My Boy.

He was born on a hot summer afternoon. He came fast with only 3 hours of labor and no medication. We have a special connection that started the day he was born.

My heart actually aches a little looking back through these pictures. Maybe it's because he is my only boy, and that cute little cheeky face is now long and lean.

Happy 12th Birthday my sweet boy.
I am SO glad I get to be your mom!!!!

One last get-away.

Every summer we like to fit in a little trip to Leavenworth.
It is a small Bavarian village nestled in the Cascade mountains. Only 3 hours away, we travel to get delicious german sausages and tube the river. This time we fit in some mini-golf too, and of course had a great time! Our last little get-away before school starts next week.
Einfach fantastisch, or simply fantastic!

Monkey D's turn.
Mini-golfing in the heat.
That's my smart-alec girl.
My 3 beautiful monkeys.
The hat shop - always a fun stop.
My water-lovin' hubs in the waterfall.
REFRESHING!!
A few rapids made for some excitement.
Who's this? This dog loved Monkey A & Trev and wanted to be with them on their tubes instead of swimming the river with it's owner.






MB's little rest by the rocks.



Check out the view behind us!
It's a gorgeous place to take a float for the day.

"Plants Sing Soft Songs"

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth."
~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"


I was out enjoying my garden and snapped a few pictures of the color and produce. Such green, green, green beauty!!!

"There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling." ~Mirabel Osler
"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful." ~Abram L. Urban
I love these zinnias. Pink after pink after pink until...sweet nonconformist orange showed up. Isn't orange just beautiful?

"God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done." ~Author Unknown

We planted grapes along the split rail surrounding our patio. We have 4 different seedless varieties, and here are the first to show! They are gorgeous, and oh-so-sweet!!






"Don't wear perfume in the garden - unless you want to be pollinated by bees." ~Anne Raver

I love red geraniums, especially with the creeping jenny and white bacopa. Our builder made this planter box in front of our house for me, instead of the usual slats to guard falling off the porch. We love to sit on that porch.

"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity." ~Lindley Karstens

I also love the contrast of dusty miller against my black pots in front of the stairs. I found a fat ruffly leaf this year instead of the lacy kind. I hope to find it again next spring!

"I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day." ~F. Frankfort Moore


I grew watermelons! Isn't this melon the most amazing thing you've ever seen? I think they are absolutely beautiful!


This next quote is from one of my favorite people. I believe one day she will have a most glorious garden...




"Plants sing soft songs" -Monkey D
age 8, lover of foxgloves & hollyhocks

Lovin' Loon Lake!

Summer is time for fun and vacation, so of course that is what we have been up to. Lots of water this year and so many smiles.
Another slideshow for you! This vacation was so, so fun and we enjoyed ourselves so much. We will definitely visit this place again! Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow