Pavilion Update

The pavilion has been built, but we still need to landscape the front and build steps on the front ot it. We're running over to Home Depot and the nursery tomorrow, so I will post some updated pics this week when everything is planted.

This was the first picture I took. Since then, I have switched the side table to the other side, moved the basket (it's for magazines, etc.), and put in a potted plant. This picture show the true color of the pavilion and accessories. The sun was shining in with the updated pics, so they look a little darker.

This is how the pavilion looks now. I like the funky, colorful pillows that I found at Pier 1. They aren't something that would work inside my house, but they are fun for the pavilion. Still deciding on bamboo shades. I don't think they will work on the sides like I had orginally planned since we extended the railing past the large beams, but maybe for the back of the pavilion.

More shots of the pavilion. We will be adding trees and bushes to the sides, and will do something with the gravel pathway once the steps are put in.

So far, no complaints for our HOA (knock on wood)! They can be sticklers, especially since we didn't get the structure approved. When we put the playset in, we were told that anything behind our fence is ok. It's pretty noticeable from our street, so we'll see what happens once the trees in front loose their leaves in the next month or two.

Looking forward to relaxing in the pavilion with a book or cocktail! :) We plan to run electricity out to it. A fun chandelier would be pretty cool!

My brotherin-law is pushing for a margarita machine! :) I also need to find a rug, but nothing has caught my eye quite yet. We put a metal roof on which sounds neat when it's raining.

Mini Getaway

Last week, we stayed out at my parents' house for a few days while they are cruising around Europe. We even took the dog and cat. Kallie is good with car rides, but Magnum was so mad at us. He complained the entire 50 minute drive, and when we got to the house, he went right into my mom and dad's room and hid under their bedspread. It took him a few hours to come out, but then he was happy the rest of the time until the drive back home. We're talking crazy meows and howls. You'd think someone was killing him.

Our first stop was the Poulsbo waterfront. The boys always enjoy stopping in the bakery to get happy/sad face cookies. We also found some fun trails that led us down to the water and to a little park. We also picked up doughnuts at the bakery. They were yummy!
Jim and the boys trying to lift the heavy rock.

On one of the trails. It was pretty and there were some great trees to climb, but the sun was really bright. Not good for picture taking.

I think Jim was a sloth in past life!

The next day, we headed out to Port Angeles (pretty much a dump, so we didn't stop in town). They are definitely taking advantage of the whole Twilight craze. There was a store that sold only Twilight memorabilia. I wanted to stop just to take a picture, but we were all hungry and trying to find a place to eat. Nothing caught our eye in Port Angeles, so we headed over to Sequim. Much cuter town and a good Mexican restaurant we found.

Beach about 20 minutes past Port Angeles. Really beautiful there, even though there was a bit of a breeze. Hawaii beaches are beautiful, but I much prefer beaches like this one that have the big trees surrounding them.

Sunset at my parents' house. Amazing! We don't get sunsets at our house.

The last day, we went to Kingston and Port Gamble. I haven't been to Kingston in years. It's small, but very cute. We had lunch and got ice cream before heading over to Port Gamble.

Even though we were only 50 minutes from home, we really did feel like we were on vacation. It was a much needed getaway! We now have a week and a half left of summer before school starts. We have a busy week ahead, and will be stopping by the school to drop off school supplies this Thursday. It will be nice to be back! :)

Jim's Summer of Baseball

Press Box Suite with the Mariner Moose

Jim has been in baseball heaven this summer. Not only did he get the VIP treatment when he was down in San Diego for a Padres game this past June, but last night, he got lucky again at the Mariners/Yankees game. Through a co-worker's connections, Jim was a guest in the Press Box Suite. He was able to go down the the field for batting practice and sit in the suite during the game. I can't even describe how much Jim loves baseball , so this has been an amazing experience for him.

Giving a press release! :)

A-Rod

JJ and Jim

Adrian Beltre's Bat

Counting Down the Days....

18 days left of summer vacation...can the school year arrive any quicker?!? The weather is getting cooler and I'm ready to get us all back on a regular schedule. That went out the window two months ago when school got out. Late nights, sleeping until 10:00, and eating at crazy hours is not good for the boys and definitely not good for my sanity! They have picked, picked, picked all summer long. I finally had to lay down some rules the other night, take their toy weapons away, and monitor what they are watching on TV (no Power Rangers). Their behavior has improved greatly, and for the past five days, there have been no major meldowns or brawls. It's amazing how physical boys can be!

I am not a summer mom! I don't enjoy the long, warm summer days and trying to find things for the boys to do. Nor do I enjoy outdoor activites! Forget camping, days at the beach (the occasional one is ok), and getting together with other moms for play dates at the park. Luckily, we have a playset in the backyard. My idea of a fun outdoor activity is hanging out friends and family while drinking a cocktail! :)

I probably sound grouchy, but we are all just so bored. I know the boys are looking forward to going back to school. They miss their friends! It's tough when we live in a neighborhood of mostly girls. Except for the occasional play date (no, not at a park), they really don't get to see anyone their age.

Another problem with this summer is that we didn't take a family vacation. We typically go somewhere every summer, but this year, we have decided to take out family vacation in October. We'll be going down to CA, so figured October would be cooler and we'll beat the summer crowds at Disneyland. Also, with Jim working on the pavilion (it's just about done), all our free time has been spent in the backyard.

My parents are on a cruise in Europe right now, so we will be going out to their house this Monday for a few days. That will be a mini vacation for us, and we'll be exploring some of the areas out their way. Initially, we were going to drive up to Forks and La Push (so very Twilight of us), but then I looked at the map and realized that it's about three hours from their house. We might make it up as far as Port Angeles, but really, a trip to La Push would require an overnight stay. One of these days!

Stay tuned for pics of our mini vacation....

Pavilion...it's coming along!

For the past month or so, Jim (and with the help of my brother-in-law, Steve) have been working on our outdoor pavilion. It's not quite finished yet, but here is the progress they have made so far. The structure is built, but the railing, steps, and black metal roofing still have to be put on. Everything should be done by early next week, and then I can decorate it (the green chairs will not be in there) and landscape.

Tyler lost another tooth....

The other night, we went to Palomino in Bellevue for dinner. Meghan was in town for work, so the boys got a chance to see her. Should have taken some pictures with her since they won't see her for a while, unless she comes home next month for Dueling Pianos.

Tyler got a chance to show off his missing teeth. He lost his second front tooth the day before his dentist appointment. I think he was a little worried that the dentist would pull it, so he worked really hard on getting it out. This makes tooth number 5, with one more loose right now.
The boys' dental check up went great. Connor didn't like the taste of the toothpaste they use. I can't blame him, especially how gritty it is. No cavities which is always great news!

Boys at the Mariners Game

Connor loves the Mariner Moose. He's going to have a lot of fun at Disneyland, even though he doesn't know who most of the characters are. I am going to have to show the boys pictures of all the Disney characters before we head down to California. They do watch the Disney channel, but you never see cartoons on there anymore.

Posing with Ichiro...too bad it's not really him!

Kettle Corn...yum!