Blurry

I have several empty frames sitting around our house, more than a few in our master bedroom. I thought I would try and take a few pictures of Jas and I to put in those frames by using the timer on my camera. After several attempts of jumping over the dog, running through the grass and avoiding Mirielle, who was crying becuase I wouldn't let her in the picture, I finally gave up. I think that this was the best shot that I got. Too bad I don't know anyone who is obsessive about taking pictures as me who lives close by. Then we could practice on each other. Until then, I'm thinking that maybe I need a remote for my camera.....

Trippin it to Seattle

For my 30th birthday, I decided I wanted to take a weekend trip to Seattle. I had been telling Jason this for months. I had originally envisioned a romantic getaway weekend, but as the summer flew by, it seemed that a girls trip would be much easier as I wouldn't have to make any arrangements for the house, the food or the kids for the whole weekend and could just leave my dear sweet husband in charge. Too bad the grandparents don't live closer. I think he was a little disappointed that I was leaving him behind, but was still excited for me to go.

So, my friend Stacey and I left our hubbies at home with the kids for the weekend and had a fun weekend in Seattle. We did a little bit of sight seeing, did some shopping (yea for big malls and DSW shoes!) ate some great meals and had a great time.

Meanwhile poor dear hubby ended up with 2 kids with strep throat over the weekend. I felt kinda bad knowing that I was kicking up my heels having fun while he was at home playing nurse.

We went to Pikes Place Market on a Saturday (which I think was during the hottest weekend of the summer throughout the whole of WA.) The place was packed and it was hot. It kinda gave me flashbacks of the Philippines - hot and crowded places.

We went on an underground tour of Seattle which was fascinating. Brought out the history buff in me. Almost had a panic attack down there too. Too stale and hot!

Love the old architecture of the city

And I love my new shoes!

Overheard

Kellan has come up with a few lines that have made me laugh lately.

Kellan is holding his special blanket that has a lion head that is attached whom we lovingly refer to as Lion.

Mirielle: Kellan, what name do you want to call Lion?
Kellan: Tiger


Kellan at the table sorting his cheetos into small, med and large sizes.
Kellan: The small ones are the baby ones, these are the mommy ones and the big one is the dad one at the hangar.

Labor Day

Here are some randomly posted pictures of our trip to Montana over Labor Day. The first day we enjoyed sun and the picts are from our favorite part of our trip to the river. Unfortunately, Jason missed the best part because he came down with a cold on top of strep throat on the car ride and had to take a rest while we all went out to play. The second day we enjoyed rain and the third we woke up to snow. Welcome to living way up north!

Mr. Droopy Pants

I LOVE this face.

Mirielle and her rock that we thought looked like a maple bar

The kids even got to feed some deer from the cabin porch. Too bad the picts turned out blury, but I didn't think Mrs. Deer would be too fond of my flash.
Back again on Sunday morning for one last snack

Fun in the Garden

I couldn't wait to get a garden started this year. Why, I do not know. I don't like weeding, I don't like bugs, I don't like dirt. But, somehow the idea of having a living growing garden in my backyard seemed like a very nice idea.

I've been pretty proud of the fact that we acutally have some things growing. Stawberries, lettuce, peppers and tomatoes, peas and something that I forgot to mark so we are still waiting to see what it produces.

It has been a learning year for me. I think I will give it a go next year too, but with a few changes. The kids have really gotten a kick out of being able to eat things that we have grown.

We Have Been Waiting

We have been waiting and waiting. Watching you grow.

And you did not disappoint.
I think next year I might rip out half the grass in our yard and plant sunflowers. There is something about them that just makes me happy.

Going Green

I know there is lots of hype now days about 'going green' and being sensitive to the environment. So I just wanted to let everyone know that we here in the Schwab household are doing our part.

I found this in the fridge the other day and it gave me a good laugh. I went to pull some lunch meat out of the meat/cheese drawer and this is what I found. A bowl of cheese from last night's dinner placed in the ziplock bag that holds our cheese.

I asked Jason when he got home why he put the whole bowl of cheese into the fridge and he simply replied, "Then I wouldn't have to waste another plastic bag." Oh, duh!

Out to the country

We headed out to the country the other day with some friends. It was a perfect day - not too hot, not too cold, cloudy - which made it perfect for pictures. The kids had a great time tromping around. Kellan especially loved playing on the tractor. I had fun chasing them and tormenting them with taking pictures. We all left happy!

Our little artist

A few weeks ago we put almost all of Mirielle's toys in time out because of some bad behavior. The deal was that she could get one toy out of time out a day for good behavior. Most of her toys are still sitting in our closet.

What this girl loves most are a coloring book, a pack of crayons, a pair of scissors and occasionally her chalk board. This week she did an amazing drawing of a mermaid complete with a fish tail, a bikini top and a cute hairstyle (with a castle located on the left hand side.) I thought it was a pretty good job for a five year old!

Facebook

So I've been on Facebook for awhile but I hadn't really done anything with it. I just joined a few months ago because they created a group for the women at Moody. But this last week, one of my friends from Argentina (I was an exchange student there after high school) found me on Facebook. I could hardly believe it!

So I admit that since then, I've been a little distracted playing around with it and finding friends. I have been amazed at how many people are out there that I can find that I've had some connection with. It has made me realize how many circles we have run in so to speak over the last few years. It made me sit back and think about how grateful I am that we have had the chance to go so many places and meet so many people (even though the ride hasn't always been that easy). We certainly have had a rich life as far as the relationships we have developed along our journey. Thank you Lord for friends!