Reflecting

I took my boys to the Bellevue Botannical Gardens which are beautiful and free. My boys loved the waterfalls and running around.

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

I've also been doing a lot of reflecting this week. I have a friend going through a difficult time right now. The little girl that I CASA for is going through another transition and my heart is breaking for her as well. I think we are so blessed as Heavenly Father's children and yet there are many trials and learning experiences that test our faith. I know that we are here solely by grace. Everything we have/are comes from Him. Even though it's hard to understand the "why" of situations, we can turn to our loving Father. Sometimes, I just want to be able to speed through trials to the blessings. I want my friend to see the blessings that will come after she is strengthened during this difficult time. I want to take away her hurt. It's times like these where I am ESPECIALLY grateful for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ because I know that there is a reason for all, even if I don't understand the reasons.
I am just thankful for these two blessings and try my hardest daily to be thankful for what I have been blessed with and remember the blessings through the trials.

From August 1, 2011

Don't I have such silly boys to make me smile all the time?

From August 1, 2011

Oh and don't worry, that's PERMANENT marker, not blood. ; )

Celebrating Happy Couples!

After leaving Banks, we drove to Mulino to stay with Grandma Epperson. The boys loved playing in and near Milk Creek. The moon was so bright and beautiful that I wish there was a way to capture the beauty on camera.
Goodnight moon!

From August 1, 2011

Here we are celebrating Grandma and Grandpa Epperson's 63rd wedding anniversary!

From August 1, 2011

Okay, the boys think Grandpa is so funny wearing a bib like Ryan. I laugh everytime I see this pic.

From August 1, 2011

Seriously, still giggling.
Then we moved the celebration over to Grandpa's care home. Tony gave him a hat from Boeing with the P8 on it.

From August 1, 2011

Next fete was celebrating Becky's engagement to Ben.
Group shot #1

From August 1, 2011

Group shot #2

From August 1, 2011

Everywhere we were this weekend had the most beautiful views. Here is Uncle Ken manning the fire in front of the gorgeous view and the kids at play.

From August 1, 2011

The boys loved playing with the motorcycle helmet.

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

What is this?

From August 1, 2011

Ahhhh, much better.

From August 1, 2011

Will, the collector of caterpillars

From August 1, 2011

Taking the kids on a hike through the tall, tall grass.

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

Making grass angels.

From August 1, 2011

And...of course...playing with Will and Lucy's cool airplane swing.

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

I didn't get any pictures of Becky and Ben together, but it was still fun celebrating with them and spending time with family.

Baby Chickens, Rooster Soup and a visit to a Dear, Dear Friend

One of my dearest friends in high school, one of my bridesmaids, etc., moved to Oregon and we went to visit her and her cute kiddos. She lives on beautiful farmland with amazing views. They have sheep and chickens so the kids had such a fun time.
Here are Jenn and the kids picking berries. Ryan kept saying, "More black boobies (kind of a mash up of black and blueberries)"

From August 1, 2011

In front of the house.

From August 1, 2011

I really love daisies and I was just amazed by how beautiful it was so I took lots of pics.

From August 1, 2011

Lunch on the patio

From August 1, 2011

With this view

From August 1, 2011

The kids gathered eggs. There was an egg with a crack in it under the hen and Jenn realized it was moving! Later that evening (after we were gone, there were two baby chicks in the chicken coop!)

From August 1, 2011

Minutes after this picture was taken, the "bad rooster" started attacking Ryan. That rooster had started going after Julia before so that rooster is now "Rooster Soup" as Jenn informed me.

From August 1, 2011

Happy to be running through grass fields.

From August 1, 2011

Meeting Fluffy Magoo, one of their sheep.

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

I wish the world could know Jenn and how amazing she is. I was telling her as I took this picture that 16 years ago, I never would have imagined her living on land with sheep and chickens. Our teenage selves were very different. It's amazing what a difference maturity, life lessons and especially a true knowledge of our Savior's love for us has made in our lives. She is an awesome mom and friend.
We picked more blackberries.

From August 1, 2011

And then it was time to go. We had such a fun time and can't wait for the next visit.

Walking the Dog

Today was a get things done kind of day. We went grocery shopping and the boys played and Ryan napped. We of course had to take Saydi on her daily walk so took her to one of our favorite spots on the Cedar River Trail. The kids climbed, I picked blackberries and the kids loved the bridges.

From August 1, 2011

I tried to get the kids to look at me by telling them I had rainbows on my nose. Ummm, this is what happened.

From August 1, 2011

Ryan is growing up, *sniff*, *sniff*

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

Finding One of My Happy Places

First question of the day, "Don't I look so handsome?"

From August 1, 2011

Second question of the day. Where can you go when you need a lavender farm fix? I know, I know, not everybody will claim to need lavender farm fixes (but they should), however...since my sister-in-law and I traveled to Sequim, WA in 2003, I have been in love with lavender and lavender farms. A trip to Sequim was postponed so I found something slightly more local. Blue Willow Farm in Gig Harbor is about 15 acres and it's beautiful. One of the homes on the property was built in 1914 and has been turned into this picturesque little gift shop. We were greeted graciously by the owners, Bill and Tracy who took us on a tour. The website has the best pictures but here are a few of mine:
Here are the ropes of lavender bundles being dried in the barn. It takes 10-14 days to dry it.

From August 1, 2011

Bill showed the kids how to roll the dry bundles on a mesh screen to separate the flowers from their stems. The kids got to help.

From August 1, 2011

Then they got to help with the winnowing. You drop the lavender and blow so the lavender falls and the chaff blows away.

From August 1, 2011

Playing "checkers"

From August 1, 2011

Happy kids and happy me with all of the beautiful lavender.

From August 1, 2011

This was just one of the fields.

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

My souveniers were a bundle of dried lavender, a lavender soda and lavender shortbread cookies for the kids. Delightful!
Afterwards we ventured to the tot lot, one of the favorites of our former stomping grounds.

From August 1, 2011

The kids were happy to play with friends and run around until they were exhausted.

From August 1, 2011

The P-8A

Now that Tony is building airplanes, I thought I'd share a little bit more about the plane he's working on (or being trained to work on at this point).

From August 1, 2011

From August 1, 2011

And here's the description of the plane- P-8A