Ryan Graduates High School!!

Ryan graduates from Palmer High School in Alaska!

I went to Alaska to watch Ryan graduate from High School. I was so proud! I still can not believe I am the parent to a college student! Ryan is heading off to Eastern Washington University in the fall. It seems like just yesterday he was 3!

Ryan and all of his friends and hockey buddies!

Me, Ryan and his father.

Ryan and his Grandpa Roc

and Grandma Rosie

It was a great afternoon! Sad but exciting!

Maui - Spring 2008

We went to Maui in April, 2008.

We had a fantastic time and enjoyed some beautiful sites and weather.

Hayden snorkeled for the first time - although he actually never made it into the ocean - he much preferred the tide pools. . . . . .














Riley enjoyed lounging on the boat on the way to another island.












We saw so many whales!








The volcano was erupting so sometime the weather was not as nice as we would have liked - but better than Seattle in April! But for the kids - the beach is forever fun!

Riley Donates Her Hair

Riley has been growing her hair out for the last year - with one thing always in mind. She wanted to donate it to "Wigs for Kids". She finally got it cut! And her hair has never looked better! We are so proud of her.

Rileys 8'th Birthday Party

Riley had a bowling party with her friends. There was pizza, cupcakes and lots of bowling. She loved having all of her friends together in one place - and of course being the STAR.

Things said in the neighborhood

This is embarassing - but too funny not to post. I had a babysitter over yesterday and they were outside playing with the neighbors. The kids were lying on the ground, and our babysitter, Kelsy was outlining each of them with chalk. Then they were going to "dress themselves" - Riley was drawing a shirt and skirt, hair, her eyes and mouth (basically a diva in training).

Then Hayden. . . . . . well - he decided not to draw clothes, he drew a penis - and said he was done. . . . . . . . like father, like son.

Soccer

Hayden has decided that he loves any sport that includes a ball. And he wants to play all of them. He plays soccer with our next door neighbor Chase, and loves it! He loves everything about it. He loves the shirt, he loves the shoes, loves even the shin guards and socks. Hopefully he will still love it next year when he moves outside to the rain, mud, rain, cold, rain. . . . after all this is Seattle.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Riley and Tom attended their second Daddy Daughter Dance this year. Each year Girl Scouts hosts a daddy daughter dance with a theme. This year was the "Masquerade Ball". She was so excited to wear the mask that her dad brought home for her from New Orleans a few years ago. She was equally excited to pick one out at the party store for Tom.

They made a whole night of it, first going to dinner with friends and then on to the dance for night filled with dancing. They had a fantastic time, although Tom paid for it the next day with sore feet and back from dancing all night.

Skiing at Alpental

Tom and I signed the kids up for skiing again this year. Riley is in her second season (and thinks she can do anything and everything) and Hayden is just getting his "ski legs".




Why skiing? Good question, especially knowing that Tom and I do not ski at this time. But with the mountains only 30 minutes away, we figured "why not"? Who knows, maybe, just maybe we may get some courage and follow our kids on the mountain. But for now, we enjoy the time sitting in the lodge each Saturday - all day - trying to figure out what to say to each other for 6 hours.