Perpetually Wright: September 2006

Sunday, September 17, 2006

My 30th

Our adventure for my birthday present proved spectacular. I enjoyed just hanging with Michael and seeing what fun we can have together.

Tuesday morning we went out to breakfast, then headed to Seattle. We saw the Ballard Locks where they let the big and small boats in and raise them up to lake level and back to sea level again to let them out. Salmon are returning to the fresh water this time of year so we saw them trying to find there way into the lake as well.

After that we found our way to our hotel "Hotel Max" in downtown Seattle...which should be called "Hotel Min" because the room was only about 2 feet wider around than the king size bed in there. The room was our only disappointment of the trip.

We walked and shopped for a bit, then got ourselves ready for the four-course adventure in fine dining at the Melting Pot. I had so much fun with dinner and it took us about two hours to eat it. The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant so everything was cooked right on our table. We had a cheddar cheese fondue, salads, main oil fondue with meats and veggies, and topped it all off with a chocolate fondue! Needless to say, I was stuffed.

The Paramount where our show was hosted is one of those amazing old theaters. I had never been there before and just that was worth it. We also enjoyed watching the dancers we'd been watching on tv. Dancing is really romantic! Wow was it ever loud in there. I almost needed earplugs. I guess I really am getting old.

The next morning was overcast, but "all the more Seattle!" I said. We went down to the waterfront and walked through Pike's Place (famous Seattle farmers' market) and hit a couple Starbucks too. Then we boarded a boat that took us for an hour tour of the harbor. We got great photos of the city and water. After a lunch of clam chowder and fish and chips (of course) we visited our last stop - the Space Needle.

It really was a grand adventure. I know I am a spoiled girl and I appreciate it! I'll post our pictures sometime.

I'll be working on my scrapbook of my trip now. It is the season for scrapbooking I think. I've been working on a few lately.

Tegan enjoyed her first week of school. Monday was an orientation and she was ready for me to leave her that day, but her first real day was Tuesday. Mike and I's mini-vacation started that day so we didn't even get to see her as she came home her first day. She didn't mind because Gramma picked her up.

I haven't quite figured out our new routine. It is weird to be just Anika and me in the morning. This week Tegan gets to ride a bus home after school instead of being picked up. That bus will be only kindergarteners, so it will be fun for her.

Kelby's had a few issues with the bus ride home. I guess there are a couple mean boys. We are working on the issue, but mostly by trying to build her up to handle these types of things since we can't protect her from everything.

We are having a very lazy weekend which is nice. It is a little bit sunny, little bit rainy here. The girls are LOVING the rain. They all go out in it and play in puddles or with their umbrellas. So cute!

I guess I'll sign off for now and get back to my scrapbooking!

Friday, September 8, 2006

Wow...Busy August & September!

I just finished posting all the photos from August and September, so check them out. Those girls of mine are awfully cute.

We have been up to much, but nothing stressful. Everything has been fun and pretty relaxing. After a couple weekends of rest, we went camping two weekends in a row. The we had the lemonade stands in there somewhere too. Now that it is September Kelby started school, I turned 30, and Tegan starts school next week.

Our first camping trip took us up to a new spot. We didn't like it at first, but settled in and were satisfied once Michael caught a few fish. Those girls are amazing campers. They go to bed when told and sleep through the night. They like their roasted marshmallows, but are also pleased with Jiffy Popcorn cooked on the camp stove. Mike and I have been playing cribbage when camping even though he always wins.

The next Friday we had a small lemonade stand (I posted the article about it.) We raised $190 that time. Then we packed up and headed out of town that afternoon for camping again. This time we stayed overnight two nights and went with friends. This was especially nice since they have a 12-year-old girl that pretty much watched the girls the whole time. My girls just LOVED her. We hiked and fished. I scraped up my knee like a little girl, but I didn't even cry! Kelby was impressed with their son's "sweet jumps" on his bike and wanted to try his skateboard, but we wouldn't let her since she didn't have a helmet.

Then the next Friday was our "big" lemonade stand. We set it up for 10 am to 6 pm. At about 2:00 we realized that was TOO long. It would have been better to do multiple stands for shorter times each. The kids made it through the day better than us moms, so it was fine. We were impressed to see we raised $760 at that stand and we were at over 75% to our goal. It didn't take through the weekend to make it to our $2000 goal with all the loving family and friends we have out there. I was happy to see both Kelby and Tegan learn a lot that day. They both became a little more outspoken and got to be proud of their accomplishment.

We had a huge party here on Monday. I invited all the couples we know that Mike knows the husbands. I was surprised that so many were available to come on Labor Day afternoon for a Potluck. We had about 40 people in our backyard that day. I thought it went great, but Mike thought it was a little overwhelming. The kids had a great time playing with waterballons for one last bash before school started. Kelby even got to meet another boy that is in her class, so I bet that made her feel more comfortable on the first day at her new school.

So Tuesday was her first day. She didn't seem nervous at all. We know her new teacher because she is my friend's mother-in-law. I think we are really going to like her. She made Kelby comfortable and even mentioned the article from the paper with her picture. She had it cut out and on the wall. Another girl that Kelby knows from her old school also transferred to Evergreen and although they are not in the same class they get to see each other on the playground.

After school today we went on a bike ride and met a bunch of kids in the neighborhood. We even had a couple kids over for awhile. The girls had a great time. They have also found a black cat down the street that loves them, so that makes them really happy. We can't have a cat since I'm allergic, so this is the next best thing.

It seems like I have to be forgetting something in there somewhere. Oh that's right. I turned 30 on Wednesday. Yikes! It doesn't bother me too bad. How can it when I got such a great gift from Mike for my birthday. He sent me on a treasure hunt all around the house. It took me the whole afternoon to finish. In the end I got chocolates, tickets up the Space Needle, Hotel in Seattle, reservations at a restaurant I've always wanted to go to (The Melting Pot), tickets to the "So You Think You Can Dance" tour (Mike and I have been watching that show all summer) and a Seattle Harbor Cruise for an hour the next day! Of course the girls will be babysat those two days next week too. I am soooo spoiled. He didn't want to plan a party and so did this instead. Good trade I'd say! My Labor Day party was kinda taken over as a party for me anyway. Many brought balloons and cards for me and Mike's sister Heather baked me a carrot cake! Yum. See how spoiled I am.

Hopefully not much will be going on this weekend, then Tegan will have orientation for kindergarten on Monday. Tuesday will be her first real day of school and Mike and I will be leaving for our mini-vacation that day. I know she'll be fine and won't mind. At least we will drop her off there and takes some pictures. School is really old hat for her since she's been in the school so much with Kelby's classes.

I think that brings you pretty much up to date, except I forgot to tell you about my redecorating my kitchen. Just pretty paint, a backsplash, and a chair rail, but it made a HUGE difference. Now I've worn myself just telling you about this...it really wasn't as bad/busy as it sounds. It was all fun!