Tis the Season...For back to school pics!

One crazy day back in 2002, Ben got a raise. That's right. It wasn't a lot of money, but it seemed like it was at the time. We thought, well, now..Let's buy a house and have a baby!

After 11 months of waiting, wondering....We were blessed to become pregnant with our little darling Charlie boy. Who, let's face it, at 8 lbs and 10 oz, with a HUGE Cranium...Well, he was quite the healthy little darling.
There were nights that Ben and I thought he'd never "grow out of it." There were nights that would never end. But boy, oh boy..Things do change, and sometimes faster then we want them to.


Five and a half years later....Well, he's one of our very best friends in the whole world. He always tries his best to be good. He is not perfect but I often tell him that he has a heart of gold. Ben and Charlie tell me I have a heart of chocolate. But that's beside the point. He's genuinely a great kid. We love our little Charlie-Boy with all our hearts.

So in honor of Charlie's first day at kindergarten, this post is dedicated to him. And how much we love him. Mommy, Daddy, and little Andy all love Charlie so. We are so proud of our grown up boy.


Each milestone that passes is a happy and exciting one, but Mom's know it's so hard to let your kids grow up. I want him to stay my little bud forever.

Love you sweetie!

Super Hero Days

Ben spent the entire week last week at Scout Camp. I've gotten used to it after almost 10 years of marriage, 9 of which he's been in scouts. However, sometimes things still go bump in the night and I wind up feeling jumpy.

This year though I had some fierce protectors visit.

Friends Shawn and Bradley (AKA-Batman 1, Batman 2, and Batman 3).

Super Max and Super Charlie. Even heros need downtime!

This super hero's talent is being adorable. Pretty powerful if you ask me.

I was in good hands.

The REAL harvest

So we actually have gotten quite the amount of veggies out of our garden, despite some major tomato worms!

One of my favorite things to do with all the zucchini (it grows like mad!) is this:


Cube up chicken, zucchini, and this time I added sliced carrots which we grew too.
Stir fry it in just a tiny bit of of olive oil and sprinkle on some Cajun Seasoning.

Top with cheddar cheese. I serve it over rice sometimes and it's good alone. Healthy too! It was super good with our fresh carrots this time.

We also have lots of tomatoes. Any ideas what I should do with them all?

HARVEST TIME at the Cooks!

We spent a few minutes in our garden tonight.

These are the fruits of our labors........



The joys of gardening..wuh wuh wuuuhhhh....

We LOVE Summer!

Friends, Slip n' Slide, and Popcicles....
Need I say more?

ROAD TRIP!!!

We were lucky enough to spend 9 days together on a wonderful road trip up the Pacific Northwest last week! We were headed for Washington and on the way we also saw and stopped at places in Oregon, Montana and Idaho! We chose the scenic routes rather then the fastest ways and it was awesome!

Here we go! Up and at 'em after spending a night in Boise, Idaho...Ready to road trip clear to Portland, Oregon!

On our way up we stopped in Oregon to take in some sights!

Multenomah Falls, Oregon

Bonneville Dam, along the Colombia River Gorge in Oregon

Japanese Gardens in a park in Portland, Oregon

We did some fun things while in Seattle!

Space Needle

On our way up!

At the top!

We escaped certain death at the Seattle Aquarium and the PacSci Museum:


Then we:

Museum of Flight-flight simulator

Sleepy baby. He was terribly sweet considering we messed with his schedule!

We also took a Harbor Cruise tour of Seattle and saw the Woodland Park Zoo, and visited Pike's Place Market and watched the fish throwing and checked out the local artists. Very cool place!

BEN'S favorite part-probably camping in the Cascade Mountains. It is absolutely gorgeous! I left my camera behind during our hike and it was a heartbreak because it was so amazing.

New Halem, WA campground.

Ben also loved showing Charlie around the Pacific Science Museum.


CHRISTINA'S favorite part-being with my family for 9 days and visiting some old friends!

Salina and I getting our corn on at a farmer's market in Renton, WA. Friends since childhood!

Salina and her husband Michael were kind enough to let us stay with them for 3 nights!

My friend since babyhood Melanie Mills. In Omak, WA.

My childhood home in Okanogan, WA...Man those trees have grown!!!
(For those of you who don't know I lived in Okanogan till I was 12.)

New friend's the Russon's in Battle Ground, WA.

CHARLIE'S favorite part-swimming in the various hotel pools and the Pacific Science Museum.

ANDY'S favorite parts:

Toddler area at the PacSci Museum

Wearing Salina's shoe around the house.

Pushing around the wet floor sign on the pool deck.

It was WONDERFUL to be together, to see some GORGEOUS places and see beautiful friendly faces.

Washington, we'll be back, I love ya!

It's not you...It's me.

Dear Estate Vineyard paint,



The first day I saw you I fell in love. You were bold, rich, dark, and so gorgeous I could almost taste you. I ignored the very wise advise of my friends and family, who told me to go in another direction. I was so excited to have you, to try something different, to take a chance.

It pains me to admit that there is such thing as "too much of a good thing." I'm sorry to say that this relationship has started to smother me. I felt oppressed each time I was around you, overwhelmed and unhappy with my choices. So, Estate Vineyard, after nearly 10 months, I need to admit I made a mistake. I need to say, it's....it's.....Well....


I found something new. I feel lighter, more refreshed, and somehow freer. Ahhhhhhhhhhh...