August & Sept

OK...I know I've said it before, and I can't help but say it again....WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? Who has put my life on fast forward? When someone asks me the date, I'll give them the date and then add "all day" as if the date changes on me mid-day, which is what it feels like.

Betsy and Olivia came to visit before they depart on their big move to

Japan.

Nora's homegrown super delicious squash

September brought us to Chicago to run the 1/2 marathon with Rena.

Rena, if you decide to make a career change again, you certainly have a future in the tour guide business. We ate, we shopped, we ate, we sight see'd, we ate, and we ran - a long way. It was a great trip!

Nora has grown to be a real carnivore. She loves meat! She's eyeing Dad's bloody mary salami topping

In addition to meat, she loves heights (she request to "Go High" when being thrown, or swung), and water, in any form - standing, flowing, waves, or squirting.
First Merry-go-round ride with Mimi Lynnda






Kate, our barbie!! I had to throw this video in, cause Nora is still packing around "Kate", although she's long deflated.

Girls week in Minnesota

Nora and I headed east to good ol' Minnesota, home of ten thousand lakes & mesquitos, 85% humidity and girlfriends. We spent the majority of our trip up at Jill's parents' lake cabin. My mantra of the week was " I LOVE CABIN LIFE!" We certainly lived the good life; enjoying the weather, each other and the lake made the week fly by.

Nora and Emma at the Sunshine Factory for lunchNora, me, Abby and Emma
Nora trying to land a 5lb bassWho could ask for a better host; Jill's a real crowd pleaser....Margs in one hand and juice boxes in the other
Story time with KateJill and EmmaNora, Abby and IEmma and Nora and the very beloved baby that Nora was obsessed with all week

Horsing around

Ralph, Nora, and I went out to Rock Springs Guest Ranch last week. It's where Ralph and I were married, so it was cool to go visit and think back to what our lives used to be like before child. Ahhh the good ol' days.

We wanted to show Nora the horses. Thinking like a 22 month old, we figured to her a horse was just a big big dog, and since she loves dogs of all shapes and sizes and tries to ride Bean all the time, there was barely need for introductions at all. Nora's new great love has been to walk Bean all by her self. Once she discovered Opi's lead rope she just wanted to walk him around the arena. Opi the horse was a very polite, tolerant host.

What's new

Nora went to her first rodeo. She was NOT a fan of the calf roping. She yelled "No" and shook her head each time the cowboy roped the calf and jumped off his horse to flip him over and tie his legs. Jeff and Casey got Married!!!! They had a beautiful wedding in central Washington at Casey's parent's house.

Nora and Georgia met at the pool and went downtown for ice cream

Grandma, Maggie and Nora participated in the 4th of July pet parade

One tired baby! Between parades and pools, you gotta catch some zzz's where you can, even if it's on the back of the bike

Ralph got called to Alaska right after the wedding. We're trying to pack our days so time flies.

Ralph

we talk about you daily. Nora thinks of all motorcycles and planes as yours. She says "dadda" each time one passes or a plane flies overhead. Sometimes she calls for you randomly when she's in the garage; thinks she may find you there perhaps? We love you an miss you like CRAZY!!

June is here...where is the warm weather?

We're giving Mother Nature the benefit of the doubt. We've come to the conclusion that she must be swamped and she's just a month or two behind schedule with the Northwest. We're banking on a wonderful indian summer into November. We've been sporting rain coats and hats more than anything this June.

Cold and rain don't have to keep one from partaking in the usual summer activities....eating ICE CREAM

My baby doesn't yet have enough "back" to hold up her swim suit. Nora and I met our dear friends Sara and Paul and their daughter Essie at Edgefield for a night. The girls caught up in the pool and the tub.

As you can see, Nora continues to be thrilled beyond description with flying.

Yep, just estatic!

Jeannie and Caden are HOME!!!!!!!

I'm not proud that Nora knows all about cell phones or that she prefers them to most any other toy or the fact that she is taking every opportunity to spread the fascination on to her cousin. But, it is what it is; they are babies of the 21st century.