Stop it!

I was warned about boys and how they are so much different tempered then girls. For the longest time I thought it was hog-wash... until Carter. How can a 7 month old be so much trouble. Eating chocolate when I'm not looking; knocking over the trash to eat the popcorn; chewing on cords; climbing into small places and crying when he cant get out. Our place isn't too unsafe but he finds it! I think we are in for an interesting few years! His favorite place is under his excersaucer and not in it. He crawls inside and then fusses to get out. As soon as I get him out, he crawls right back inside!



He is still a good baby though and I can only say "stop that" with a smile on my face.

Jumping Jellybeans!

Last Tuesday I met up with a gal that goes to Gold's, Diana, and her son Alex at Jump Planet. For those of you who don't know, Jump Planet is a room full of bouncy houses and slides for children of all ages. We had a blast and it was really fun having a play date and making a few new friends! Mike and Brysen Ross joined us as well and we all had a great time! I think I had more fun then Monica though and will probably make this a new weekly thing! Jump Tuesdays! We will be attending the 11:00 session every Tuesday so join us!

Sunday at the Allred's

Today was conference and we went to Casey's parent's home to watch. We usually end up there on Sunday's to visit with family and eat good food! Shannon and mark come with their three kids so add our two and Casey's little brother, that makes twelve of us! We have so much fun talking, playing some rock band and keeping the kids entertained. I wanted to test out our camera so I took a few pictures and a video. Sorry, no rock band pictures! We still have to perfect our band "The Whitey Tighties" before you get pictures of us! If you're wondering why Grace is in a pillow case, so am I but she sure is CUTE!!

Iron Man 2008

I got my new camera just in time for the 2008 Iron man in Everett. My friend Julie (in the middle wearing light purple)and a guy Casey knows, Jon, competed this year and we didn't want to miss it! They looked great and Jon even took a trophy home for best men's posing!! Here are some pics of Julie with the girls she competed against. She looked great! You'll get em' next year Julie! After the Competition we met Annie and Mitchell at Shari's for a late dinner. What a fun night!

New Camera

After seeing the pictures from Phantom and taking almost an hour to get the camera to work long enough to get them on the computer, I decided I was fed up with my taped together sad excuse of a camera. I gave it a boot and bout a new one! I am not a photographer and don't pretend to be one so I am not ashamed to say it is not the best but its all I need!

Phantom of the Opera

On Thursday Casey and I went to see Phantom of the Opera at the Paramount in Seattle
with my sister Ivy and her fiance Michael. We loved it! I had no idea what it was about- the only thing I knew was that it is a pretty well known play. The special effects were amazing and the set was beautiful. The singing and orchestra were phenomenal! I thought the Opera in the play was the best part and would love to go see one sometime. We parked about nine blocks away and it was a perfect night for a stroll through Seattle- minus the bloody glove on the sidewalk!

Game night with the Marsons

A few weekends ago we went over to our friend's, the Marsons for game night. I love games and jumped at the invite. We ordered some pizzas and ate brownies while we played. Logan and Monica had fun coloring, playing playstation games and trains and the adults had fun playing "Clue" and "Catch Phrase". Casey and I learned we are no good at either, but we still had a great night!

I love kids!

I work part time at a Gold's Gym Kid's Klub in Bothell so I get to meet and play with all kinds of kids and it makes for a very fun and sometimes interesting day! I get see all kinds of crazy things things such as costumes, temporary tattoos, outfits that kids picked out themselves (the other day a cute little girl came in her bathing suite and boots- she looked like a gogo dancer), etc... They're usually very cute and/or creative! I thought I had seen it all until Mallory came in one day and decided to...

Color a mustache and beard on her face with a permanent green marker. She also colored one arm green too! It's amazing what an eight year old will do when her older brother dares her! Needless to say I died laughing and realized how much I really do appreciate kids for their unique personalities - something I haven't always been the best at.

mom sends flowers!

My mom is so sweet! The day after the 3 day walk I had a knock on the door. It was a delivery girl from a florist with a beautiful rose bouquet sent by my mom! It had 6 roses- 1 for every ten miles I walked.

3 fabulous days!

The 3 day walk for Breast Cancer was amazing! It was long and hard and possibly one of the most physically grueling things I have ever done! I didn't train as much as they suggested so I went in pretty raw, hoping it would be as easy as I thought. I was way wrong! I thought I was in good shape but the blisters, chin splints and my low arches didn't come to mind when I first signed up for the event.

No matter! This wasn't about any of that. This was about pushing ourselves beyond the everyday to recognize those among us who are fighting a battle everyday. I had an experience of a lifetime meeting people who have been touched by breast cancer. Listening to they're stories and meeting those who have gone through it themselves was an opportunity I'll cherish always. My hopes for walking were to help lessen the chances that my daughter, sisters, mother and all women and men I love, will ever have to experience what others have had to endure! I can't wait for next year!

My Montage

Before I blog, I thought I would put together a montage of my experience like the one my sister made! I'll blog more when I am not so doped up on pain meds and have more time! Thank you for sharing this experience with me!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Opening ceremonies

My sister Ivy is fabulous and attended opening and closing ceremonies for the three day walk to support me and my team. Here is her video she made (I stole it from her blog)! She is so talented and she always know how to do something real special! Thanks Ivy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Bachelorette Bash

Saturday Night I met up with some gals from work for Carina's Bachelorette party! We all wore black shirts while Carina wore white and a white veil. We met up at the gym and all left for a restaurant called "Chopstix" with dueling pianos. I was so excited because there was a bouncer on the way in and at the age of 24, I finally was carded for the first time!

we ate dinner and enjoyed the pianos. We requested a few songs and had fun dancing too!



It was a goofy and fun girls night and I had sooo much fun!

I rolled in at about 1:00am- an extremely late hour for an old married woman like myself. I look forward to more girls nights too come!

Zoo with the Rosss'

Saturday, September 6th: Monica, Carter and I met friends at their place to begin our play date to the zoo! Monica made friends with two fun and wonderful kids, Marissa and Bryson, at the gym where I work. Their parents are also very cool and we all get along real well! They invited us to accompany them to member appreciation day at the zoo and we were more then eager to go. I had never taken Monica to the Woodland Park Zoo and was so excited to have this experience with her!



The zoo was a blast! The kids enjoyed:

bouncy houses


face painting


flamingo hats



climbing on things




and Climbing in things




After the festivities, we walked around the zoo and looked at animals. The kids had fun running around and Dawn and I enjoyed chatting and getting to know each other.




Carter had fun too. He was a good sport mostly.



But got a little overwhelmed too!



We finished the afternoon with a trip to Dick's Hamburgers! I found out a neat talent that Dawn has so if you ever meet her, you HAVE to ask her to perform it for you!

Monica, Carter and Bryson fell asleep on the way home- a good sign that they all had a great day!


We had a great afternoon with the Rosss' and look forward to another play date soon!

BACONFEST!!!!

Yesterday Pam and Mark Chavez hosted the 4Th Annual Bacon Fest. It was very fun and of course- full of bacon! I was asked to be a judge. Everyone brought a dish that centered around bacon as a key ingredient. We had lots of yummy, bazaar and unique dishes ranging from bacon dip to bacon wrapped dates, chocolate bacon cupcakes and "pig droppings". I had a blast being a judge and getting to try all 15 bacon dishes. I had to go bust butt at the gym this morning but it was worth it! I look forward to attending baconfest next year and entering a dish instead of judging!