1st day of school

my kids, along with myself began a new school year in a new school in seattle. i am now teaching 4th grade at st. alphonsus school in ballard. my kids are in uniform for the first time since aruba and so far so good. we have 6 nuns that either work or help out in the school, takes one back to years past.

langley cafe

labor day weekend we went to whidbey island and steve and i enjoyed a nice lunch at the langley cafe in the town we began our life as a family in. always brings me back to simpler times, when time never mattered. i was just a young mom at home with a baby.

bronco fest

for years my sister jenny and her family have been traveling down to the oregon coast for the annual bronco fest. my sister happens to have one of 600 ever made baja broncos. besides broncos there are copious amounts of quads, bikes, and other such 4-wheel objects. i had my first experience of bronco fest. it was great and one that i will remember, along with my kids. met a many of interesting characters along the way. some might say that i was one of those interesting characters.

b-day X two

every year houston and i are able to spend our celebrated birthdays together. g-ma anne always does such a nice job recognizing both of us. i feel lucky to have one of the best days celebrated with my only son.

the oosterdam

our great friend dre, from our time teaching in aruba, is working on the holland american line out of seattle this summer. we were so excited to see dre after two years removed from aruba. it brought back so many memories. we were greatful that we had a short visit with him since he is the only IT man on board and has huge responsibilities. only inport once a week for a few short hours.

end of summer

end of summer was tough to get ready for school this year. the weather has been so great here in seattle. great sunny warm days and knowing the end is near is tough. so a trip to gas works park in late august to watch all of the boaters and wish you were one of them is what we did. then we hit 'the loft' in ballard, which is a bar owned by my brother-in-laws, brother in law, if that makes any sense. great little spot in ballard.

5tth year of sun lakes

for 5 years now we have been crossing the mountains to join our whidbey possee at sun lakes. each year it is a surprise as to what cabin you will end up with. so far we have never had the same cabin. think the parents enjoy it as much as the kids. one thing you can garantee about sun lakes in central washington in august, is that it is always going to be hot and sunny.