Scrapbooking my life...one page at a time

- Home from Lake Chelan -

"While we try to teach our children all about life - it is our children that teach us what life is all about"
- Anon -
Aidan dancing the day away - What a sweetie!

Jessica, Aidan & I had a wonderful vacation at Lake Chelan - Aidan loved just being able to spend time with his Mom & danced about all the time.   Here - at the Lake Chelan Riverwalk Pavilion - he gave his Mom & I a wonderful dance performance.

He loved going to the swimming pool & splashing around. When he first got into the pool he stayed safely tucked inside his 'life boat' but he soon realized that the water was only chest deep and then he really started to have fun.  (Like many little kids - he hates getting his head wet!)

- By the end he was even jumping in off the edge.  He loved going to the pool. - 

 

Because Wapato Point is a resort everyday they organize plenty of activities for the kids and some that grown-ups can participate in also.  We all went one day & painted ceramics - we all love painting & in fact it's one of Aidan's favorite things to do when he comes for a visit.  Even Papa comes with us when we go painting at Crossroads Mall. 

 

Here is the 'Crabby Jelly Fish' Bowl that I painted!

We also made Fridge Magnets and Aidan went to a 3 Hour day camp where they played games, ate snacks and had fun on the beach - he said the 'day-camp' was one of his favorite times of the holiday because there were lots of other kids to play with.

We also went to the playground ...

And went for walks ...

and we were constantly on the look out for pirates & local wildlife ...
 

We spotted a gazillion Canada Geese & their gosling, a few Quail & chicks, several small mice and even a couple of eagles.



We also checked out some WEIRD BEACH architecture that people had made along the beach.  At first I thought they were for big wood stacks people were making to have  Bonfires on the beach but then Aidan & I realized that they were houses.  They were quite large and Aidan could walk inside of them and one even had a 'couch' or 'bench' built inside it.  There were probably 7 - 8 of these structures built along the beach of varying shapes & sizes.

And of course, Jessica & I scrapbooked - as you can see -  Jessica did much more than I - that's my one book on the left and her stack on the right!

Here is the cover page I made for my Lake Chelan book!  I am going to put photo's & stories from all my trips out to Chelan in it. 

Anyway - we had a lot of fun in Chelan and have decided that it will become a family tradition to head out their every summer for a week.  It's gonna be fun!

Mike & I will be heading out to Chelan again in September!  Can't wait - it will be Apple & Wine Time out there then.

Enjoy what's left of your day!

- N -

It's all about the Water now ...

Mike has found a new love ... Boating!!  On Monday, with Aidan finally feeling 100%, we decided to rent a boat and cruise around the lake for a while.  Mike & Jessica were booku-excited, I was so-so and Aidan was scared to death but agreed to go if Papa drove really, really slow.  Off we went and we were all 'certified boat lovers' by the end of the outing.
 
As you can see Jessica was excited!

We loved it! (Camera lens had a smudge - Arrrgg....)
And by the end ... even Aidan loved it!

In the top picture Aidan is feeling a bit of pretzel to a duck that swam over to the boat.  Aidan named him Brownie & and every duck we saw after that (and there are millions around here) Aidan thinks is Brownie.  Funny Boy!

 
Mike & Jessica actually got brave and they jumped off the back of the boat into the 'Glacial Fed" waters of Lake Chelan.  That Lake is cold!  Aidan & I just dunked our toes into it .... Burrrr.....
They didn't stay in very long - in & out in seconds!

Jessica & Aidan went to the pool today and they splashed around and played for about an hour.  Aidan is having a great time - now that he is back to normal.  It is very hot out here today and so they can't stay out for too long even with sunscreen on.  They will be going back several more times today I'll bet.

Today's Lake Chelan Weather Report and 80^o. 

Wish you could all be here!
- N -

The Twisted Pearl, Tummy Troubles, Minature Golf, Go Karts & Sunshine

 

I'm not sure even 'Jack Sparrow" would ride around in this junk heap or as Jess calls it, "The Post Apocalyptic Mad-Max Party Warship.  It is actually called the, 'Twisted Pearl Party Cruiser' and is floating smack-dab right in the middle of the lake for all the Wapato Point vacationers to see.  I think it is trying to entice the 'Party crowd into renting it ... a 'floating temptation' they simply can't resist.  HA HA - a major 'marketing flaw' as most of the folks out at Wapato Point come packing numerous kids, floaties, diaper bags and 'Veggie Tale' movies.  What an ugly piece of junk - I am surprised it can actually float & I'm not sure I'd want to take it out on a 'party cruise'. 

The "Twisted Pearl Party Cruiser" is obviously a take on the "Black Pearl" from Pirates of the  Caribbean - it is even flying 2 pirate flags!  I brought my binoculars and so Aidan is constantly watching it to see what the Pirates are up too ... Although I think it's even a stretch even for him to buy that it's a REAL pirate ship.  Real or not  - he is having fun playing with my binoculars and monitoring it for 'Pirate" activity. It is a blemish on our picture perfect view - that's for sure.

Yes Indeed - it's weird, It's ugly & It's not the view I want to see out the front window or off the deck ...
THIS is what I'd like to see first thing in the morning ...

Oh No ...

Someone was sick for the first day of our vacation.  Aidan started feeling poorly Saturday morning and spent most of Saturday in bed ... sleeping.  By evening he had a fever and was vomitting.  He was not having a 'fun' vacation.   We did a late night run to the local 'RED APPLE' market to pick up some Kid's Tylenol, Gaterade and Jello. He spent all of Saturday in bed sick but thankfully by mid morning Sunday he was starting to feel better.  We are grateful that it was just a 24^hour thing ...

By yesterday afternoon he was feeling a lot better and so we went over to Chelan to check out the Go Kart track.  It looked like fun so Mike & Aidan went on them for a while.  They were the only ones riding them when we got there but by the time we left there was a line-up  ...
 

After going the Go Karts and Scrapbook Store we headed back over to Wapato Point to sign up for some 'Arts & Crafts' and hit the mini-golf circuit. Aidan loves mini-golf!!  Here he is looking for his ball - it got lost inside the lighthouse!  

All-in-All it was a fun day.  Aidan is flying high now that he is feeling better.  We all decided that being sick while on vacation ... SUCKS!

Today's Lake Chelan Weather Report - 

Have a wonderful, sunshiny day!
- N -

 
 

Sunny Lake Chelan

It was a long drive in the car but we finally arrived in Lake Chelan around 4:45pm and we were SOOO HAPPY to finally be here and that we were able to get into the Condo (or Cabin as Aidan calls it) right away

We were tired & just a little grumpy (Alright some of us were quite grumpy) OKAY ... one of us was massively grumpy and layed down in the middle of the parking lot and said, 'I'm not going anywhere else" when we had to get back into the car to drive over to the condo.

After we were unpacked and settled in Aidan donned all his aquatic gear and was ready to go ... but by now it was after 7 and he had to swap the diving gear for sleeping gear ... So Sad!

I woke up at 6:25am this morning and there were already several boats full of fishermen out trolling the lake ... I am not sure what they fish for in this lake.

Enjoy your sun - it's going to be a beautiful day here - 82 degree's.

- N -

'So You Think You Can Coach'

Okay - So here's the story ... I'm no baseball coach, in fact I'm about as far from being a baseball Know-It-All as the M's are from being Head-Of-Their-Division .... but - Come On!  These guys need something & they need it fast.

I mean we've tried  ... We've fired the Hitting Coach, fired the GM, taken away the players snacks, TV and other locker room goodies, we've eaten Rally Fries, beaten up the other teams and even booed & hissed at the Umps till we're blue in the face - and we are still the losingest team in the MLB. 

What else can we do ... What ... What ... WHAT???

Oh, play better ball you say.  Hummm.... Good idea - that might just work - but ...

I believe we've already tried that too and to no avail. 

When the pitchers are hot - the batters are not.  If the fielders are on fire - the pitchers are can't retire ... and when the whole team is working out fine - well, all the umpires go blind.

Who's left, what next ...  Humm, thinking, thinking - well  I'm not pointing any fingers but what about - - - the Head Coach.  Maybe we could do something there ...

Since we are probably NOT going to make the comeback of the decade - I'm thinking we should do something crazy - you might call it a 'lonnnggg shot'  but we could create a new reality show called, ' So you think you can Coach' and the winner could be the Head Coach for the M's for the rest of the year - I mean - what have they got to lose?

We could hold nationwide tryouts for contestants (amateur coaches only - no AAA or college coaches allowed) and then the final competitors could be flown here to Seattle to battle it out for the honor being ... 'Head Skipper"!!! 

Whatdoya think?  I think it would hysterical ... the Host (Edgar would be perfect) could kiss them on the cheeks and say ... 'Strike Three - Your Out - Pack your Chew & Go' when the contestants are voted off by the judges (um, maybe ... Jay Bruhner, Lou Pinella & Dave Neihaus).  

They could have challenges where they showcased their ability to yell, flap their arms & point fingers at umpires when they make a bad call ... .

hang around the dugout looking pensive and thoughtful during the game - maybe pick up the phone and make some calls  or just hang with the team ...

Grief council players when they are getting slaughtered...

And when it got down to the final four the fans could text in and vote for the winner ...  Sure, I know everyone thinks they could win this contest hands down - but being the losingest coach in the whole MLB is not as easy as John McLaren makes it look.

Anyways ... you get the gist of it.  I think it would be a hit (no pun intended) and what do the M's have to lose at this point ...

- N -

Happy Dad's Day

Happy Dad's Day to my DAD & all the other great Dad's,  Step-dads & Grandpa's out there!

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.  ~John Gregory Brown

I read this excerpt from a story a while back and when I did it immediately reminded me of my Dad - while I have many wonderful memories of my Dad and have learned many invaluable lessons ...  it is the lasting & enduring feeling of 'unconditional love'  that I think of first when I think about my Father.

To always know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are loved is the greatest gift & legacy my Father has given me - that knowledge, that unconditional love, has allowed me to grow up & live every day of my life with an overwhelming sense of security and freedom.

When I was pregnant with Jessica, unmarried, 17 and scared to death - my Dad said to me, "Nancy, I don't care if you have 2 more children and never get married - you are my daughter, I love you and you & your children will always have a home with your Mother & I. 

The power of those words still support, comfort & live strong in my heart today and have carried me through many rough spots in my life.   To always know that you are loved & have a home whether you are 17 or 47 is the greatest gift a Father can give.

All my love - Dad

Take a minute today & think about the greatest gift your Father gave you!
Nancy

Army Wives ...

I just watched the Season 2 premiere of 'Army Wives' - what a Tear-Jerker!  The final scene in the show was HEARTBREAKING - I cried & cried.  I love the story lines, I love the characters & I love this show and if you don't watch - I would recommend giving it a look see...

WARNING... WARNING:  This is definitely a 'put the kids to bed, grab a glass of red wine & curl up on the couch' kinda 'chick' show.  So grab the wine and as Pamela would say, 'Have at it'.

I have no idea if this show is even vaguely accurate in it's depiction of life for civilian wives living on an army base but in my mind - it's not a documentary - it's total entertainment and so it doesn't matter ...  just as I'm sure life for the doctors at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle is no where like the life of the doctors on 'Grey's Anatomy'.  It doesn't need to be ...

Although - I will say that last year flying home from Dallas I sat beside an Army Sargent who was flying home to Fort Lewis from Iraq (there were 5 of them flying home for 3 weeks leave) and we spent most of the 4 hour flight talking about Military life and what it was really like in Iraq!  I was very interested because I really don't have any idea of what military life and especially what being deployed was like!  We talked for almost the entire 4 hour flight about many things but mostly life in the army - it didn't change my opinion of the WAR in IRAQ but it did open my eyes to what military life is like. 

Anyway - we got to talking about the show "Army Wives" and if it was at all realistic - he said that while he had never seen it his wife (a civilian - a Social Worker who lived on base and worked off it) watched it and said that some of the shows depictions of life on base were spot on ... others were totally unrealistic.

So Tune it & let me know what you think ...

We have no rain today - no sun -  but no rain - and perhaps ... just maybe ... summer is finally waking up!  Come on Sleepy head ... we're waiting ...

- N -

PS:  I am so excited .. they put the order in yesterday for my SunRoom 4 weeks to make it and then a week to install it and then they will refloor it, add the electrical & plumbing and voilà ... my new scrapbook room!   I will be able to turn about 150 sq.ft of wasted space into something useful. YEAH!  (It will look something like the one above except on the upper level.)  So excited ..

OOPS...

Here is Today's Weird & Wacky Wonder
(as in I Wonder Who Invents this Stuff)

Hum. Okay ... I can only think that maybe it's the 21st century version of the
Executive Washroom!

Ten on Tuesday ...

Ten Place You'd Take a Tourist to See in Your Town!

1.  Mt. St. Helen's


2.  Pike Place Market & The Original Starbuck's Coffee Shop located in the Market.



3.  For a Ride on the Duck


4.  To the Woodland Park Zoo


5.  Seattle Space Needle, Seattle Center & Pacific Science Center

6. A Seattle Mariner's Baseball Game

7.  For a Ferry Ride over to Whidbey Island


8.  To See the Fremont Troll (who lives under the Aurora Bridge)


9. Bellevue Botanical Gardens


10.  On a Tour of the Boeing Plant

Where would take your out-of-town guests in your town???

I didn't go to bed last night until about 4:30am and I was sure d.r.a..g..g..i..n..g this morning when I got up.  It didn't help that I was - once again - greeted by the sounds of Monsoon Rains beating against my bedroom window. ARGGGGG ....  I think the City of Seattle is starting to mutiny over this glitch in the weather & I mean it's freakin JUNE for crying out loud!!!  I want some SUN.... and if we don't get a sunny day shouldn't we at least be getting some killer rainbows ....

 

Anyway - despite my late night and the rains - I had  some friends over for lunch so I didn't have to leave the house and just spent the morning dilly-dallying about and getting lunch ready. 

Dana brought me so beautiful flowers and Janet brought me a very cute gift too - they were both so thoughtful and it made the day extra special.

We had such a lovely time ... just chatting, laughing, getting to know each other better and having some yummy eats too.  I love having friends over for lunch - this is my 3rd time hosting a luncheon and while it is not the sort of thing I would have done years ago .... I LOVE it now and will definitely plan another soon.

Hope everyone had a great day - let's all pray for some sun tomorrow!
- N -

Monday Morning Walkabout No. 18

Monday Morning Walkabout No. 18 -
Snoqualmie Falls, Hip²BSquare & Hayes Nursery

Therese & I were going to go on a hike today but because it was MONSOONING we altered our plans a little - okay - a lot!  We drove out to see Snoqualmie Falls - and take advantage of the rain instead of being at it's mercy.  The falls are always beautiful but - when it is raining so hard - they become a truly amazing experience.  Normally most of the water from the Snoqualmie River is diverted into the power plants so the falls are not at their most impressive but when there are heavy rains - the river becomes so full that it spills over entire precipice & the whole area becomes shrouded in a heavy mist and the noise of the water thundering over the falls incredible.  As you can see in the photo above which I took today - the entire precipice is overflowing.

The picture below is one I grabbed off the internet and it shows what the falls normally look like - you can see how much of the precipice is exposed & if you look at the rock sticking up in the middle of the water at the center of the falls in both pictures and as you can see how different the water level is.

At times it was raining so hard the falls became invisible in the mist - they really are quite a sight to see at this time of the year! We got very wet but it was worth it to see them in all their glory. 

I am convinced that the Seattle area is trying to 'evolve' itself into a new biome - it seems to be moving from a 'moist temperate coniferous' biome into a 'temperate rainforest'.  We literally are experiencing rain (monsoon rains somedays) almost every ding, dang, darn day this year!   The picture below is NOT a growing hole in the ozone layer over the Seattle skies but is our 'Sunny break' for the day.  Seattle Sunshine is about as scarce these days as a Mariners Win....

In fact ... as I am sitting in my office typing it is  so windy that the big tree outside my window is freakin me out it's blowing & creaking so loudly.  YIKES - my poor little shell lights are getting battered against the posts. 

    

After we left the Falls I talked Therese into going to check out a scrapbooking store I had been reading about on the internet near the falls.  It is called Hip2BSquare and it was a GREAT store.  I bought some very nice stuff and we met the nicest dog there ... his name was Tucker and he was the friendliest dog ever! (I'll bet he wouldn't pee on the carpet 2x's in one day after you'd just spent upteengazillion dollars building him a killer fence so he could roam freely around the back 40" and PEE in privacy around the side of the yard - um...um - Nope, I don't think Tucker would do that!)

Tucker was so cute - after Therese & I patted him for a while we started looking around the store and Tucker followed us everywhere with his toy in his mouth.  Too Funny - he is such a big dog (his owner said he weighs about 100 lbs) and he looked hysterical carry around his "Headless Purple Polka-dot Bikini wearing Rubber Chicken.

After we left the scrapbook store we went for coffee and then off to check our Hayes Nursery in Issaquah and then it was ...

Home Again Home Again Jiggitty Jig ...

Today's Weird & Wacky Wonder

Smiles all round
 - N -

Indy's Back!

OMG - it seems like forever since Mike & I went to the movies!  We used to go about once a week but due to a long dry spell in the movie world and baseball we haven't been going very often lately.  I think the last movie we went to was the Ironman on May 19th. 

Mike & I both enjoyed Indian Jones & the Crystal Skull but I think I liked it better than Mike did.  He was comparing it too much to the original 'Raiders' and 'Temple of Doom' movies - big mistake because:

• the last Indy movie was 19 years ago (can you believe that)
• the further 'franchise' movies seem to get from the original the less original & more diluted (and convoluted) they seem to become - not always but most of the time.

The best line from the movie (and my new favorite quote) occurred when Indy was talking to his friend and Dean of University where he works.  Indy was lamenting how much he missed his Dad & another colleague of his now that they were gone and his friend says to him,

"Ahh Indy ... you've now reached the age where life beings to take more than it gives."

It has been a long time since I have read or heard anything that 'slapped me across the face' as much as that line did.  It literally took my breath away and for a few moments I stopped watching the movie and just absorbed the meaning of what he had just said ... because I have never heard anyone describe growing old in a truer way.  - life begins to take more than it gives - 

So anyway - like I said, I enjoyed the movie for what it was -
A Good Old Fashion Rip Roaring Fun Action Filled Indian Jones Adventure Flick. 

I would describe the movie as:

• A good story
• A well acted movie (loved Shia LaBeouf in the role of Mud Williams - Indy's son)
• Sprinkled with a lot of good ol' Indy humor
• &  full of great sets & costumes.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to just go to the movies - eat some popcorn - and be mindlessly entertained!

And while we are on the subject of movies ... have you ever noticed that while you are watching the trailers you see so many great 'coming soon' movies but everytime you think about going to see a movie and go online to see what is playing ..... there is often NOTHING - ZIPPO - NADA playing.  What's with that!  Well, anyway - we saw trailers for some good movies:

• Hancock - with Will Smith as a Drunken Superhero and Jason Bateman as his PR guy Talk about a funny premise & I love Will Smith & Jason Bateman so it should be good.
• Get Smart - The TV series is a tough act to follow but I am willing to give it a try.
• Hellboy & The Golden Army - Loved the first one & I think this is a case where the follow-up will be even better than the first.  Can't wait.
• The Dark Knight - Wow!  This movie looks great too!
• My City Screams - a Frank Miller story - should be good!
• The Happening - still waiting for this one - I am always willing to give M.Night Shyamalan a  try.   When he gets it right - it amazing and when he doesn't it's still good!  What's to lose.

Today's Weird & Wacky Internet Find:

It might look like an ordinary clock but it's not ...
 Meet Clocky!

Clocky's one smart little robot.   Clocky is different from an alarm clock - which just sit there and let you smack snooze over and over until you finally get up out of bed - but Clocky isn't like other alarm clocks. 

When your alarm goes off Clocky jumps from up to three feet and high-tails it away from you as fast as possible. Must be seen in action to appreciate.

See Clocky Run ... LOL - I was joking with Mike (a major hit the snooze button at least 5x's kinda sleeper) that I was going to get him one for his birthday and then just sit back and watch him chase the thing around 1/2 asleep every morning  ...

... this gadget just croaks me up!