a week in seattle (with basically no pics)

So this is the saddest post ever. Me and the boys went to Seattle a few days ahead of Patrick and I forgot the camera. He did a stellar job of remembering it for me and brought it when he joined us Thursday night. However, he didn't check to see if the battery was charged. There really was only enough juice for the pictures you see here.

Above is Jake, Patrick and Carter off Peg and Steve's deck at their new, stunning home in Redmond. They have a beautiful view of the trees and mountains and we spend a lot of time out here.

I don't have any pictures of our trip to Great Wolf Lodge which is a great family-friendly resort outside Seattle that has an indoor water park. A perfect place to ride out the record-breaking heat Seattle was experiencing. We didn't bring it, I swear. It was pretty crazy to experience 100 degree heat with most of the city not enjoying air conditioning. We thank Grandma and Grandpa for installing some in their house when they built it. So Great Wolf was a great place to hang out with Kim and the boys and Grandma. We got lots of water play time (and saw Austin turn into a swimmer boy before our very eyes), arcade time, buffet grub time and fun Magicquest game playing time. Kim and I enjoyed sleeping in while Grandma wrangled the boys in their room. Seriously - isn't that the nicest thing?

I don't have pictures of our fun BBQ at Aunt Kim's and Uncle Dave's where we informally celebrated Uncle Jim's retirement from Boeing. But you can visit Ashley's blog to see a little bit of our fun. Carter, Austin and Ava were adorable as all the uncles got them going with obstacles coarses, baseball and blanket pulling.

I don't have pictures of our day out on the lake for Seafair. We spent the day with Grandpa, Aunt Sara and her friend Ramey. The Moore's were busy at baseball (which we enjoyed the day before and would later that night) - Andrew had such a fun tournament team! The day on the lake was a great one. The weather was so warm that we all spent time in the lake - although I got teased for not going in farther than I had to to pee! What?! The water was still pretty darn cold in this girl's opinion. We had a great lunch out on the water and the Blue Angels were so awesome! So many times the planes were just right over our heads. Really a great show. Other than Patrick's back getting sunburned like crazy, it was a perfect day.

I do have pictures of our BBQ that night. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then we fired up the fireplace to make s'mores. And then as only little boys can do, the whole got turned into this crazy Lord of the Flies-esque fire dance party! It was all over who was going to sacrifice the marshmallow.

Austin, D.J. and Andrew

Such great cousins and good friends to our boys. We miss them already!

Uncle Dave, Aunt Kim and Patrick wondering what the heck these crazy boys are up to.

Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Dave and Aunt Kim enjoying the grub.

Seattle in the summer is always the best. We love getting to be with family and enjoying each other. Grandpa and Grandma's house was so beautiful, comfortable and fun - they have a great loft upstairs for the kids to play games and do their thing. Grandpa even taught them how to play his Harley Davidson pinball. We loved staying with them. We love to visit the Burnett's and Moore's!! Thank you!! We love you!!

our favorite way to spend a summer day

How else would we survive the Arizona heat?! The funny thing is - we go so much, they actually start to get tired of it. Weird, right?

It always helps to bring Kameron along. She is way more fun than boring ole mom.

Only 9 more days of every day loungin'. Where did the time go?

june in california

Okay, so I know I need to do better at this blogging thing. It would be way better to do a post like every week or so and just give you a little tidbit of what we're up to instead of an annoying marathon post.

Here's your annoying post about all the great things we did at Grandpa and Grandma Motley's.

We went to Granite Bay, CA in June this year. We usually escape Arizona in July (for obvious reasons) but this year Patrick had a month long business trip to Sri Lanka planned (a month without my hubby - yuck!!) and my sis Amy was going to be spending 5 weeks there while her hubby was in officer's training in the Navy (he's a dentist). I really wanted to visit when she was there. Erica also came out for a week and Chris and Lindsay came for a long weekend. So while we had everyone together, we tortured the cousins with a picture in matchy-matchy cuteness.


Owen, Dylan, Ryan, Jake and Emma, Sean, Carter

Camryn, Hudson, Kyle

We did get a better one than this, I promise. One of my favorite things about this trip was getting to know my nieces and nephews better. They are seriously the best kids - my brothers and sisters (and their other half's) are amazing parents.

So we had lots to do and went on field-trips and such. But we also had a lot of down time - just hanging out at home and enjoying each other. It was a perfect mix of activity.

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On this day, we went to Coloma which is a little city outside Sacramento where gold was first discovered.

Carter, Jake, Owen and Dylan enjoy their picnic rock.


Jake and Dylan looking SO grown-up. This is taken at the monument at the top of our little hike in Coloma.

Such cute girls!! Just enjoying the American River and watching the boys throw rocks.

My dad had the cute idea of doing a little campfire FHE so we went to Folsom Lake one night to make s'mores and hang out. Gorgeous outside - I totally wanted to spend the night. This little activity is a perfect example of what I love about visiting my parents. They have this great ability to make every day just a little bit special and fun.

The weather was so pleasant that for the first 2 weeks or so, we didn't swim a lot. But as it started to heat up, we sure made up for lost time. It was sooo nice to have all my boy's be able to swim on their own this year. It meant lots of lounging time for me.

These were taken when Uncle Mike got back from the Navy. He "helped" the kids jump into the pool and they got some serious air.

This is my cute dad watching the swimming. He is a great grandpa and the kids love him. He took the boys golfing, taught them how to skip rocks and to get ice cream at McDonald's. We also got to go shopping on his dime (thanks Daddy!!) while he kept the kids.







We celebrated Carter's 4th birthday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. (More to come on the birthday later - can you believe my baby is 4?!)

My parents also kept the boys so I could go to Girl's Camp. I was a YCL mom this year and it was an absolute blast. I loved being back with the YW, if even for a little bit.

The boys did great in my absence and even got to have a sleepover at their Motley cousins house - which was a highlight of their vacation I think.

Another highlight was finally getting to pick up Patrick in San Francisco after many, many days apart. We stayed with the boys at the Westin St. Francis in Union Square and rode cable cars, ate food, got Boudin's and went to the Wharf. The next day we went to the de Young Museum to see King Tutankaman's exhibit which was seriously cool. We drove home the Golden Gate Bridge way and showed Jake the apartment we brought him home to when he was a baby.

I know I'm gonna forget everything we did. There was too much!! We went to the railroad museum, did yoga with my sisters, went to the movies, went to the park, went to Golfland Sunsplash, played catch out front, watched fireworks, went on a 7.5 mile 4th of July hike to Loch Leaven Lakes (yes - Carter too! without any help!!), watched SYTYCD and tried to re-create some dances, and just had some great together time.

The boys playing miniature golf - or should I say air guitar? On side note, I beat my husband at golf which is the first time that's ever happened. Ever.


We were sad to go. I don't know when I'll see Amy and her family again (they're in SC now - everyone else is at least a little closer). But I think I've shown Amy and Erica how fun summer in GB can be and hopefully, from now on, we'll always have summer.

And on our way home the odometer did this. Should we be nervous?

SYTYCD

Is it twisted and strange that this is probably my favorite piece thus far in this amazing season? It was dark and scary but I thought the choreography was amazing and really moving. I got all teary even. They did such a good job with the execution and bringing this struggle to life. I think the caliber of dancers this season is really high and that the choreography has been entertaining and thought-provoking. My favorite girl is obviously Melissa (the ballerina who does everything well) but now that Caitlin is gone, I love everyone who is left. It will be hard to choose.


P.S. Summer updates will being coming soon!