Me and my girl

It's a rare day when Lainey wants to cuddle and when it happens, I soak it up!

She took a short, late nap the other day and was not at all convinced she wanted to be awake.

Why I love staying at home

I don't think I could handle missing out on Lainey's daily antics. Yesterday she came out of the playroom wearing a visor as a tiara all the while blowing her duck horn that she got when we rode the ducks in Seattle. And she hit the jackpot today when I was cleaning out our hall closet. She found all sorts of goodies to get into. And apparently, she thinks this look is pretty cool. At least that's the impression I get from looking at this picture.

Petting zoo at the fair

I have always loved going to the fair. Elephant Ears, cotton candy, rides that make you just a little queasy....I LOVE it. And to say that I've been excited to take Lainey is an understatement. For years I thought about how much fun it would be to take our children and finally, this year I got my chance. Even though it was well over 80 degrees, Lainey had a great time yesterday at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. She was fascinated by the rides, the marching band walking by made her dance in her stroller, liked eating fruit and ice cream (the latter being a rare treat--it IS the fair after all!), and tore through the petting zoo calling saying oooohh! and moooo! It was the day I've waited a long time for and was well worth the wait! I wish I had caught it on video but there's always the Puyallup Fair in a couple of weeks!

Congratulations Red!

Watch out world! There's a new driver on the loose!

Bet you're wishing you had let me get one good picture now!

Got Milk?

Sure wish I had been following that truck! I would've volunteered to clean that mess!

Crash strews Oreos over I-80

THE BLOTTER Tribune staff reporter
3:12 PM CDT, May 19, 2008

Several lanes of Interstate Highway 80 were shut down for hours overnight after a truck hauling Oreos crashed into a median, spilling tons of the chocolate cookies across the highway, police said. The crash occurred at about 3:40 a.m. Monday on I-80 just east of Morris, said Master Sgt. Brian Mahoney of the Illinois State Police. The truck was westbound, hauling about 20,000 pounds of Oreos, when the driver lost control and the rig hit a median before veering into the eastbound lanes. The impact ripped the trailer open, spilling its cargo across the eastbound lanes of the highway, he said.The driver was not hurt, but police had to shut down the eastbound lanes for several hours while the cookies were cleaned up, Mahoney said. The wreckage had been moved to the side of the road and lanes had reopened by about 6 a.m.

Wild Waves

Robert and I left Lainey with her grandparents and along with Karlie, Lacy and Carsten, headed off to Wild Waves last Thursday when it was 90 degrees. I'm not sure who had more fun, us or the kids. I do know that we were starving on the way home and tic tacs really are just one calorie. When we got home we dove into the ribs my dad spent hours preparing.

I have to give Lacy her props. She's 11 and this was her first time on waterslides and roller coasters and did very well. She even went down the super slides that I'm afraid to go on and loved the roller coaster.

Grandparents

I've been looking over the pictures I took while my dad and family were visiting and I keep coming back to this one. I just think my dad is one handsome devil and wanted to share it! Mary Liz isn't too shabby herself either!!

Of course, then he gives me a priceless look like this one. It might have something to do with him REALLY wanting to take a nap and being frustrated over missing the ferry boat back to Seattle.

End of Summer Fun

While we love the start of Seahawks season, it can only mean one thing-summer is almost over. We had a nice warm day and enjoyed what may be one of our last in the pool.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yhPjV_9EYY

Seahawks Saturday Night

We got a babysitter last night so Mommy could go to the Seahawks game along with our friends, Tina and Sean Ryan. I gotta say, football on a warm (90 degrees yesterday!) sunny evening ranks right up there with dinner and a movie as a date night. Especially when the Hawks win! My prediction: Justin Fossette is THE guy to watch this season. He looked like a star last night.

Sunset over the stadium was pretty cool too

End of vacation

My family just left and already I miss them. Actually, I think I started missing them last night, just thinking about them leaving. A few days once a year is not nearly enough time. I miss having family nearby. With the exception of my sister, all of my family lives a plane ride away.

Robert, Lainey and I had a great time showing them around the city with help from Ride the Ducks (lots of fun and educational too), a trip to Pike Place Market, a ferry boat trip to Bainbridge Island, where we had great ice cream and beer, although not at the same time, Deception Pass, a State Trooper up close and personal (almost forgot about that one-darnit), and Wild Waves yesterday. And of course, no trip with teenagers is complete without a trip or two to the mall. I think I wore my dad out around day two. He was practically begging to be left at home. Lainey enjoyed getting so much attention and having friends to play with. She picked up quite a few new words this week--No, off, mine and is now saying her name really well! She's going to miss all the activity and be bored with just plain old mom.

Waiting for Grandma and Grandpa

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Davis 5 from North Dakota. They should be here sometime this evening, hopefully before Bug goes to bed. We may just have to let her stay up late although that just makes Monday difficult.

9 years??!!

Today is our 9 year anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long already. Love you baby!

May we forever continue through life's journey...

May we forever continue through life's journey beside each other,

our hearts still filled with love, respect, and admiration, as it was so many years ago.

May our caring for each other grow deeper; may our love for each other grow stronger.

May our home be filled with hope, peace, and love as it has been

for all these years we have shared together.

May we share just as many more.

Sharing with Daddy

Robert makes a smoothie every morning and Lainey loves to share it with him. She dances around until he gives her some and ends up looking like the Joker.

News

Some of you are aware that we received "the call" from our adoption agency a couple of weeks ago. After just a month in the waiting pool, a prospective birth mother has chosen us to parent her child. We drove over to Spokane last weekend and unfortunately, were not able to meet her. Long story--we're chalking it up to "technical difficulties." She is due in February and we are hoping to go back over there for the 20 week ultrasound appointment so stay tuned for that picture and more news!

Shhhhhh

Lainey didn't sleep a wink of the 5 hour drive to Spokane and was very upset with her parents for trapping her in a car for that long. So when she fell asleep on Saturday afternoon, we took advantage of the opportunity and bolted for home. She didn't wake up til we hit Ellensburg! Almost 4 hours later!