Happy Anniversary to Us!

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to get away and celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. We trekked up to Birch Bay, Washington to enjoy some time on the beach and generally relax for two nights. Mom stayed at home with our son, and had a great time, and we took our first weekend away. It was with mixed emotions that we drove away from the house and our son. On the one hand, we'd really miss our son's laughter and his never ending curiosity. On the other hand, we really needed a full night or two of uninterrupted sleep.

The weather was fantastic, we got to dip our toes in the water, walk along the beach hand in hand, and sleep through the night. As an added bonus, we attempted to fly a kite while the the tide was out. (Strong emphasis on "attempted," as it must have been pretty amusing to everyone who watched us try to fly a kite...)

I am so grateful for the time that I got to spend with my husband on a weekend away. Mom had a great time with our son, and we got to reconnect and relax in the sunshine of Birch Bay.

Happy anniversary, babe! I can't wait to see what adventures and fun the next year brings. I love you!

New Orleans Adventures

Work called me to New Orleans, LA recently, and since it's not often (read: ever) that I get to fly to Louisiana, Lennie and I jumped at the opportunity to take a long weekend and explore a new area. Although it was a long journey to get there (thanks to a 5 hour delay in Denver), I arrived to sticky, humid weather in New Orleans at 3:30 Friday morning. Tired and ready to be done with my 24 hour day (which was not enhanced by my harrowing cab ride!), I checked into the Hotel Intercontinental in downtown New Orleans. Once again, I got a great deal on a very nice hotel room from Hotwire.com. Even though the bed was super comfortable, sleep came slowly and I finally drifted off around 5 in the morning. Lennie was traveling on mileage, and arrived around 10 on Friday morning.

After sleeping off our jet lag, we strolled down to the waterfront for our first true taste of New Orleans. We enjoyed our first deep fried meal of the long weekend, complete with a delectable shrimp po' boy and the largest salad that I have seen in quite some time. After exploring a little more, we decided to enjoy the rooftop pool at the hotel. (It turns out that Seattleites like ourselves don't really do well with the heat and humidity!)

On Friday night, we decided to walk the few blocks over to Bourbon Street for dinner and some jazz. Thank goodness that we stopped and talked with the concierge before we went over there -- he gave us some sage advice as well as forewarned us that this was not an experience for everyone. Boy, was he right! After enjoying another great meal on the edges of Bourbon Street, we toured the Friday night scene in the heart of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. I suspect that anyone who walked past us could quickly see the wonder in our eyes, for the few blocks that we walked were completely In-describable; it was definitely not in our comfort zone. Fortunately, our concierge pal told us to check out Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Not only did we get a front row seat for some great jazz, it was the laid back atmosphere that we were looking for!

Saturday was a super tourist day for us; we took a 3+ hour city tour, where we we got to see the French Quarter, the 9th Ward, the Garden District, and more. I always like taking a city tour because it gives a great overview of the city -- helping you hit the highlights and identify areas where you'd like to explore even more. Part of the city tour took us through the 9th Ward, which was one of the areas hit hardest by hurricane Katrina. It's hard to believe that that was almost ten years ago now... the devastation left behind by the storm is still very evident, and it broke my heart to see neighborhoods torn apart. Living so far away from New Orleans, it's easy to forget the impact of Hurricane Katrina; however, it is clear to me that we all need to remember that they are still living in the aftermath of the horrific storm, and we should lend a helping hand whenever we can.

Above ground graves at a city cemetery.

Beignets at Cafe du Monde. (Warning: a very messy food!)

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to take a swamp tour. I never would have thought that I'd say that a swamp was beautiful, but this was definitely a highlight of our trip. The greenery was breathtaking, and getting out of the city was exactly what we needed. Lennie and I definitely enjoyed every minute of this tour, and I would highly recommend that you go on one if you ever get the opportunity to do so!

Sitting in the swamp... the green at the bottom of the picture is actually  small plants in the water.

Baiting the alligators to get them closer to the boat. (Yikes!)

Monday brought the reality that Lennie was leaving the fair city of New Orleans, and I had to prepare to work at the trade show. We had a relaxing morning and got to enjoy lunch together before Lennie boarded the bus to the airport and I began setting up for the show.

I'm very grateful that we got to spend the weekend together in New Orleans, and I definitely think that it's a city that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime; it's quite the experience! Check out some of our photos from the weekend here.

Memorial Day Memories

This year, for Memorial Day, we had the good fortune to spend time in downtown Portland, OR with some great friends. After scoring a good deal on a hotel room at the Westin Portland, plans were set in motion to drive down to Oregon and explore for the weekend. Lennie and I took a leisurely Saturday drive, enjoying the I-5 scenery and a relatively sunny day. It felt very freeing to get out of town, even if it was only a few hours down the road.

Once we got to the hotel, we parked the car and didn't get back in until we made our way home two days later. It was great to walk around the city to see the sights! A few of the highlights include:

• World's Smallest Park (Mill Ends Park)
• Forest Park (one of the country's largest urban parks)
• The Pearl District
• Visiting the Rose Festival City Fair

Here's some of my favorite photos from the weekend:

World's Smallest Park -- Lennie's shoe is almost the whole length! :-)

Vietnam Memorial in Forest Park

Me being silly with the statue in Pioneer Square, Portland OR

We thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Portland with our friends, and look forward to visiting the city again soon!

Sunny Summer Days

We've been doing our best to keep ourselves busy this summer. A few weeks back, we took in a concert in the park, courtesy of the Duvall Cultural Commission. (Who knew that our little burg had a culture commission!) It was quite fun to enjoy a picnic dinner while listening to Celtic music by the river. We'll definitely put this activity on the "to do" list again. Later that week, we also had the opportunity to enjoy a movie in the park with Crystal and Jonathan. Outdoor movies are one of our favorite summertime activities... not only is the price right, but it's a great way to spend a cool summer night.

This past week, I took a business trip to Phoenix, AZ. Of course, I was down there during the hottest time of year, with highs hovering around 110 degrees. I was blown away by the Phoenix natives... as I was sweating away in my shorts or breezy summer dresses, the locals were walking around in jeans and long sleeved t-shirts. In my book, if it's over 70 degrees, long sleeve t-shirts should stay in the closet! :-) Nonetheless, it was fun to zip around Phoenix and to meet my new work team. Can't wait to get back later this year (maybe then I'll appreciate the sun and heat!).

I returned home to a weekend filled with Seattle rain. However, I can't say that I'm very upset by the rain... it's a nice change of pace, really. (And I don't have to pay to water my lawn this weekend -- bonus!) Yesterday, I got to have lunch and get pedicures with two of my favorite women. Today, we get to celebrate the marriage of Dwight and Melissa. It's always fun to spend time with good friends!

Congratulations Melissa & Dwight!

This past weekend, we had the privilege of attending Dwight & Melissa's wedding in Las Vegas. It was quite the trip, and we enjoyed seeing the sights and sharing time with friends. Here are some photo highlights:

Lennie, Susahn, Travis and I got to take in the Cirque du Soleil show "Ka" as well as the lights and sights at the Freemont Street Experience.

We also got to try some deep fried Oreos -- yum!

Saturday was filled with wedding activities:

Getting ready...

Taking in the sunset at Maggiano's Little Italy.

Thank you Melissa & Dwight, for letting us share in your special day!

Summer Vacation

I'm sitting here in denial that our week-long vacation is coming to an end. Lennie and I had the good fortune to spend 7 days in a small cottage in the town of Birch Bay, Washington. Birch Bay is less than 10 minutes from the US / Canadian border, and is a sleepy beach community. Our cottage was cozy (read: tiny), but priced right for a week of rest and relaxation. Every night, we were treated to beautiful sunsets, and every day the sun shone down upon us. When the tide went out in the bay, we were able to walk the beach and explore small tide pools (not to mention take lots of photos!). It was wonderful... no, amazing.

I hadn't taken more than a full day off since the beginning of the year, so a week away from work was heavenly. To be able to slow down and have no agenda or plans was quite the treat. I finished three books -- the second and third books in the Twilight series and the Julie & Julia book -- and started a fourth book while on vacation. What fun to sit in the sun, overlooking the bay, and take in a good book! I also got to work on a knitting project that I hadn't visited in over three years, which was challenging but fun.

My parents came up for two nights, and happened into a great location less than a block from our humble cottage. It was a great place for them to stay, and thoroughly convenient for all of us. On Wednesday, we drove up to British Columbia, where we walked Crescent Beach in Surrey, and enjoyed a rooftop lunch in White Rock. Good times.

While the bed left something to be desired (and knots in our backs), the cottage and the vacation was just what Lennie and I needed to recharge.

Weekend Wanderings

We've been quite busy lately, so I haven't had the chance to post updates about our weekend wanderings. Here's an overview or recap of sorts:

July 4th Weekend
Both Lennie and I had Friday off, and we had a lazy day at home before visiting with my parents. On Saturday, we went with my parents to a friend's house to enjoy some great food, laughter, and fireworks from afar. On Sunday, Lennie and I ventured in to Seattle Center, where we visited the Jim Henson exhibit at the EMP. It was a fun exhibit, although smaller than I expected. I learned a lot about Jim Henson, and enjoyed a glimpse into his creative process. Here's a few photos from around Seattle Center:


Salish Lodge
The following weekend, Lennie and I were fortunate enough to stay the night at Salish Lodge overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. We celebrated our second anniversary during this getaway, and had a wonderful time. The room was very comfortable and the atmosphere was very relaxing. After massages at the spa, we had dinner in the "casual" restaurant overlooking the Falls. We were fortunate enough to get a window table during sunset. Here's some photos of the sunset and our time at the Salish Lodge.

On the way home, we went wherever the road led us, which was kind of a fun adventure. We ended up at a truck stop outside of North Bend for lunch. It was at this truck stop that we learned that the "fancy restaurants" put silverware on the tables with the napkins before patrons arrive. Who knew. It was fun to take in the people at the restaurant, and we left with full bellies and smiles on our faces.

Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA
Last weekend, we joined our good friends on a camping trip in Port Angeles, WA. It was wonderful to unplug from the world and unwind amongst nature. The only incident of the camping trip was when I nearly lost Lennie while waiting in line for the ferry. Lesson learned: even though the sign says that there's a two hour wait for the ferry, that does not mean that your car won't be rolling down the road for the next 1+ miles before the ferry dock... oh, and the sidewalk does end somewhere in there... and if you're going to get out of the car, you should take your cell phone with you so that your wife can locate you later instead of calling the seat next to her... Yikes. There's more to the story, but in the end, Lennie and I were reunited and we lived to laugh about it, eventually.

On Saturday, we went to the Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA. I've wanted to go to the festival for a few years now, and am glad that we made it out this year. The street fair was packed with vendors selling every lavender product imaginable (and even some that you wouldn't think of!). There was a stage with bands playing that kept the energy up, and the food smelled wonderful. After taking in the street fair, we boarded one of the buses to the lavender fields. It was amazing to see all of the lavender in bloom! I could have taken it all in for days, I think... it was a long day, full of viewing farms and sunshine, and I came back to camp with a wonderful sunburn. Here are some of my favorite photos from the Lavender Festival:



On Sunday, we struck camp and headed out to the Dungeness Spit just outside of Sequim. The beach was beautiful, and the water looked more like it was somewhere tropical rather than in Washington state. I have a few favorite photos from this side trip as well:


After enjoying the Dungeness Spit, we started the trek back home. Our drive took us back over the Hood Canal Bridge and into Kingston to catch the ferry. As we were making our way back, we were stopped unexpectedly on the bridge to let some shipping traffic through. So, we got to stand in the middle of the bridge taking photos of the traffic. Here ar e a few favorite photos from the trip home:

(Yes, that's a submarine... cool, huh?)



Phew! That's a lot to take in! :-) No wonder I'm a little tired right now... Nonetheless, we're having an unprescedented summer here in Seattle, and we're enjoying every minute of it. I hope that this message finds all of you well, and soaking in some summer sunshine as well.

Holiday Happenings

For the long Thanksgiving weekend, Lennie and I were fortunate enough to join some friends at a cabin in the mountains for some much needed rest, relaxation, and fun. We completely disconnected from the world -- after logging off of the computer at work on Wednesday afternoon, I stayed away from computers for over five days. Our cell service was spotty, so we were really cut off from the world. I loved it, as it's not often that I'm not a slave to my cell phone or the computer.

We joined our friends and their family on Wednesday evening after a pleasant drive over Snoqualmie Pass. The night was punctuated by the kids making pies in the kitchen while the rest of us lounged and chatted. Thursday brought a bevy of people (over 20 people joined us throughout the day), cooking, and walking by the lake. It was wonderful and overwhelming all at the same time. The family welcomed us in with open arms, and it was fun to learn more about one another.

I attempted to teach the girls how to knit, which they seemed to enjoy. Hopefully they're on their way to successful knit scarves -- we'll see!

Friday brought drizzle and clouds, so we made our way in to Suncadia Lodge to try to take the kids ice skating. Unfortunately, we got to the rink too late, so we explored town for a little bit, and we ran into an old friend at a local coffee shop. I had the opportunity to catch up with her after not seeing her for over a year. What a fun surprise!

On Saturday, Lennie was fortunate enough to go out quading with our friends. He came back a little sweaty, but with a huge smile on his face. I suspect that it was the highlight of his weekend, but haven't confirmed it. After a great pasta dinner, we packed up the cars and went back to Suncadia for a night of ice skating. The trees were adorned with festive lights and Christmas music hummed in the background. It was warm out, even when we weren't standing by the fire, which made for a great evening out.

We packed up and traveled home on today, stopping at the outlet mall on the way home to score a few new items.

For me, the best part of every Thanksgiving weekend is putting up the decorations. So, despite our miserable colds and fatigue, we put up the tree. It's twinkling in the corner as I type this, and I can't help but smile as I look around the house at the different decorations. We've got snowmen by the front door, stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and I'm ready to greet the holiday season.

So there you are, you're now up with the holiday happenings around our home. I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend too, and that this message finds all of you healthy and happy.

Vashon Island for the Weekend

Had beautiful weather on Vashon Island, WA this weekend, and thought that I would share some favorite photos. :-) So, here goes:
Me holding up Mt. Rainier.


Our cottage, "The Lady Bug," at the Swallow's Nest Cottages on Vashon Island.

Congratulations to Crystal and Jonathan -- and best wishes in the years to come!





On Sunday, we had the pleasure of enjoying the afternoon on the shores of Lake Washington with some dear friends. Here is my favorite photo from that excursion:

Labor Day Weekend 2008: Favorite Photos

Just uploaded photos from our Labor Day weekend getaway with friends. Thought that I would share a few favorites:









More photos can be viewed on Flickr.

Labor Day Weekend & Disappointed Dawg Fans

For Labor Day Weekend, we had the opportunity to hang out with some great friends at their cabin on Lake Kachess in Eastern Washington. We had a fabulous time relaxing and trading laughs. We also had the opportunity to go out quading -- what a rush! As we rode amongst the trees and traveled up the mountain, we got to take in great views while the wind whipped past our helmets. After a while, we stopped near a clearing where our friend demonstrated some of his firearm skills. I'm not one for guns, so this wasn't an activity that I participated in, but everyone seemed to enjoy some attempts at target practice.

Saturday night brought some yummy chili (which was a welcome dinner choice after being out on the trails all day) and a very disappointing UW football game against University of Oregon. True to form, the Huskies had a great second quarter and a crappy rest of the game. I think that I may agree with Mr. Brewer of the Seattle Times, who says that Ty's days may be numbered at the U. That makes me really sad on the one hand, but on the other hand, we can't go through many more "rebuilding eras" like we have been for the last few years. Fasten your seatbelts, Dawg fans, it's going to be a long year. Despite the loss, I still enjoyed time watching the game with friends -- even though a few of them fell asleep due to lack of excitment during the game.

Sunday brought sunshine and a trip to Roslyn, WA for lunch. It's kind of refreshing to go to a town that is so quaint... and that has very few stoplights. :-) Too fun. We went on a night quading ride -- although I don't think that we intended to be out that late, it was fun to ride through all of the mud puddles in the darkness. At one point, I slowed down so that I could be sure to hit every mud puddle at optimum speed -- fast! It's not often that adults get to play in the mud, so I did my best to make the most of it. Good times!

On another note -- we just harvested our first tomatoes. (It's been a weird growing season this year, not sure what to do with it...) The tomatoes were between baseball and softball sized... amazing!

Hanging in Hood Canal

This past weekend, Lennie and I had the pleasure of taking a weekend "first anniversary getaway" in Brinnon, WA, on the shores of Hood Canal. We fell in love with the area immediately, and found ourselves losing track of time as we took in the canopy of green trees, clear water, and blue skies. We couldn't have asked for a better getaway, really. Our home away from home for the weekend was a quaint A-frame cabin that overlooked Hood Canal. There was a fully-stocked kitchen (actually, BEYOND fully stocked!), living room, bedroom, sleeping loft, bathroom, and super-spacious deck where we enjoyed all of our meals. Check out the cabin on VRBO.com... I highly recommend it, and can't wait to go back!


From hanging out in the hammock to lounging on the beach, we simply relaxed and enjoyed time together. The water was perfect for sea kayaking (which we truly loved), and we saw all kinds of wildlife, including sea otters, eagles, jellyfish, jumping fish, and oysters on the beach. If you haven't been to Brinnon, you need to go at least once in your life. Not much in the way of shopping, but it's rich in nature and relaxation.




Enjoy more photos from our weekend getaway.

Loungin' in Leavenworth

Last weekend, Lennie and I had the opportunity to get some great rest and relaxation time in Leavenworth, Washington. It was exactly what the doctor ordered! We trekked over to this Bavarian village to celebrate the wedding of our friends, Glover and Josie. The weather was a temperate 95 degrees, the skies were blue, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. On Friday night, we arrived around 6:30, checked into our hotel after getting a little lost (in a town with three stoplights, go figure!), and then we went to King Ludwig's restaurant for the "welcome dinner." After a nice stroll through town after dinner (and some Cold Stone ice cream, yum!), we retired poolside at our hotel.

Seems that Lennie's brand-new swim trunks should have gotten a little more scrutiny from us before we purchased them... the had no drawstring and were a little (or a lot) too big. He made it work on Friday night, but not without some "close calls." Needless to say, we purchased him a new pair of swim trunks on Saturday in town! It was kind of funny, now that we reflect back on it. :-)

Saturday brought a lazy schedule -- breakfast at the hotel, lounging by the pool, lunch in town, and strolling through town again. Around 3 or so, we left the hamlet of Leavenworth for the small town of Plain, WA for the wedding (at Mountain Springs Lodge). Plain brings back fond memories of one or two trips to a friend's cabin with some great friends, so it was nice to be back in this small town. The wedding on Saturday afternoon was hot but wonderful, and we had a great time dancing the night away.

On Sunday, we had another lazy morning, with breakfast and then one last walk through the Bavarian village before we got on the road.

There's something really wonderful about going for a long drive on roads that are marked at 70 MPH. I enjoyed driving home, admiring the beautiful area that we live in; lush green hillsides (still kissed on the top with snow), placid lakes, and the breeze swaying the trees. [Sigh.] We live in the best state ever!

Oh, here are some photos of our weekend -- enjoy!

Home Again, Home Again (Jiggety Jig Jig)

We arrived home early this morning, and have spent the day unpacking and generally being lazy. The sun is shining brightly outside, and I'm enjoying being back in my own environment.

Our Alaska trip was fabulous -- we got to see moose in their natural habitat, spend some time on Big Lake (which was still frozen over!), and enjoy time with family. I've uploaded some photos (okay, 127 photos) for the world to enjoy. Feel free to check them out when you get a chance.