Northwest Washington Fair 2010

We took Halle to the Fair for the very first time today.  OH MY!  She loved every single stinkin' minute of it.  We chose to park in one of the free shuttle bus parking lots and ride the bus.  We usually do that any way, but this time was extra special.  This little brown girl thinks buses are the best thing since sliced bread!  Her excitement is contagious and it makes me want to enjoy riding the bus as much as she does.  We could hardly keep her in her seat.  We met Grammie, her friend Roy (he was visiting from Texas and here to attend his class reunion) and TiTi!  Hal was sportin' her oh so cute puffs in her hair....I love it like that!!  We started off the night with a few rides.  I wasn't sure how she would do as recently she has become a little timid on the swings at the park.  Boy, you sure couldn't tell....she faced the rides HEAD ON...just as this little girl faces life.  You'll see from the pictures below the sheer joy and excitement on her little face.  Even though the slide one is blurry you should have been there to see her expression...I'll never forget it!  It was all worth it just for this....seriously, do you know how long I have been waiting for a little person of my own to take to the Fair???  So many years I can't even count.  My heart was so happy watching this little girl of our's having so much fun.  And then....we went to see the animals...yes, my daughter is wearing a bear backpack/harness.  It worked super....and this time she didn't run around like a crazy girl with it on.  She had to touch every single one of the animals....and even their water...SHEESH!  We had to keep her hands out of that.  I enjoyed my King Corn dog, french fries and had my ice cream cone from the Dariy Wives booth...LOVE IT!!  We didn't get home until 9:30pm and she was still awake.  We just had to snap one last picture of her hair...after we took the puffs out.  She was laughing so hard at herself in the mirror...yes, my mirror is dirty.  It somehow doesn't look that bad in person...honestly.   

Product Review

Just a few things here....sorry, no pictures of Hal this time. This post is devoted to me and some of my favorite products right now. The first is Bare Escentuals Bronzer...it gives me just the extra *warmth* I need during the summer months. Probably any bronzer would do..I got this from my Mom for free...so, it works well for me! The second is Clairol Nice & Easy Root Touch-Up. Let's face it...I'm not getting any younger and neither, unfortunately, is my hair! I find more gray all the time. Frankly, I simply CAN NOT afford to get my hair colored more than every 3 months. This product has really helped me STRETCH my time...and I feel so much better about my hair without the HUGE gray grow out line in my part. Check it out at your local Target, Walmart, Fred Meyer or any other store that carries hair color. My shade is: Light Auburn, Light Reddish Brown. Lastly, Hempz "Touch of Summer" daily mosturizer...in Medium Skin Tones. This is a daily mosturizer with sunless tanner in it. AND...can I just tell you? I love it...it doesn't stink and I don't have that silly orange glow that usually comes with sunless tanner. My sister-in-law, who owns a hair salon & spray tanning joint gave it to me and I'm so glad she did!! That's it for today...tomorrow we're off to Orgeon for camping with our dear friends....AND...I don't have to go back to work until July 22! Can you tell I'm a *little* bit excited??

With Jessie.....

This is Halle and her cousin Jessie...Pam, Jessie's Mom is my first cousin. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives! This summer Jess is watching Hal on Tuesdays or any other day that works for her. She needs some extra cash and Halle LOVES her...not to mention she loves Jess' friend Pete! Pete and his family also have adopted children.....today they ALL went to the beach and had some fun.....Excuse Hal only in her diaper...she peed through her swim diaper and bathing suit before they left the house...silly girl!!

***These are a few of my favorites from today...Jess, I stole them off your FB page...I knew you wouldn't mind***

Sweet Summer

It's Summer!! HOORRAYYY....I'm not much for hot weather...I'm sure some of you are booing while reading this. I just don't dig the super hot weather, UNLESS....I'm near a body of water or sprinkler of some sort. That's why I live where I do! This week has been sooooo warm...and I'm trying to do fun things with Hal. SO....today we picked up Kiana, ran a few errands and made it home in time for lunch & a nap. While the little brown girl napped Kiana and made a tutu...she's showing it off in the picture below. We watched a movie, ate popcorn and chatted...it was PERFECT! When Hal woke up we headed outside for some splashpad fun! Both girls were drinking out of the sprinkler at one point and we all had a good time...UNTIL...I went inside to get something and my sweet little girl pulled the screen door shut (it was open)...Mommy crashed right into it. OH MY! Aaron thought Halle would be the one to do that...well, nope....it was ME! Shoot.

Parade Time!

This is what we did today!! YEP...we're the crazy Daddy and Mommy who left early to get a "good" seat at the parade for our little brown girl!! AND...guess what? It was well worth it. We finished off our day with lunch at the "Dutch Treat"....and so, apparently did everyone else. It was quite the place to be on this sunny Saturday!

Memorial Day Weekend!!!

For the last many, many years we have gone camping with the TenKley's over Memorial Day Weekend...always to the same place...Birch Bay State Park! Notoriously, it rains...but, it seems like the past couple of years have been relatively nice, well...not this year! It poured most of the time. We did get a break on Sunday and walked down to the beach. Halle LOVED it and we really need to go back soon. Despite the wet weather, mud and pine needles...I loved being with my family and these wonderful friends of ours...I can't wait until next year. Well....let's just say I'll be checking the forecast up until the day we leave! Rain, tents & an almost two year old don't really mix!

Daddy & Hal in the tent Saturday morning...yes, Aaron needs COFFEE!

Running down Grammies SHORT trailer hall

LOVE our flag....

One of many silly faces...

Love this pic of Daddy & His girl...

Sweet Madie girl

Mazie & Rylee

Kyle, Conner & Sydney...digging for clams

Drumming on a bucket....

Writing in the sand with Grammie

Grammie, Mommy & Hal

Watch out...here I come!!!

Mother's Day Thoughts 2010

Today is Mother's Day....mine didn't start out so hot. We needed to get to the early service at 9am this morning. So, I hopped in the shower and was in the process of getting ready when Aaron went to wake up our Halle girl. She was taking a her sweet time waking up....that's when Aaron noticed she had spit/thrown up in her crib last night. Um....not a pretty site, but...it could have been worse...much worse. So, Aaron got Hal dressed I stripped the bed of EVERYTHING, mattress pad, sheet, blankets, stuffed animals and even her bumper pad. I didn't want any of that left in her crib. This, of course, put us behind. This is when the day started to get better. I was still untying the bumper when my little girl walked in with a gift bag for me, her Mommy. Inside was a new CD, a card from her & Daddy &....her crayon! She had signed her card and wanted to put the crayon she used in with it too...sometimes we just don't fight her on things. We all made it to church....safe and sound and only 15 minutes late. We enjoyed our lunch at "Anthony's" with Grammie and now, I think I may take a nap. Or enjoy one of my favorite shows while Hal is napping in her crib with her newly laundered sheets....MINUS her bumper pad that still needs to be washed. God is good.......and being a Mommy is a HUGE blessing. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Easter Egg Hunt -- NCCTK Style!

I just had to share this picture of Halle from today. She went on her VERY FIRST Easter Egg Hunt at church today and did GREAT....we snuck in her in actually, she was supposed to be two. 18 months is close enough isn't it? She's as tall as some two year olds. Yes, I know she has her binky in. It was a binky kind of day. Too bad I lost that binky today....oh well. Our home is well stocked. But, seriously, isn't she super cute? And she picked up the eggs all by herself. We counted as we went....and I called out the colors to her. I'm always trying to make things a learning experience for her. Inside every egg, you guessed it, chocolate! She got to have some tonight....she's just like her Mama! She loves chocolate...she kept asking, "Bite, bite, bite".....Yep....just like me!!

Fun with the Dunn's....

Hal LOVED Jess' vacuum

Some quality time with Uncle Josh & Isaac

It was Auntie Dena's birthday on Saturday and she turned the big 3-0! So...we went to celebrate with her. Dena's brother-in-law Wil is attending culinary school right now and he and his wife, Kristen made the MOST delicious food for the party! I've been talking about it ever since. We always LOVE spending time with Dena and her WHOLE family...that includes her Parent's, Grandparent's and siblings....it's always so much fun! Hal is a very social little girl so she does best with lots for her to do and see....this visit she was introduced to Ava (white dog) & Gracie (black dog). Wil & Kristen have TWO Great Dane's and they were along to celebrate Auntie Dena's birthday as well....they did GREAT!! And...as you can well imagine....Halle LOVED them. She is such a dog lover....I think there may be a dog in our future...shhhh..don't tell Daddy!!

Jess and Hal...we're playing this silly game....it was really fun, cant' you tell??

Isaac...putting "pretty's" in Hal's hair...

Hal and Gracie

Silly Face

Ava wanted to vacuum too...

My *best* friend

Just yesterday I received the BEST message on my cell phone. That was from my BFF Jess! She just told me she was thinking about me!! I loved that...she also said she despised Facebook...that's because all her dear friends don't post on their blogs anymore because of it!! So, in honor of my dear friend I'm going to try and do better. She and I have been friends since we really didn't know we were friends. We grew up in the same church, in the same nursery doing the same silly things...we are six months apart and were in the same grade in school. Even though we live in the same county, we don't see *nearly* enough of each other. Living at opposite ends of the county just doesn't work well. She is an AMAZING Homeschooling Mama of four kiddos, Jake 9, Savannah 8 and twin boys, Honor & Justice that turned 1 in August. We have seen each other through lots and lots of ups and downs in our lives. We went shopping for training bras together, ok...I already had mine I just went along to give moral support....stole road signs together...I wasn't in my right mind...my boyfriend and I had just broke up, that's my excuse...wore more make-up at age 12 then we do now...gotta love the bright blue & green mascara....went along with all the fads including stirrup pants and long sweaters as well as matching shirts from the "Cube" to start off our high school years. I remember riding in her blue Chevy Luv to a District Basketball game and scrounging through her ash tray for enough change to buy two "Cheeseburger All-American" Meals. She has been with me through the death of my Dad and my infertility and she was one of the first to call me after learning about Halle Grace. She makes me smile and challenges me in my faith. She knows how to put me in my place gently, when I most need it. She has loved me through ALL stages of my life. Jess is one of those friends who could move away (she did right after high school) for years and when she comes back....it is like she's never been gone. You pick up right where you left off!! I can count on her to eat my Snickerdoodles, Mac-N-Cheese & Monster Cookies. She also got me in big trouble, I had to make dinner for a week, when I was in High School. I said our dinner looked like dog food....she told my Mom I said dog *poop*...not so good!! AND...guess what I still love her!! I love her so much I had to dig up this picture of her and I on her wedding day.....I wish I had a picture of the two of us together now! We're going to work on that....I love you Jessica Mary!!! Thanks for reading my blog......xoxoxoxoxox

From a pumpkin....to a bunny!!

I was thinking about fall today...and Halloween...which led me to think about a costume for Halle. I remembered that Auntie Lisa had given us cousin Eden's costume of a bunny and wanted to see if it would fit!! Guess what...it does PERFECTLY!! And seriously, have you seen a cuter bunny?? With that little brown face. She LOVED having the costume on...she was so silly and crawling EVERYWHERE...I could hardly get a good picture of her. AND...in comparison...we have a picture of Halle last year at Halloween...thanks Mary Lynne & Robbie!! We're so glad Halle got to spend the time with you all!!!

Vacation...summer...oh...nine...

I actually can't believe that at this time last week we were in our car traveling to Billings, Montana. WOW!! What a loooooonnnnngggg trip. We left our house last Thursday at 4:45am. YEP...that is mighty early. I scooped Hal up from her crib while she was still sleeping...she woke up when I put her in her car seat, but...fell back asleep. Halle was such a super duper trooper. We drove to Missoula that first day and had many stops along the way. That was a good thing...both Hal & Mommy & Daddy needed to stretch and get our of their seats. Can I just say hotels are EXPENSIVE. Even not so nice ones. We are very fortunate that Aaron's Auntie Joy works for the Marriott and we are able to receive a "Friends & Family" discount. BUT...not all towns have a Marriott and sometimes, because of availability, they can't offer that discount. SO...all that being said, we were not able to stay in a Marriott that first night in Missoula. We stayed at the "Days Inn" in downtown Missoula. I warn you all.....NEVER EVER stay there. It reeked...of must and mold and our dear sweet daughter woke up with a barky cough in the middle of the night because of the must and mold. Not to mention the fact that there was NO parking and a really nasty lady reeking of alcohol, came up to Halle and touched her while I was holding her.....SHEESH! AND...continental breakfast, my foot....it was NOT! We were very glad when we could leave that place and head to Billings to meet up with the rest of Aaron's family. His sister, Heather, was getting married on Saturday in Billings. I think I need to mention part of our drive....through Bozeman to Billings. It was raining....SUPER HARD....I was driving at that time and could not even hear Aaron talking to me in the car. Not my idea of fun. I was praying hard as my wipers were swooshing ever so quickly...the fastest they would go. We arrived in Billings around dinner time and were whisked away to visit with the Hirschi's (Shaun's family, Heather's now husband) at their house.....and eat some yummy dinner. We got back to our hotel in time to relax a little by the pool before Miss Halle needed to lay down for the night. Thanks so much Auntie Joy....this hotel was not lacking and it was beautiful and had everything the "Days Inn" didn't. "Residence Inn-Marriott"....was the best! A full breakfast buffet in the morning with an eating area. We shared a suite with Aaron's sister, Andrea her husband Guy, and their two boys, Bryceton & Kai. It was a lot of fun! We really enjoyed sharing that time with them. Hal goes to their house every Thursday and she loves her Auntie, Uncle & those silly cousins....that was very evident!! Heather and Shaun were married on Saturday....that's about all I have to say about that. By 10:30pm we were ready to get Halle back to her bed...she was 3 hours passed her bedtime and we were all cranky and tired. We stayed in Billings until Tuesday morning and then made our way back to Washington, slowly. We stayed with my favorite Youth Pastor and his wife, Lowell & Tami Hochhalter, in Missoula on Tuesday night. We had so much fun catching up with Lowell, Tami, Courtney, Carson, Lacey & Allie. We had yummy ice cream with fresh huckleberries. YUM-O! AND...Lacey & Allie fought over Halle. I loved that!! AND them....I babysat for Courtney & Carson when they were little so, this was so much fun for me!! Wednesday we spent some time with Lowell, Lacey & Allie before we left fo Spokane. Upon a recommendation from Lowell, we stopped off in Alberton, Mt at this so cool used bookstore that has over 100,000 used books. They are all stuffed into a small space, but...I had so much fun. AND...bought 4 books for $14. I needed more reading material for the car ride. Lunch that day was at Silver Dollar City it was so yummy. We checked into our hotel in Spokane in time to take Hal swimming for the very first time. She LOVED it, but...it did take her awhile to get to that point. Dinner that night was at the "Old Spaghetti Factory" one of my favorite places. I was disappointed...the service stunk and we had to wait for 1/2 hour to get our table. Not to mention the fact that I ordered WHOLE WHEAT spaghetti with my white clam sauce and didn't get it. Guess what?? We got my meal for free! AND...Hal loved the spaghetti with brown butter & mizithra cheese. On Thursday we spent some quality time with Aaron's Great Uncle Merle & Great Aunt Joanne. Can I tell you how much we love these people? Merle is Aaron's Grandpa Craner's brother...we miss Grandpa and Uncle Merle is a lot like him, so we treasure the time we get to spend with these two. We had a great time visiting and Uncle Merle made Miss Halle the sweetest little chair that says "Jesus loves Halle" on it. How cute is that?? She really likes it too! We were able to surprise Cousin Nancy & her husband Terry who were bringing their daughter, Joy to school at Eastern by stopping by and inviting them all to eat with us. Dinner was at "Zips" drive-in, courtesy of Uncle Merle. Such a good choice...the milkshakes were so yummy!! The night was not finished so we headed back to Merle & Joanne's for some more visiting. This is becoming an EXTRA long post, sorry about that. On Friday we arrived in Wenatchee for Aarons' friend Bob's wedding to his sweet bride Jessica. Yep, another Jess in our lives. We so loved spending time with Bob, Jess & their son Micah. BONUS....Josh was also in the wedding so, he, Dena & the kids were there too. Jess' family showed us wonderful hospitality and kindness and Bob could not have picked a better family to be a part of. This family loves the Lord with passion and it is evident. I so love seeing this in people!! Saturday was the wedding and it was wonderful. They could not have chosen a better location for an outdoor wedding. It was in the backyard of some good friends of their's in Monitor, WA. The river was flowing behind the bride and groom. Very appropriate for them and so peaceful and cool for all us! My husband looked so handsome in his chocolate brown slacks, white button down shirt & TIE....yep, if you know Aaron you'll hardly believe it!! Sunday Jess' family, The Flick's, provided a WONDERFUL brunch for the wedding party and we headed home after that. We tried to make it quick, but...did stop for a box of peaches and some nectarines on the way home....and ice cream at DQ...Hal loves ice cream too! Here are some of my favorite pictures I may add more in another post! ENJOY!

Mommy & Hal enjoying a breakfast burrito on the pass

Sleeping Beauty...she did A LOT of this

Daddy & Hal...reading a book during our lunch break

Getting pretty for Auntie Heather's wedding

Smiles for Uncle Aaron

Shopping at Cabelas, in Billings, MT

Isaac & Halle, sharing a moment and Puffs!

So cute!

Halle with Jess' nose!

My Handsome Hubby & our sweet daughter...note the tie!

Halle...all tuckered out after Bob & Jess' wedding!