Category Archives: Family

Family Together…

can be a lot of fun!

Some fun moments captured by my DIL Laura! Thanks Laura!

Grand Nephew Jackson with our daughter Katie

 

Katie with our Grand Niece Avery

Love this one!!

Josh, our nephew Joe, and my brother Steve (Joe’s dad)

Josh and Jackson at Snoqualmie Falls

Joe, Ryan, Jackson, Josh, and Steve at Snoqualmie Falls

Cousins on Whidbey Island

Our company all hail from Southern California. It was nice to have them here and show them some of our great sights. We had many good meals together. My brother Steve made omelettes to order for breakfast one day.

Dear made Swedish Pancakes one day.

We barbecued steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs. We had leg of lamb. My niece and her husband made an amazing Creme Brulee French Toast for my sister for her birthday. We finally made S’mores using our fire pit. I’m still recovering from all the fun. I’m thinking I might have gained one pound for each one of my company…

I continue to thank God for our extended family and the joy we have in spending time together.

Like a Whirlwind…

they come and then they are gone…

Our company flew home last night. My brother Steve, my SIL Kelly and nephew Joe were with us from California for a couple weeks. We hit some hot spots in Seattle. This is at Kerry Park looking south to Seattle.

 

The Original Starbucks at the market.

You’ll find street musicians around the market every day. This group was really exceptional!

Waiting inside for their drinks.

We headed back down the street to see about catching some flying fish.

A shot with the golden pig right across from the flying fish!

Down the stairs to the disgustingly interesting and famous gum wall below the market.

That didn’t spoil our appetites and we headed to Piroshky, Piroshky for a favorite Russian treat.

And then a little confession is always a good way to begin and end the day!

We had a lot more adventures with our company that I’ll show in the coming days. We still have my sister Kathy’s family here. They are staying at my sister Lana’s house a short walk from me. They are here till Tuesday so the fun continues…

Still on the Go…

…with our Southern California company.

We’ve watched some soccer and fought off mosquitoes.

We’ve picked wild Sweet Peas along the trail.

We’ve played with Jackson and Avery.

Had a train ride at Country Village in Bothell.

Dear and Katie have even had time to sit together…

Hope you all are doing well. I’ll be back in the saddle soon…

Still on the Move…

We’ve filled our days and nights with activity and relaxation, both. This is actually the calm before the storm before we add 8 more participants into our fun activities. We’ve headed downtown to see golden pigs and flying fish. Easy trek with adults in tow. We’ve been to soccer games and the guys went to a Mariner’s game. The girls stayed home and watched Cranford. Lots of eating and some exercise thrown in the mix.

Today Dear and I board a plane for Sacramento to attend his uncle’s funeral. He will be buried with Military Honors having served and retired from the Air Force.

We will leave our company in charge at home. You have to love company you can leave behind to fend for themselves.

While They Are Sleeping…

It’s early and my company is still asleep and since I don’t want to make a lot of noise washing the pots and pans I decided to show you who is and will be visiting us from California.

My brother Steve, his wife Kelly, and youngest son Joe arrived on Monday. Joe just graduated from high school. Joe and his 3 brothers were all home schooled and Joe is the 4th son that will attend Westmont College in Montecito (Santa Barbara) Ca. Joe just finished a week of directing their churches VBS program and he showed us some videos he and a couple of his co-workers put together on the Armor of God for VBS. We were all very impressed! (VBS is Vacation Bible School)

On Saturday my niece Michelle, her husband Ryan, Jackson and Avery arrive. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen Jack and Avery and it will be fun to see how they’ve grown.

On Thursday the 29th my sister Kathy and my niece Melissa arrive. Melissa and Michelle are sisters. I’m sure Avery and Jack will be happy to see their aunt and nana by then!

I haven’t taken one photo yet but I’m sure I’ll get my act together soon. Enjoy!

Messing About in Boats…

” O God, Thy Sea is so great and my boat is so small.”

“Only the guy who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat”  Jean Paul Sartre

“We are all in the same boat in the stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

“There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats” ~ Rat from The Wind in the Willows

“A person should go out on the water on a fine day to a small distance from a beautiful coast, if he would see Nature really smile.  Never does she look so delightful, as when the sun is brightly reflected by the water, while the waves are gently rippling, and the prospect receives life and animation from the glancing transit of an occasional row-boat, and the quieter motion of a few small vessels.  But the land must be well in sight; not only for its own sake, but because the immensity and awfulness of a mere sea-view would ill accord with the other parts of the glittering and joyous scene. ” ~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers, 1827

“He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.”  ~George Herbert

“Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.” ~ Psalms

“So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis

The sea hath no king but God alone.  ~Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The White Ship

We really had a lovely 3 hours out on the water on this beautiful day. For most of us this was our first kayaking experience and now that we know what to expect we hope to go out again with a little experience under our vests. Hope you enjoyed the quotes I found for this post. This trip was out of Bowman Bay in the State of Washington close to Deception Pass. Thanks for stopping by today.

I’m linking up with Susan at The Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday!

 

Another Milestone Completed…

On Sunday our daughter Katie walked at her Graduation Ceremony from the University of Washington Bothell.

We found our seats and hoped we were on the right side of the arena but we were on the opposite side so we really had to zoom in with the cameras to spot her in the crowd.

We found her and she saw us!

She received her empty graduation degree certificate holder and soon the very long ceremony would be over.

The happy graduate with her boyfriend Andrew.

The proud parents.

Josh and Laura with little sister Katie.

Katie and her boyfriend Andrew visiting from Florida. Andrew starts Marine Bootcamp on June 28th.

The family shot. Our son Dan was not able join us for this occasion. We’re looking forward to seeing more of him at the end of the year when his training is complete and he comes back to Washington.

We had a nonstop weekend and I have a lot of photos to share. This is another busy week as well and we hope to get a breather soon…

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Descanso Gardens

Last Saturday my daughter and I were in the Los Angeles area and we met some family members at Descanso Gardens in La Canada. It was a beautiful day in Southern California and not too hot. Please visit Susan at a Southern DayDreamer to see more of the great outdoors.

 

Our Daughter Katie

My niece Melissa, Katie and my sister Kathy

Niece Melissa and daughter Katie

My niece Michelle with her husband Ryan

Their son Jackson

 

Their daughter Avery

My sister Kathy and me

Kathy with her granddaughter Avery

Hope you enjoyed Descanso Gardens and I recommend a visit when you are in the Los Angeles area. I think March is one of the prettiest months there or early April.

Meeting For the First Time…

 

Katie met her cousin once removed for the first time this past Saturday at Descanso Gardens. After Avery gave Katie the initial critical look she decided this cousin was OK to be around.

Avery thought Great Aunt Ellen was OK, too, for short periods of time, if I kept moving, and there was something for her to grab, and if her mom or dad weren’t too far away…or her brother…or Nana.

We had so much fun. Isn’t that a cute skirt Avery is wearing? :0)

Brunch at Mom & Pops

My mother went all out for us again. Katie and I were in the greater L.A. area on Saturday and Sunday and told my mom we’d pop in for breakfast. We weren’t surprised to be greeted with a morning feast. I’ve said before that my Mother’s Love Language is preparing food for people. I missed photographing the cantaloupe and strawberry plate that looked like a flower. She made Vareniki stuffed with potato this time and served them with asparagus with zest of orange and topped with grapefruit. My sister Vera and nephew Tim and his wife Jessica joined us. It was nice to enjoy a smaller group for a change.

Katie, Jessica and Tim

Katie with my mom and dad

From brunch Katie and I traveled north to the La Canada/Flintridge area of Los Angeles to meet up with other family members at Descanso Gardens. I’ll be sharing those photos soon. We packed so much into two days my head is still spinning.