The South Invades! :)

This last week has been a "Week 'O Family." --- and we've loved it. We know we are a sort of "satellite" siblings up here in the Pacific Northwest. Most of our family is in California ... spreading through to Texas, Idaho ... and lone rangers in Illinois! (shout out to the Wheatonites!) ;) Because of this, we know how hard it is to get up here -- and love visitors (hence the dedicated Guest bedroom -- sorry, you still have to share a bathroom, though.).

My sister, Joanna, was up in Seattle for business. Jeremy was working up there during the day, so the kids and I met up with the two of them for dinner. We had a great time catching up - it's always fun to see "Tia" (as our kids call Joanna).

After that, Mom and Dad - Grandma and Granddad - Dave and Judy (or whatever fit for you), swung through after a vacation up on Orcas Island. For many, many years, their favorite unwinding/vacation spot has included renting a cabin up in the San Juan Islands (Orcas Island being their fav.). Now, we live up here, and get to spend a short time with them as they are either travelling up or heading home. We got to see them this time as they were coming off a hugely relaxing week up at the cabin. It was so much fun. They were only here for two nights, but they got to share in all our daily routines... walking to school, making lunches, "Chiller Dillers" at bedtime, and the ups and downs (literally) of Josie.

This coming weekend will be a quiet one. But I get to take a glassblowing class! I'm really excited. Tacoma is known for the glass blowing here... Chihuly, Museum of Glass, etc. It's something I've always wanted to do -- but, as you can imagine, it's not the sort of thing that you can do in a normal kitchen or basement. It takes really special equipment, etc. I'll blog all about it later -- and maybe even have some fun pictures!

Otherwise the kids are great. Ellie started soccer... a new experience for for sure (since I was NOT a sporty person). She also has her bottom two front teeth dangling out of her mouth - ready to drop. And that's what it's gonna take since she refuses to pull it out. Meanwhile the big teeth are right there! Gideon is really coming into his own -- quite a character that little dude! And Josie is getting SO big!!! She still spits up all (and I mean - ALL) the time. But it doesn't bother her at all. She's so easy ... just sits contently and watches the action around her.

Jeremy has been rolling with the waves of the financial nightmares ... and it has been interesting. (But the Lord is faithful!) So that's us in a nutshell. I'm sure I'll be blogging more as the rains come on -- but for now I'm soaking up even the foggy/cloudy (but rainless!) days!

PS... HUGE "Thank You!!" to Debi HAyes for the double jogger!! That stroller is used everyday - a couple times a day! ... and it rocks!