We Won the Lottery! Welcome to my new home!!

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Um........it is such a great fantasy, but no, I had to come home to my small home that would fit in the basement of this large home. We had a great potluck at this home tonight with all the kiddos.
The owners are amazing and sweet and have a daughter my Mae's age with the same name.
We had out of this world food and I couldn't help myself from taking photos. Seriously, each room looked like it should be on the front page of a home magazine and yet, the owners are as down to earth as us. I love this about Bainbridge Island.

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Great day in code

Woodward school registration x2. School supply shopping and fun lunch. Cleaning friends house with best friend, helping stranded guy by pushing him to the side of the road in his car off the highway, Project Runway, discipline, scriptures, enlightenment, organizational progress.
Enough said!

Point No Point end of summer retreat

10+ moms, all good friends/sisters + 50 kids (give or take) = an amazing time
I just adore my friends.

Dinner out with friends, goodbyes and hellos.

Last year the photo above was taken right before we had to say goodbye to one of our dearest friends. It was bitter sweet not unlike tonights reunion dinner. I have been spending as much time with Elisa and the kids as possible, because they leave in just two days back down to California. Yesterday I went and met Elisa and the kids where they are staying and we walked a mile or so to a favorite cafe nearby. It was such a great way to catch up and spend time with some of my most treasured friends.
Tonight we got together once more, minus Rhonda. We thought she'd come later and were a bit disappointed she wasn't able to make it. It was just like old times and we had such a great time.
Tomorrow we will head out to Point No Point and then tomorrow night I get the kids again for a night of swimming.
We enjoyed a great Indian meal and shared many dishes. The favorite tonight was Jenny's mango chicken curry. Yum!

Busy fun filled weekend despite the weather!

I have to start by sharing my excitement about our close friends returning from California for a week long visit. They moved away just over one year ago and it was just as emotional seeing them last night, as it was saying goodbye last year. Just knowing that I have to say goodbye again, and that I don't know when the next time I will see them will be, breaks my heart. We had a get together at a friends with a few other families and it was just like old times.




This morning, (mid morning, yes) Nathan and I visited a few yard sales and had lunch at the cafe next to Bay Hay and Feed. At one yard sale, I was inquiring about little girl dolls and the owner went in and brought some things out. I looked through the assorted barbies and decided that um........no Mae doesn't need any. Half were naked and one even had a HOLE in her mouth. I mean......why? It looked like a blow up doll, seriously. Then she brought out a box, a DRESS up box! Why hadn't I ever thought of that for Mae? It was filled to the guild with Lilian Vernon top quality, classy, not cheap, dress up clothes, hats, shoes, jewelry, a boa...princess hat, purses etc.
5.00!!! When Mae saw me come in with the box she was beside herself with excitement. She had to try everything on. It was adorable.
See photos!



Tonight we went to an Elders Quorum social at Fay Bainbridge. It was fun and I won the award for best tasting bbq . I bought a very expensive piece of Chilean Sea Bass that I had never tasted before. It was amazing. I dusted it with fresh ground pepper, coarse gray sea salt, and a japanese sweet mirin. Very rich flavor this fish. We passed it around. It tasted like butter, although I didn't add butter. Too expensive to have again any time soon. 20.00 a pound.

After dinner, the kids spotted a pod of Orcas and I ran down to the beach as fast as I could. I could only see them from a distance and just a flicker of black here and there.
It was a great end to a great day.
Tata

50 Mile Canoe trip at Ross Lake

Nathan and Myron returned last Saturday from a 6 day, 50 mile canoe trip up at Ross Lake on the border of Canada and Wa. I missed them terribly and couldn't talk to them the entire time. No cell phone coverage. When they returned, they couldn't stop talking about their adventures and awesome experiences. I am so glad that they went. Just tonight, a friend uploaded photos so that I could share them with all of you. These past two weeks have been very hard for our family due to personal reasons. I can't tell you how happy I felt on Sunday to have my little family all together under one roof. Brennan and Nathan have started football and it is Nathans first year. He says it is the best sport he has ever played and watching him tonight, I was so amazed by his talent. That's all for now. Enjoy the photos!

Suite vs. hot weather

Grandma Sandra was in town for business and needed a hotel, so we insisted on a hotel that we could join her in. It didn't hurt that said hotel had an indoor pool, hot breakfast and an in room jacuzzi.
Rub a dub dub, nearly all the family in the tub. I should have taken after photos, because the bubbles kept growing as the jets encouraged them on.
Papa bear looking oh so handsome.
Mae sure got the hang of the dollar store floaties. Hurrah!

It was a great day/night trip and tonight I was happy to sit for some friends of ours. They are foster parents and had some sweet sweet little kids that I got to spend time with. 2 and 1. Rylan came with me and we had such a great time giving all the loves and cuddles they would oblige us.
That's all for now! Ta Ta