seedlings

what I came home to

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I've finally downloaded my vacay pictures and  I hope to get together a photo album sooner, rather than later.  Things have been crazy since getting back.  I returned to a completely demoed kitchen and a sewer problem (which I will spare you the disgusting details).  The rest of the trip was great.  We had fun swimming, boating, sunning, and hanging with family at the lake house.  Cade LOVED it and only wanted to swim "nekky, self" (i.e. naked and by himself).  Total weirdo.

Here are a couple of photos of the kitchen:

happy birthday baby :)

Or should I say, little boy.  You're a big two year old now!

toronto

Jared and I took a 28 hour trip to Toronto last weekend.  A friend of ours was getting married up there (who now lives in Paris so this was an easy way to see him), we were conveniently on the east coast with babysitters more than willing to watch Cade, and I neither of us had never been to Toronto...so we hopped an hour flight and stayed for a day with our friendly neighbors to the north.  I have to say, Toronto was great.  Someone once referred to it as "New York without the soul."  I say it's like NY (if having buildings makes one city like another), with clean streets (with built-in recycling & rubbish bins on every street corner), friendly people, good shopping, excellent street hot dogs, and gorgeous summer weather (i.e. no humidity).  The wedding we attended was on the 54th floor of a downtown building overlooking the water.  We watched a rain shower wash in, followed by a double rainbow just before the bride walked down the aisle.  If rain brings fertility, then I'm curious as to what a double rainbow adds...guess we'll see in nine months :)

philadelphia

It was hot.  But we spent one day by the pool and an evening eating ice cream so we were more than ok.  We were able to see our old friend, Ginny, new to Philadelphia (via San Diego) and our old Seattle neighbors, Andrew, Olivia & Madi.  We hung out in the cute "Chestnut Hill" area, shopped, ate, and wandered around imagining life if we lived in Philadelphia.  On Wednesday night we stumbled upon a park that offered free music all summer long.  Imagine dusk, fireflies, strung up white bulbs, and a bluegrass band.  At one point as I watched Cade and Madi run through the woods catching fireflies, I caught Cade moving in and hugging, then trying to kiss Madi.  It was too cute for words.

nyc

We all had a great time hanging out with Aunt Amy, Uncle Adam and Cousin Marlowe.  Marlowe is super cute, and REALLY good.  I can't wait to get home and upload some pics of that little munchkin.  Cade was really interested in her, wanting to see her and worrying about her when she was crying (which happened like, twice).  What he wasn't interested in was me holding her.  Nope, not allowed.  Anytime I tried to hold her I got the, "mommy, mommy, mommy" while trying to climb into my lap.  We've got a couple of things to work on before thinking about another...

We were able to check out the sights of the city, mainly through eating.  Every outing involved another food and I was happy to indulge at every stop.   Most notable was our Coney Island outing that included corn dogs, whole mangoes on sticks (with salt and hot-sauce?), a "strawberry daiquiri" made with rum from a plastic 5 gallon bucket, and soft-serve ice cream cones.  Again, look forward to those pics!

We checked out the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, I was totally amazed!  No need to mention the fact that Cade was in absolute heaven.  It's a must see...and it's free on Tuesdays.  If we lived in this city we'd be there everyday.  It's such an oasis in the middle of the city.

Today on to Philly.  More updates to come :)

east coast

We've begun the east coast tour.  We're currently in Brooklyn (arrived on Saturday) and are having a ball with Adam, Amy & Marlowe.  We spent the day at Coney Island eating corn dogs...but more on that later.

Here's the schedule:

Wednesday: Philadelphia

Thursday: DC

Saturday/Sunday: Toronto, Canada

Sunday: back to DC

Wednesday: Smith Mt. Lake, VA

All of this in two weeks.  Are we nuts?  I'll be updating but most likely won't be able to download any pics.  Check out Amy and Adam's site for the NYC pics :)

spokane

Last week Cade and I drove a total of 10 hours to Spokavegas and back for a quick two day trip.  The main goal of the trip was to drop off little Furio at his grandma's house, but we made a mini trip of it visiting family.  Cade was a great traveler.  Only screamed 1.5 of the 10 hours (an amazing ratio in our household).  He had a ball with his Uncle Stow (and new bird lemondrop) and ate an enormous pancake.

 

goodbye dear, old friend

Ok, we were never dear friends.  In fact I hated you since the day we met.  Nor are we even old friends.  We've only known you since October.  Regardless, tonight is the last night I'll ever see you.  Farewell kitchen.

new garden post

Haven't had one of these in a while.  Check out my nasturtiums, they are climbing the fence!  Also included are some hydrangeas picked from the back yard.  Along with Cacti, hydrangeas are Cade's new favorites.  He loves to point them out, "mommy, drangea, blue."

slides are fun, and apparently scary