Who Needs Toys...

...when you have a huge gravel pile to play in!

The kids have been rolling down, digging in, jumping down, throwing, scooping, running up, and playing king of, this big huge gravel pile.

They are going to be sad when Grandpa spreads the gravel out onto their driveway.

But for now...it is fun, fun, fun!

A New Kid in Town

Can you see Parker in the background? He was pretty upset, he no longer has sole ownership of the grandpa motorcycle rides. The girls are big enough this summer to want rides too.

I love seeing my kids making memories like the ones I still cherish of my childhood. I can remember hugging my dad really tight and screaming in his ear as he turned a corner and the motorcycle leaned just enough to where you thought you were going to die! Good times. My dad luckily has mellowed out a little, and I don't have to worry about him being quite so daring with my kids.

The Groom

I think I would be pretty embarrassed if I were Brian. Working 14 hour days is no excuse! I mean, he is about to be married and go to Hawaii on his honeymoon! Would you be seen in public with this farmer's tan!!??!!

Uncle Brian has been lots of fun this summer! The kids can't get enough of him!

Getting Even

"Grandpa, what do you have here?"

"Oh, look, glasses! I know what you are suppose to do with these!"

"Just hold real still and I'll have these on in a jiffy!"

"Perfection!"

"How do I look Grandpa? Wait, now everything is blurry."

"I think they look much better on you."

"I'll help you...a little to the right...

...a little to the left...

...Voilà, Grandpa you look amazing!"

"What is that you have Grandpa?"

"Candy you say?...Yum, I want some!"

"Yuck...this is definitely NOT candy! Rude Grandpa, rude!"

What it's all about!

Great Grandma Strawberry is now 85 years old. My kids love to stop in and give her loves. She isn't moving very well these days, it is hard to see her get older.  I am so glad that we came this summer. I love that my kids know their great grandma, and I hope that some of them are old enough to remember her forever!

Games

Grandma has been playing lots of board games with my kids. They have discovered Monopoly Jr., Sequence, Aggravation, Ker Plunk, and many more. Grandma is way more fun than mom!!!

Uncle Brian is more fun than mom too!

San Fran

My parents gave me the best possible gift for my birthday...free babysitting and quality time with my hubby!

After the wedding in Seattle, I flew out and met Mark in San Fransisco.

What a fun city! We went to Ghiradelli Square and had some amazing chocolate, Fisherman's Wharf...yummy fish and chips.

We traveled north to the Muir Woods, thinking we might see a few Redwoods, not so much. It was just a national park with hiking trails and regular trees. I guess for city folk it is a nice retreat, but we didn't spend very long there.

Just enough time for Mark to climb a couple trees.

We were told that we had to go see all the seals at Pier 39...but we hit an off time...there were only 3.

We went south to go to the beach (no pictures included...you are welcome), and stopped along the way to see Apple.

Right by Apple was Winchester House, a house a crazy rich lady built that has over a hundred rooms and stairways that lead no where.

Someone had way too much money and too much time on her hands!

Then the last night we were there, we tried to go to a Giants game, but we didn't realize how popular their game would be. It was a sold out game. They did have standing room only tickets for $40 a person...NO THANKS! I don't even like baseball all that much. So we met up with an old high school friend and her fiance and had dinner.

It was so much fun catching up with Liz and hearing all about San Fran from some locals.

30!!!!!

OH KNOW, I AM 30!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so I don't feel any different, and it's not so bad.

For my birthday, me and the kids went with my mom and brother to Snohomish for a family friend's wedding.

The Seattle temple was beautiful, it brought back memories of doing youth baptisms and sitting in the waiting room watching all my little cousins while the older cousins got married....good times!

Now I am old, and it is the little cousins and friends of my little brothers who are getting married.

My family used to live in Snohomish. When I was a freshman in high school, we moved to the other side of the Cascades to where they live now.

I forgot how beautiful it is over there. This is their driveway. My mom took my kids out to pick some flowers for me on my birthday.

Sometimes I have out of body experiences where I am watching myself with my 5 children, and I think...

"Is that really me?"

"Have I really been married for 10 years?"

"Do I really have 5 beautiful children?"

"It can't be, there is no way that I am this blessed! There is no way that I got this lucky!"

It feels great to be 30!!!