Jump Planet

We visited Jump Planet today in Bothell with some friends. And no, it's not because there was a Dave Matthews & Fam sighting there recently (he also apparently showed up at Richmond Beach last weekend without notifying me first, too)!!! The nerve.
So, besides attempts at stalking famous band members, we had a blast jumping and sliding and yes, getting clocked in the head by some random crazy boy. Yay Jump Planet!



Smiley Bella
Darby, William and Evy climbing up the wrong way...as always. What's with kids and climbing up slides?!


I just love little Evy's face here


Next time we'll be jumping with Dave Matthews' kids, mark my words!

These Times They Are A-Changing

It's taken a few days to sink in...but The Kid is retired. I'm not going to talk about all the gossip from this season, or give my opinion on if/when he should have retired. I'm just going to be super cheesy and say thanks for the memories. Seriously. Thanks for keeping baseball in Seattle, for Safeco, for the All Star Game, for the '95 season (and all the ones before that year that I still completely and utterly enjoyed because I didn't know any better). THANK YOU!!! Have fun working on your golf swing and watching your kids grow up. We'll miss you!

He Climbs Mountains Now...Really, It's Nothing

My husband has a knack for picking new hobbies that make me crazy with worry. But whatever, he has fun! For the past several months Dave has been hiking local trails with a group of friends getting prepared for attempting to climb Rainier this summer. They've done crevasse training, avalanche training (don't make me think about it), your-friend-is-falling-down-the-hill-so-hurry-up-and-dig-your-ice pick-and-boots-into-the-snow training - ya know, all the regular everyday problems we all have (bah!) At least he is taking the time to be prepared. I can at least be thankful for that! And he really seems to, ahem, enjoy cold, snowy conditions in high altitudes?! I told him he will never get to enjoy climbing a mountain with ME, because you couldn't pay me to do it, but to each his own.
Last week he attempted to summit Mt Adams. Apparently it's a decently easy climb when the weather is cooperating. Unfortunately, they weren't able to summit due to bad weather, but he had a lot of fun and learned so much. Believe it or not, he's now even more excited to climb. I better get my praying hands ready! ;)

Dave resting up (with hotel teddy bear, of course)

Eric and Paul hiking to the starting point

Eric striking a pose

Dave and Jeff building a snow wall to help block the wind

It's windy! ;)

Dave all decked out in his billions of dollars of climbing gear

The boys' attempt at being artsy. Not bad, not bad


Yay Dave and friends! Now please, keep being safe and smart, and come back to lil Miss Darby and me after every climb :)

Park Days

Today was Darby's end of school picnic, but since Daddy wasn't able to join us for that, we had a picnic dinner together tonight and Darby got double park time. She has been so excited since Daddy got back from Mt Adams yesterday, and is attached at the hip! Definitely missed her Daddy time while he was away.


Major slide-static


So delighted


Peek a boo

Visitors

Today for Memorial Day Bamma and Boppa came to visit and play. We had a great time catching up and having lunch. Poor Darby woke up with a bit of a cold, then skipped nap, but she still was so happy to see her Bamma and Boppa :)

Darby had so much fun showing off her Elmo Potty movie to Boppa. (Now if only she would follow Elmo's advice and go on the potty!)


Then Bamma came over to join them


My Dad brought me another beautiful hanging basket to join the other one he made for me. My front porch definitely needed some flower-beautification! Thanks Dad! Now let's hope I don't kill them...I certainly did not inherit my Dad's green thumb.

Mama's Day

For Mother's Day I spent time with my Mom, sissy and Darby in downtown Seattle. It was perfect weather and we had such a blast! I love those girls. We had lunch at Elliot's on the water, then walked up to Pike Place Market. I didn't take very many pictures, we were too busy chatting and having fun. Happy Mother's Day, Mama's!

Being silly with Auntie Steffie in the bathroom


Looking at the boats





Walking with Bamma and Steffie


There are a lot of steps up to the Market for a toddler to climb!


Crashed as soon as we got home!


I'm so blessed to be a Mommy to my lil girl Darby, and to be married to my sweet husband Dave. What a nice Mother's Day, and what a nice lil family.

Diving In

We are diving feet first into full time business ownership pandemonium! We signed the papers yesterday afternoon that makes Dave Mr. Head-Honcho/El Presidente/Boss-Man of Monet Painting and Remodeling. I'm so excited for my little entrepreneur, but can't help but have that 'oh my gosh I'm sliding down this slide WAY too fast' feeling! It's just the worrier in me, dontcha know! CONGRATS DAVE! So proud of you. You are the hardest working, and bravest boy I know. Now go make some money already! ;)

Why Can't I Stop Reading?!

This might not be a secret, but I'm a huge nerd. I read a book a week, sometimes more than that depending on how many nights in a row I can manage staying up til 1am laying on the couch, reading. (And my secret reason for still not having baby #2 might just be because Im worried about losing my valuable book-time....) I kid, I kid. Right? ;)
Here are some favorites from the past few weeks, and I basically bug all my friends to read them so we can spend endless hours discussing every last detail. I know, nerd alert. I've been known to jump on complete strangers grabbing a book I like at the library or store....so watch out if you see me coming.


The Book Thief is SO GOOD. It's a young adult novel, but any adult would enjoy it. Seriously! I don't know why I had never read/heard of it before, but it's on my all time favorite list now.


I just randomly tried The Water and the Blood because I LOVE this author. She wrote These is My Words (which I adore), so I thought I would pick this one up. I was not disappointed!


Oprah almost (ahem...almost) never leads me astray. The Help was one I stayed up past 1am reading a few days in a row. Loved it! Oh Minnie...


Calley blogged about Truman Capote (and his ever so desirable voice), so when I saw In Cold Blood on the shelf at the library I grabbed it. Now I want to read all his other books. Maybe Truman was a nut, I don't know, but he was a good author!


My current read is Little Bee. So far it is interesting...but then again, I'm only on page 13...

After this book though, I will be slumming it and re-reading the Twilight Series. I guess renting New Moon the other night inspired me to be ready for the release of Eclipse? ;) Hey, I like Twilight. So shush.