Summer Camping Trips

We took 2 family camping trips this year--one to Lake Wenatchee and the other at Camp Moran on Orcas Island. Both were great, but the kids decided their favorite was Lake W. b/c we weren't limited by the ferry schedule and they LOVED the beach there.


Arrival at Lake Wenatchee


Audrey Alyssa getting really dirty!


I think they are loving it and so is Maak! This was the first time he finally enjoyed the water and got in to swim.


Taking a swim--more like a raft ride.:>) Dad and his big girls paddling on the surf board


Surfs Up! Loving to climb the rocks in the lake


Dishwashers! Building our campfire for smore time!


We even got to watch a Bavarian show one night at the campsite! And...Katelyn participated afterwards in the chicken dance and got to dance with one of the ladies in the show!

Reunion with our Oregon Friends

We have been friends since we all gave birth to our first girls at St. Vincent Hospital in Oregon. The 3 girls and our families have remained friends since--now 9 years (each of our girls were born within 2 weeks of each other)! Due to our distance now, visits aren't very often, so its that much more special when we all get to see each other--a reunion of sorts.:>)


My girlfriends and I at Gas Works Park in Seattle

We had the privilege of having both families here for a weekend in mid-August. We all had a a great time together hanging out, sharing meals together, and spending the day in Seattle with them. We especially loved getting to use our home as we have always dreamed, now that our basement is nearing completion. We watched movies, played board games and had air hockey games all going on simultaneously. So fun! One night all the girls had a sleepover together too with the goal of staying up all night--they didn't quite make that.:>)


The 6 kiddos (minus A.&A.)


Amber and Madison Ashley and Madison


All the kids swimming at Pine Lake Park

We love you guys and are so glad we have remained friends even through our move. You ladies will always hold a special place in my heart! I look forward to many more years of friendship.

Katelyn is 7 (and has been since July 5th!)

Oh my...so far behind, but nonetheless, I thought I would try and play catch-up a bit while I have a spare 15mins. Did I say spare? Well, kinda spare. Depends what your priorities are I guess. And...right now, its not the dishes piled so high in the sink that one couldn't possibly add another dirty dish to it.


No cake for this girl--Hawaiian sorbet instead!


Her girlfriends in the party room at the ice rink where she takes ice skating lessons. Summer fun in a winter atmosphere.


Ready, set, skate, or ready, set, take a picture more like.

July 4th

We had a great and busy 4th this year! We started the day with all of us participating in Issaquah's kid and pet parade. It was very hot though, so we didn't stay after for the events.

So hot that Maak used Madison's hat as his drinking dish.


Then we drove to Eric's parents house on the Puget Sound in Olalla to celebrate the rest of the weekend with the family lighting fireworks with the cousins and celebrating Katelyns 7th birthday.



The girl cousins--triple A's--Audrey, Alyssa and Avonlea


Alyssa got to do her first ever sparkler--I think she liked it!


Look at all the firework loot! Papa went a bit overboard this year, but it sure was fun. Started after dinner and lasted until after 11, and still had more for the next day.


I LOVE this picture. This was their reaction to a stink bomb that the big kids lit. Each of them had a different reaction.


Happy 7th Birthday Katelyn!!! Where did time go?


Katelyn's 7th Birthday cake!
She is not my cake girl, so this was made using pound cake, whipping cream and a homemade raspberry puree sauce. Yummy!


Katelyns big present from Mom and Dad--Emily


A boat full of cousins!

Vancouver B.C.--Day 4

Left beautiful weather late Friday at Whistler, and headed to Vancouver late Fri. afternoon--the day of our anniversary. We went out to a nice restaurant that evening for dinner, walked the city and enjoyed some great views from our hotel room. I hadn't been there since I was a little girl, so it was like visiting a whole new place.


Views from our hotel room

Whistler--Day 3

Finally getting a snippet of time to post some pics again. On day 3 at Whistler, Eric and I went up on the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola that spans between Whistler mountain and Blackcomb. It is so surreal and an amazing engineering feat.


Here we are ready to embark across the 2 mountains. This just opened last December.


Blackcomb behind us and the 2010 Winter Olympic statue


Not the greatest picture, but this is what we went across


This is the very top of Whistler mountain--7,500 feet up! Makes me think of the song "God of Wonders Beyond our Galaxy".

Day 2--Whistler

Even though it was raining, it wasn't as hard and being from WA we knew we wouldn't melt.:>) We made reservations for ziplining and had a blast! It was a 3-hour tour up in the rainforest and it was awesome. I was a bit hesitant to do the Eagle tour (rather than the more gradual Bear tour), but Eric coaxed me into it. After doing it, I was really quite surprised. I really thought it was going to be more scary, but I felt very safe and wasn't scared at all! In fact, I mentioned to Eric that we should go bungee jumping off the mountain next.:>)


On a suspension bridge ready to zip down another line


Top of one of the treehouses


Me soaring over Fitzsimmons creek (which runs between Blackcomb and Whistler mountain)

Here is a short video of Eric taking off one of the ziplines upside down!

Happy 15th Anniversary!

On the 25th of June Eric and I celebrated 15 years of marriage! Phew!!! We have been through so much together already, but realize, Lord willing, that we still have that much more to go through together too. I am so thankful I don't have to do it alone!! Has it all been great? No, but I believe anything worth something requires work, and the more work, the better that something is/will be! God didn't intend life to be a smooth sailing ship, although there are days we wish it could be--I know I do! But, as I reflect, I realize it is those "not-so-smooth" moments that God uses us and helps mold us to become the person He intends us to be. He uses our weaknesses to ultimately make us stronger, our spouses stronger, our children stronger. I just love that!

Here is to at least double the years we have already been together babe. Thank you for sticking with me through all that life demands and for allowing me to become who God is intending me to be. It's a lifetime of work!

We were able to go on a 5 night vacation to Canada together with none our girls! Thank you to all of our family for making that happen, and I mean ALL b/c it really did take a lot. To Nana and Papa who watched them for 3 nights at their home, to Aunt Noelle who helped in that endeavor and allowed them to be entertained at their home for some of that, to my Mom and Dad who watched them the other nights. Memories were definitely made! Finally, to Grandpa and Grandma B. for watching our Maak. We couldn't have had such a relaxing time without you all!

On our way to Whistler, we stopped at Horseshoe Bay--Eric's dream town. Such a beautiful/quaint little town. Too bad the weather was changing that afternoon, bringing in the rain storm we got to experience for the next 2 days in Whistler.:>( Oh well, sure made us relax, which was the point right?!




Our bedroom at Nita Lake Lodge--luxury for sure! We were on the top floor and had the highest vaulted ceilings we had ever been in. We highly recommend this lodge if you are ever looking for a place to stay in Whistler.


View from our balcony of Nita Lake (Whistler mountain to the right)


Looking towards the Lodge at the other end of the lake on one of the trails.

Birthday Wish Come True

A few weeks back (we have been having trip after trip for the last few weeks, so I am a bit behind), Eric and his brother-in-law got to finally use their gift certificate they got as a birthday gift from his parents to go paragliding! Yes, paragliding! They do it off of Tiger Mountain about 15mins. from our house. Eric has always wanted to do this since we moved back here 5 years ago. It was a great surprise gift and a very special memory. He LOVED it and said he would definitely do it again. I think I even want to try it! Thanks Dad and Mom J.!

The family met us there and we had a b-que/picnic lunch to celebrate Fathers Day. It was very fun and we hope to make it a new Fathers Day tradition.


I think they are excited!


Here he comes...


Closer...


About to land...


We did it!


Here was his tandem partner/instructor right after landing


This was our little setup where we grilled, hung out,and prayed Eric/Jonathan would safely land.:>) It was such a joy to watch all the cousins cheering (more like screaming!) their Dad/Uncle were coming in to land right there in the field next to us.


The cousins being silly. There was a small creek right behind our tent site where they all played/through rocks while we anxiously waited for the Dads.