Camping fun...

Just this past weekend we went camping near Leavenworth. We met with Scott, Candice and Lily (Shane's brother) and Adam and Fawn (sort of a brother as well) the next day. Scott and Adam couldn't come until later on Saturday and we decided to go after work on Friday to find a spot. We made great time and by 8:30pm we got to the campground where we wanted to be. Of course it was full. We went to so many campgrounds that night and they were all FULL. I got so frustrated seeing this word. Seriously God's nature is so big, surely there was a spot there for us. Anyway, after many frustrating tries we went away from this cute, quaint and beautiful Bavarian town and found a spot close to 10pm. As soon as the tent was up the first semi goes by and of course the road is near our tent. As we go to pay I see a big sign saying "NO CAMPFIRES". In the morning we awoke to the pleasant smell of an outhouse. Also near our tent. We make a delicious breakfast with a newly bought camping stove. (Shane woke up early and went it to town to buy something we could cook all this food that we had brought.) We had eggs and bacon. The problem... Lots and LOTS of wasps. They were swarming all over us. It was a miracle we didn't get stung. We eventually got in the car to finish our breakfast. Shane has a phobia of these creatures and I think he was dying inside. After we ate we went to a Walmart nearby to find wasp repellent and on the way there we stopped by a nearby lake and went swimming. I was determined to have fun. Dacian had a lot of fun, he had his cars all over the place. Lavinia mostly ate dirt. I was seriously tired of camping by now. But we had family come and meet us. We were happy they got another spot away from the outhouse and the road and thought the next morning we would eat there and there would be no wasps. Wrong. Oh, and the repellent thingy we bought was the only place the wasps didn't go near. It was the WORST campground spot ever. Don't go to Swauk Campground. Ever.
The next day went a lot smoother. Scott and Candice were so nice to make breakfast for all of us and we survived the bees once again. We quickly left this terrible place and went to Leavenworth. We love this place. Finally the trip was worth it again. We go there often and I never get tired of it. I forgot to take pictures of the place but I have pictures from a different time we went. Sadly we didn't get a photo with all of us either. Anyway, it was great to spend time with family again and even though the spot was the worst the company was the best. Thanks guys for coming.

Can you see all that dirt on her mouth? I should've brought the playpen but the car was already too full.

Mini golfing

Here is Dacian. He got a hole in one in the middle of the course. We were dumbfounded. We didn't even help him at all. It was one of those trick places where if the ball goes in this short cut route it can go right in the hole. Well, he made it. And so did Shane and I. I would've gone the "safe" route had I not seen Dacian do this and I am sure it wouldn't have been a whole in one. LOL!

We went mini golfing not long ago with a good friend of ours Taylor. He is actually a really good golfer but mini golfing is quiet different and we were all pretty much the same when it came to this game. Dacian had a lot of fun and I really want to go again. When the weather is good this activity is the best.
That is Taylor. Too bad we didn't ask someone to take a pic of all of us.

9 months

I keep forgetting to blog about this. I got this yummy coconut cake and quickly and unprofessionally decorated it. We do this every month. For some reason this month we let Lavinia eat some cake.

I must say she loved it.

And so did her brother. He has been the happiest with this tradition I must say.

And here she is standing up all by her self. I wonder when she'll walk. Dacian beat her by a month so far.

Lovely letters on the wall

My friend Holly is the best decorator and creative woman that I know. She made Dacian's letter name and sweetheart that she is made Lavinia's now. When I was in California hanging out with her she found time to make these beautiful letters. She carefully selected the paper and the letters. She got the blocks cut, painted them, attached the paper, etc. I am so pleased with the result and I have finally put them up on the wall. Thank you so much Holly. I love your gift for Lavinia. You are the best!

This is how her room looks. Lavinia loves it and since my family moved out of our place we made their bedroom hers. I painted the walls, two light pink, two light yellow to match her bedding. I still want to decorate the walls but I haven't had time or money for that. Hopefully I find time before I want to change the nursery to a toddler room.

Happy L in her bed.

Daddy in action. Thanks so much dad.

Escaping the Heat

To espape the heat my parents and I and the kids went to Silver Lake near Everett. It was so much fun and we played in the water mostly since even in the shade it was too hot. It was super crowded but I didn't care. I cooled off. We also had a nice bbq with these cool "instant grills" from Safeway which are really cheap, they are small and you can take with your anywhere and light up and grill on them. We did some hot dogs and chicken so nothing too big but it worked. I will try to see if my parents have any pictures. That evening thanks to Shane's cousin, Sarah we found our peace and were able to sleep there for the past two nights. Our house got so hot this past week (Seattle broke a record for hot temperature) and a few nights in a row I couldn't sleep nor could the kids very well. Sarah invited us to her nice air conditioned house and I really was excited for the offer. We had a lot of fun. Dacian played with her cute kids and Lavinia napped a lot which she hadn't been able to do at our house. I stayed up late talking to her and her husband and ate amazing chocolate. Thank you guys from saving us from the heat. Our bedrooms were 100 degrees F. Poor Shane stayed home though because they were a little too far from his work and he takes the bus to work.
Thankfully today was beautiful and temperature perfect (75).

Help

It's late and I can't sleep since it's sooooooooo hot at our house so I am playing with my blog. I went to "the cutest blog on the block" and I changed my background but I thought it would change it all but it left the middle the same as last time. How can I make it look cute? Thanks for all those who can help me out.

Summer fun

My best friend, Holly

Dacian and Holly's son Berrett

Yellowstone

More Yellowstone

Old Faithful


Bison right next to our car

View of the Grand Tetons

Dacian and his cousin Merayla

Bryce Canyon

Well, this summer has been an adventure much like the last one only this time I wasn't seeing America pregnant and with a two year old but with Shane and the kids.

I can't say it was in the least bit relaxing but I knew it wouldn't be from the get go. I might not have relaxing vacations for many years to come but I will have fun nevertheless. Our first stop of our road trip was Lava Hot Springs in ID and it was a ton of fun. We camped overnight and then we headed to UT where we spent time with my brother, sister in law and cousin. It was fun and we also liked lighting our own fireworks in a church parking lot and also seeing the cool ones from Stadium of Fire. We then headed to Bryce National Canyon. I had abeen wanting to see that one for a while now and my wish was granted. It was beautiful but sadly Dacian had a little fever and refused to do the hike so Shane stayed behind while I hiked the canyon with Lavinia. She was good and slept most of the time in the baby backpack. It was however super hot and I was relieved when I finished the hike.
The next four days were spent in Las Vegas. Not my favorite city on earth but it was fun and we did enjoy plenty of time at the hotel pool. Dacian was in heaven here. I did manage to go to a show, also by myself because we couldn't find any babysitters. Shane has seen Cirque du Soleil and he said I should go anyway. It was a show with Criss Angel and some performers of Cirque du Soleil. It was so fun.

San Diego was our next destination and we were so glad and fortunate to stay with Susan and her family who lived near the beach. We went to Seaworld one of the days and the next we spend by the beach. I just love the ocean and being there made me wish I could have been there all along. The next day Shane had to fly back to work so we headed to our LA hotel. We went to Venice beach and Santa Monica. It was also so much fun.

Boy, am I making up my not writing for 7 months by doing this long post? It keeps going so please keep reading.

After we said good bye to daddy (My son was very confused and sad when we dropped Shane at the airport. He cried and cried that he had lost his daddy) we went to Bakersfield to see my best friend from college. She was there with her kiddos visiting her family. They are the nicest people and it was so good to see them again. Also seeing Holly was so fun and it seemed like no time had passed at all but then we looked at our children and knew that wasn't so. Her children are adorable and so well behaved. I wish I could say that about mine but at least on this trip that wasn't the case. Dacian was a major pain and Lavinia... well she is a very attached to mommy 8 month old. Anyway just being there and hanging out with Holly was the best. We hadn't seen each other since college so it was quite a treat.

After my time in Bakersfield I proceeded to go to Utah where I met up with my parents who were there to visit my brother and his family. We stopped in Vegas for the night and the next day we went to UT. I was only there for two days and I still don't feel like I got to really hang out with my brother but hey it's better than nothing. Dacian got along really well with his daughter and they played and shared and danced together.

And to make our trip complete to stopped at Yellowstone again this summer to show my mom the park who had never been there before. I was excited to see a new part of the park and show her this beautiful and strange land. We saw a lot of bisons and elk but no bears. Also Jackson WY and Grand Teton Park is out of this world gorgeaus. We want to go there next summer and maybe do some river rafting. I was so jealous of the people that were doing that. It looked like a lot of fun.

On the way back my sister in law's mother hosted us in Spokane so the trip wouldn't be so long and tiring and we had fun visiting with her too. Now I am almost back to normal in Kirkland. The weather is super hot and our house without air conditioning is unbearable. I don't know where to go to so I can get away. Dacian was up much of the night crying and asking for water. Tomorrow is supposed to be 100F. I think I'll go to the lake with he kids but I am afraid all of Kirkland will be there also. Oh well, I'll figure something out. For now so long.