Dan.

Once again, this summer was filled with "HI DAN!", "Dan, can we deliver mail with you?", "Dan, can we sit in your mail truck for the millionth time?" "Dan, can we drive your mail truck again?" (don't ask - my lips are sealed...), "Dan, can we have this penny we found in your ashtray?" "Dan, here's another rock for your ashtray", "Dan, thanks for the special treats!" "Dan, can you eat lunch with us?"

Most neighborhoods know the mailman has arrived from the dogs barking or the gentle hum of their truck with mail doors squeaking opened & closed.  Our neighbors know he is here b/c of my kids greeting him from one block away.  "DAN'S HERE!!!!!!!!!"

We love Dan and feel blessed to have such a great guy paying us a visit each day.

Labor Day.

Today was a big day in our household... Lai had her first pedi AND she learned to ride a bike sans the training wheels.

In a skirt, no less... 

The cheering crew

They made a great team.  L maybe practiced 2 times this summer.  Tonight she decided she wanted to do it, and just went for it.  Atta girl!!!  

Family Day #3.5.

I say "3.5" b/c we've already done the Locks recently & b/c in all honesty, I probably spent more time talking to Melis than to J, Lai or A.  

Seattle beauty.

 L having some serious fun with her cousins & enjoying her last day of being 4!

Family Day #3.

Bye Mer!

While my kids were doing this:

I was doing this: (sniff sniff)

 You're looking at my very first MOPS table (minus sweet Jaime who wasn't able to make it & minus our mentor mom who was taking the shot...)

We all had one, one year old when we met & we each had a bun in the oven.  Out of my 4 years in MOPS, this was the table I still meet up with.  Sadly though, sweet Meredith is moving to AZ.  While we're so happy for her & her family - there will be such a void at our quarterly hangouts.

Happy 4th y'all!

Apparently the neighbs had a kid parade every year for years & years.  This hasn't happened since we moved here 5 years ago.  This year it was reinstated.  Lai could barely sleep the night before:  "Can you believe it mama, we are going to be in a real parade.  I've always dreamed of being in a parade."

Isn't this a great turn out?  This isn't even everyone.   

Miles (our buddy on the right) was a real show-stopper as he rode slow and gently handed out candy to on-lookers...

Selfies of my sillies & I:

Red, white & blue everywhere!  

Gram & Papa's for a BBQ:

Reading to Molly. 

First pop-its.  

Fun had by all.  

Thanks Gram & Papa!!!

Family Day #2.

The fish are running!  Head down to the Locks to see massive amounts of salmon right now.  We did this on our Family Day today.  We love The Locks and feel so blessed to have it so close.  It's great/free entertainment.  The boats were beautiful, the day was warm and the fish were jumping like crazy!

Fish ladder. 

We could have watched the fish jumping all day long... 

...and the seals chowing down (Boo!).

Summer Family Day #1.

Summer's are busy for us.  J works a LOT, and with me working on most days that he's not working.  Well, we have decided to be intentional about having at least one family day a week.  We have them on the calendar and set aside the day (or most of the day) to be together to go out and DO something.

So, I now present to you Family Day #1 - Discovery Park hike:

If at first you don't succeed try, try again...

Birt boys.

Daddy daughty.  

Colorado whirlwind.

It's been exactly 10 years since I moved back to the NW from ColoRADo. So, when we were given the opportunity to attend the International Association of Firefighters, Fallen FF Memorial in Colorado Springs - we packed up the fam & headed to the Rockies.  There were a handful of things I had to do/see with my family by my side:

Denver:
  Red Rocks Amphitheater
  Colorado Christian University
  eat at Beau Jo's
  Drive up I-70 into the foothills
  cruise through downtown

Boulder:
  a stroll on Pearl Street

Colorado Springs:
  Garden of the God's
  Drive up Pike's Peak
  Manitou Springs

The kids were AMAZING travelers.  We were able to see everything plus squeeze in a full day at the Denver Zoo, hang out with the Tiemann family, & see Lo Lo, (on top of everything related to the Memorial).  Whirlwind indeed.

DENVER - CCU:

Taking a stroll through campus (my apt my first yr is across pond...)

Relaxing in the shade of an aspen.  

Red Rocks:

That's J, Lai & A on the stage... (a stage I once came & studied on at midnight with some candles & friends in college).  Little do they know the amazing artists that have stood there...

Playing after such a long day of travel.  The elevation didn't effect them at all... 

We then snuck in Beau Jo's & quality time with Holly's fam before hitting the zoo the next day.  (Check out the Beau Jo's link to see how to honey your pizza crust.)

Holly & Axel, 2 of my fav's... 

BOULDER:  

Aaaaaaaaaand, crossed another Diner's, Drive-In's & Dives hot spot off our list:  Foolish Craig's.  Amaaaazing crepes (singing "amazing")!  

Good 'ol Pearl Street - sadly we didn't see Zip Code Man.  

COLORADO SPRINGS:

We arrived in the Springs along with a huge rain storm.  But, that didn't stop us from visiting the site of Saturday's memorial.  

Jeffery Allen Birt   WA 27

Some Seattle Honor Guard with J & Lai 

The 343 on the 9/11 wall. 

Laurel drove up to see us for a super quick visit.  It was so great of you, Lo to come all that way!!!
We love you & miss you!  

On Friday night Jack Quinn's was the place to be.  Great conversation, drinks, T-shirts
& the Seattle Pipes & Drums played for a packed house.  Here are some of Jeff's crew that RV'd down.  

Up next?  Garden of the God's:

I've been here many, many times & I still can't get over the beauty of this national treasure.  

The snow/cloud covered peak in the back is Pike's.

Kissing camels.

The Ceremony:

Air Force Choir

Tom with Jeff's flag (center)

Melissa being presented the flag.  

Jesse Youngs' widow being presented a flag.  Next to her (seated) is another Seattle widow from last year.
It was an honor getting to meet both of these amazing ladies.  

Jeff's crew.  

3, 000 seats & still standing room only.

Seattle families with SFD Honor Guard & Chiefs

Pipe's & Drums with the 3.

My kids & I with an United Airlines pilot super handsome guy.  

We ended the evening with a fabulous dinner  (at which time Axel may or may not have wandered off without me even knowing & was returned by strangers) & watching Pipes & Drums play the streets of COS.   

Pike's Peak:

I've summited a handful of Colorado's fourteener's (14,000 ft mts) in my day by foot & have driven up one (Evan's).  On a whim, we drove up Pike's before heading for the airport.  We obviously were not prepared for snow but, threw caution to the wind & had a great time.

View on the drive up to "America's Mountain"

Dream come true - family by my side on a 14er!!! 

View from the top

Drive down - many scenic stops... How's your aspen?  

Farewell Colorado.  Thank you for the memories!