Olympic Sculture Park, Seattle Washington

There is a really neat sculpture park in Seattle that is full of art too big to display in the Seattle Art Museum. When my sister and I, along with the kids went to Seattle on Tuesday, we spent alot of time there. We took some silly pictures and some that we look at to be more artistic. Gina and I are planning another trip back before I head home without the kids, so we won't feel rushed. Enjoy the pictures!

The Super Slide

My Mom, my little sister and I went down the Super Slide at the local festival in Silverdale. For those of you who know my Mom, you can imagine the battle it was to get her up the stairs so she could go down the slide. I think this was the first time I've ever done a carnival ride with my Mom in my whole life. I was surprised that she was actually willing to participate.

When it started raining, she tried to back out, but after we saw them wiping down the slide, we went for it.

Nicole got her hair cut!

Nicole and I went to pick my sister up from work and she asked Gina, "Will you cut my hair like my Mom's?" Gina did it. I personally think it is FABULOUS!

Shari's at Midnight

This is my little sister and I at Shari's Restaraunt in Bremerton. We have gone 4 times in the last 2 weeks, it is always good for a picture. That food leaves alot to be desired though. That being said, don't ask me why we've gone 4 times.

Dash Point Park--Federal Way, WA

The kids and I were able to meet up with some friends of ours from Vancouver at Dash Point Park on the July 22nd.

Dash Point Park is a state park located right on the Puget Sound and it has a sandy beach. We don't have very many of those around here, so we jumped at the chance to go. Now, when many of you think "sandy beach" you may also think warm and sunny. Don't go thinking that way! We are still in the Puget Sound in Northwest Washington and it was COLD and a little Drizzly.

We played in the water for about 5 minutes and then our feet were so cold we couldn't feel them. We walked back to where our lunches were and ate together, then the kids played in a grassy area for a couple of hours while I visited with our friends, Wendy and Trevor Narvasa. It was a fun day.

Mt. Raineer, The Puget Sound & The Ferry

I took this picture while we were at Illahee State Park, 2 miles from my parent's house.

Me and my Grandpa

The kids and I spent this weekend in Moses Lake, Washington at my family reunion for my Mom's side of the family. I was able to visit with alot of my cousins I haven't seen in a few years. I was also able to see my Grandpa again. It was a good time, and it went by entirely too fast.

Swimming Lessons

Nicole and Matthew took swimming lessons while we were in Tieton. Matthew's class was learning how to dive. Nicole took a more intermediate class because she is scared to go into water over her head. Here are a couple of videos of them during their lessons.

Good times in Tieton, WA

The kids and I just spent 6 days with one of my closest friends in Tieton, WA...Becky Rasmussen. The kids took swimming lessons while we were there, we had a picnic in the park, the boys shot paint balls and the girls all bossed each other alot. It was TONS of fun.

I was able to go visiting teaching with Becky and her companion is crazy! She is an almost 80 year old lady, who had been telling people she's 80 for over 4 years. Her husband passed away many years ago and she just wants to join him very badly. At one point during a visit she actually said, "I'd commit suicide, but it's against the rules." This sounds like a horrible thing to say, and it is, but at the time and in the context that she said it, it was just shocking. Later on at the same visit, the lady we were talking with made a comment about her arthritis. Kay responded by saying, "I know, sometimes my butt hurts so bad it feels like it is cracking up the center and my cheeks are going to fall off."

Much more happened during the week, but I thought you'd enjoy a couple photos.

Sunday, July 13, 2008. Tieton or bust!

I woke up on Sunday morning at 6:30. I got ready for the day, then woke the kids up. When Matthew woke up he was really sick. I got him to get dressed, but he could hardly walk, his stomach hurt so bad. We were on the road by 7:30 and Matthew was getting sicker by the second. I asked him if he wanted a blessing and he quickly agreed, so I took the Wendall, ID exit and found the church building. We interupted a PEC meeting and Matthew got a blessing. He was feeling better by the aftrnoon.

We stopped in Bliss and took the kids picture in front of the green dinosaur. I had my picture taken with my 4 little brothers and sister in front of that dinosaur when I was 14.

In Boise, we stopped and took pictures in front of the temple, and since Matthew was beginning to feel better, we went to sacrament meeting at the church that shares a parking lot with the temple.

In Meridian we took a picture of the water tower. I was born in Boise and lived in Meridian until I was 8 years old. The water tower is important to me because when I was a little girl that was the landmark we looked for to know were close to home. When we lived there, the water tower was on the edge of town, now it is in the middle and we had to search for a place to take the picture so we could see the name of the town.

Later we crossed into the Pacific Time Zone, the 45th parallel and finally over the Washington State Line. We got to Tieton and then the Rasmussen's house at 6pm.