Sun River, Oregon!

Sun River is an amazing vacation spot in inland Oregon...just outside of Bend. We had so much fun with the Leitz Family biking, swimming, eating and playing in this great town! Guy and I have been friends with Steve and Steph since our college days...I guess that means we go back about 15+ years! In the pics...our fam, Owen at the pool, me and the boys on a bike ride, and the Leitz family...from left...Ellie, Parker, Steph, Jake, Steve and Megan.

Cousin Visit!

Ok so this is my cousin Kristie-only one year younger than me and lives in Canada with her hubby Rob and their two adorable boys Kyle and Carter! It had been years (10+) since Kristie and I have actually had a visit and caught up on life. We grew up together as little girls hanging out at Grammy and Pa's on Lake Washington and here we are all grown up with our boys! In this pic is Owen, Kyle, Luke, AJ and Carter.

A Visit from the City Slickers of San Francisco!

Meet Oliver and Vanna and their two handsome young men...Callum (4) and baby Finn (9 months). Every year they make a road trip up to the Pacific NW to visit family and friends on Whidbey Island. They managed to squeeze us in on their journey home and we are so grateful that they could spend some time at our house! These guys are the best house guests...they go with the flow, never complain...and they bring presents! Thanks for a wonderful visit guys and Luke is still asking "When can we go to Oliver and Vanna's condo?" and Shelley is wondering when can I go to the Jean Bar in San Fran??? One of these days we will get down there...promise!

The top pick is AJ, Callum, Luke and Owen-all settled in for a movie!

Luke rides the two wheeler...

Ok, so Luke is a very smart, determined, fun loving kid who won't do anything until he knows he has mastered it...like riding a bike. On this particular August day we were given a bike from our

generous neighbors...The Freitag's. Heather called and said they were leaving on vacation, they all had got new bikes and they would love to give Luke Josh's old bike. Josh and Luke are best little buddies, but Josh has been riding his bike for months while Luke chased him around the cul-de-sac on his scooter. So I graciously accepted the bike on one condition...that by the time they got back from their vacation, Luke would be able to ride. So the next day I showed Luke the bike (I was not allowed to make a big deal about it-he does not like the attention), so he said he was ready, hopped on and just started riding...as if he had been doing it for months. No falling down, no training wheels, no help, no advice....just alot of "don't get so excited mom". So proud of this little man! Way to go Luke!

Someone had WAY TOO MUCH FUN with Mommy's lipstick...

This pic deserved a post all on its own. Owen, so kind and gentle...always walking around with his head tilted to one side saying "hi" with a huge grin on his face. Happy to see anyone that comes his way and always willing to give hugs and kisses. On this particular evening little O had just had a nice bath and somehow wandered off for a moment, got into my purse, pulled out the lipstick called 'soul sista' and decided to paint his body, arms and fingers with my brand new favorite lip color! Never once did the color get on the carpet or walls, just covering his little fingers and all the cracks! So back in the tub he went...and what a scrub down he got!

Trip to Pullman and Colton, Washington...

Recipe for craziness = 3 kiddos, two adults, too many oreos, no dvd player, AJ complaining of a tummy ache because he gets car sick, Owen yelling "mamma" the entire time to make sure I am still there and Luke wondering "how much longer" every 30 minutes on a 6 hour car ride. CRAZY! Two hours into the car ride AJ had an entire piece of gum wrapped around his head...he still has gum in the hair today. Needless to say, we made it to Grandma and Grandpa's (or as AJ says-Grandpa and Grandpa's) house in Colton all in one piece to start off our 4th of July weekend! A fun weekend indeed...although Owen started off the trip by falling out of the trailer onto the driveway and has the biggest black eye on a 19 month old I have ever seen (notice in the pics). We then did the Johnson Parade (in Johnson) and hung out and John and Tricia's (in Pullman) as we ate and drank our way through the day. The kids spent the entire day in bathing suits and I spent mine watching them from the deck-yeah! Watched an awesome fireworks display at Sunnyside park where AJ said his eyes were bleeding as soon as the show started. Followed up with some golf and pool time, it was great to be together...thanks everyone for a great 4th!

Back to the Old Stompin' Grounds

Last week the boys and I drove up to Bellevue to pay a visit to my family. We could not have asked for better weather in this great land that we live...the Pacific NW...cool mornings, hot days and breezy evenings...simply perfect! Mom's cooking, Dad's grilling, some pool time, park time and golf time, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents....thanks everyone for a great week!