{great wolf}

since we all needed a little mini vacation, we decided to go to Great Wolf last weekend. We also wanted to treat the kids for getting great report cards. It was a blast! This place is so well-done, they really have thought of everything.
I didn't get the greatest pictures with my crappy point-and-shoot, but we will always remember how fun our first trip to Great Wolf was!
can you tell they didn't want to stop for a pic?

{pinewood derby}

the derby is always so much fun for these boys. Sabe has gotten better each year helping Jaxon build the car, unlike the first year that he cut the dang thing using a hack saw and lots of naughty words. the best thing about Sabe and Jaxon is that they are quietly competitive and just enjoy the competition. Just because I can paint an entire house does NOT mean that I can do a detail paint job on a derby car, but I'm getting better as the years go on as well. We had a fun time and Jaxon really enjoyed doing this with his best buddy and cousin, Mason.

cute little Izzy and Dallas

coolest stripe award :)

{cupcakes and goodbyes}

One of our last stops was a the cupcake shop in Proctor. I am killing myself for not taking photos of the shop--it was so darling inside. Camille was so nice to treat us and those two little girls loved every bite of them. My pick was the lemon, and seriously, best damn cupcake I've ever had :)

this is a quick photo of Stadium High School in downtown Tacoma. It was gorgeous and was the scene for "10 Things I Hate about You" with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles....good flick.

Later that night, we got Mexican take-out (thanks Adam and Ashley!) and the girls played a little dress-up. Too cute for words....



Goodbye to all my lovies...I am totally coming back and we are going to ride more ferries, collect more shells, eat more cupcakes, kiss more babies, and laugh even more than this time. LOVE YOU!

{seattle trip--low tide}

I really can't believe how insanely jealous I am of my sisters that get to live by the ocean. There really is something so calming and refreshing to live by the sea. On Sunday evening we went down to low tide, just minutes from Adam and Ashley's home. There were clams, shells, sand dollars, everywhere. On the east coast, you have to buy those items in a gift shop--so sad.
Ryan was the hero of the night as he reached in the water and grabbed the coolest purple starfish off the post of the wharf. We all screamed as though the USA hockey team won the gold--ha ha. It was freakin' cool.

here's cute little McKay that got sick---hope you are feeling better now, buddy!

and I couldn't resist 2 cute kids in the tubby...