I am a blogging loser!

Wow - I think this is officially the longest I've EVER gone without blogging!  We've been busy!  Since last summer was such a bummer (you know the whole "son in a motorcycle accident thing"), we've been trying to make up for it this summer.

There have been LOTS of boat trips.  Trips to go see friends and family, friends and family visiting here!  So much to do - so little time to blog.  (Did I also mention I have 2 jobs?!?!)

Here are a few pics just to tide you all over................

Visiting my birth family in Oregon. Brother Mike, Sister Lisa and Joni

 My brother Martin and his wife Jaqualynn.

In Corvallis, OR with my Uncle Jack & Aunt Mary

Another Rehearsal dinner here at Korthuis Manor

A new bike for mama - LOVE IT!

A new bike for my man too!

Visiting precious friends in Port Angeles and a hike at Hurricane Ridge!

Precious family!

A trip to Chelan with Randy's family

The kids liked swimming out to the boat and hanging out!

An evening of wine tasting, appetizers and friends!

Friends drooling over the menu!

Samson Estate Winery

A overnight boat trip to Sydney BC on Vancouver Island - GORGEOUS!

   

An awesome dinner on the Patio of a pub with great friends!

Trust me, there is so much to tell and so many MORE pictures.  I will do both soon.....................thanks for not giving up on me! 

Busy weekend!

Sorry for the lack of posting - first I was in a funk about the lack of summer and the abundance of allergies!

This last week was a busy one (aren't they all?).

You know you're getting older when the kids that your kids grew up with are getting married!!  This weekend our friends Ray & Gwen's son Vince got married.  We had the rehearsal dinner here Friday night.  Only 16 - which is a much smaller group then we usually have.  The weather turned out perfect!

Saturday the weather turned out perfect for the wedding which was in their back yard - it was beautiful - and FUN!

 The wedding party stood on the dock on the pond.......................

Wade and Brandon - best friends since birth!

Emily and Bret - poor Bret - he got stuck with the girl growing up!

These are the kids that grow up with your kids and are like your own!

My how time flies!

Happy 20th Brandon!

Last Sunday we celebrated Brandon's 20th birthday!  Cannot believe we have 2 kids in their 20's and only one teenager left - wow - somebody's gettin' old!!

Randy made barbecue ribs for Brandon and his friends and they wiped out 3 racks, along with a whole lot of other food!  Gotta love me some 20 year old men!!

Brandon is our "steady as he goes" boy.  He is neither excitable or depressable (is that a word?).  He is a loyal friend, trustworthy, hard worker.......yes I'm basically describing his dad too!  This apple didn't fall far from the tree - which is a GOOD thing!

Brandon is going to be a Junior at Whitworth this fall.  He is a nuclear engineering major.  He says he will either work in cancer research/radiology, or make bombs...............this blows my mind!! (pun intended!)  He is one smart man!  Love you bud - you make your mom proud!

I love my king.......

............king size bed that is!

Yesterday I was walking by Max's bed and saw this........................

It reminded me of how much I love our King size bed.  We bought it when we moved into this house 3 years ago (can you believe it!).  It has been .A. MARRIAGE.SAVER!!  (one of us sleeps a little rambunctiously!!)

Thank goodness...............

Yesterday, I looked outside and thought (please don't miss the sarcasm here!) "Thank goodness we have a sprinkler system or I would have to go out in this weather to water the grass!"

You can't see how hard it's raining, but you know!  I. AM. TIRED. OF. THIS. LACK. OF. SUMMER!  It's hard not to be bitter.  Yesterday I actually thought about lighting a candle, turning on the fireplace, and embracing Fall.  Maybe if I just decided to enjoy Fall I wouldn't be so bitter about there being no summer?!?!

A Play Date

Last Saturday I got to spend the day with my BFF Judy's daughter - Hailey!  Hailey was born 5 months before they moved to Idaho, so I got lots of baby holding time in but then they left.  I go to Idaho about twice a year and I love being "Aunt" to Hailey and Spencer (her older brother).  After Brian and Judy left to go back to Idaho Hailey stayed with her G'pa and G'ma for a week and I got to "steal" her for 24 hours!  We had planned to make cookies and do finger and toe nails!

Spencer is here working for the summer and he had spent the night.  So we had strawberries and waffles to begin our fun day!

A quick 4-wheeler ride with Uncle Randy before the cookie session

I think she looks like she's having a good time ;)

Lots of rollin' and cuttin' (& tastin' for quality control!)

Em handled the blue fingernails w/white polka dots!

We did all star cookies and decorated with red, white and blue of course!

Pretty proud of our finished product!

Em also handled the french braiding!

And of course, a fire complete with smores to end the day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried to get Hailey to bed at a decent time, but it's so hard to leave a fire!  The next morning we were packing up the boat to head out for a few days.  Randy sat in his chair to take a break and Hailey just crawled right up there on his lap with Max and I turned around and all 3 were sleeping!

She slept for 2 hours, so I'm guessing I didn't get her to bed early enough :-o

An evening with Simon

Last week I got a call that Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul were in town and they wanted me to come hang out with them Wednesday evening!!  (OK the call was from my friend Beth and she's the one who wanted to hang out, but Simon and Paula were there!!)

We went to a live taping of the X-Factor which will be airing this fall.

Waiting with the crowds to get in Me, Marla, Rick & Beth

The Stage

The Judges Chairs

 

Nicole ? - she was a Pussycat Doll

Paula Abdul - talk about tiny!!  WOW

Mr. Simon Cowell - enough said

 It was a long but fun night.  After every contestant, hair and makeup would come out and touch up the judges.  I told Marla I could look that good if someone touched me up every 5 minutes!! ;)

Fun night with great friends!