My Mom

Today is my beautiful mom's birthday ~ I won't tell you how old she is but I will assure you that she's in FAR better shape than I am AND I'm pretty sure people sometimes wonder if we're sisters.

She's H.O.T.T.

I wish I had a scanner so I'd be able to upload some old photos of her, but alas, we'll have to make due with the ones that are on my computer.

She's a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, nani, jewelry designer, cookie lover & yoga master.

She's been my mama, mom, mommy. My confidant and occasional opponent while being loving and always believing in me.

Told you she was a cookie lover!

Always willing to adventure with Juliet!

Happy Birthday Mom ~ I love you more than the whole world! ;)

Soak em' in the bathtub

We planned a fantastic feast for Saturday evening, but before the cooking started, and while our planks were soaking in the bathtub upstairs (?!) Keyo decided to cut the grass in the back yard and invited me to come sit outside while he worked.

What Keyo did...

What I did...

Yep. That's a margarita. With Patron.

So since I was lazily relaxing while Keyo did all the hard work, of course that bit me in the butt. About 2 minutes into his mowing, I started sneezing. Constantly. 

Apparently I'm allergic to grass. Add it to the list.

When he finished and I opened a new box of tissues for my faucet nose, we started working on dinner.

Alder plank Salmon, King crab legs, and Sesame broccoli.

Keyo manned the grill, and aced the salmon and crab legs. Thanks for the recipe Burt! 

I swear I could live on crab. Love it.

I made the broccoli, one of our favorite recipes. Super simple, just tossed in sesame oil, baked, and sprinkled with kosher salt once it's done. The oil gives it a delicious nutty flavor and a little carmalization. 

We both ate way too much food, but boy was it delish!

Roller Coaster Lover

Saturday, Juliet & I took our Groupon (if you're not signed up - do it, they have good deals on stuff we actually use) to the Family Fun Center. Juliet loves this place. She could hardly wait to get there.

First she did this...

And manage to jump pretty darn high!

She loves this contraption.

There was a point in her young life that she didn't weigh enough to partake in this bouncing craziness - there were many tears over that.

Next we both went on this swing. Juliet & I both love "Roasta Coasters" but this was a little crazy. She has never held my hand so tight!

Then Bumper Boats and Go-Karts

This first time we took Juliet on a go-kart was a few years ago and she cried the entire time. The teenage kid running the operation would not allow me to stop early. I was super irritated. Thankfully, the baby was not forever scarred as this time she cheered from the passenger seat for me to "Faster Mommy, go faster!" Little Speed Demon.

Juliet and I had a great time playing outside, and even played a few games inside to earn tickets so Juliet could go to the Goldmine of Cheap Trinkets that kids her age this of as GOLD. She came away with a Bear pencil, a parachuting alien, and two sticky green frogs. Yippee.

Now, as I've stated before, Juliet & I both LOVE roller coasters. Not your average love. Like there isn't much I'd rather do than get strapped in, flipped around, flung towards the ground, and back up again. We're both ride-with-your-hands-in-the-air, must-sit-in-the-front-spot, lets-do-it-again kind of roller coaster riding girls. Two of a kind.

As we're leaving, with Juliet goodies in hand, I spot a 3-D roller coaster simulator. I've seen it operated from the outside. It is on hydraulics. Flips & spins, the whole nine yards.

Knowing that we still have "credits" on our play card, I ask Juliet is she wants to try it.

Yes, of course she does.

So the guy swipes our card, straps us in and asks Juliet if she wants to do Ice Land or Asteroid World.

She picks the ice one.

I'm excited.

This is going to be a blast.

He shows us where the emergency "stop" button is.

The dude closes us in, our own personal roller coaster pod seals and the screen in front of us comes to life.

It took about 5 seconds for me to realize that it was going to take serious effort for me not to puke all over this stomach gurgling, yak inducing pod as it spins ans shoots us all over Ice Land. And that the flips this pod and my tummy are making will propel my vomit all over my dear, sweet daughter. Ugh.

Close your eyes Adrianne.

While trying to shut out the world until this nightmare is over, I can hear Juliet hooting & hollering, she is LOVING this. So I hold on tight and try to convince myself not to push the lovely stop button. I don't want to ruin all her fun.

It ends. I haven't puked, but I'm sweating. Yes, it was THAT close.

Pretty sure the dude knew I didn't feel well, he got my purse for me. Nice kid.

Except he didn't warn me. Jeez.

My 1st Post Blog

Instead of Blog Post - get it?!

Once a year I plan to print this blog into a book, so I will being doing quite a few "Post Blogs" to capture a few memories from the past years that I don't want left out.

Post Blog = a memory from the past. You follow? :) Good!

Last August, Keyo, Juliet & I took our first Family Vacation to Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington. Also on this trip were the Hardin's, The Kuntz Family, my parents Jim & Jan, and family friends Anton & Yvonne Karm. It was quite the bunch!

The drive to Chelan is about 4.5 hours - not too bad unless you're a six year old.

Or if you're the guy doing the driving.

Each family rented a condo and we stayed 5 nights. The view from the porch of our condo was amazing! This is exactly why Keyo and I want to retire to a body of water ~ imagine waking up to this every day!

Warning - you're about to encounter a bunch of pictures - I couldn't not include them!

Mom & I at the pool

Juliet & Keyo on the boat

Anton & my dad ~ they've been friends since they we 5 years old!

Juliet & her Papa

Our little family

These chairs are the best - we now own two!

Dawn with a headache ~ margaritas help that, right?!

Anthony the Super Frisbee Thrower

 

 Dawn is my Cousin/BFF/Fellow Tequila Lover

Keyo, Natalie, & Paul

Juliet & Brie

Face painting!

Yvonne & Juliet

Kyler :)

Auntie & mom making Taco Salad for the who crew ~ it was REALLY good!

Kyler & Anthony

Chasing him with her goggles?

Breakfast ~ we love these 3 kiddos!

Kyler, Anthony, Juliet & I

I love this picture!

Paul & Dawn 

Crab Margarita anyone?

Juliet, Kyler & Molly the neighbor dog

Evidence of a great trip!

Cant wait to do it again!

Summertime in Seattle

In typical Seattle Style, the weather over the last week has ranged from 65-95 degrees.

It's funny to me the people complaining that it hasn't been warm enough, are the same who whine when it gets "too hot". Silly heads. Hush and enjoy the sunshine!

I for one, love it when the sun shows up around here. I stand strong in my opinion that nothing beats Summertime in Seattle. It's beautifully green, dotted with a thousand different colors in bloom. We've got forests to hike, beaches to play on, and lakes to play in. This is the life.

Juliet and I picked up a Slip-n-Slide on Friday, the 3 of us ate at the BEST Mexican restaurant, (Chili Pepper on 45th in Wallingford ~ try it!) on Saturday evening, and all enjoyed Strawberry Hibiscus Sorbet from Molly Moons. 

I did manage to score myself a pretty good sunburn. While I'm a bit obsessive about making sure Juliet is slathered in sunscreen, I obviously am not as concerned about myself. Lesson learned!

I adore my family, nothing beats getting to spend time with them. We are blessed beyond measure to have each other.