Back to Nene's house to leave some art work on the sidewalk!

Then to the market to see Ralph and Panda (and shop)!

Her tie dye is amazing and so beautiful.

I heard someone talking about a custom order for their Denver Bronco colors.... I think my Strong Silent Mysterious man and I might have to have some matching Boise Bronco tie dye for football season!!!!

The market was so fun, and even had play toys at the park in the center... so we had to blow off some steam there.

Wait, I didn't get a good shot yet, go again!

One more time, I don't think you were smiling in that one!

Perfect!!!

Then we ran off to meet "the girls" for lunch at BRANKS BBQ!!!!

Yummmmmmm!!!!

I totally forgot to take pictures. Darn.

Back at the ranch, Lynn was catching us up on what was taught at the ww meeting.

We went back to the market to pick up a rose bush Lynn bought and very carefully picked out from one of the vendors, and when we got there he was trying to give us an ugly pink bush, which was clearly NOT what we picked out just a few hours before.  So he was gracious and gave her the money back.  But she left without a rose bush :(

Then Mom and Lynn and I went up the hill from Puyallup to South Hill and found "Charming Charlies"... Oh my.  It is an accessory store with all kinds of jewelry, and watches and belts and shoes and earings and bracelets... and they are displayed around the store by color!!  It was allot of stuff to look through... I was kind on sensory overload.  But it was so fun!  I am really glad they are not in Idaho!

I really didn't "do" anything all day, but I was sooo tired that night.

Slept like a baby :)

Sleeping beauty in Seattle...

Road Trip!!

Well not really, I flew to Seattle to be with Mom for a few days.

It's just been hard for all of us since we lost my Dad in April.

I needed to see her and be with her!

Friday night I flew out, it felt like night... but then you lose an hour, and it was daylight forever!  

I kept seeing all these trails going over the mountains.  Are they roads, or like critter trails?  I have to ask my Strong Silent Mysterious man about them.  Just curious.

The lakes in the top of the mountains reminds me of the missionary.

Oh he loves to hike and camp.  This looked like a secret mountain get away he would aspire to find.

It was a super rough flight!

I was so sick by the time we landed, I thought I might not make it all the way from the gate... I felt horrible!!

 But then as I came out of security, I see the girls!

And Brooklynn had a Dora party hat waiting for me :)

It was so good to see them.  We made quite a scene going through the airport to the car. 

Once I thought I was going to have to give up my Dora hat, but I knew it would break Brooklynn's heart, so I had to leave a little blonde girl in our wake eyeing the hat with much adoration, with her Mamma explaining as we walked away "no they didn't give those hats out at the airport, they must have had a party dear".

The first view of the mountain as we left the airport.

Then back to Mom's for our much anticipated slumber party!!

We stayed up late watching "Alpha and Omega" eating popcorn, watermelon and cherries and then making up bedtime stories.

I think Brooklynn outlasted us all, she has 

slumber party endurance I tell you!

So fun, I am so glad I came, even for such a quick trip.

4th of July 2012

We kind of failed at Independence Day this year, it was a bust.

We were planning to sneak off and go on an overnight camping trip Saturday.  We would have been home in time for church Sunday afternoon.  But we don't normally do that where it laps over onto Sundays.  We were all packed up and ready to leave, attended a baptism Saturday afternoon, then we were coming home and changing and leaving.  

I broke out with a horrible cold sore, and it was HOT, so hot outside.  We changed our clothes and decided not to go camping.  We cooked our camp food on the grill... aces on grilled foil burritos by the way! And stayed home.

As it turns out, Sunday we got a call from a lady Jim home teaches, and she needed a priesthood blessing.  He had tried to make contact with her for months and he was feeling like she was avoiding all of his attempts, seemingly not wanting a home teacher.  He had been discouraged and was giving up efforts.  But we both know the importance and impact reaching out and caring for someone, even when they may seem to NOT want you to, means.  Sh called, sort of out of the blue...  and was having surgery the next day and wanted her home teachers to come.  He was so thrilled she called!  All of their seemingly failed attempts, were not failed at all... when she needed her home teacher, she knew exactly how to reach him and she called.  Good thing we didn't go camping.  If I had to take the fall with a huge ol' cold sore to keep us home, well knowing what I know now, I am happy to take the fall.

So the weekend came and went, and Monday we were both working... by Wednesday, the actual holiday, it was a much needed day of rest for both of us.

I did make some Dr. Suess cookies for girls camp but left the photo in my other camera.  So I will post that if I have camp photos later.

We pretty much just rested and spend the day together. Nice.

I thought since we had such good rest and relaxation that we might go somewhere to enjoy the fireworks, but "we" (and by "we" I mean HE) decided to stay home with the dogs in case they got a little crazy from the big bangs outside (seriously some dogs go crazy, but ours are oblivious).  But just in case... we stayed home.

It was sad for me, holidays, all of them are super hard without Jacob!  There, I said it.  So hard.

We can see some good fireworks from our back porch, but when I had a few failed attempts at photos, I got frustrated and went inside. Uh yeah and pouted.

Then I just tried to remember what we celebrate, our countries independence!  There is nothing better than having that "proud to be an American" feeling in your heart!  I do love patriotism.

And with my sons feet not on American soil right now, it was a good time for me to reflect upon what it meant to me.

No worries, by the time the morning of the 5th came around, so did I.  Holidays are just hard with a missionary out.