Update to Today

So it's a beautiful Sunday and everyone in this house is asleep except me (Amy)! Stayed up way to late last night I'm afraid.

Ok, so let's get you up to speed with the rest of our activities. We were just so, so busy getting projects completed before school was out.

Amber started Driver's Education classes, 3 nights a week until the end of June. Which also meant a not so lovely trip to the DOL. And 2 trips because of Mom. On the first trip I left Amber's class waiver at home. Boy, did I feel like a dork after waiting for 2 hours in line. And then after another 2 hours in line (massive long story about that) she FINALLY got her permit.


Farmer's Day Parade

The Veteran's carrying the flags get to me EVERY time.


Tractors....

Tractors....

And more tractors.... (hey it's Lynden! What do you expect?)

Yay! Band!!!


Amber is a banner carrier since you just don't march playing a bassoon.


Traditional Edaleen Dairy!! Yummiest ice cream!


A Beautiful Sunday afternoon

Playing kick ball in the backyard


And blowing bubbles


And tackling your sister


And conspiracies against Dad


Ending with taking David down :D

The Last Day of School. The kids are a little more than happy!

Running FROM school to the car


Happiness


A "school's out" treat at Starbucks.

And just having some fun because I'm "evil" that way. Just ask my kids ;D

Portland

So we all (including Robert, Jessica & Lizzie) left too early on Thursday morning to get Amber down to Pacific University for her Music in May Honor band.

Uncle Dayday sitting with Lizzie eating some breakfast

Robert, Jessica & Lizzie decided to take the Portland way toward home too.

My view ~ it just made me snicker seeing Robert's feet up on the dashboard.

They stopped with us to drop Amber off at the school, went out to lunch at Chevy's and then to take a walk around the Portland temple.


Love watching Lizzie grow up! Such a big girl drinking out of a straw.

At the Portland temple

Just look at this handsome boy!


Lizzie didn't just want to hold David's hand, she HAD to have Papa's too.


David spoiling Lizzie with love


And Lizzie wants to show David this:


The beautiful side doors. Lizzie looks so little next to the huge doors.


Showing us something


Our little flower sniffer

Saying our goodbye's:






And off they went to Boise to visit Jessica's brother and family before they headed back home to Utah.

Off we went to check in to our hotel where David was spoiled by being able to sleep in his own king-sized bed for the weekend. Where we had fun doing nothing, swimming, scrapbooking, playing tourist and watching movies.

One of the BEST places in Portland to get chocolate:

Cacao Drinking Chocolate


Such a classy display.


The BEST hot chocolate ~ EVER!!!!

Then before we knew it, it was time to drive back out to the University for Amber's concert.






Amber with her director. Oops, I didn't notice his eyes were closed.

Then the LONG drive home and we arrived home around 1 am.

Our Visitors!!!

So we come home from California on Monday afternoon and on Wednesday, early evening these people show up. The kids knew they were coming but on Thursday. Robert likes to give them heart failure I think.


Amber was getting ready in the bathroom when Robert & Jessica showed up


David patiently waiting for his turn to hug Robert but having to take a peek at this little cutie bug


Lizzie in her "Off to Grandma's" shirt and processing all the activity


Sitting on her Papa's lap during David's rank advancement.


Being a big girl and watching the awards

Our week was filled with

Piano playing


Reorganizing Nana's drawers


Coloring


Seeing Robert back in the kitchen


Watching Lizzie get a bath


Smiling


Snuggling and taking naps


Lizzie feeding her Daddy


Taking a Sunday walk on the trail


Seeing a cute family enjoying the sunshine


Loving see my boys together!


ALL my boys!!


And getting used to looking at these eyes all week long!!

Our Last Day in California :(

I forgot to mention. Did you notice that Rob and I are wearing large buttons in a few of our pictures? Well, on the first day, we told them we were celebrating our 24th wedding annversary. Which we really were back in April and we didn't get each other anything because of the Disneyland trip. So we got to wear "Happy Anniversary" and "Happily Ever After" buttons all day. Since Disneyland is all about Celebrating! this year, they give these buttons away. All day long you have cast members wishing you a Happy Annivesary. Even some of the guests do to. It's just fun!!

So our last full day in So. California before we head home. We checked out of the hotel, dropped Seth off at home and headed out to our old Church in Rancho Santa Margarita. It was SO fun to see our frends again. We even drove by all our old houses.

We went to check-in our new hotel. The Doubletree! I think this is our kids favorite hotel because you get one of these!


The view from our room

Oh, I'd say someone is functioning on way too little sleep.

SO ready to crash and snooze right here!

And we even got a wonderful, so sorry to see you go gift from California Mother Nature in the form of a 4.8 earthquake. Woohoo!!! What a ride from our 6th floor hotel room. Rob & I can honestly say we've never been in an earthquake on the 6th floor. Not only do you feel the rolling of the ground from the earthquake but also the swaying of the building. Some fun!!

Monday morning started pretty early as we woke up at 4 to get to the airport by 5ish. SO glad we were less than 2 miles from the airport. All flights were on time and all the luggage arrived in Bellngham. Glad to be home but the sad thing? It was warmer in California at 5 in the morning then it was in Bellingham at 1:00 pm. Welcome back to Washington!!!