WITHOUT JACOB

In October, Rachel called asking if I wanted to go to Seattle to visit Rachelle, but we had to fly before mid-November to take advantage of the free companion ticket. Although it was a little hectic, we had an amazing time together. We had a great time visiting an old co-worker and great friend and seeing the sights of WA & OR. You know you have a true friend when you can pick up exactly where you left off a year ago. Rachel & I had a wonderful week together, and there were no Jacobs to interfere. :) L

DAY 1

Here are my favorite children! I spend the day with them in VA, and before I left they played me a song using their many musical talents.

DAY 2

Here is Rachel toward the end of our flight from VA to WA. Within seconds of this picture we were reprimanded over the intercalm for using a camera... I believe her exact words were "I don't want to see any more flashy, flashy!" Nevermind that we had already landed.

DAY 3

Here is Rachel in Pike's Market in Seattle... yes the fish is real, and yes, it smelled awful.

Here are Mike & Ben at Red Robin in downtown Seattle. A picture really is worth a thousand words.

We spent our first full day in Seattle, it was drippy and wet (hence the frizz hair)... but it was great to really experience Seattle in all of its glory. :) 

DAY 4

We spend Sunday in Olympia. This was at Gig Harbor at the bottom of the Peugeot Sound. (Sorry if I mutilated the spelling!)

Holding Hands 

DAY 5

Here is the amazing Rachel, from the top of the Lewis & Clark tower in Atoria, OR overlooking the Columbia River.

Ben was relishing freedom from his carseat. He was an amazingly good traveler. 

Cannon Beach, the largest free-standing rocks. This was one of our stops along the Oregon coast. 

DAY 6

According ot Rachelle (and she is almost always right) this i the longest waterfall in the US.

Multnomah Falls 

This is Portland with Mt. Hood in the background.  

This was the last few moments of our trip, we left this beautiful rose garden overlooking portland and headed for the airport.  

Stranded in Boise

On Day 1068...

Well, after an great week in Utah and then 4 wonderful days with Heather in Idaho, I am stranded in the Boise Airport... my plane is only delayed by two hours, so it isn't a huge deal. And there is wireless internet, so almost all is right with the world. :) Now I have time to catch up on all of my blogging and posting pictures from my recent trips!

L

Fun Can Be Free!

Well, I must admit that we are a little weird as a family... although I like it that way. This is what happens when you put all of us in a room when we are really tired. This is my little brother Nate... complete with mullet and handlebar mustache. L

Nothing Like the Rockies

There is nothing in the world like the Rocky Mountains. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful, but they are not majestic or awe inspiring like the Rockies. Flying in to Salt Lake City last week reminded me of how much I missed the big mountains. There is something about them that makes me feel so safe, secure and protected. I will just have to enjoy them for the week I am here, before I return to my beautiful mountains. :) L

My Week in a Picture

This is the story of our week... one sick and and one hyper. :) L

Future Home

Our wooded lot. Use your imagination and visualize a house.

Round and Round We Go

On Day 1053...

Well, as I reported a few months ago, we have been searching for a house. We have had many debates on whether or not to buy a house that is "ready to go", something that needs some help, or just to buy a piece of land and build on it. We have spent many many hours looking at, researching and praying about many different pieces, and have gone around and around on the pros and cons of each option.

After months of looking at houses we are back to where we started, the first subdivision we looked in, and the first house plan. We are finally moving ahead with a piece of property in one of our own developments. It is definitely not our favorite option, it is not on the side of town that we would like, and we would rather not build in one of our own developments, especially when A drives a large advertisement... you are just asking for trouble! However, there are very few pieces of property that are in our price range, and when you take away those not on the side of a cliff you are left with nothing. So, a 1/2 acre piece of property that is within our price range, on a beautiful wooded lot, in a subdivision where no double-wides are allowed, that only has a gentle slope is a huge step in the right direction. We will also be able to take advantage of better material prices since we are in the subdivision.

So, after much thought and prayer we have decided on Lot 11 in Rock Springs at Dryman Mountain. We finally have something to show for our efforts... a lot, a house plan and a soon to be septic permit (exciting I know). God had been faithful, and we have been extremely blessed, and we know this is where God has us at this point in our lives.

L

Dry Run - Part II

On Day 1053...

Another Lesson Learned:

7. Chicken poxs make a child tired, and they show up faster after a hot shower.

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

KEEP ASHEVILLE WEIRD

Dry Run

On Day 1052...

Well, life has been incredibly hectic the last few weeks. I just returned from a trip to the Northwest (more on this, once I upload all of my pictures). This week A & I are doing a dry run on parenting, before leaving for Utah in a few days. My mother & father-in-law are 8 hours away celebrating her 50th birthday, meanwhile we are back in Asheville attempting to maintain order, and perhaps even accomplish a few things with A's two little brothers in tow.

Here are a few lessons learned so far:
1. We will teach our children to clean up after themselves.
2. Take sunblock to the 7 hour soccer tournament.
3. Attitude matters.
4. There is a reason God gives you babies, and not 9 & 11 year olds.
5. Nothing ever goes as planned.
6. Don't let children watch scary things, otherwise they will crawl in bed with you later.

So, back to my completely chaotic week!

L

The Man of the Day

Well, it isn't the best picture ever... but sadly, it was the only one I have digitally! It was taken this past summer on my grandfather's farm. Aaron, or Buzz as he is better known, (well, to be perfectly honest, most don't know his real name) is turning 12 today... one more year and the baby of the family will be a teenager. Yikes... I feel old! Happy Birthday Buzz!

Bumpersticker of the Day

Better to build school rooms for the boys than prisons and gallows for the men.

Micah the Military Man

Growing up, Micah was always a little strange, but we always thought he would grow out of it. :) Well, the little boy who used to gag at the site of blood, wash his plate between servings, and play cowboys & indians from day until night is now an "Army of One" (don't ask me what that means, I thought an army was a group of men). Last week my little brother joined the National Guard and after basic training as a combat engineer will join ROTC, then after finishing his pre-med degree will go active duty, probably as a medic. ...maybe locking him outside in a snow storm in bare feet and making him run around the house growing up had more of an impact than I thought! L

Bumpersticker of the Day

Kindness over Killing

Life Before Death

CHOOSE VEGETARIAN

A Child's Perspective

On Day 1040...

Last night we were at A's parent's house for dinner. Both of his little brothers came down with the chicken poxs yesterday, and spend the day curled up on the couch. As we were all sitting around talking before dinner we heard Peter (the 9-year-old) say,in an ever-so-winy voice,...

"Ohhhh, I thought this was going to be fun!"... as he miserably dragged himself, his blanket, pillow and stuffed animal to the table for dinner.

L

Bumpersticker of the Day

Friends don't chain friends.

Bring dogs inside.