Girls Weekend

A Birthday Bonfire

Some highlights from Josh's birthday on the farm

AJ is a cat lover...a man after my own heart!
AJ was being so sweet to Tipsy last weekend, he might have even changed her mind about small humans. Our cats generally run and hide when any child comes in the house.

I got tagged

Not even kidding!

So my dear friend Leah "picture tagged" me. I was asked to go to my 4th picture file, and choose the 4th picture. Here it is. I'm also supposed to explain...

I have this in my picture files because at one point I emailed this picture to my college friend Trevor who called me "Stephanie" because he thought I looked like the Full House character.

If I skip that "How Rude" picture and also skip the "Sample Picture" file that is automatically on my computer....this is what I land on.

This is my 26th birthday celebration with the Graves Road Girls and their husbands in Lake Tahoe on our first annual Graves Girls reunion trip. Robyn... are you scared, excited, or just trying to not breathe in all that smoke? By the way----why did that little candle create so much smoke??? Oh, maybe it was Keith setting napkins, straw wrapper, and sugar packets on fire with the s'mores flame. Yeah, that must be it.

Fall so far

Phil Vassar Concert @ the Spokane Fair

Thanks Adam for finding FREE tickets!!! It was a great night out with friends :) Along with some of Spokane's finest!

Cousin Lois came to CDA for a visit

It's SOCCER Season!!!!!

Coach Ross in action

You should hear this girl cheer on her team the Pink Cherry Bombs!

Jeter really knows how to pull off the red Gatorade mustache!

Future soccer star---with dimples to die for!
Our last summer apple hanging on. And all the rotten ones we still have to pick up :(
Happy September!

Last few weeks of sweet summer

This picture was not taken at the end of summer, but I couldn't remember if I'd put it on the blog yet...and it's one of my favorite pictures from this summer! Rece is hilarious!

AJ and I are supporting Keith in his golf tournament

Here AJ is learning the fine art of golf---his Dad, Uncle, and Grandpa must be SOOO proud! Not to mention Keith :)

Marissa was in her 1 millionth wedding this summer---she is one HOT bridesmaid, and SO good at her job. Riss I think you are a superstar and such an amazing friend. I'm happy we got to come and play with you at Amy's wedding! You are so beautiful.

I swear I dress nice for weddings! It was just so freaking cold I had to put on my jean jacket OKAY! Keith and I were so lucky to get to go back to Camp Spalding for a few days this summer, while my dad was the speaker at Family Camp. The bonus to spending lots quality time with my parents and getting to be in my favorite place on earth...was getting to see some of my favorite Lewiston friends and families. Kelly was my youth group leader from my high school days...but now she is my friend and I loved seeing her and getting to know her sweet kids. We also enjoyed staying up late and playing cards and laughing at crazy poop stories!!! I would have taken more pictures but my camera battery died. Maybe if I get some from other people I'll put them up. Like the ones from "Water Wars" where they had giant floating blocks covered in duct tape and the moms and dads had to run across them---believe me it was hilarous! Have you ever seen the show Wipe Out? As if we didn't get to see enough white stuff this year---we had some MAJOR rain and hail storms this august! Here you see the unmelted hail looking very much like SNOW. Please...I'm NOT ready for winter again! I think it was this same day that Ingrid and I went on a run. We thought we had missed the craziness but apprently not because on the way from my house to hers we got caught in the storm. We are talking like can't even see because the rain is so hard, getting splashed by cars driving by, 10 pound wet shoes sloshing, pants barely hanging on due to the weight of the water, sort of rain! The people in their cars were giving us the "who are these idots" look.

Keith's Mom's annual trip to Stoneridge now includes a day at Silverwood. I've convinced the kids that the Tilt-a-Whirl is the ultimate ride! Truth be told I sorta really think it is. I mean the Aftershook is cool, but nothing compares to the thrill of a good Tilt-a-Whirl ride! We couldn't get enough.

A sun bathing BEAUTY! Alli was in her own little world here warming up in the sun and singing to herself---isn't she so cute?
Bolder Beach has a great toddler water park and all three kids just love it---Rece was so fun to watch running through all the water!

What I tell you???This is sorta how Rece looks during the whole ride, but he swears he loves it!My Hero.

So I know for sure that Keith will be a good dad because the other night we got home after a really long day to find Aslan about 50+ feet up in our neighbors tree. According to our neighbor he'd been in the tree for at LEAST 6 hours, but potentially could have been like 12!!! Keith, not a big fan of heights, climbed right up...but we didn't think we could get the poor cat down, who has a hoarse meow at this point (and don't call the firemen like you see in movies or in books cause they just laugh at you). After over an hour of debating the best option, Keith, being a genious, got a backpack on and climbed the rest of the way up, while his mom, our neighbor, and I held flashlights on his butt, praying he wouldn't fall out and break his arm, or head, or entire body. Aslan started purring the second Keith was in reach---they have a special bond. He dove into the backpack and Keith zipped him up and climbed back down. What a great rescue!

Last but not least....I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!

I am teaching 2nd graders this year and I already love them! This is my favorite picture Keith took of my room after we all spent every waking hour of our Labor Day weekend getting ready. I've survived the first week and I'm really looking forward to the year!

Camping in Mt. Rainer

About a week ago we went on our annual camping adventure with the van Anrooys and Strates---it was fabulous as always! A beautiful setting, great weather, yummy food, and some pretty awesome company as well :) Here are a few of the pics I got before my camera died---perhaps there will be a part two if I get some other greats pics sent via email---hint hint hint!

This is the view from our camp site! Great pick guys! If it weren't glacial water we may have spent more time here, but a few refreshing splashes was about all we could take. Who needs to shower on a 5 day camping trip? Not us!

Silver Falls was our first hike (or fun walk really)

Mt. Rainer---and we actually saw (through binoculars) people hiking really close to the top!!!

Hike #2 (the one I pooped out on---read my tag) a little longer, colder, brighter(sun reflecting on snow--ouch!), wetter, and way more difficult. Keith and I turned around at this point and spent a lovely time at the visitors center. Our much tougher friends made the trek and said it was incredible.

I almost read my whole book!! I might have even finished if I was harassed so much---come on guys reading is cool---socializing round the campfire is totally overrated! (don't worry mom, my eyes are fine, I had a reading light hooked on the book!)