Bright

Blog postings may be scarce but sunny Seattle days have been plentiful. Maybe it's just cuz I'm in a good mood lately but I really think this is some of the best weather we've had in the usually depressingly cloudy summer months.

Ellie has been enjoying many hours of fun in Ma-Pop and Ba-pop's backyard.

She loves watering the plants, playing 'fetch', pulling her wagon and digging in the dirt.

Stay tuned for news on my new obsession. That's right, obsession!

Baby face

Remembering

My mum's neighbor and good friend lost her battle to breast cancer yesterday.

Tess, DA, mum and Claudia

Claudia lived life with so much zest!

She was the biggest Rick Springfield fan! She went to every concert he played in the NW and even went on a Rick Springfield cruise last fall.

She was never afraid to be silly and she always told the people in her life how much she loved them.

Today, as I was begrudgingly doing laundry, I stopped and thought about how every moment is so precious.

At least, I get to be here today.

At least, I get to go give Ellie another hug.

And I will always try to remember to live life like Claudia . . . smiling, laughing, loving.

S u r p r i s e !

Good news came last month when we found out Drew's sister got engaged while vacationing in Costa Rica!

Since we've never been down to visit them in Atlanta we decided to surprise Shaneen by attending their engagement party!

She had NO idea we were coming and it was such a great surprise.

My future brother-in-law, Anthony and his very sweet parents.

CHEERS!!!

The Nobles at the 'Wheelbarrow festival'.

Beers on the street and southern bbq!

What could be better??

The wedding planning has begun in earnest and to my delight Shaneen asked me to make the invitations. That meant we had to spend time at the local scrapbook store (to Drew's obvious chagrin)

And we even got to go dress shopping with Shaneen.

She found the perfect dress and bought it on the spot!

Ellie stayed with ma-pop and ba-pop and had a blast. We missed her like crazy but we knew she was in good hands. Plus, the thought of taking a toddler on the plane sounds like my own personal hell!

So to sum up . . .

• we flew first class!! (because we used our air miles)
• stayed in a beautiful suite with jacuzzi tub in a brand new luxury hotel (we got a great deal through Anthony's sister . . . Thanks Myrna!)
• got to go to the scrapbook store
• AND got to go wedding dress shopping

Pretty much my dream vacation!

Birth is . . .

hard

inspiring

long

joyous

relentless

painful

and

beautiful!

Thank you Tony, Sarah and baby Dylan, for letting me share in your birth.

It was an honor!

Oh, happy day!

Some of you may not know that I have a little obsession. Every year, come April, Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for yard sale-ing!

No, this is not a new sport involving the wind!

My mum and I hit up every yard sale (aka: garage sale/tag sale) within a 15 mile radius. I swear Bothell is the yard sale capitol of the world!!

But lately, we have been getting a little tired of our same old route so last Saturday we headed down to a friends house in Lake Tapps. It was a 100 mile round trip but it was well worth it!

Lots of houses participated in the neighborhood sale and we loaded our wagon with treasures!

The yard sale queens . . . Tess, mum and I.

So to all those cynics out there (aka: Dad and Drew). . .

YES, we really do need all that stuff!

Hello, Summer

The weather has been so wonderful this week in the NW, we have spent many hours outside.

Most trips to the park start on the playground equipment but quickly move to the trails and grass. This kid loves nature.

mmmm, dirt!

Notice the tongue out when she's concentrating . . . she's such an Ocamp'!

Instead of blowing the dandelions, she spits on the flower then tosses it in the wind.