Memorial Weekend

The official kick-off to summer was this past weekend... so the count down begins with 15 more weekends to cram all the - fun in the sun - that we can into "Summer 2008"

In my mind, Summer can't begin without a little BBQ, sweet tea and cherries... I actually wasn't feeling the BBQ thing as we headed up to Glenoma on Saturday, I was craving home made tortillas, refried beans, chicken a little cheese and salsa maybe...mmmmm goodness.... but couldn't find any! So I snuck a few bites of Ryan's BBQ sandwich. Boy did it look good!!

Little Ry and I found some Cherries at Safeway, just one of our many stops...

Upon arrival to Jodee and Terry's place, the boys spied the new toy! An old tractor!! More fun with that later...

Later that evening, the thunder clouds started rolling in and making a great display in the sky. Ry's parents have a place that sits in a valley... Basically you can see the weather coming at you miles away...It was such a cool setting... the sun was setting, so the sky appeared to be "on fire" as the boys said... and if you looked towards one set of mountains it was mixed with red and dark clouds with lighting flashing across the sky. Because of how the sun was setting behind the mountain and mixed with the impending rain, a couple of rainbows appeared too... I couldn't get a shot of that, but it was pretty spectacular... The thunder was rolling and everything. My camera just couldn't do it justice.

The boys wanted to come outside and watch the show... so I got a few shots of them. (smile)

The next day was lounging day for me... my hips were doing a number so I landed on a couch and watched from my perch all the happenings... Not as fun let me tell you. Ry took the boys on a hike with their cousin Connor. When they came back their other cousins (Keegan, Chloe and Judah) were there to play.

Quinny came in for a cookie... mind you after eating chips the good part of the afternoon I was firm with the "No." He looked so disappointed and I got this shot of him...

But Papa to the rescue... the tractor came out and all was well.
Little Ry was actually first and got to drive it himself...
Then, of course, baseball time. This is Big Ry and his brother, Big Keegan... Good pitch babe!
Great hit uncle Keegs...
The outfield... not doing much... Little Ry and Little Keegs
But they finally get a little action from Big Ry...
The crowd goes wild... well maybe it was the rainbow sherbet that they were excited about!!

Then it was time to head home. Jodee and Terry were heading to Oklahoma early the next morning to visit the Cancer Treatment Center of America there. It is the same place Terry was at when he was healed of Cancer 5 years ago... It is a great faith place and the people that work there don't mind giving glory to God... a little hard to find here in the Seattle area!!

So we all said our goodbyes, sent our prayers and loved on Jodee before we headed out...

Ry and his mom.

It was a relaxing weekend... glad to kick off summer with family. The next couple of weekends will be a whirlwind with little Ry's b-day and getting ready for the baby!

So summer here we are!!

Till later... Nic

The stroller!

The stroller the ladies from NU bought me is a double stroller that has the option of a standing/sitting platform in the back. It is WONDERFUL! So basically I can have the baby upfront and Quinny can either sit or stand in the back. It is also tall enough for me!!! I've wanted a stroller that I didn't have to bend over since I had Ryan.

The boys like it too... their little Kung Fu panda toys got the first ride. Please note the cup holder up top too. Can't believe I went through 3 babies without a cup holder!!
Quinny just wanted to take a picture

Till Later... Nic

First beach trip of the season

This last weekend (May 17 and 18th) it was hot. Saturday was actually in the mid 90s... and for Washington that is heat wave weather! We had errands to do, so we didn't actually get to take the boys out to the beach on Saturday. But on Sunday, while big Ry was battling something attacking his belly, I took the boys out to the beach.

It was actually fun pulling out the summer clothes and finding the swimming trunks... Everyone is a size larger, so they all had "new to me" trunks. Except little Ry, we bought him new ones a while back in a larger size that look just like the pair he had last year.

We got the bag packed with towels, cups and fruit leathers... then we were off for the beach!

We decided on Meydenbauer Park in Bellevue. There isn't a beach park that I can think of that wouldn't be overcrowded and didn't have an incline to walk down... this one was great, there was only about 10 people there... even though it took me like 10 minutes to walk back up the hill when it was time to leave!

Ry and JoJo jumped right in and started playing!

Quinny on the other hand... found a shovel that was left behind and started to dig.

Oh, he thought about getting into the water...

But he changed his mind!

All three were happy to be there... doing whatever they wanted. I just sat back in the sand and watched all the fun!! What was nice, is that the sun actually wasn't that bad... the clouds came out and gave some nice shade. It was still a muggy 79 but not as hot as the day the before.

Quinny found a rock and from my vantage point, it looked like he was walking on water! To be so adventurous, you'd think the boy would just get in!

Ry came over to investigate the rock himself... Of course it became a great jumping off point from then on.

Ry demonstrating how fast he can run in and fall to his knees. He called in diving... I'll let him know it actually involves putting his head under the water later... This is such a departure from last year, where it took him almost a half hour to just walk in up to his waist!!


This was towards the end of our day at the beach, the boys were still having fun and Quinny still digging...
This is the little park at the beach, Quinny had fun up there too. Josiah joined him as we were heading up the hill to go back to the car.

It was a fun day at the beach.. the start to many more this season!

I actually missed having big Ry there. He is the "fun one" as the boys say... He plays make believe games, hunts and adventures with them. Mommy wasn't as fun since I couldn't move around as much. But I'll be out there come July!!

Till later... Nic

My Birthday Gift

April 18th was my b-day and my mom said she wanted to bless me with a couch. As those that have visited our home know, our hand-me-down sectional left a lot to be desired. So my amazing brothers, sweet sister and awesome mom all got together and bought me a whole living room set!!

Everyone is enjoying them! The color is capachino, but to me the look more like camel/tan color.

The big chair is mommy's chair, but little Ry thinks it is his whenever I'm not in it.

Our little Josiah loves them too!

Ryan and the boys got me new copper bottom pots and a toaster for my birthday and for mother's day they got me the lamps. Rug and end tables (soon to come).

Till later... Nic

Shower of Blessings!!

May 15th the lovely ladies from my job put together an extremely thoughtful baby shower for the new little Kelly additon at Newport Bay in Kirkland.

This is Jan Hicks (the ring leader). She is the coordinator of the student development department that I am a part of. She works in the office next door to mines and we have a great time working together. I lovingly call her Mama Jan!

These lovely ladies are Jan's partners in this. Kara Hicks and Loree Rowland. Kara (in glasses) is Jan's daughter in law, but really she blends into that family like she's always been there. Loree is my amazing assistant. Yes, I absolutely love both of these girls. Aren't they toooo cute!!

This is me, just too happy for words
Bethenee, Rachael and Casey have a laugh
KC from the nursing department giving hugs! I miss working near them!!

Sonja, our great women's RD stopped in as well. She's so fun!

I was blessed to have a great turn out of women that I work with. Talk about a fun group of ladies!! Mel Dillon, Judy Burrows, Liz Banas, Ramona Nakashima, Sonja Korum, KC Cox, Robin Boehm, Debbie Neal, Sharon Jessup all sat at this table. Turns out they had a special "in" with the restaurant because they got their food right away :-)

The other table in the background, where I sat had Jan Hicks, Judy Olsen-Briggs, Kara Hicks, Loree Rowland, Rebekah Weed, Bethenee Engelsvold, Rachael Julian, and Casey Hamar.
It was nice seeing Casey again. Casey was my old boss, but still is a great friend!

Then it was time for gifts. I was blessed with many things!! There were more ladies who were going to come, but couldn't make it.. (Honestly, we had like 18 women there already) but all of them pitched in to get me a great big gift!! Its the last one on the post.




The group gift was a compilation of all kinds of things... Gift wrap complements of Kara and Loree!!
The group gift was a double stroller, bathtub, outfits, hats, booties, onesies, teether blankie, bottles, and toiletries!!

I was extremely happy and blessed to have such a warm shower by so many women here at Northwest. They all have touched my life over these last almost 7 years in so many ways. I love them dearly!!

Till later...Nic

A month to go...

So yesterday, May 18th, we were exactly a month away from the baby's due date. I pulled out the clothes box from the boys' closet and found that I had actually gotten rid of quite a bit of things... Here I was thinking I had at least a week's worth of things, but that is not the case.

I am sooooooo happy the gals from my job threw me a shower!! I'll have to get photos from Loree to download on here. What a blessing that was!! I'll write more about that when I get the photos.

Well this past weekend I got his little dresser all set up and worked on getting his "corner" of the room ready. This next weekend I'll be washing up the bassinet and car seat covers.

I'm doing great. Still loosing weight... (yep my great idea for a weight loss program) Just 10 more kids and I'll be to my ideal weight! I have had some interesting pains and discomfort, but nothing I can't handle! Well as long as I don't move that is!! Security on campus and my great assistant Loree have been amazing about getting me around when I don't have car.

Some of the little experiences that I had forgotten about... like not sleeping well, shaving legs I can't see, picking things up from the ground, drinking all the time and subsequently making the trip to the potty... are not as fun. But I'd like to add that my feet are not swelling as bad as before!!

I do miss having a recliner in this final month. I love my bed, but it just can't cradle me like an overstuffed cushy recliner can. And we all know my amazing husband doesn't have much in the realm of "cush" or better yet he's "cush challenged" so no help there. So we have a pillow party going on in the bed to help, but now that its getting warmer... the pillows are beginning to annoy me. :-)

No complaints really... just fun to talk about. I really am happy that this little man is about to come. The discomforts are just a marker that he's soon to make an entrance.

Oh and my mom is set to come on June 17th!! I'm excited that I get to have her to myself... well almost to myself. Michelle will still be here and we all know Shelly loves her mommy!! But I'll get first dibs! The boys are excited about Nana Moore coming too, so I guess I'll have to share. Big Ry is just looking forward to good food! Just Kidding!! He's happy Mom is coming even if she doesn't cook all his favorites!!

I'll write more posts soon too. I got a great B-day gift from my side of the fam, had an amazing baby shower and took the boys to the beach. All with pics!!

till later... Nic

Facebook

Oh I forgot... I'm on facebook now! It is sort of like Myspace, but a lot cleaner. So if you are on there, let me know!!

I'm 30... wait 31 no... 32!!

Yes, I had to actually count down the years the other day... I was talking to someone and said I was 30. Yes I had a moment.

So there I was thinking... "If I was born in 76, and it is now 2008... then in 2006 I turned 30... aha!! I must be 32! Then I was like... "Wow! I'm 32 years old!

All of that to say I had a great birthday. Glad I'm here and have 4 amazing men in my daily life and a great family on both sides that loved on me.

Till Later... Nic