Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Bryan's hunting trip in Alaska

August 21-24th

Of course, if we are going to go to Alaska then Bryan should probably go hunting and fishing in Alaska.
I thought I should post a couple pics of the hunting trip. . .
but really, all you need to know is 4 things:
1.) Bry and Jay went hunting
2.) The plan was to take a canoe up the Moose River on the Kenai peninsula
3.) They spent the majority of the hunting trip sick with the flu (there is nothing like camping when you are REALLY sick!)
4.) They didn't shoot anything--though when you spend more time vomiting and having diarrhea than hunting--you are bound to not get anything.

Hmmm, I do think they still had some fun though. . .
And Bry plans to go on another Alaska hunting trip (hopefully with Jay) but minus the flu!

2 things of note--We saw a mama moose and a baby moose during one of our outings that we went on while the guys were gone. But the funniest was this little story: When Bryan left, he told Mircea that "We are going to go look for a Moose!" When they got back, Mircea said, "I found the moose!--They are at the zoo!" Those silly boys didn't know where to look!--Good thing Mircea set them straight--next time maybe they should take her with them!



Jay showing Bryan on Google Earth where they were going

Cea lounging while Daddy packs

In the garage getting gear together
(Their garage is like all the stock of an REI store crammed into a 1 car garage--hmmm or maybe they are starting their own outdoor store?!? It was an outdoorspersons dream! I didn't know 2 people needed access to at least 10 sleeping bags, or that 2 people needed 8 pairs of snow shoes, or that. . . . It was an awesome garage!)

Cea and Laney taking a nap during the packing

Family Picture before they leave--we are all happy,
we didn't know that that evening we would be sick with the flu!

Saying goodbye!

Playing Soccer waiting for the guys to leave (Cea, Sara, and Jed)

The Boys (Jay and Bryan)--and they are off!

Bryan after one of the many times being sick

Bryan and a Coho (Silver)
(He went fishing while Jay was sick)

Bryan and Jay sitting around camp (hmmm did they ever go hunting?)

Happy to have Daddy home!

Jay changing oil after they get back!


If I get more pics from Jay, I will post them!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The baby shower for the future Naomi Rose

September 12th At the baby shower

I helped co-host a baby shower for my friend Katie who is expecting to have a girl, Naomi Rose, October 14th-ish.
The shower was held at our friend Dawn's house in Olympia. I was in charge of games and the main food. Dawn provided the location, decorations, invites, dessert and other food. The party turned out wonderfully.

Congrats Matt and Katie!

Thank you Dawn, Mom, Laura and Sandra for all your work to make the party so great!


Katie in front of the dessert table
YUM!

Katie and Porsche

Dawn and Donna
(the party started at 11, so we got there at 8 am to start the set up)

Sandra taking pictures during a game

Matt struggling with his Nursery Rhymes

Katie struggling as well!
Oh well, you will get to know them VERY well in a year!

Playing games

The food set up
Sandwiches, veggie tray, pasta salad, fruit salad, grapes

Pink Punch, coffee, tea, water, truffles, mexican wedding cakes, and cupcakes

another view of the food

2 hard workers finally getting to play a game too!

Sandra helping with the answers


Katie opening Naomi's gifts

Folding all the tissue paper

Katie and Matt

Naomi (represented by the belly!)

PS We missed you Marianne! We wish you could have been there!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Making food for a baby shower at grandma's house

September 11th Friday
Getting ready for Saturday's baby shower

Thursday night I went shopping at Costco for the bulk of the food items--I barely made it there before closing. Friday morning we got up and went shopping at the Metropolitan Market for the rest of the items. I love that store--all the employees are helpful and available, everything they have there is so fresh--i.e. you don't have to pick over their fruits and veggies, you can just grab it and put it in your cart--they don't have anything bad there--everything is perfect. And, to top it off they have carts for kids to push, so Mircea pushed a cart in which we put most of the items. She was amazing the whole trip--a huge help, and a lot of fun. Several people who were leaving as we went in, came back cuz they wanted a look at my kids cuz they thought they were so cute! (I just had to brag about my kids!) It was a fun and quick (because Cea was so helpful) shopping trip. Then we headed to Grandma's where Grandpa would play with the kids while my mom and I put together the sandwiches and pasta salad.
we at lunch at Grandma's and then grandpa and Cea went on a bicycle ride, then they came back and played, then they went for a walk, then they picked pears, then they got into water and soaked all their clothes and shoes. . . They had a lot of fun.
Meanwhile in the kitchen mom used the croissants and put together ham and swiss sandwiches and I put together the pasta salad. Thanks Mom for all the help! I really appreciate it!!!--especially as you were having company over that night as well as on Sunday, and are also busy with painting the back of the house!
I didn't get pics of the food prep, as it wasn't as exciting as pics of the kids. Oh and did I mention the water Grandpa let the kids play in was very gross and had larvae worms swimming in it and everything? YUCK!! It is just one more example of the difference between Grandma babysitting and Grandpa babysitting--Grandma would have at least given them clean water AND taken off their clothes BEFORE they got wet!. SNICKER!


my awesome helper!

her cart is getting full and her attitude is still happy
Casper was bummed he didn't get a cart to push.
We put all the ginger ale in our cart, but that is all we had!

Here she is again! This was a fun shopping trip!


Finally we went to Grandpa and Grandma's house.
There are no pics of mom or me, but this is a bit of what the kids (including Grandpa) did.


On a walk!

Picking Pears

Exploring

More pears! (Cea loved them!)

Her clothes and Casper's clothes are already wet and hanging out to dry.

HMMM I think I will leave the rest of the pics out of this blog! grin!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Tacoma Rainiers Game with the "Given to Garrulousness" Clan


Sept. 7 Monday Labor Day

Carol calls and asks if we want to go to a Tacoma Rainiers game that afternoon--so instead of cleaning the garage as planned we went to Cheney Stadium. This game would decide if they would head into the playoffs. Cea went bicycling with Papa instead of coming with us, so it was just Bryan, Porsche, and Casper; and then Sean, Carol, Marina, Dakota, and Evelyn.
When we got there the game was delayed a bit due to a wet field--SURPRISE--we had some rain!. So we decided to get some food to chomp on while we waited--plus we had missed lunch. The "food court" at Cheney stadium is small to begin with, but they had even more limited areas open. To top it off they were not expecting this large of a crowd at the game (the biggest crowd that year) and so they were running out of food quickly. Thankfully we were able to get fed, so it all worked out (as for was it good or not--well, we did eat it--but it wasn't as good as their tortilla junction that we prefer, but wasn't open).
The game was a blast. Lots of fun---oh wait, except for the very beginning of the game, a guy jumps out on the field and drops his shorts--it was horrible--shame on him--I was in a conundrum--do I cover Casper's eyes, Marina's eyes (who was next to me) or my own! Thankfully we mostly only saw his backside, and he was arrested. Then around the 8th inning there was another streaker!--the Rainier mascot, Rhubarb the Reindeer. It was hilarious--you will see the video below!
The Rainiers did win, the weather ended up being great, and the kids were awesome as well. Casper fell asleep halfway through after Sean fed him a bunch of french fries and cracker jacks (he also ate half a brat as well). We did a lot of cheering. The crowd is definitely different for these local triple-A games, the heckling is funny, and we are sitting closer to the field, it just feels more like a baseball game. The Mariners games are fun, but a lot fancier. The crowd was rather large and boisterous the whole game which was a lot of fun!

Bryan keeping score and Casper helping
"Score that 5-4-3!" says Casper

Fries and Toys and Casper is happy

Coda and Marina

Yum--Sean keeps them coming and Casper keeps chewing


Casper Cheering--he is just beside himself with excitement

The field from our seats

Jamie Burke warming up the pitcher before the inning starts
(he is my favorite Triple-A player)

Cheese
=
Carol and Coda chatting

Sean and Casper Cheering

The Crowd

Marina and Sean


The Streaker!

The cool sky

Casper also eating Cracker Jacks!

Marina holding Casper while he sleeps

Sean gets his turn with Casper too!

Bryan and Porsche

Watching intently--the game is almost over, the cheering has woken Casper up!

Hooray! Good Job Rainiers!

Dakota, Sean, Casper, Marina, Carol and Evelyn

Porsche, Casper and Bryan