Snow Fix - SOLVED!

I know for most of you across the country, you're sick of seeing snow! But we in Arizona, specially my children, have been whining all winter long about not being able to go up north and play in the snow. So after we finished our sight-seeing day in Seattle during spring break, we headed out of town and were driving across the beautiful Snoqualmie Pass and we see TONS of snow. We stopped at a recreation area on the summit and found a perfect place for us to play. (Everyone except for poor Josh who was asleep in the van.) Fortunately, it was only 6pm and still light outside. It was an unexpected surprise for the kids!


Mounds of snow everywhere to climb on from the snow plows.

I'm trying my best to work on a little snowman. My "gloves" are actually socks we all pulled from your suite cases.
Our work of 'art' finished -- the kids were wet and cold after 30 minutes and ready to leave!

Emerald City Side Trip....

With plans to go to Ephrata, Washington during our spring break for Steve's parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration, we had already booked plane tickets into Seattle for earlier in the week and decided we needed to spend ONE day there to show the kids the highlights of this beautiful city! Steve and I spent our honeymoon in Seattle 18 years ago to the day there. My other memory of Seattle is not so pleasant. This was the city where Amanda received treatment for her cancer at the Seattle Children's Hospital -- for 6 weeks during June/July she and I lived at the Ronald McDonald House and once in a while we'd be able to venture out and see the city.

As quick as it was, this was a much more pleasant trip.

Oh man, Josh was the best on the plane....just give him a DVD player with Spongebob and some snacks and he's a happy guy. Next to him Steve and I sat TOGETHER ...what a treat! Usually, we have to divide up with kids sitting between us and I'm usually holding a lap child. The other 4 kids divided into 2's and sat across from us. They were all so good.

From the airport, we drove to our friends, Mark and Erica's house where we spent the night. They have been close friends of ours FOREVER -- almost forever. Steve and Mark were roommates at Ricks -- and we all got close again and when Mark married Erica and we lived in Ephrata. They saved my sanity many times while I was in Seattle with Amanda. We take every chance we can to see them anytime we're up north.

It's really fun that they have 5 kids close to our kids ages. Our girls really hit it off. The day after we arrived, we all headed to our first stop ... the SPACE NEEDLE. We have a small statue of it at home and my kids were excited to see it in person.



Mark and Steve

The top of the Space Needle -- poor Josh wasn't tall enough to scope out the city.


What a gorgeous view!


It was COLD AND WINDY up there!! burrrrrr



Taking a break....



And of course we can't leave Seattle without riding the MONORAIL! I tried to convince my kids it was as fun as a roller coaster -- they didn't buy it.



And what trip would be complete without a stroll from the monorail down to the famous Pikes Place Market. Thanks to Marks parents meeting us there, we ate our way through it. Yummy stuff!

The boys sitting on the gold pig -- hey, where's the girls?


One last picture of all the kids before we take off on our 3 hour drive to Ephrata. Thanks Mark and Erica and family -- it was an absolutely wonderful day!

Say CHEESE!

I know I still need to post our Spring Break pictures....and I will, but I needed to quickly post Starr getting her braces put on this morning.

Why is it braces seem to make kids look older...and adults look younger?

Eighteen Years and Counting!!!

So, does it make us old when Steve and I are both at Scout Committee Meeting this morning and we're talking about how our anniversary is coming up and low and behold, thanks to our fellow committee members reminding us of the date today -- we then realize it's actually TODAY. I guess you had to be there, but they got a kick out it!

Family BBQ

On Saturday, we had a family BBQ to celebrate...I guess to celebrate...my mom and Paul visiting from Wyoming....ummm...my dad and Ruth buying a house down the street from me....ummmm...the kids starting spring break...ummm....my husband still having a job. Well heck, who needs a reason...we just like to all get together and gab once in a while.


My brother showing off on roller-blades...ya whatever! I can do that -- just don't ask me to try and stop.My most favorite uncles, aunt and cousins!
My mom, bryce and Heidi -- ya, the sun was in their eyes....I'm cruel!
Jim, Aunt Jackie, and mom!
And my most favorite and cutest cousin, MIGNON!!

One Down....

....with one to go! Jeff finally got braces put on yesterday. Starr is scheduled to have her's put on right after SPRING BREAK. Steve and I thought it might kinda be fun to have them be miserable together --- you know the saying, misery loves company. Besides, some good ol' fashion sibling rivalry may even encourage them to take even better care of their braces. I know what you're thinking....and knowing what braces cost these days...NO, we did not win the lottery. Close, we discovered the Ortho/Dental School just a few miles away. The facility is awesome...people awesome....and I can still use my insurance too.

How's Jeff feeling? Not bad yesterday. Today....SORE.
I tried to get him to give me a decent smile for the picture to post, but this was all I could get!