Ash to Ash, Dust to Dust

My bestie Ash came into town this week to help me celebrate my 30th birthday. And can I tell you? I jumped for joy. This girl has been through a lot this past year emerging as a beautiful butterfly who is absolutely limitless. She was never lost to me, but I truly feel I have her back and it was an amazing experience to see her again alive and well and full of hope and healing. This girl in this city with me feels like home. Her spirit is an inspiration. Thank you for flying to me Hawk and here's to us and friendship and a spirit that DOES NOT give up.

Protienikka 2013

This year like any other was AMAZING. New this year were the Shishito Peppers and Grapefruit Margaritas. I was too late to the dessert this year (you can't fiddle fart around there), but the s'mores were amazing too. So much good conversation and of course: FOOD! Andrea had a Polaroid camera and snapped shots of guests you could take home as a favor. Also I got my braces off just in time to munch on this amazing corn...oh, and new sauces this year as well! Joey and Taryn, you have outdone yourself again...

Bye Bye Braces

Can I get an AMEN? It was 10 long months, but at this moment it feels worth EVERY single second. I looked at it like my 3rd pregnancy and behold: I gave birth to some beautiful girl teeth:)

Beach Babes

My parents took me and the girls to Seaside this past week. SUCH a fun trip for my girls. Ty was in Denver for part of it so we didn't end up seeing him for a week, which was sad and I missed him really bad. The girls ran up the beach and straight into the ocean when we first got there, which totally warmed my heart since I have so many amazing memories with summers at this same beach. Pea LOVED the bumper cars and went on them 3 times. Harp didn't care for them as much, but loved the carousel and playing or laying in the sand. The afternoons were warm and I got to have some real quality family time too. For future reference if you're ever going to play Heads Up with my dad when he guesses Gloria Spice, he really means Victoria Beckem;) hahaha. We also got some major quality time with Aunt Chandler which my girls can't get enough of! Bonus the two of us got to go out to dinner together which was so great. AND Pea lost another tooth here. Now just waiting for that loose top one to fall. Thank you a thousand times Mom and Dad for taking us; you have made just as wonderful memories for my girls as you did for me...

Summer Spotlight: July.

Kyla and Auntie date: just us two.

H & H: MTB. Pea is not happy.

Two of my favorites.

Antiquing Date: me and my first.

Chani's 21 run!

Outdoor grillin' while the grillin' is good.

Harp and Hat: a winning combo.

Daddy and girls at Snoqualmie Falls.

Arts and Crafts.

Free Slurpees deserve attitude.

VBC: Secret Agent Man.

Blue

We visited the Rusty Plow Farm in Enumclaw this week and picked some yummy blueberries with Grandma. Afterwards we got some ice cream and checked out the antique stores...It turned out to be such a lovely day: blue skies as far as the eye could see and a definite new tradition. Three things of note: Harp dressed herself in blue according to our activity. I think it's fitting. Two: found this amazing blue mirror at Junker Chicks downtown that I adore. And three: blueberries here are 2$ a pound! I'm serious. Really scored today!

Lake Roosevelt 2013

A big bunch of us headed down to Lake Roosevelt on a return trip after the great awesomeness that was the Houseboat Trip of 2005. And so, instead of a house boat we rented a house since we have like a million children and things to to take care of...
21 people.
1 house.
6 hour car ride.
Possible Rat infestation.
Garbage Fires.
Golf Swings.
Heads Up.
Fights about swiss cheese and uno.
1 boat.
1 Jet Ski.
2 gigantic floaties.
Mama Bear.
A hot tub.
No AC.
Eyeball measuring.
Using the woods as a toilet.
Tubing.
Sleeping on a full bed.
My girls sleeping together.
TMNT.
AMAZING food.
All for reconnection. And I loved every single white trash second. Even the hard seconds, because that's life. Us together even if it's hard; it's worth it and fun. SO fun.