Fort Worden

This past weekend we set out in our new travel trailer and went camping at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. And let me say what a difference it makes having a trailer that we can all comfortably walk around in, at the same time. We love our new trailer!!!!


The girls and I spent countless hours at the beach building sand villages, we went on our first Geocaching find, and did a little hiking. We also spent wonderful time with our camping partners: the Sparks Family and the Bennett Family.

Next camping trip is planned in Long Beach over Memorial Day.

Long walk to the beach.

The BEACH!!!!!!

The girls stopped long enough for one quick photo.

Nat found a teepee

Sorry this is the only picture of the trailer...

Nat was so excited that she has her own window.

Hiking up to see the batteries.

Family photo with the 'classic' Natty scowl.

The girls found a tunnel while hiking around the batteries.

Natalie could only hike so long before

Daddy needed to give her a lift.

Princess Georgia

My baby is 5. Yep, 5 years old, I can't believe it either. Seems like just yesterday she was my big cheeked baby and now she is my gorgeous almost kindergartner. For her birthday this year, she choose to have a princess party, so off to the salon we went. We went to the Jack 'n Jill Children's Salon in Lacey. They did an amazing job with all the girls.

Getting her hair done.

The finished product...the "heart braid"

Making tiaras

Playing Kiss the Frog

Blowing out her candles

Making beaded braclets

Opening Presents

Souping for Cruise

Yes you read it correctly, I am "souping for cruise". Andy & I leave in 10 glorious days for our 5 night cruise along the Western Caribbean, so with that I have started to have soup everyday for lunch. My hopes are that by having a low-calorie soup for lunch instead of what I would like to have I will shed a few pounds and flatten the tummy in time for the cruise.

I started last thursday and have already lost 1 pound. For those of you that are worried about the sodium intake, I am trying to choose soups with lower sodium, but the other thing I am doing is drinking between 48-72oz of water each day.

Wish me luck. And I will let you know how it goes. With me it is quite possible that I will be bored of souping for cruise by friday and back to my old ways.

Back in the Saddle Again

Our saddle however is more like a ship floating in the western caribbean. That's right boys and girls, Andy and I have booked another cruise!!! I am so excited. Come the end of March I will be soaking up the sun on the Grandeur of the Seas...more to come.

New Years Resolution

So my new favorite blog is My Three Son's Designs, it is Julie's sister's. She just puts some amazing things on her blog...craft ideas, cute home ideas etc. So today as I was reading it I saw this poster

Everthing on this poster is exactly what I need to strive for in 2010. So I have put this poster on my desktop and am seriously thinking about ordering it, so I can read it everyday and remember to eat breakfast everyday, to schedule me-time, practice saying no, floss, drink more H2O, that my life is an incredible opportunity to Laugh, Love & Play, and of course to SPARKLE.

"This is the Polar Express"

For those of us that have children, small children especially, we know the story of the Polar Express. "On Christmas Eve many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed...I was listening for a sound - a sound a friend told me I'd never hear - the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh."

On Friday, the girls and I ventured down to Hood River, Oregon, with a quick stop in Camas to pick up Andy's cousin, Amy and her two girls, to board the Polar Express. It was a perfect PNW winter night, crisp and cold with a hint of rain.

Tickets in hand

Georgia & Lila ready to board the train

The train ride was a little 'rustic' as Amy put it, but the kids enjoyed it. Hot cocoa was served with cookies, the Polar Express story was read, and after a quick stop at the North Pole Santa paid each child a visit and gave them a bell.

Eva, Amy, Lila, Georgia & Natalie: we just found our seats

mmmm, hot chocolate

Georgia enjoying her cocoa...Lila clearly satisfied from hers.

"tickets, tickets please"...getting our tickets punched. Lila got a little scared.

Georgia & Santa

Eva & Santa

Natalie didn't want to sit on Santa's lap (she's not too sure of the big man)

Lila, wasn't having anything to do with Santa.

Happy Birthday Jackson = Scariest Day of My Life

This weekend was filled with family fun. Saturday started with gymnastics for both girls followed by our annual Hunter/Bennett pumpkin patch adventure. The pumpkins were a little picked over, go figure, it was the Saturday before Halloween. But each child managed to find their "perfect" pumpkin.

Sunday brought another pumpkin patch trip. This time up to Scholz Farms in Orting, for Jackson Bonham's 2nd birthday. It was a cold...a downright frigid day in Orting, but the girls were enjoying themselves and I was enjoying spending time with Kelsey and her family. And then near tragedy. It happened in the blink of an eye, literally. The four of us, Andy, myself, Georgia and Natalie were standing together in the party room talking with someone when Georgia was gone. Andy ran out the back, I out the front...no Georgia. Andy circled around, no Georgia. Now remember we are at a pumpkin patch, people coming and going, she could be anywhere. Of course my thoughts instantly go to "she could be in the back of someone's car driving out of the pumpkin patch as we stand here searching." The staff at the pumpkin patch were amazing. As soon as they heard me screaming her name, they came over "what is she wearing, how old is she?" They fanned out and started looking. Mind you at this point probably 45 seconds has gone by, but it feels like 45 minutes. She was probably gone for 2 minutes...it felt like two hours. My eyes had begun to well up as I was certain this is the moment every parent dreads. Suddenly, I hear "they found her!" Georgia had casually walked out of the corn maze, unconcerned because she knew she was not lost.

I can't fathom what parents go through who have missing children. I can't understand how they continue living. I was ready to give up my life after just two minutes of not knowing.

Pre-K

I can't believe my baby girl is in Pre-K. She tells me everyday how she is almost 5. She says this because she is learning to whistle and apparently when you are 5 you can whistle, so with her logic since she can almost whistle, she is almost 5. True enough she is 4 1/2. And today she comes running out of the kitchen so excited because she made her own breakfast, fruit loops and cocoa. The girl didn't even spill a drop of milk. I can't believe how grown up she is.

In front of our house

With Natalie and Natalie's new haircut

With her school friends:
Georgia, Morgen, Kennadi & Claire

Ok, so I had to include the picture of me and my "boyfriend" Matt and his friend Walter Jones. Sorry it was an exciting day in my life...I can't let my kids have all the glory now can I?

Gus' trip to the E.R.

One of the loves of my life is in the hospital, Olympia Emergency Vet to be exact. Yesterday morning Gus started to get sick and it just progressed. I know many people who would say "he is just a dog, he will be fine". But I was not fine, so I called my good friend Becky and former Vet Tech to have her assess the situation. Her advice, call the emergency vet. I did. They wanted to see him right away. So last night the girls and I climbed into our minivan with Gus and away we went.

Gus laying in the yard.

All of his test results have come back good. The boy is healthy as a horse, except one little problem, he is sick. They are pretty certain his intestines aren't blocked, and his bloodwork came back clear, so at this point the vet is settling on Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis or (HGE). Prompt vet care is a must as they need to be on IV fluids immediately and our vet has also started him on antibiotics. (Our emergency vet is a Coug so I know Gus is in good hands).

I must say a big THANK YOU to Becky. She is always there for me, especially when I have pet questions and because she felt it could be serious, Gus is getting the care he needs. Please pray he gets better. Those that know me, know that I care for my dogs just as much as my girls (sometimes more, because dogs don't seem to throw attitude at you).

Aggie is depressed without her Gus

Aggie and I are struggling through together, both sad, both scared, both counting on faith to make Gus well again.

The Great Snake Hunt

The girls are becoming more "rural" everyday. This past week the girls learned the art of snake hunting. Nolan, age 8, was over at our house (his mother is my co-worker and we had a company picnic at our house) and he wanted to find snakes and lizards. He found a bucket and started walking around our property "hunting" for snakes. After a couple of hours the girls warmed up to Nolan and asked if he would show them how to find snakes.

The loot

Natalie & Her Lizard

Georgia and her baby snake

Nolan and the 'mama' snake

Since last Tuesday we have been on several snake hunts, and Daddy even learned a valuable lesson...don't hold a lizard by the tail, they drop their tails to get away from predators. The girls had to show Andy how to hold a lizard. It was priceless.

Don't worry the kids put all the reptiles back before Nolan left, so no need to call PETA.

Lynch Creek Farm Soccer!!

That's right, we have branched out from wreaths and flowers to soccer teams! Georgia is playing summer soccer this year and Andy nicely decided to sponsor her team. Here are some pictures of her playing...she definitely doesn't enjoy it as much as gymnastics, but I think she has a pretty good time.

Playing goalie

Being her usual cute self.

Team Lynch Creek Farm!

Tea Party

Georgia's friend Katie invited her and Natalie over for a tea party brunch. The girls got all dressed up in their "sunday best" and enjoyed quite the spread. They had pancakes with whipped cream, eclairs, fresh fruit, cookies...it was every childs dream breakfast.

And as usual with my children, even though they are all dressed up, the day ended with Georgia climbing trees, hiking through Poppy's forest to see fairy houses and dodging horse pies in the pasture as we tried to find Apache and give him some treats. It was a fabulous morning...thanks Katie and Sara!!

Georgia, Natalie & Katie enjoying their tea party

The goodies!

Georgia & her mini pancake

Natalie picking off each individual sprinkle

Katie, enjoying an eclair.