Family (Almost) Reunion

Last weekend we headed to Mt. Rainier for our family reunion. It was almost complete. Unfortunately my parents didn't get to come, but Scott, Addy and I went to represent our branch on the family tree!

What an ideal spot - right outside Mt. Rainier National Park. The resort was perfect!


Addy got to meet her cousins (second, I think) and had a blast. They were so sweet to her.



Random shots from our great reunion:





The view when you looked up when sitting around the campsite. Heaven!




Addy's picture of us:


Addy kickin' it by the fire:

The siblings, with a shout out to my Dad!

This was one of my favorite moments. Addy convinces her male cousins that Strawberry Shortcake is the only video to watch when I let her turn on the TV. The boys, having been on the road for days without TV were all over it!


And little Derrick got to play dolls with Addy.


Making funnies with her cousin!


The whole group:


The resort owners bring in the deer in the morning and evening by providing breakfast and dinner! It was great, they just ambled through the resort.

And the food! Gotta love a family reunion! I sure do. We got fresh boiled corn on the cob in this handy dandy boiler.

Yolanda's ribs!!

Homemade pies and ice cream . . . HOMEMADE peeps!!


Check out the breakfast spread!


Bouncy balls that Karen and Yolanda got for the kids were a huge hit! Thanks!

Addy made this picture for Uncle Ross.

We rode into Morton for the logging festival. Yup, we knew we were there when we saw this:

And this driving my us on the road:

But check out these hanging baskets - never seen anything so impressive at a private residence before. They were like 5 feet long.
We had a wonderful time making memories with the family! But we missed Mom and Dad too!

Derrick really liked Addy and so he needed to be with us in the photo. The little guy is so cute I could have hidden him in the van and taken him home!!

Thanks everyone for coming out, can't wait until the next time!!

The Answers

You guys are too funny! No one got it just right, but a few came very close. And no Sarah I didn't accidentally slip in a Buffy quote. :) Here are the answers!


1) "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

Duh! My favorite movie of all time - Ghostbusters. Bill Murray . . . love him! It has everything: humor, Bill Murray, saving the world, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man, Bill Murray.

2) "I may play ball next fall, but I will never sign that. Now me and my loser friends are gonna head out to buy Aerosmith tickets. Top priority of the summer."

Dazed and Confused - its my "if I got to live an alternative life, this would be it" movie.

3) "Relax, would you? We have seventy dollars and a pair of girls underpants. We're safe as kittens."

Sixteen Candles . . . because every girl can relate.

4) "Eat the chicken Fred."

Thank goodness I not only found my husband but his parents as well. Thanks Nancy! She introduced me to this most perfect movie - Seems Like Old Times - Chevy Chase . . . love him!

5) "Thanks, Roz.. . . I know just where to stick it."

I can date this movie back many, many years - long before I understood all the jokes. A day at work doesn't go by that I can't pull a quote or scene from 9 to 5 and apply it to my work life.

The Favorites

A few friends have done this post, and it was fun to learn more about their favorite movies. So, here is goes.

Below are quotes from my all-time favorite movies. Try and guess what they are and later in the week I will post the answers and you'll get to learn a little more about me in the process.

The Quotes:

1) "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

2) "I may play ball next fall, but I will never sign that. Now me and my loser friends are gonna head out to buy Aerosmith tickets. Top priority of the summer."

3) "Relax, would you? We have seventy dollars and a pair of girls underpants. We're safe as kittens."

4) "Eat the chicken Fred."

5) "Thanks, Roz.. . . I know just where to stick it."

I can't imagine anyone getting all of these, I have a quirky movie personality. :) Have fun!

More Exploration

This was my favorite shot of the day. Addy was all about leading the line and as she takes off she is pulling up her pants. :)


Love this shot of Lake Cushman. It just says Washington, with the trees, the dark water and the lovely clouds.

And here was Addy on the way home. Our arrival at the house . . .


Nothing like a good hike in the forest to tire you out!

Puppy Love

So many days I take these pups for granted. In so many ways they are a part of our family, and bring me joy when I need it most.

Cinnamon is our hound. She is protective, keeps watch in the house and yard. She can hear and smell things long before the rest of us. She will spend hours at the door of the pantry, scratching to be let in. When I am so annoyed I finally cave and open the door there will be one little half a dog crunchie laying on the floor under some bags in the back. She will do anything for food. She is the aggressive one. She loves to race out the door and run to the fence lines, barking at everyone and everything on the other side. She is a true dachshund - she spends thirty minutes each night burying herself into a little ball under blankets, pillows, clothes - whatever she can find to get under. She came into our home when we already had two other dogs. She doesn't really hang out with people, she likes dogs and cats much more. She loves my Dad - the only person she will seek out. Mostly she'll only snuggle if the blanket on my lap is the only alternative. She is so little compared to her friend Biscuit. She weighs a mere 11 pounds and thinks she's a 100 pound guard dog. She listens only when you are telling her where the food is or how to find a snugly spot. She's the leader of the pack.


Oh my sweet Biscuit. She is all smiles and giggles. She follows us around just to be with us. She is so simple in her needs. A small pet, a kind word and she is happy. Biscuit is the baby and will follow Cinnamon anywhere. She is so gentle with Cinnamon and Addy. She dances when she is happy and excited. Biscuit eats anything - and I don't mean food. She likes to just randomly eat anything she comes across outside. It is fascinating to watch, she'll just pick up a stick here, a pine needle there, a leaf over here. She loves meeting people and can't really contain her excitement. It takes her about 5 minutes to calm down enough to actually allow her freedom with guests. She wants to please and will obey almost every command - until she forgets in her excitement and charges the guest . . . again. She is the follower, she adores Cinnamon. Biscuit is our 55 pound, smiley, line-backer. She is our jolly girl.


Together they help complete our little family.

Joy

The last ten days or so have been a extremely stressful. We've had a serious health scare with a loved one (thank goodness it turned out okay), sickness, work stress . . . you name it we've had it in this household in the last week and a half. Today's unfortunate event involved Addy. She had to go to the doctor and get blood drawn. She was a trooper - but she is definitely not buying the story that going to the doctor is fun any more.

Tonight as I was walking through the house I heard magic to my ears . . .

There is something very cathartic about the ice cream truck! I immediately felt a smile light up my face and a lightness come to my heart. It was wonderful.

Addy got to buy her first ice cream from the ice cream truck. (And what is with the bikini lady? I thought that was for coffee stands.)



Ice cream makes boo-boos all better!!

Open Road

Addy has been working on learning to ride her big girl bike over the last few weeks. Last night we hit the open road and did the mile loop in our neighborhood. Addy did great! She was alternatively giddy and dead serious, concentrating on turns and peddling.

She made it 99% of the way and then got off her bike and walked the remaining 50 yards. She's training for the pet parade and she did awesome on her first training ride!


Here is a little video of her demonstrating the very exciting "loopty-loop ":