Category: Photo of the week

“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” – Andy Bernard

Someone’s growing up…and by that, I don’t just mean the dog.

Clockwise from top left:

I suspect that climbing route might be the closest experience my kids have of a telephone handset.

Miss O and Mr D vying for honorary Seattle ambassador status.

It didn’t take long for Mr. D to get someone to ride on the back of his motorcycle.

Mr. D puts the service in service station.

And speaking of service, the bottom left shows a special forces soldier doing mailbox reconnaissance.

Heart of the week is an air pocket in a baguette. And the sign of the week is courtesy of my tea bag. It feels like the message might be a koan. My head isn’t quite sure what to do with it but my heart feels like it’s true.

“A bird is safe in its nest – but that’s not what wings are made for.” – Amit Ray

Riffing off the quote of the post – apparently wings are made for rides at the fair. At first the tame rides we’re fine but it wasn’t long before Miss O wanted to try out the Tornado. At the end, we talked to a turkey and that was Mr. D’s favorite part. I think he invited it over for Thanksgiving.

Meet Cooper aka named Mini Cooper for his puppy stage. He’s coming home on August 11. At which point you should all expect this blog to go to the dogs!

Except for Mr D and Miss O, of course!

The sand castle heart (aka Castle Heart Island) and the sign of the week.

“Time wasted at the lake is time well spent.” – unknown

Endless amount of fun in the cool clear waters of Spirit Lake in Northern Idaho

Hiking, swinging (with a mist for a twist), and reading at the lake.

Miss O and Mr D figuring out how to work together to get Cheerios at the hotel on the way. Amazing how Cheerios can bring a family together! 🙂

I kinda thought Mr. D would be done with time in the car for a while, especially after we took an extra 20 minutes on the way back from the lake for Giving Lift. But he was ready to jump back in and go for a spin.

The kids learning how to pick lettuce in the garden with the best sign ever (see below) and the only rule is that you have to eat what you pick. That doesn’t apply to dandelions!

The heart and the sign of the week thought up by my brilliant friend Katie (from the family gardens at Spirit Lake).

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” – Marcus Aurelius

4th of July!

And the guest of honor for the 4th of July show was blogger, Betsy Kerekes (Motherhood and Martial arts blog, formerly Parenting is Funny) who came with her hubby to spend 2 days in Seattle. So fun to hang with this dear blog buddy in person!!

Chasing after my favorite unicorn.

This is how we roll.

Hearts of the week – brought to us from CA by the amazing Betsy Kerekes. And I love this sign of the week!

“Sometimes you have to travel a long way to find what is near.” – Paulo Coehlo

It was neck and neck in the Tour de Greenlake training wheels stage (thank goodness for the kindness of sisters)!

It’s all picturesque until someone slips and falls … but thankfully no one did this time!

A little work travel. I took a red eye to the East Coast which pretty much just ensured that I spent the whole next day falling asleep on mass transit, grateful for the kindness of strangers willing to wake me up. AND I got to meet the fabulous blogger (The Goddess Attainable) Libby Saylor in New York City!! So much fun!!

And one of my favorite parts of the travel is the wonderful feeling of coming home!

And the sign and the heart of the week…

“Whatever you do today, do it with the confidence of a 4-year-old wearing a batman t-shirt.” – unknown

How is it that I never realized that my tent can fit two twin mattresses until this year? I totally should have thought of it the year Miss O and I did a backyard campout when I was 8 months pregnant with Mr. D. Sure, it would have been awkward carry those up to some of the places I’ve used the tent, but it’s way more comfortable! And it works great for the backyard.

I can’t claim that we don’t jump in puddles when it’s cold out — but it is WAY more fun when it’s warm out!

Yard work with my mom (Nana) and Father’s Day with my brother, the fun uncle.

In the yard – racoons on the fence and Calla lilies in a pot. I have been fortunate that those lilies just keep showing up year after year – but I didn’t know that until my friend, Deirdre, informed me that they aren’t that easy to grow and I’ve been breaking all the rules. Hmm, now I’m grateful and love the flowers even more!

The neighborhood skeleton and a sign. Put together and we have the summer of love??

“It’s sad to grow old, but nice to ripen.” – Brigitte Bardot

Celebrating getting older. I just noticed in the picture with Mr. D and Miss O – he has a marshmallow gun and she has a fishing pole. Had she caught a fish — I think they might have been in for a surprise!

The Halloween costume that keeps on giving.

Life goes fast – and so do children!

Pure sweetness. And the homegrown strawberries are nice too.

Sign of the week.