Justice

There are times when the human race completely lets me down. When I am brought to tears because of the heinous acts of others.

On Sunday, in a town near Seattle, four police officers were killed. Was it something flashy like a bank robbery, or possibly a drug bust gone awry? No. They were simply sitting in a coffee shop planning their work day, when a man walked in an started shooting the officers, no one else was targeted. The officers did their best to react, but all were lost there, trying to protect themselves and their community.

The person, or possibly better stated, the thing, that did this was injured in the onslaught but still escaped.

Of course there was a massive surge of help in the search, many police departments from around the area coming to defend their fallen sister and brothers.

This morning there was resolution. A police officer was making a "routine" traffic check. He discovered the car he was cecking was stolen and then spotted movement outside of the car. The shooter was there, shots were fired, the suspect was killed. He had one the guns from one of the slain officers with him.

Would I have loved to have seen him arrested and tried, Sure. Am I heart broken that it ended this way, Not at all. Do I feel like there has been justice, Yes.

Part of me is happy he didn't end up in prison. Cast in with deviants who would revere him for having been cold-blooded and heartless, for having harmed those who serve us daily and keep our towns safe. He may have ended up with the death sentence but he would have been a king among those who are confined to prison.

Bring On The Rain

Apparently the inner writer in me has been waiting for a little watering. It seems as soon as the rains came back so did the ideas. Most of you know that here in Washington we get our share of rain, and most of your share too. That's okay I'll take it. Without the rain we wouldn't have all of these amazing trees that I'm so in love with.

The other day we were riding along in the car. It was raining. And I happened to hear the kids. As I was listening I smiled, hearing them talk to each other always brings back memories of when I was a kid. Me and my little bro are 28 months apart--Mad and Ty are 22 months apart. It amazes me how often their conversations mimic the ones Jon and I had.

There was a pretty good rain going on, were zipping down the road, they kids were quietly chatting and laughing. As I started really listening I heard them involved in some competition. they were racing rain drops. As the beads of water gathered on the window they would each pick one, and then wait for it to start making it's journey across the pane, gathering momentum as it absorbs the other drops around them. Eventually the drops went faster and faster and finished their journey. Then the race would start all over.

I still find myself watching raindrops on the window, usually I do it while someone else is driving but every once in awhile I MIGHT get distracted while driving.

And I kept driving...

I left town last week. I had work in Spokane. It's about five hours away by car. I was looking forward to the drive. I had my iPod. I was going to rock whatever my heart desired, as loud as I wanted. It was going to be a good day.

Both of my kids were sick. My mom, who had broken both collar bones the week before was watching them for us. My dad had just left town for a work trip.

I went to the Seahawks game. They lost--BAD.

Then I hit the road.

Water bottle-check
Gum-check
Tunes cranked loud-check
Seatbelt-check

On my way out of town I tried to call my Grandma to let her know that I had gotten started an hour earlier than I had thought I would.

I tried her house, no answer, slightly odd.....So I tried her cell, no answer, VERY weird.

An hour later I got a call from my Grandpa. He had taken my grandma to the emergency room. She was having severe pain in her abdomen, and she was puking. She had just had surgery the week before and he wanted to make sure everything was okay. I told him that Ty had woken up with a 104.5 degree temp. (they had been sharing a water bottle the day before) I asked him to let me know what was going on, keep me updated.

And I kept driving. In the opposite direction. Away from my sick kids, my broken mom, and my grandma who was in this horrible state of limbo.

Running through my head was-- This is what I do for my family. I work. This is my job and this is just what I have to do.

Every mile as I worried about my grandma it got harder and harder to keep the car heading east.

I finally called my mom, okay it seemed like forever but it was probably only a few minutes. But it had been long enough to get all sorts of things running through my head.

My mom hadn't heard about my grandma yet so I filled her in. I managed to get to the end of the story before I started crying. Then the thing that started the tears, I told my mom that the only reason I was still driving was because I KNEW she would call me if I needed to come home. I said a few times. I needed her to tell me it was okay to keep driving.

I drove, but I cried for miles and miles.

I'm very protective of my family, I hold them very close to my heart. Don't mess with my family.

I kept going. heading away from my family when all I really wanted to do was go home and scoop them all in to my arms, kids, mom , and grandma, and protect them. Comfort them. tell them everything was going to be okay.

This is what I do. I work. It takes me away from my family at the most inopportune times. Sometimes I hate that I work. Sometimes it the hardest thing I do. But it's what I do for my family.


I'm home now, my kids are healthy, my dad is back in town, my mom is still broken but mending, and my grandma--not sure what was wrong with her, but she is off an adventure in China right now.

Everyone survived the week that I was gone.

A "Got to Share!"

A little while ago Kami had this little treat on her Friday Favorites. I had to re-share it with all of you. Katie is truly inspired, fun loving, quirky, and one of the most creative people I've "met" in the bloggerhood. That, or she REALLY needs to share.

She makes me smile. And I think she makes the world a better place. A happier world. A joyful world. A place I want to be a part of. I just want to give her

A BIG THANK YOU!!!!!

I would love to stumble across some of her projects!

I would LOVE to have her take my picture! (although Tiffany is quite talented as well)

Apparently, I'm not the only one who does dishes this way!

Seriously folks, this is one that you don't want to miss out on. It will surely brighten your day!

Two weeks ago.....again

So this two weeks ago is the week after last week's two weeks ago. If I would have started this last week it would have been titled "last week...." But now this two weeks ago is actually....



Dang , now I'm lost and confused....



Oh well, here it is. I guess if you have to be lost and confused Laguna Beach is the place to do it...



After a week of relaxing and a wedding I went a little further south. The best part, it was paid for and I got paid to be there. It was training for work.



The training was actually in Irvine, CA but I scored a sweet hotel right on the beach and it was so worth the whopping 15 minute drive.

La Casa Del Camino

The rooms aren't the largest things in the world. I stood at the corner of my bed and my hip touched the sink, but hey, I was right on the beach.



But there was the rooftop lounge. We hung out there lots. It was a great place to enjoy the sunset with an appetizer and your choice of refreshment. People may have been packed in like sardines but it sure was one happy tin of fish.

And the restaurant downstairs, WOW. So they serve "petite" sized portions. For petite prices. The best part, that means you can get portions of ALL the things that sound good on the menu. A $3 appetizer or three, shared between two people. A couple $10 entrees, and a $4 dessert. I was in Heaven. We ate there multiple times. It was GOOD! REALLY GOOD. If you and I were to roll in to town together I would take you there. My treat. Standing offer.

I had to sit in a classroom from 8-5 daily but as soon as we were out of class, happy bliss set in......There was the street to stroll down and shops and art galleries to stop and peek into. There were restaurants to discover. And there was the beach.

I played in the ocean. I raced the waves, dashing around the rocks. I ate some amazing food. I enjoyed the sunshine. I had a week, with no stress......

I watched this EVERY night--

On our last day we cruised on up to newport before heading to the airport and found my next house! There was this row of houses on a deep water channel with yacht after yacht tied up to a personal dock that led to patios, with amazing houses attached to the patios...these were not your standard bayliners, these were some NICE boats.

Someday....... Yeah, someday maybe I'll talk my Daddy into buying one.....House, boat, either on works for me.

Two weeks ago...

My family, Ben and the kids, along with the entire half of Ben's family--and once again, when I say Ben's family I mean the other half of MY family-- went down to the coast in Oregon for the wedding of Andy, Ben's twin, and Lindsay. Yea guys! Congrats!


But before the wedding came there was playing, and sleeping, and playing, and playing. Oh and shopping too.

Those are my dogs in the background. They did a GREAT job on the drive down. And they LOVED the beach. They ran and ran and ran and ran. And fetched and fetched and fetched and fetched. In the water and on the beach.

It all happened in Yachats, OR. Just south of Newport, OR. Don't ask me how you say it, I still don't think I have it down.... pretty sure its along the lines or "yaa-hots"

We flew kites, played in the sand, had fish and chips, and spent LOTS of time in a couple different glass blowing shops. We actually took a glass blowing lesson and the kids and I got to blow our own glass--Ben was off on a "Bachelor Day" so he missed out on the awesome fun. While Ben was off riding quads in the sand dunes and surfing, then off to a BBQ me and the kids picked out colors, put on safety glasses, and stepped in the "hot zone". The guy teaching us was amazing! He was so patient with the kids, he answered all of their questions. He let them get down and dirty putting the glass in the kiln and turning it. The kids got to help him roll in the color. Ty even got to use the big shears, pinching and twisting the hot mass, to put swirls in the glass. The guy even let Ty start blowing the glass, I got to finish it! It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. Right up there with skydiving. Really.

Madison did a great job of taking pictures, If I ever get them off my camera I'll have to share them with you.....

Then came the real reason for the trip........

The amazing union of Andy and Lindsay. Which actually happened at Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Congrats you two! I can't wait to see how cute your guy's kids are when they roll around!

Lindsay was beautiful, Andy was charming...It was a sunny, cool, chilly breeze kind of day. A gorgeous day on the Oregon coast. Pretty much picture perfect. Fairytale. A

great way to start a Happily Ever After.

Then the party started. There was food, there was cake, there was dancing. Really good food. Really good cake.

And I even had a dancing partner!!!!!!!!! (Ben only slow dances.) Me and Ty rocked the night away. Hopefully he dances with me for years to come.

And I got my once every 9-10 year dance with Ben. Okay, it's not that few or far between, but I pretty much have to wait for someone to get married. Ty couldn't resist the chance to grab some snuggle time with the two of us.

So Frustrating!

Why is it that I always think up the bestest posts ever while I'm no where near a computer to put it all down? How come I don't write this stuff down? For a while I had a notepad in my purse so I could write down ideas I had. I'm not the most organized person in the world. That didn't last very long.

Ugh!

I promise if I remember it later, I'll share.

By the way, I'm back. I know, I know, two weeks away. It was a long break but don't worry, it wasn't you, it was me.

Give away-not mine, but worthy

Kami has a giveaway going that was to scrumptious to pass up! Sam, I SO thought of you when I saw this one! 75 buck-a-roonies for Saaa-weet clothes. Hurry, you have till Monday the 24th at midnight.

C lick the pic to go check out the giveaway!

Going MIA

Okay, not that I haven't been already, but now I'm going to have a reason to be MIA.

I'm heading out for two weeks of Beaches.

Week 1:

Just down the road a bit along the central Oregon coast.

There will be a wedding.

There will be surfing.

Hopefully no sharks. No offense Tib, but free swimming with great whites MIGHT be a little much for me.

There will be fun.

There will be girl time. I'm bringing the glitter.


Week 2:

Then there will be training for work a little further south in Cali.

And more Beaches.

And more fun.

And I'm sure I will find an amazing restaurant or two!

Oh, and SHOPPING!!!!! Laguna Beach style. Maybe I'll be able to afford a ponytail holder or two..........maybe some gum..........Or I could splurge on a bottle of water.

there may even be a spontaneous post or two, no promises.

My life according to Nickelback

So I saw this one over at Tiburon's and thought it was way too much fun to resisit!

**Knowing that this is Nickelback, it should go without saying this is my censored version**

My Life According to...

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)"



Pick your Artist:
Nickelback

Describe yourself:
I’d Come For You

How do you feel:
Not Leaving Yet

Describe where you currently live:
Far Away

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Hollywood

Your favorite form of transportation:
Sea Groove

Your best friend:
Someone That You’re With

You and your best friend are:
Diggin’ This

What's the weather like:
Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good

Favorite time of day:
This Afternoon

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Where Do I Hide

What is life to you:
Gotta Be Somebody

Your relationship:
Never Gonna Be Alone

Your fear:
Fight For All The Wrong Reasons

What is the best advice you have to give:
If Everyone Cared

Thought for the Day:
If Today Was Your Last Day

How I would like to die:
Old Enough

My soul's present condition:
Deep

My motto:
Learn The Hard Way

I knew they spoke too me. Who knew they spoke for me so well...

The Battle of the Oak

Last night on the menu for dinner:

Roast with gravy, from Costco

Baked Mac n' Cheese, from Target

Green Beans, picked 30 minutes prior form the garden and steamed

Then there was this boy:

And a table:

(this one is more along the lines of my *next* table)

And 3.5 hours!!!

The boy would not eat his green beans. He went back for seconds on meat. He wasn't full, just picky. That doesn't fly at my house. There were tears. There were pleas.

It didn't work.

He sat. Until the beans were gone.

It took him 5 minutes to eat those beans once I leaned against the wall and started the out loud mantra of "Put one in your mouth." "Put one in your mouth." "Put one in your mouth."

5 Minutes! After waiting for 3.5 hours!

Maybe we need to work on math skills.

(p.s. I so won.)

Thankful Thursday

This week there are a couple things to be thankful for that are kicking and screaming and jumping out at me.


This WAS my background on my work computer for a long while......


This is my back ground right now. It's where I met up with Ben last time he was on a trip to San Diego. I had two amazing weeks in Coronado with my husband and kids!

Thankful#1--- In August I am heading to Cali for some training. I'm staying in Laguna Beach, my hotel is right by the ocean, they take chairs down to the beach for you. I'm going surfing. I am SO california dreamin' right now. Sometimes I just sit and stare at my computer, nothing up, just the picture, waiting to be there again.

Thankful#2--- In December I have some more training to attend. Also going is Tiffany!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This time it's off to San Diego. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MY FAVORITE PARTS OF SAN DIEGO WITH HER!!! One of my best friends, one of the best towns, and some of the best mexican food you can get. Does it get any better? Oh yeah it does! It's paid for! SAA-WEET! Hold on for a wild ride Tiff. :)

Passion

My passion of late..... Iced Passion! I am so grooving on unsweetened iced tea. Herbal and fruity and wonderful. There are a few flavors that I like, but the Passion is rocking my world!

And I don't think it's any coincidence that my favorite tea is also purple. Pretty sure they did that just for me.

Why I've been absent....

Between the pain that I feel right before popping these babies and the shakes that I get afterwards I haven't had it in me to think too much. Yup you heard me shakes. From the 65 mg X the 4 pills that I pop at a time. How sad is it that a tiny amount of caffeine......wait tiny amount let me check........ So 8ozs of Mountain Dew has 36mg of caffeine and everyone knows that no one drinks 8ozs of anything at a time. (thankyou pepsi) A double shot mocha, regardless of size, can land you somewhere around 144mg. (thank you energyfeind.com) Hmmmm, I guess I would have to be double fisting 20oz mochas to keep up with my double dosage of Excedrin. Maybe that explains the dizziness. :)

If only two worked than I would have no prob cutting back a little, but sadly even with my fail safe, glory drug, Midol, I have to resort to 4 pills at once--60 mgs of caffeine a pop there. Stinkin' headaches and cramps!


And while I'm at it........
This stuff, has the EXACT SAME STUFF as the migraine formula.......see:


From the Excedrin Website itself.....


EXCEDRIN® Migraine Product Information
Drug Facts
Active ingredients (in each tablet) Purposes
Acetaminophen 250 mg …………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Aspirin 250 mg ……………………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Caffeine 65 mg ………………………………………………………………………Pain reliever aid
Uses
• treats migraine


And then......

Excedrin® Extra Strength Product Information
Drug Facts
Active ingredients (in each tablet) Purposes
Acetaminophen 250 mg …………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Aspirin 250 mg (NSAID)* ………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Caffeine 65 mg ………………………………………………………………………Pain reliever aid
*nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Uses
• temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to:
• headache
• a cold
•arthritis
• muscular aches
• sinusitis
• toothache
• premenstrual & menstrual cramps


And when I went to the Walgreen's site and looked up the 100 count gel-tabs forboth varieties, the migraine style costs 50 cents more. Why? is it because if you have a migraine your that much more desperate? But the poor, poor people with the cramps, muscle aches, arthritis, colds and headaches aren't?


I was trying to explain this to Ben last night. His words....."I don't care what the ingredients say, the migraine works better."



Really? You think so?


If I just handed you a handful of pills would you really know the difference.


(I might. Being the connoisseur of medication that I am. )


But Ben, let's face it, he takes what I buy. I think I see an experiment coming up.

Why is it I can never get a speeding ticket when I desperately want one? You know, like right after I have a not so mild disagreement with my husband.

Mmm Breakfast

Oatmeal with chocolate chips in it. Yum! I just felt right this morning. It came to me as I was walking up the stairs.

It was pretty yummy when I first put the chips in and they instantly got nice and gooey. But now at the end after some scooping and stirring......It's all chocolaty everywhere! I think I need another helping.

Except maybe just a slightly bigger helping of chocolate this time....... :)

Trying to get motivated

A few months ago Ty's room looked like this. The walls were Tiffany blue. And I had this great idea to give him a whole new look. A zebra room. Ty LOVES zebras. I bought the paint, the room is now white. But darn it, it's still missing it's stripes. I HATE white rooms. White walls are the bane of my existence! There are no plain white walls in my house. Near white, but not white.

I think that today I may have stumbled across the kick in the butt that I needed. These are some pictures of Ty's room in our first house. I got adventurous, I had fun. I'm not quite to Brit's level yet...... Maybe some day.

For the leaves on the trees.......a feater duster comes in handy

Now I just need to get home find my paint brush and give that poor naked zebra room it's stripes!

This Weekend

This weekend was an amaaaaaaaazing sun-filled weekend, of which I have no pictures to prove there was no rain. Not that I didn't take pictures. I started to. My camera died. I think I died a little when it happened. Maybe a lot.

We piled everything into the car and of course had to make a stop or two on our way out of town. At one I basically ripped my finger nail off my poor little pinkie. Back on the road Ben and I had fun pointing at things out the window that the kids couldn't see since we had a cooler and pillows and sleeping bags piled high. I might have laughed inside a little every time they said "where?" Okay maybe that was just me and not so much Ben, but he did a lot of pointing to not enjoy it a little....

It being a holiday weekend we were ready to drive from campground to campground looking for a decent, open spot. The spot right next to the pit toilet and dumpster, not so perfect. As we pull into Staircase all of the on the river pull in spots were taken, we drove around the loop and then went to check out the walk in sites. So there it was, the best spot ever! Right on the river with a great little "beach" on the river bend. We moved in. I wish we were still there.

Ben unloaded the bikes and the kids were off while the two of us set up camp. Once everything was out and put away we were out and about. We took the kids down trail for a little peek at the future days and then back to camp to start dinner. Later after dinner Ty and Ben were throwing a football. I went over to take pictures and then set down my camera to throw a bit with them. And then out of nowhere comes this pissed off random hornet (I'm guessing since I never saw it) flies on up to me and stings me on the leg. What the heck!!!!!!

Smores. Oh the smores that the we devoured. Marshmallows and fudge stripe cookies. SO the way to go! Ben and I were MMMMMing all weekend long over that one!

The next day we went on a mile in-mile out hike. The kids did great! There were so many things to look at and take pictures of, which I did, Until my camera died. I was clicking away happily then went to go take more pictures then it happened. I tried to turn on my camera and nothing. It's dead. So dead. So completely dead. So utterly, completely, never going to breathe again dead. Thank goodness for the American Express Well, at least I could put it away and sort of enjoy may camera free hike. Who am I kidding. I'm still going through the grieving process. I won't quite be the same until I get mine back or the replacement check.......

Oh yeah, the hike. Madison and Ty rocked it! Then it was back to camp for a lazy, lazy after noon filled with lounging, sunshine, and reading, at least for me. The kids played for hours on the side and in the river. Ben made lunch and even roasted my hot dogs for me and brought them to me on the river edge. Oh the sunshine I baked in. The glorious tan that I worked on. Ben's parents came on up for a visit and had dinner with us. Then we had to make his Dad a smore or two.

The next day, we were off for another hike. With sandwiches packed we planed on having an adventure. All you Land Before Time fanatics join in with me now.......it's time to go adventuring, adventuring, adventuring, I want to go adventuring, adventuring with you! Yes, I sang it out loud and in my head as we were climbing over logs. It was a long, fun, sunshiny hike. It even included a few river crossings including me and Ty going for an unintentional dip in the river.

It was nice to get back to camp and relax and settle in for some steak and potatoes. It was pretty yummy after the trek we had been on. Then we went to a presentation by one of the rangers. He was actually pretty good. More sitting around the fire followed. I love fires. Not so much the smoke which seems to love me.

The next morning, sadly it was time to go home. Once again the kids were off enjoying some bike time while Ben and I broke camp.

It was an awesome way to spend our Fourth of July weekend. Family, fire, trees, hiking, food, fun, and good times and memories.

I can't wait for the next camping weekend!

Maybe someday I'll have pictures to show for all of our fun......

Warning--NOT FOR BOYS.....

No really, I meant it. Guys do yourself a favor and stop here.

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Okay Ladies, they had their chance.

So the question running through my head a while ago........

Do you use the same pads/tampons as your mom?

Sorry, now you know the craziness that runs through my head.

A Forever Love

I love this man with all I have. I've loved this man since the moment I met him. Today you get to hear our cheesy, corny, cliche story, as crazy as it is...... or at least my version of it.

Saturday July 31st, 1999-- Second Best Day Ever

I met Ben at a stake dance (church dance). I saw him there that night. A guy I had never laid eyes on before. I thought he was GORGEOUS! I was dancing with a guy friend of mine and I pointed out Ben to him and I said "I'm gonna dance with him tonight." *I found out later that Ben had the same reaction when seeing me through the windows when walking up to the building* I went up to the group that he was standing in as a song was starting. I stood right in front of him and asked if anyone wanted to dance....He jumped at the chance.

And then I was dancing with the coolest guy ever! He was talking and I was soaking it up. All of it. He played baseball. I love baseball. He surfed. How cool is that?!? He loved camping. I loved camping. There was just so much that we had to talk about. I have no idea what song was playing....who cares, I had a pretty promising guy captive for the duration.

He hates this picture. I love it!

So every month after the dance there would be a gathering at my house. Stocked pantry, loaded fridge, surround sound, MASSIVE collection of movies. I told Ben that I had some friends coming over after the dance and asked him if he wanted to come along.......He said yes and I think I started floating a little bit. I knew I couldn't just let him disappear in a trail of exhaust. The next thought that ran through my head--"Crap, my parents are out of town and I haven't talked to any of my friends yet!!!!!!" The song ended and I tried to run off to ensure that I wouldn't be at my house, alone, with some guy I just me and his friend. He wanted to talk some more. I obliged. Then I ran off and told my friends they HAD HAD HAD HAD HAD to come over because I had just invited a boy over and once again, my parents were out of the state.

He came over. We watched a movie. He positioned himself near me. I put my hand right next to his and then......He didn't go for the kill. I swear, if his hand would have just brushed mine I would have taken the lead but nothing, nada, zilch! He didn't hold my hand! What the?!? I put it right there for the taking and he didn't go for it.... I was confused but still sublimely happy that he was there.

I got a phone number. I gave him mine. He left my house and I told my friend Brit that he was mine. I knew it. She was spending the night--trust me that plays into the story shortly....

Eventually we went to sleep.

Sunday August 1st, 1999

Me and Brit woke up and I decided it would be a great idea to give Ben a call. Yup, I called the next day, it hadn't even been twelve hours. I called, someone answered. I asked for Ben. We talked. He was on his way to church. His parents had an unplanned road trip to attend to that day.

We got off the phone and I turned to Brit and said "Lets go find him!" I grew up in Poulsbo, WA he was in Port Orchard, WA. A whole 22.5 miles apart. I had NEVER been in PO. This simple route....Not the one we took.
Brit knew where one of the chapels was in PO so we went there. I saw a lady in the foyer and started describing Ben to her. She told me he was at "the other building" and started spouting off road names and ways to turn. Yeah, I was gonna remember that. Good thing we had a quarter. I drove, Brit flipped the quarter every time we came to a crossroad. We kept on stopping at gas stations and getting more directions. Eventually we found the church. You know what....that quarter was NEVER wrong!!!!!

Once again I went up to an unsuspecting stranger in the parking lot and described Ben to him. he knew Ben, he was in Ben's class. His name was also Ben. He took me to the door and asked if I wanted to go in.....Yeah right, I'm not THAT crazy. Me and Brit waited in the foyer.

I can still remember exactly what he looked like as he walked down the hall towards me. He was wearing cargo khakis, he had his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and he had on this tie with a yellow background and golf bags. (I think he stole that one from his dad) I'm pretty sure I heard a heavenly chorus. Yeah, there were definitely angels singing.

He smiled said hello and then took me to Young Womens. What? You mean I still have to go to class?!? Hello I just tracked you down and you're sending me to class? Okay. After church we went to his house for dinner.

Ben has a BIG family! NINE kids. Way more than the two I grew up with. A few of them were there that night. Plus me and Brit and Ben's friend Ryan. It was quite a gathering. There was turkey, and stuffing. We all gathered around the table and then Ben asked me to say the blessing on dinner. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it! I had never met these people before in my life!!!! So what do I do? I pray. We eat. And then we settle on to the couch for another movie.

Apparently Ben's parents learned a thing or two raising nine kids, Ben and his twin being the youngest, Their couch was so narrow there was no way that two people can lay next to each other on that thing. Not that we tried that day, that was like two weeks down the road. (okay, more than that, I think.) Anyway, Ben was laying on the couch one way and I was laying on the section square to that. We were watching Last of the Mohicans, one of Ben's favorites. At one point, I couldn't take it anymore. The boy wouldn't make the move to hold my hand. So I tickled him. And he grabbed my hand to stop me. And I held his.

We talked on the phone multiple times daily. By Wednesday I had sent him an email asking where we were going with this and what he felt our "status" was. On Saturday we had our first real date. And our first KISS!!! It was sweet. We were down on the water at this place called Prospect Point. It was sunset and there was this amaaaaazing double red rainbow. He kissed me. Just a peck. No intimidating, suffocating tonsil mangling, just a sweet simple peck. BEST KISS EVER!

We have been together ever since.

We were married July 1, 2000. Best Day Ever! It has been an amazing, intriguing, roller coaster thrill for nine years of marriage(10 of togetherness). I can't wait for the next one or the next 50!

I love you Ben. Thank you for being an amazing partner, friend, lover, companion, snuggle buddy, personal torturer, alarm clock, taste tester, house cleaner, repairer, father of our children, dish washer, and mechanic. Hopefully I can pay you back for all that someday!

You are my destiny!

Summer Fun

I love fire.I love hot dogs.I love summer.I love sunshine.I love family.

I love the way a hot dog tastes when it's been cooked over an open fire. Nothing like it. Nothing better. Except maybe a second one. Or a third.

Ha. We found a way to keep them still for a minute or two!


Just ketchup please.....

And then the masterpiece. The crown jewel~ Dill Relish. No sweet pickles please.

Doctor Dolittle

.......THE MAN WHO WALKS WITH THE ANIMALS - TALKS WITH THE ANIMALS - GRUNTS AND SQUEALS AND SQUAWKS WITH THE ANIMALS........

This dog was fascinated with Ty. The feeling was mutual.

Who wouldn't be fascinated with this kid? Obviously I am.

Jeans

So I work on the fourth floor of my building.

There are no offices above the fourth floor.

There are many places that I have to visit on all the floors below me.

I make LOTS of trips to other places in the building.

Our elevator is broken right now.

I don't take the elevator often but it's a nice break once in a while.

Four flights of stairs SUCK at 6:00am.

My jeans are getting tighter in the thighs.

These are jeans that have been worn more than once since that last washing and are nice and stretched out. --But not filthy. Sorry Tiffany.

Did I mention that they are getting tighter in the thighs and not the waist, hips or tush? Sweet.

Broken elevators SUCK.

Road trip

This weekend we went visited Mount Rainier National Park. I LOVE Mt. Rainier. Really love Mt. Rainier. I was so happy to share my favorite mountain wiht my kids. I have so many memories from growing up of time spent with my family hiking, swimming, and camping up on that big pile of rocks.

Yes summer has officially begun but there is still 10 feet of snow at Paradise, our destination for the day. Not that we thought about that one as Ben and I were getting dressed that morning. The kids had pants, shoes, and jackets. Ben and I however.......

It was a little cold for him in the snow with the flip-flops I suggested. Ooops. But hey, who doesn't wear flip-flops in the snow, that's normal right? Or is that just me? Okay, my toes got a little chilled too but the sun was shining and the pavement was nice and toasty :)

So there are waterfalls EVERYWHERE. It is a mountain. And I couldn't help but take a million pictures of them. I even included the family in some of my pictures.

And then there is always the selfportrait photo opp. Snuggle up hon. Cheese!

Hey Tiff, how come Ben didn't smile like that for our photo shoot?

Then there is always the time you have to take to throw rocks. You MUST stop and throw rocks in the water when given the chance.

Loved this waterfall. Love the boy by the waterfall even more though!

After running around all day why not stop and play on a climbing wall too? We actaully had to wake the kids up to get them out of the car.

Have I mentioned that Madison has a fear of heights? I'm not really sure I understand her fasination with climbing but she loves it. It's just the coming down that makes her nervous.

We had a great trip and are planning on going back. Soon. Maybe for a night or two this next time. I'm thinking I have a four day weekend coming up in a bit. Sweet. Pack the bags honey. Wait, that's my job.