Have you read my blog yet?

My sisters are in love with their blogs and I can uderstand why. They are witty, funny and very insightful. Personally I just don't have the time, correction...take the time, to keep up on my blogging which is fine because my writing skills are almost non-existant. By the time I get home from work, feed the fam and make sure the bank account is still in the black I just don't have it in me to sit in front of the computer and read or write a blog.

Inevitably on a daily basis I will be asked the question..."Have you read my blog yet?" and on a daily basis I must say NO after which the blog in question is skillfully read to me word for word with practiced perfection. I give them a hard time about it, but I really do enjoy their blogs.

Well here is a quick look at where we are in life right now:

- Right at this moment I had to stop blogging, change a poopie diaper and have now returned to my post at the computer...don't worry dad, I did wash my hands.
- My husband is in Orange County, CA attending a six week training for his new job as an assistant branch manager for an auto credit company in Austin, Texas
- I am still here in Spo-Canada with the kiddos in our apartment full of boxes in 90 degree heat with no air-conditioning (Texas may be hotter outside, but at least there is air conditioning inside)
- I will be officially unemployed in T minus two weeks
- I am vigorously looking for a new job so as to limit the duration of my impending umemployment...anyone need a Controller or Accounting Manager?
- In 2.5 weeks Brian and I will be facing our daunting journey accross the United States on a trip 6 times as long as our butt numbing trip to Seattle. Yippee! (see Michelle, I am trying to stay positive about it!)

Well that just about sums it up...my life is dangling in limbo...again. Oddly enough I have grown acustomed to the lump in my throat, heart palpitations and overall state of anxiety as I stand at the edge of the unknown...again, leaping out and trusting that God is there just waiting to catch me and set me down exactly where he wants me to be...again.

Trippin'

We loaded up and took a little vacation to Seattle a couple of weekends ago and had a fabulous time!

It took us a mind (and butt) numbing five hours to get there on Friday, and if you know Brian and me you know how VERY LONG a trip that is for both of us. Neither one of us likes to travel any great distance in a car. We both would prefer to have a private jet or helicopter...anyone want to go halvesies on a PJ or 'copter? No? Why not?

After working the numbness out of our hind parts once we arrived we had a blast and got quite the work out. I never knew the streets of Seattle were on HUGE hills like San Francisco. I think we must have walked at least ten miles on Saturday alone!

Brian and I have the greatest kids on the planet (no offense to any of your children of course)! They behaved so well and we were able to really enjoy ourselves the entire time! We can't wait to do it again!!!
















We saw Dori and Nemo at the Seattle Aquarium! They had the coolest exhibit where you could actually touch live star fish, sea cucumbers, sea anemoneas and various other sea creatures. Mac and Brian had a go of it but I opted out!

There were also some really cute little sea otters and seals. We caught the otters during their gourmet meal of clams on the half shell. They were so animated swimming around on their backs with their food perched on their bellies. I always wonder how freeing it would feel to be able to manuever through the water the way they do. I love the feeling of just treading water...I can't imagine how cool it would be to zip through the water like that!

















After our bazillion mile hike through the town we took a fun filled ride on the "Ducks". The Ride the Ducks tour is on this open air bus (a.k.a. Duck) that drives on land and in the water. It was about an hour and a half tour of the coolest sites in Seattle. The Duck's driver was crazy and made us laugh so hard throughout the ride. He had various crazy hats and played crazy songs the entire time. It was a memorable way to enjoy the sights and sounds of the City.

One always thinks of Seattle as the rainy city, but the entire time we were there it didn't rain on us at all. It was a beautiful crisp sunny day!






















This was the only view we had from the Space Needle...from the bottom! We weren't about to pay $14 a head to go up to the observation deck 500 feet in the air and all have panick attacks! There were plenty of attractions on the ground for us to see. And let me tell you...Seattle is in love with the random large, often abstract, art piece. There is a "sculpture" on virtually every corner. Even a huge stairway on the side of a building that leads to nowhere.















We meandered the streets of the Pike Street Market early Saturday morning. Forget the people throwing 20 pound fish...this right here just might be MY favorite place in Seattle...a Choclatier. They had the most magnificent treats. I must say...it is the only place we visited twice. They had the most delightful little caramel and chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick (trip numero uno) and caramel/chocolate/candy covered apples on a stick (trip numero dos)!

The whole thing is just one huge farmers market. There were so many fascinating little shops and street vendors. There were bakeries, flowers, produce, cheese, fresh sea food, and all sorts of souvenir shops.

We got some fabulous pictures. There is a link on this page to our online photo album so you can see all the fun times we had on our venture to the other side of Washington! Wish you all could have been there with us!

DOWN...SET...HIKE!!!

Today was Mac's first football game! It was a blast! All the boys did so well! It was so funny watching all that testosterone run around on the field! I was surprised at how well they played considering this is the first year any of them have played tackle football and they have only practiced 6 times (only 3 with full pads)!!!

I tend to get a little too into the games, so this season I'm trying to be a little more mellow and just clap with an occasional WOOOHOOO here and there!!! Wish everyone could have been there to see the fine display of athleticism!

NFL here we come!!!
I guess the game was stressing Brian and Abby out...they were both hitting the bottle pretty hard!!!

It was a beautiful sunny day...perfect for watching the game! 

Apple Pickin'

Today we went out to Greenbluff and picked Apples! We had picked cherries our first weekend in Spokane and it was great fun so we decided to go pick the crop of choice today! Greenbluff is just outside of Spokane in the foothills of the mountains. There are more than 30 farms all in a big figure eight that have activities for families and they let "U Pick" your very own fruits and veggies!
This tree is loaded to the brim with Granny Smith Apples, but we weren't allowed to pick those today...they're not ready yet.
Almost good enough to eat...in fact we did eat one of the apples from this farm and it was covered in delicious homemade caramel.
They always have really cool things for families to do at all the farms. This one had a hay maze and bouncy house for the kiddos.

Alas...Pictures!

Here are some pics of our first weekend in Spokane! Mac took the one of Brian, Abby and Me...good job bud!
 

It's COLD in this trailer!!!

You know the song..."With nothing but my t-shirt on...I've never felt so beautiful...baby as I do now"...well maybe this is true if you are Jessica Simpson, but for me...not so much! I just feel gross and REALLY COLD! It is like 50 degrees outside right now and our windows are open in the apartment and it's not so pleasant! As much as I hate wearing socks, I might just have to go put some on to avoid getting Pneumonia (is that spelled rigth, 'cause it doesn't look right?!!).

Brian has to work today and the kids and I are just hanging out at home! We have been in Spokane now for two months and so far we really like it. It is so beautiful and the weather has been so pleasant. It has just started getting cooler this last week, and I can't wait until it gets really cold and we have our first snow. I want to put the kids in those big fluffy Michelin man looking snow suits and watch them waddle around outside in the snow!

As it started getting colder this week Brian and I came to the realization that this could become a very expensive first "real" winter for us. Being from Texas, none of us own much more than a light jacket. We are going to have to buy snow boots and parkas and stuff for all four of us. Do they make a 3X parka or do they just assume you have enough blubber to keep you warm?

Everyone here keeps telling me that I soon will stop being so excited and will begin praying for sunshine, but you know what I always say about a cold, cloudy, gray day...it's just like God is giving you a big cozy hug! It's snuggling weather!

I will post some pics as soon as I can figure out how! Don't forget what we look like in the mean time! We can't wait until Christmas to see you guys! Kisses!