Hayden Lake Idaho

Once again we went to the gorgeous Hayden lake for a few days with our friends. It is the ideal summer cabin and we took advantage of every aspect - the water, the sand, the boat, and, of course, the grandparents of our friends. Last year we flew but this year we had three moms and five kids. The drive over was 8 hours too long and 11 PM by the time we arrived at the windy road in the total darkness. We probably won't do that again. It was kinda worth it though...the girls had a great time in their life jackets kicking out to the dock and everyday at 5 we were served frozen margheritas! At about nine after everyone was asleep, we would spend at least an hour on the beach in the darkness yawning and recapping the day. It was exhausting but totally worth it....

Leon 8 Months

Such a big boy! Leon is laughing most of the time however, he is starting to complain about his teeth that haven't come in yet but it does not stop him from eating an entire jar of meat sticks - yuck! He is crawling and today pulled himself up at the coffee table and in the crib. All of this means big changes at our house - the crib adjusted, the pollypockets tiny shoes put away, gates put up and a new level of floor cleanliness. Thank goodness for Bicki!


Sylvie stringing Sadie's Tail

Last Hurrah

Slippy Slide Fun at Steve and Sara's

Ramona and Oceanus

It takes a grown man to show 'em how it's done!

Sylvie needs some assistance - but she is brave - with her eyes closed and her tongue out!

The Blue Stripes - Aka The Leos

Francis, Oceanus and Steve

Chris and Heidi - Gorgeous

Ramona comforting Sylvie during a scary part

Ode to Thistle Street

Steve and Sara are giving up their maverick status in South Park to become hippie farmers in a tres chic area of Whidbey Island. On Sunday we had a going away party that started at four - an extreme contrast to the majority of parties that happened in South park which usually started around 10 and ended up dancing to "don't stop 'til you get enough' around 1 AM.

Each of those parties had some special occasion: Sara's finished her math class party, leisure suit party, Let's continue this party in South Park party, Fred and Becca's engagement party, Halloween Party, Bacci ball/croquet party, Cathy is making something like pizza party, Steve caught a Salmon in the Duwamish party, monochrome party, So-and-So is in town party, come see the new... (anything that they may have found including a boat, leather couches or 8 foot organ pipes) party, and meet the new dog party. Some random Saturday night parties we all ended up raiding Steve's closet and would dress up in his best thrift shop finds - green felt vests, Budweiser jackets and plaid patchwork pants - also known as what Steve wears to weddings.

At each and every party,we all ate amazing food, lost our wine glass and picked up another, sat on the front porch keeping Sara company, caught up with friends, laughed at, and with, each other. There are people, that I would call my friend, that I have met at that house, and that I only see at those parties.

Today was not much different- there was still more grilled pork and that crazy Frieda begging to fetch - but there was a tinge of sadness as they leave, mixed with excitement for their future, mixed with a little bitterness from JB who will miss his neighbor, mixed with concern that we may not see them as often as we are used to.

Thistle Street, I will miss your pizza with canned mushrooms, your beer runs to the mexi mart and your cherry trees in full bloom. I will miss the wainstcoated ceiling and the clouds on the wall. I will miss Maggie and the Clematis on the porch. I will miss the grape light fixture and the spices inside the wall. I will miss the friends at the table and the well worn plates. I will miss the skunk smell of the new red couch and the little leather fanny pack. I will miss the living room is the dining room is the living room again. I will miss the fire pit in back and the old stove that didn't quite heat the whole house. I will miss the sound of barking upon opening in the door and I will miss the sound of "C'mon In!"

Private Beach

Sylvie is loving the beach right now. In fact, after a four day trip to Gig Harbor 3 days ago, Sylvie and Joey decided to go back this weekend. She loves to explore the water and the rocks and we are really lukcy that Noni and Papou have a house on the water with all kinds of sealife just down the steps. We had a great 4th of July with Cambria, Murph, Hayden, and Kathleen joining in the eating and lounging. Murph and Joey took the kids out on the boat to explore some of the little nearby islands Carr Inlet.

Leo's College Sweetheart Sweater

I guess I went overboard with the cables on this one and it is kinda grown-up for a little guy. Perhaps a glimpse into his future as someone's college sweatheart.

Dress Up Party

The only way to make a collage is to use the HP album page setting so I wanted to see if this is even cute and visible. Sylvie is having a dress-up party for her third birthday so this is the photo shoot for the invitation.

After testing this I found that it is quite small BUT if you click on the photo you can quickly get a better view.