Parties, Weekend Adventures, 4th of July etc

So, I was looking at all of the photos on my camera and realized there were several events and adventures that I haven't recorded on the blog. I've been a little pre-occupied with the home improvement projects. So...here are some of the non-house related things we have been doing:

First - In April we had the pleasure of attending a "Meet Maddy" party at Auntie Suzette's to welcome Mike & Julie's newest addition. Maddy is from China and is JUST adorable. She also has a wonderful big sister Katrienne to look up to.

Here is Maddy with her Mom & Dad



In April we also attended a WONDERFUL Pipe organ recital at Seattle's Benaroya hall. No photos of that but we highly recommend it if you get the opportunity to watch such a performance.

In May we attended the season finale performance of the Bremerton Symphony - suffice to say, we can't believe we haven't been making a point to attend all along. They do a FABULOUS job. Our friend Melanie plays violin with the symphony and gave us her comp ticket for the performance - it was GREAT! We definitely plan to attend more often.


In June we attended the Seattle Mountaineers Forest Theater production of Beauty and the Beast. Darin attended Forest Theater performances as a child. We missed last year but saw Anne of Green Gables there two years ago. It is a beautiful outdoor amphitheater in the woods near Seabeck. We also visited the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island - Darin got the photo below of one of the swans preening. These are two MUST SEE locations if you ever have the chance.



Also in June, I helped Nancy M. throw a baby shower for Jessi R. Here are a few photos of that fun event. They are expecting baby girl #3 in just a few short weeks.

Cake:



Jessi & her youngest daughter Elena (big sister Ryann was also there along with Jessi's mom Peggy and mother-in-law Sandra and several good friends).



The last weekend in June Tyson was down again to help with house projects, Logan came down Saturday evening for the night and then Leah arrived on Sunday and stayed until Wednesday. We had a wonderful time with all three of them.

Fourth of July Weekend found us headed southeast to Boise and Twin Falls, ID. We spent Thursday night with Kimberli & her husband Tony in Kennewick. Sadie Subaru lost her air conditioning on Thursday right before we left town (of course NO ONE could get us in to fix it). BLESS THEIR HEARTS - Kimberli and Tony insisted we take their new mini-van the rest of the way. They saved my sanity for SURE! We traded vehicles back on our way home.

Kimberli & Tony:



Friday we headed south to Brad & Patty K's to spend the night. We spent 4th of July evening with Sam & Shanna V - really enjoyed getting to know them and their cute kids. Unfortunately, I left our camera back at Brad & Patty's and don't have a single photo of that fun evening (if you click on the Sam & Shanna link above they have a few pics posted). Saturday morning we headed even further south to Twin Falls, ID for Blair N & Kristin I's wedding. We felt so honored to be invited and just loved having the opportunity to share their special day with them.

Kristin & her Mom walking down the aisle:



Blair & Kristin saying their vows (under the amazing rose covered arbor):



Officially Married:



Blair & Kristin with the Mayor of Twin Falls (who conducted the ceremony):



Newlyweds with Blair's Dad Scott's family (including Darren & Emily that we used to know in Seattle)




BBQ Pizza Luncheon (they actually made the pizza on the BBQ):



Scott & Ellen N:




And, a shot of Darin and I in the WONDERFUL shade tree that the tables were set up around:




After the Wedding we went back to Boise to stay with Brad & Patty and ended up spending the evening in downtown Boise. What a great downtown area and to make it even better we ran in to a "cruise in" that was part of a huge weekend long car show at the local fairgrounds. Here are a couple of the highlights:




Here is a photo of Brad, Patty, Taylor & Braden before we left on Sunday morning. We had a great time with them - lots of singing and catching up!:



Next we were off to see Kim & Doug S & their boys in Ontario, OR. They live on a farm and have four of the cutest boys you've ever seen. They are all so smart in school, excellent at sports and great farmers! We loved our time with them too.

Kim & Robin H (also visiting along with Bonnie S while we were there):



The "big boys" (from left to right: Laramie, Jackson, Sage):



The "little boy" Orin - still sleeping:



We've decided that when we have kids we need to take them to spend a week on the farm every summer!! (We haven't asked permission from Kim & Doug yet though - they may nix the idea:-) And, next time, I'll have to get a good photo of Doug to share!

Last Thursday we attended the Mark O'Connor, Maya Beiser concert with the Seattle Symphony (violin & cello). It was an absolutely wonderful performance. If you ever have a chance to see Mark DO IT!

This last weekend we started painting the house - decided to do it before putting the deck in so that we don't have to do any more taping and draping than absolutely necessary. It went really fast so hopefully will be able to have a before and after photo of that by the end of the week. Tyson came to help again on Saturday.

Sunday evening we went to Seattle to meet Mom & Dad for the evening (they are in town for Dad's cancer treatment at Virginia Mason). Tyler joined us for dinner - here are a couple of photos from our evening:

Tyler with Darin and I (with my very wind blown hair from the ferry):



Tyler with Nana & Bobpa - love this picture:



And the ferry ride home:





Well, that should about catch you up with what's been going on around here - never a dull moment, that's for sure.