Parents' Visit to WA!

I should preface this . . . I completely forgot about this post. I started it after Mom and Dad left but had to stop part way and then completely forgot about it until very recently.  Oops!!

The parents finally got to come out and see not only Yakima but we also took a day trip to Leavenworth for their Christmas Celebration and Seattle sightseeing. I don't know who was more excited for Mom and Dad to come visit, me or Rambo!  Haha!!

Mom also helped me decorate my house while Dad hung out with the boys. Its nothing too big since our house is on the smaller side but it was perfect for us!  Since our tree is only 4 1/2 feet tall, we had to get creative with our tree topper.  Mom had the good idea to use a larger ornament and it worked great!!

Our Christmas Tree!!

Matt came with us up to Leavenworth and was a fantastic tour guide!!  We enjoyed great German beer and food along with all the sights.  I think we hit pretty much every shop on Main Street but most of them were just for sightseeing.  Although we definitely did do a bit of shopping!!  :)

Leavenworth for the Christmas Festival

Brr . . . but fun!

We did stay until the end to see the Lighting Ceremony.  Pretty much what happens is they light up the whole Main Street area including all the buildings and trees.  It definitely puts you in the Christmas spirit seeing everything light up.

Buildings Along Main Street

One of the Many Trees

We headed up to Seattle for a few days to do some sightseeing up there.  It was a new experience for me too since I had never been there myself.  I wished we could have had more time there but we crammed as much stuff in as we could!!  Mom and Dad were troopers walking all over downtown Seattle with me!  We went up the Space Needle, went to the Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum and Pacific Science Museum, then headed down to Pike's Place Market (when they bring in fresh fish and produce every day) and then to the Seattle Aquarium.  To finish it all of, Mom got to eat fresh crab brought in that day from the ocean.  It was absolutely delicious!

Our View from the Top of the Space Needle

Avatar Exhibit - EMP

I am Much Shorter Than an Avatar

Original Dracula Manuscript at the Horror Movie Exhibit - EMP

Huge Rubik's Cube that Works - Pacific Science Center

Beautiful Butterfly Exhibit - Pacific Science Center

Pike's Place Market

Fresh Fish, Fresh Produce, and Homemade Crafts

This Guy Was Lovin' Up on Me . . . He Wanted Me to Take Him Home!!  :)

Kinda Blurry . . . Fountain at Night Down by the Ocean

I enjoyed being a tourist in my own state!!  There was so much more that we didn't get a chance to do (ferry ride, see the original Starbuck's store, Pike's Market during the morning to watch them bring in the fish) but that leaves us stuff to do next time Mom and Dad come visit!!

This is one of my favorite photos of the trip.  We happened upon this on our trek around downtown Seattle.  Enjoy!!

Snow in Yakima

So, we don't get alot of snow in Yakima during the winter.  I've been told usually less than a foot all winter.  Well, I think I've brought the Midwest winter weather to Yakima.  We've had snow twice this week.  Once on Wednesday (which I missed because I was up in the Seattle/Tacoma area) and Saturday.  Hopefully this only happens a couple more times this winter.  I'm kinda looking forward to a semi-snow free winter.  Haha!

Right Side of Our Backyard - 1st Snowfall

Left Side of the Backyard - 1st Snowfall

Right Side - 2nd Snowfall

Kinda Look Like Fluffy Slippers!

Halloween!!

Many jokes have been made about me being a housewife (mainly because I wear an apron . . . I'm messy when I cook!!) I decided that it would be fun to be a 1950's housewife for Halloween!!  I had the apron but what about the dress?  Trying to find one that didn't cost an arm and a leg was near impossible.  So, one of my good friends out here in WA has an amazing sewing machine and knows how to use it!!  Off to the fabric store we went and found a pattern.  A couple of days later, fabric was found!!  Yay!!  20 hours later, dress complete.  Add a string of pearls and hair in a french twist up-do and you've got Kate as a 1950's housewife.  I think I look pretty good!!  Haha!!!  (For the record . . . the apron in the photo is that apron I wear everyday . . . seriously, everyday!)

Skype

So, after fighting with Skype on my computer, I finally got it up and running!!  If you have it and feel like chatting, add me!  My skype name is kate_and_rambo.  Rambo gets really confused by it, not knowing where the sound it coming from when the other person says his name.  Its actually really hilarious!!!

More wedding photos!!

So, finally the professional photos from my sister's wedding came!!!!  I picked a few and apparently when I chose them I was all about my sister and me!  Haha!!  I guess I just love my sister alot!

The Fam

Beautiful Bride

I Have No Idea What We Were Laughing About

Kisses

m.linn studios in Pierre, SD did a fantastic job!!  They got some amazing shots of everyone!!

Nothing Special, Just Really Excited

Nothing really special about this post, just found a cool photo editing app for my phone and was playing around with it and came up with this!  Just wanted to share!

Tour of Our House

So, I finally got around to keeping the house clean enough to snap a few photos to put on here.  With our house being a revolving door more days (which I love!!) its sometimes hard to keep it clean for more than a few minutes!!  Haha!!  We've got a 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, open floor plan house with a 2 car garage.  Its a nice house with a great backyard.  Good job, boys, on finding the house!!

Our Entryway

Kitchen

Living Room

Entertainment Area

Dining Room

Our Bedroom

Closet and Bathroom

So, that's the tour!  I put backyard and neighborhood photos up in an earlier post so if you are interested that's where they are!

Last 2 Months Have Been Busy and Boring . . . How Can That Be?!?!

So, needless to say, I've been slacking on my blog.  Out of the last 9 weeks, I've been traveling for almost 4 of them.  The beginning of July I spent a couple of weeks in MN for one of my awesome-super friend's wedding and my sister's wedding!  2 weddings in 8 days . . . yes, I was a bit exhausted.  I wished I had more downtime while I was home because I didn't get a chance to see hardly anyone!  Here are a few photos from Elle and Troy's wedding!  Our friend, Caitlin Boardman, was the photographer and she did a phenomenal job!! If you are interested in booking her for anything, let me know and I'll get you her contact info!

Ellie and her Lovely Ladies!

Eeew!!!  Kissing!!  :)

Congrats Ellie and Troy!!  I am so Happy for You Two!!!

Anna and Darrin's photographer was m.linn studios out of Pierre, SD.  Another fabulous photographer!!

About Time You Guys Got Hitched!! 

We are Family!!! I Got All My Sisters . . . Wait . . . Sister and Cousins . . . With Me! 

 So, as Anna's Maid of Honor, I did my best to do whatever she needed.  Well, I took one for the team, just cause I love my little sister.

The Things We Do For Family

Mom and Her Girls

So, as most of you all know, flooding was a huge issue for the Midwest this spring.  Anna and Darrin picked a beautiful hotel along the river thinking that they'd be able to use the river as a backdrop.  Not so much this year.  The AmericInn Hotel in Pierre did a wonderful job in spite of the flooding.  It was a bit stressful from time to time but at least they kept their sense of humor.

After I got back, I had a few weeks to relax and readjust to life back in WA.  I was very glad to be home in the desert with little humidity.  Its funny how fast you adjust to life with little humidity.  I will admit, I do miss the thunderstorms that come with high humidity.  And green grass . . . we've got kinda green grass out here.  Its the little things sometimes.


Stay tuned for the rest of our summer adventure!

Little by Little

We are slowing working towards completely having the house put together.  We finished another section this weekend with the addition of Shawn's man-cave in the garage.  He has been getting things organized in there during his few hours of free time these last few weeks.  Last weekend we knocked out the rest of it when we put up the peg board.

Rambo decided to hang out and check out the new motorcycle while we  worked.

Completed Man Cave

Now all we need to do is add more tools and Harley stuff.  (Christmas wish list!!)  Shawn already has a list of things he wants to build.  At the top (or at least near the top) is a dog house for Rambo!! (Or at least a platform for his kennel to sit on!)

"Okay, what do you want to help with?"

Hobbies

We've picked up a few new hobbies this last month or so around our house.  The big one that everyone is involved in is our make-shift garden in the back. We've got a couple of the Topsy-Turvey tomato and strawberry planters, a litter herb garden, spinach, and a bleeding heart plant from Shawn's parents.  They are all doing very well, except the spinach.  Only half of it came up, so since our growing season is so long I'm gonna plant another bit in a week or so.  The garden idea came from the boys and they spend more time taking care of and watering them than the girls do.  They were more excited about the tiny strawberries, too!!

Little, Baby Strawberries!

One of Our Tomato Plants

See the Baby Tomatoes!

Spinach . . . Sad Only Half Came Up

Can't Remember What's What . . . But the Boys Do!

I have also been enjoying our hammock.  I try to sneak away for a hour or so a day to lay there and read.  Its so relaxing.  I think everyone needs a hammock.  Just because I love it so much, here's another picture.  :)

Add a Nice Breeze and You've Got the Perfect Recipe for Relaxation

Shawn also picked up a hobby in the form of a motorcycle.  He took his motorcycle safety class and the next week bought a bike.  Its the one thing he promised himself he'd get when he got back from deployment.  Its actually a great investment because he rides it to work and it spending $20 a week in gas verses $60 a week. With the outlook on gas prices, the bike will pay for itself in no time.  Plus, every time he comes home after a ride he's got the biggest grin on his face.  Its fantastic to see him so relaxed and happy.

Lookin' Good, Honey!!

Can't end a post without an update on Rambo!  He's enjoyed having Chief here.  Chief takes one of Rambo's squeaky balls and runs around the house while Rambo chases after him.  We missed a few days with Chief and Rambo started to pout.  Hardly eating, didn't want treats . . . I was getting a bit nervous.  As soon as Chief walked in the house, Rambo was back to normal.  Funny how dogs miss their friends, too.

"I love the LoveSac!"