30 years ago...

Hard to believe that 30 years ago my handsome hubby was born!

To celebrate this special occasion we planned 36 hours of fun. To kick things off we went out to eat at The Trumpeter with Mark's parents. Then we headed back to our home to open presents...

Nothing beats a meaningful card and money!

(Thanks mom and dad)

Okay, I lied. A kiss from Gracie beats out the card and money! :)

Mark requested a Lemon Meringue pie for his b-day treat and so naturally I tried to find the very BEST one. A friend of mine told me to try 'The Farmhouse' restaurant near La Conner. She told me they make the BIGGEST and BEST pies EVER. Boy, was she right! When I went to pick up Mark's Double baked Lemon Meringue pie I had no idea that we would need a U-Haul to transport it home...

"Francis Peak"

We enjoyed our pie, watched a video slide show that I put together in lieu of Mark's big day, and topped things off with the movie "Source Code". It was a fun evening! Grandma and Pop took Gracie home (Thanks again Mom and Dad), and we enjoyed a  really nice night together - watching another movie, talking in bed till 2:30am and things like that. : )

The next day we slept in (ahhhhhhh....), ate Lemon Meringue pie for breakfast, worked out together, then headed down to Marysville. We took Gracie to the park and had a really great time exploring with her.

Later in the evening we met our dearest friends for dinner and a movie.

(you'll have to excuse the picture quality - our camera is on the fritz!)

(Not pictured: Sarah and Audrey)

Hola Senor!...

Es muy guapo en ese sombrero! Quiero darte un beso! :)

We have spent nearly half our lives together and I love you more than I ever have.

Happy, Happy birthday sweetheart!

Paddle & Putt

With Mark's schedule always changing we have learned to become quite spontaneous, that's why just a few days ago we decided to make the most of Mark's 3 day weeked and travel over to Sun Lakes (in central washington) to camp and play. We left Sunday afternoon at 3pm and arrived at the Sun Lakes Resort at 7pm. We set up camp and grabbed a bite to eat at the Sun Lakes Cafe. We walked around the resort and then headed back to camp where we made delicious s'mores...

Our glowing s'mores angel :)

That night we fell asleep to a movie on Gracie's DVD player. The next morning we woke early, had breakfast, and made our way down to the water. We rented a boat and away we went... 

My sexy skipper sporting the 'blue steel' look.

Hey muscles! Me-owwww!!! :)

Gracie had fun on the boat,

especially when daddy taught her how to row!

(watch the video clip)

I let Mark rest and took over rowing duty. Sadly, it lasted about 3 minutes (look at the concentration on my face - rowing is hard work!)

By 11am the sun was definitely hot and we were ready for the pool!

One of gracie's favorite things to do when we swim is go all the way under with a partner...

 

(Watch the video clip)

Later that afternoon we drove to the Grand Coulee Dam (about an hour drive from the resort).

That evening we hit the Putt-Putt course...

Mark teaching gracie how to hold the club.

Despite the most excellent lesson, Gracie prefered a more non-traditional approach.

Although I was kicking Mark's trash at the beginning of our game, Mark still ended up beating me. A re-match was definitely in the works!

On our way home we stopped at Dry Falls.

The next few shots were all taken under Gracie's direction...

At the end of this little photo shoot I said, "Wow Grace! You really know how to work the camera!" To this Gracie replied, "Yeah, I'm gonna be a Top Model!" (We shall see... :)

We stopped in Leavenworth for lunch and another round of Mini-golf. (I told you a re-match was in the works! :)

Gracie patiently waiting while Mom and Dad take their time putting... making every stroke count.

This is the hole that Gracie got a hole-in-one at!

Way to go Gracie!!!

At the beginning of our 2nd round of putt-putt Mark was kicking my trash, but towards the end I made a valiant recovery and beat him on the last 9 holes. Overall, Mark won both games, but, I'd like to think that's because I don't like seeing him unhappy so I sub-consciously sabotage my awesome game play so that he can win... because there's no way that he's better than me! :)

Sun Lakes was a quick trip full of fun mini-adventures...

we can't wait to see where our spontaneity takes us next!

Goodbye June, Hello July!

Towards the end of June we went to Fort Casey with Mark's family...

I'm scared, are you?

It's been lovely outside - so much so that we dusted off the kiddy pool and filled it up.

 The past couple of days we have seen nothing but beautiful blue skies. Although the hot rays are browning our lawn, we don't care, the vitamin D seeping into our pores feels too good.

You are beautiful to me.

"Mom, I don't need a brother, I have Parker."

July 3rd - At the Skiles' for a BBQ. Grace LOVES her buddy Camille.

July 4th - In the morning we went to the Sedro Woolley Parade. The highlight: Seeing our little girl walk in the parade with her buddy Camille. They went to a cheer clinic together and had a great time!

Princess wave :)

                              

We did it!!!

Waiting for Gracie after the parade was Kaylin - A.K.A. Gracie's B.F.F.

The girls hamming it up. The men apparently under a chainsaw carving trance.

At the Logging exhibition.

After the parade and logging exhibition we went back to our house for a BBQ and smoke bombs.

The girls watching intently as the boys light firecrackers.

The girls after the firecrackers went off.

Killing some time on a beautiful day.

My entire world. 

In the evening we went to the Sedro Woolley Carnival.

She's quite the handful.

A sincere thank you to all of the men and women who have sacrificed on our behalf. I thank God that I was born into such a privaledged nation and I am grateful that so many of my brothers and sisters serve as protectors of this blessed land.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!