07-31-12

I am strong, the word of God is in me, and I have overcome the evil one.  I am woman, hear me roar.  Yeah, but, I kinda look like a weird bug from this perspective…

So, I’ve been running/climbing a lot of stairs and doing a lot of push-ups this month, in preparation for our zombie 5K this weekend.  I wanted a photo of the push ups for our Move More Eat Well scrapbooking class to represent July, and today is the last chance to catch July, so here goes…

07-30-12

While I faced reentry into the workforce, Bruce and the kids headed to Sauvie Island to pick berries.  27 pounds of blueberries, raspberries, marionberries, and a few blackberries.  Restocking the freezer is a double edged sword – I got out of the picking, but still had all the washing and packaging.

07-29-12

Ah, peaceful evening.  Have board back, will paddle.

A friend borrowed the paddleboard while we were gone to use on the river, was nice to get it back today and get back out on the lake.

Plans to go pick berries and to start getting caught up on work were thwarted, leaving a slower paced day.

07-28-12

The kids arrived home today.  And up to their bedrooms they go…

Meanwhile, I spent the day on Adopt A Block, working a two hour fundraising shift at Burgerville, and back to church after missing two weeks.

07-27-12

The kids are away and the parents will play…

… play Angry Birds?

We headed to Downtown Live tonight, where they were featuring Angry Birds.  Bruce took his hand at hitting the green pigs with the catapult.

07-26-12

Home sweet home.  A few days without work and without the kids to transition back to our busy life.

Without walking mile of DC, and skipping my morning jog for an early drive home, it was a challenge to get 10,000 steps in today.  I walked loops around the Blues Brothers tribute concert.

“God bless the United States of America!” - Elwood

07-25-12

Woke up in DC, enjoyed our last breakfast of Dunkin’ Donuts.

Explored Baltimore midday – saw Chesapeake Bay from 27 stories up, and this photo was from a pedestrian overpass.

Spent afternoon, evening, and night in planes and airport traveling home, generating a whopping 13 credit card transactions.

07-24-12

Three museums in one day, that's a lot!  But when it is sweltering outside, suppose air conditioned museums are the best place to be.


The Smithsonian American Art Museum is really fun, we all enjoyed it.  This photo is from the Smithsonian American History Museum.  It has a presidential section, as well as Dorothy's ruby slippers, kermit the frog, and Michelle Obama's inaugeral dress.  The Holocaust Museum was crowded and sobering.


Our last day in DC, and we feel like we've seen it!

07-23-12

So many photos to choose from today!  We had a full but fun day.


Anastasia has a new favorite; she fell in love with the Library of Congress, and it is indeed impressive.
I got to see the Hope Diamond again int he Smithsonian, and the photos of us morphed into neanderthal people are amusing.
We headed to the suburbs to have dinner with an old college friend and her family.
We sat in on the Senate and got to hear John Kyl rail about the middle class.


But this photo won out, because we learned today that Lincoln was shot on Xander's birthday back in 1865, during our tour and ranger talk at Ford's Theater.

07-22-12

Today is the halfway point of the trip.  A good time to sleep in late and pack it in early.


We spent a few hours at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, taking in the Discovery space shuttle, a Concord, the Enola Gay, and a simulator ride for the kids.  Then we searched out the Iwo Jima soldier statue.  We went because Anastasia had a postcard of it in her variety pack, but it was really cool.  Then we walked a loop of more memorials - Thomas Jefferson (in this photo), FDR, and Martin Luther King.


Nice pace, great sights, and comfortable weather today... life is good!

7-21-12

Guess where we went today?  Not to Williamsburg as originally planned.  We decided to go to Mt Vernon instead.  Bruce thinks one plantation mansion looks like another, but I feel like I've learned a lot about our first president.


We also explored the Arlington cemetery and attended a Saturday night church service, just like at home!  Drizzled most of the day, also similar to home... 

07-20-12

Yesterday we stood outside the White House peeking in, today we were inside peeking out at others peeking in... have to admit, though, the tour of the capital building was way cooler.


I hate leaving my camera in cars and storage bins, we've gone through a ton of metal detectors today, I'm getting plenty of walking  (11 miles today), and I've decided I love the Chinatown here.


"I pray Heaven to Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and All that shall hereafter inhabit it.  May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof." - John Adams about the White House

07-19-12

Yes, we arrived.  Smooth flight, just started the day too early.
Yes, the apartment we rented seems like a good choice.  Our landlord is a high school teacher who has decided that Xander needs to read more.
Yes, it's HOT!
Yes, there are a TON of people here!
Yes, we've seen a lot already in one evening.  Almost double my normal steps today.

It was really special to do a rubbing at the Vietnam Memorial, but Lincoln Memorial is still my favorite.  Washington Memorial is great at sunset, even with the reflection pool under construction.

07-18-12

Today marks 20 years of marriage.  Many things have changed, but one thing that hasn't is Bruce researching, chasing, and being entranced with new technology.


This week the Nexus 7 google tablet captured his heart.  He finally found one right before our trip.  He loves how small it is compared to his laptop and how big it is compared to his iphone.

Love you!

07-17-12

It’s hard to come up with photos of diet and exercise for our Move More Eat Well class.  The finished product will be a small acrylic scrapbook charting our progress this year.

Bruce’s new shoes finally arrived, and are even equipped with Nike Plus.  So now we know the steps, distance, and pace of our lake walks.

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states.”  ~Carol Welch

07-16-12

When I plant seeds and bulbs in my garden, I’m never quite sure what I’m going to get.

Lots of time I get nothing, the soil is so bad.

I bought some borage seeds, thinking it might be a good ground cover.  Silly me, the leaves are as big as my head!

And the feathery stuff I almost pulled up is some sort of anemone.

It will be fun to see the borage flower…

07-15-12

Today we did a kayak tour with Northwest EcoExcursions, thanks to groupon.  It was a long fun day, with a fabulous lunch and lots of time on the water.

Our guide took this photo of us at one of the many waterfalls we saw on Lake Merwin.

To start the day, a juvenile pelican landed right in the middle of our group and acted like he wanted to go along.  A bit scary as he chased Xander a bit, but ended up being a highlight.

07-14-12

So many photos to choose from today!  I am disappointed my photos of toasting with root beer floats didn’t turn out, because that was pretty darn unique!  Today we traveled (a round about way!) to Gig Harbor for cousin Lottie’s wedding to Amos.  It was an intimate relaxed event with frivolity, giggles, and plenty of heartfelt words.  Sam and Molly made an adorable mini bride and groom, and Kayla made a beautiful flower girl in purple.

07-13-12

We swear that we will not drive up to the Federal Way area on a Friday afternoon/evening, but we found ourselves doing it today.  Traffic is a mess, especially on Fridays!

We inched our way along I-5 to drop the kids off in Milton then back to Tacoma for dinner and a play.  The mural was more magnificent than the Thai food, but the play (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat) was fantastic.  I had no idea that Andrew Lloyd Webber was responsible for so many great plays, including my all time favorite, Evita.

07-12-12

And tonight start the lake concerts.  Beatles tribute.

Tym and Pauline from a prior small group, and four families from my current small group.

Continued sunshine provided by God.

07-11-12

Participated in a photo shoot today, but no photos in my possession.  Debbie met me a the lake to photograph me paddle boarding – a scenic seasonal photo to submit in a photo contest.

My ornamental oregano is in full bloom and looking so pretty, so thought that would be a good photo.  I like the blush of color, the tired flowers, and the veins in the leaves.  I got a lot of neat shots, it was hard to pick.

Enjoying all the local scenes of summer…

07-10-12

One of the really fun aspects of my job is being part of the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, which donates almost $150K to the local community through grants to non-profits.  I enjoy learning about all the happenings in the community, and people are just so happy to get money!

Today we did a tour and photo op for the Grounds for Opportunity, a café opening next month near the Kelso train station.  Weyerhaeuser provided a grant for a walk in fridge/freezer.  The café will offer food (quinoa black bean burger, yum!) and Starbucks drinks, with all labor as part of a food trainee program, and the kitchen is already doubling to assemble the Cowlitz county Meals on Wheels senior food trays (a process which people can watch through the windows).

Another fun aspect of my life is amazing people with my ability to not fall off my paddle board.  I’m featured for Silly Tuesday on FIL’s photo blog.

07-09-12

Today is strawberry day.  Wash, slice, Ziploc, and freeze two flats, with a few handfuls left out for fresh eating and strawberry spinach salad tomorrow night.  Yum!  Took Bruce and I two hours, but it will be worth it this winter when there isn’t much fruit in season.

07-08-12

Guess who shattered the screen of her spendy camera today?!  Bummer… at least it still takes photos.

Guess who enjoyed another gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest, with jogging, paddle boarding, and cycling?

And guess who wishes they had thick hair with body? … That would be the mother of the kiddo who got a drastic & darling haircut today! 

07-07-12

Another quarter, another reflection on books read.

This quarter I worked on but didn’t finish the Hunger Games series, and I started the Fifty Shades of Gray series.  I read some Shakespeare plays to get ready for our Ashland trip, a classic passed along from Mom (Five Little Peppers), and another real estate investing book.  I had to work to keep up with the reads for my now two book clubs.  The most fun read of the quarter was the first one - My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares.  The least fun was the first book of our new country club book club, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.

Bookins, my book swapping site, went out of business, so now I’ll need to find a new way to acquire and dispose of books and audiobooks…

07-06-12

Another gorgeous day in the neighborhood.  After work I had to stop in at the allergy shot clinic.  When I walked in the door, Bruce asked me if I wanted to go paddling before our evening plans.  I jumped at the chance, electing not to change into sportier clothing.

TGIF!  Think we landed on another quiet weekend at home…

07-05-12

Anastasia got home from her Montana trip on Tuesday afternoon.

She’s sporting a fab tan, a new friend to monopolize her phone and web time, and a funny joke:

Q: How do we know that god was a diabetic?
A: The splenda of the king…

07-04-12

Happy 4^th of July!

While it hasn’t been a quiet day, and my nuclear family didn't stay together long enough for a photo, it was a relaxing and nice day.  Walked in the front part of the parade, visited with people during the later part of the parade, soaked up a lot of sun, prepared a bunch of food, watched a band, and now we await fireworks.

God bless America!

07-03-12

Day 2 of the Go Fourth festival at the lake.  Tonight Xander and I enjoyed the traditional salmon dinner while we watched the cardboard boat races.  This year we sat where we could hear the commentary, but we missed some of the water mishaps.  I enjoy seeing the creativity of the boats.

People, people everywhere.

07-02-12

And so the fun begins.  Wondering if I’ll find a parking space on my street.  Hearing music wafting from the lake.  Loud booms.  Seeing loads of people I have a connection to, but not remembering very many names…

The rest of the nation seems to be in a heat wave, but we are fighting sprinkles at the Air Force band performance.  It must be the 4^th of July! 

Love living where I do, especially this time of year.  Close enough to the festivities to walk home when I get too cold, sunny enough o not completely lose hope on summer weather.

07-01-12

We went to a Black Bears game tonight, the summer baseball league.  It was sunny and a perfect evening to sit outside.  I didn’t watch any of the game, but the mascot Corby was very entertaining.  The crowd was small enough that he came over and interacted with me every time I pointed the camera at him.

Gotta love summer in a small town!