A mini trip full of joys!

Oh my goodness were do we begin. Last week we drove to Spokane to visit my Dad after his triple bypass surgery. It was wonderful seeing him doing so well! We enjoyed visiting with all the family that came to help during his first few weeks of recovery (sorry we missed you Uncle Walt). While we were there we celebrated my mom turning 60yrs old & I can only hope I look as good as she does when I'm 60. She surprised all of us by taking an early retirement from teaching which is one way to ring in the new year. Finally, the icing on the cake was Loren proposing to his girlfriend, Siray! We couldn't be happier for them & she's a perfect addition to our family!!!! So many things to be thankful for.

Having fun with homemade bubbles

 Ryan showing off his bubble skills

 Thanks Aunt Laurie for showing us how to make our own 

bubbles & bubble makers

 The "Evolution of a Cold One" according to Ryan (LOL)

 Happy birthday Mom!

Happy & Thankful

 Early Retirement brunch for Mom @ Luna

Siray said "YES"

Congrats Loren & Siray!

Soccer, Thing 1 & Thing 2, NW Fair, Lowe's Build & Grow

 Pure Love.

 Cheerleader Rita & Water boy Ty

 Go Team Orange! 

 Thing 1 & Thing 2

 In Ty's defense he can't read & we washed his hands.

 Boys favorite part of the fair

 SO happy

 Future Farmers of American (watch out!)

 Boys bonding at Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic

 First plane built, Dusty! Looking good :P

Camel Safari

Say what? Yes, there is a camel safari in Bellingham Wa. Even better it's only a walk away from our house!!! It's true. We received an invite for a neighborhood friends & family block party from our neighbors who run a camel safari with 16 camels!! We have hit the jack pot my friends when it comes to living in our hood. As we were walking to the event my neighbor & I were talking about how no one does block parties anymore to get to know their neighbors. We were excited to be a part of such a great little community out in the county. As my neighbor put it "it's like we are the Gadsbys". If only we had the style like they did we'd be set. We had a blast to say the least with yummy food, face painting, snow cones, bounce house, balloon animals, & free rides on the camels. Boys were very busy having fun & Shane & I enjoyed meeting new neighbors. Hoping this becomes a recurring event every summer!

Rita, Eli, & Braxton going nose to nose with the camel

Best Buds

Boys were so brave to go on their first camel ride without any parents!

Hang on!!

And their off

Watching from the side lines

They were very friendly

Ty liked the goats

Braxton putting in his request for a sword & "fire" dog

Piggy balloon

Holding so very still. 

Now if he could only do this when he gets his hair cut

The best looking Pirate around

Happy. Happy. Happy.

Ty's first snow cone.

Rrrrrrr

Even baby camels

I love this one because of his hair!

"I wanna grow old with you"

We celebrated our 11th year of marriage by taking the Kawasaki Z-1000 out for a ride up Mt. Baker. Then ended our trip at North Fork Brewery to fill our tummies with delicious pizza & brew-skis. Since it had been 5 yrs since I had ridden on the back of the bike I felt like a dog with its' head hanging out of the window. It was a great way to spend our anniversary! 

I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad

Carry you around when your arthritis is bad

All I wanna do is grow old with you

I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches

Build you a fire if the furnace breaks

Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you

I'll miss you

Kiss you

Give you my coat when you are cold

Need you

Feed you

Even let ya hold the remote control

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink

Put you to bed if you've had too much to drink

I could be the man who grows old with you

I wanna grow old with you