M. Monroe

Since she is my Idol, I am currently reading "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe". I appreciate how it starts out with the focus on her grandparents, mother, and people who influenced her during her childhood. It is haunting.

The making of the Jeep Cake...

For Tim's birthday this year, Amanda & I wanted to make his cake in the form of a Jeep Wranger. Keeping it on the down low, we got together on at my house on our usual craft night to build the cake and have it ready for Saturday. Amanda found a Guinness cake recipe online and we set out to the store to get all the ingredients.

Shopping was more like an episode of a reality TV show... it was hilarious. Realizing we would probably have to make extra cake layers, in case we fudged it up... plus we planned on making cupcakes for everyone else, it felt like we were cleaning the store out of baking ingredients.

We got home from shopping around 8pm and set everything up. It was intense looking, you couldn't even see the counters. We decided to have some Guinness before we got started. lol.

Um... so 6 hours later... the icing is colored, the Jeep cake layers assembled, rice crispy treats formed into rocks are cooling, and we are completely goofy. Problem occurs when we start icing the Jeep... it no longer wants to stay up on the base cake. We then relocate to the garage freezer, to continue icing while propping it up with the rocks & donuts tires. It's DONE! We are feeling so victorious!

Talking to Tim & icing the rocks.

Icing the Jeep!

Jeep needs a time out to set... TO THE FREEZER!

Top view of the finished cake.

Whoo-hoo!

White Album = Non-Stop Play

Just cuz he loves me so... Justin bought me the digitally remastered White Album for the one and only, The Beatles. I am in heaven! THANK YOU JUSTIN!!!

That's my story, morning glory. ;)

The Kid

Sunday, Bri & I were able to attend the last M's game of the season. We hit the Pyramid Brewery early for beer & nachos to watch the Seahawks vs the Colts. Then headed over to the team store and grabbed some Griffey gear & got an autographed book from the author of "The Kid Returns", which is a really cute book. We took our seats, front row bleachers in left field, sat back & relaxed. It was an amazing day. We walked over behind home plate and snuck into some seats so we could watch Griffey's possible last at bat. No home run, but a base hit was enough. Brian cried... I cried... then the standing "O"... a tip of his hat & a wave... and that was it. I love baseball.

Will the Kid return again???

Pictures While Laying in the Yard....

The Gals & Cowgirls Inc.

Thursday night I hit up the crazy Seattle bar, Cowgirls Inc., with my work pals. Girls dancing on the bar, a mechanical bull, and great dance music... It was a super fun time. Due to legal concerns, only one photo is provided.... hahaha!

The Gang
(left to right)
Jamie, Holly, Laura, Justin, Me, Sarah.

P!NK Concert...

Thanks to my lovely concert sista... Kelly... I was able to be a tag-a-long on some great concerts this summer! Most recently was the P!NK concert at Key Arena. Brian came home early for the day and I was able to head out to Seattle early for drinks & dinner before the show. It was a great night and one of the most amazing concerts ever. The theme was "Fun House" and it was definitely a Fun House! The stage was made into this carnival with slides, rope climbs and aerial acrobatics!

Drinks & Dinner at 10 Mercer...
Food - Yuck! Desserts - YUM!

Waiting outside Key Arena.

P!NK's Grand Entrance!
She came out of the floor and swung
over the whole crowd. It was crazy!!

Honky Erik's Birthday

Erik went to the range with Tim, Caitlyn, & Brian on his birthday and had a blast! Literally... lol. Later in the evening, I was able to venture out to N.B. and hang out with Erik & Caitlyn at their house. It was good times... catching up, tossing a few back & listening to Erik's crazy music. Love ya brother!

The good ole' boys

The cutest couple ever!

Being the stud that he is...

This was my "James Bond" pose...
He's wearing the COOLEST jacket ever.
Yeah I got it for him... Whoo-hoo!

Evie Turns Two!

September 3rd, my niece Evie turned 2 years old! She is such a little ham...

Evie welcoming me to her birthday.

Opening her presents ever so carefully!

Ohh yeah, look at that two year old face!

The present that stole the show. Baby had to be fed,
burped, and put to bed before Evie would open any
more presents. We were all constantly told to
"Shhhh!" as baby was trying to go to sleep.
Hilarious!

This picture cracks me up... Look at the
concentration on Tim's face, then look at Evie's.
NO resemblance at all huh... lol!

This girl absolutely loves cake !!

It's official! She is TWO!!!
Love the cake face!

Good Times...

Gwen's self portrait... using her new camera.

Ethne working hard at sharpening her pencil.

Tristan just being his usual self.

Dave Dances

Ohh My Goodness-ski! What a weekend...

This year we were lucky enough to see Dave on Friday & Saturday night. We were also lucky enough to get a hotel room in Quincy, about 10 minutes away from the George, which made it a lot easier to travel between shows.

Friday's show was amazing and by far the smallest crowd I've seen. We sat off center to the right in the 28th row... rad ass seats! Brian was in awe and I said, just wait until tomorrow night, it gets better! One of the cool things about going each night is that Dave performs a different set list so each show is truely an stunning experience.

Saturday we arrived at the Gorge and it was raining hella hard! Big ole' fat rain, as Forrest Gump would say. And the line to get in the gate was ongoing, so you were pretty much soaked to the bone before you even got in. We met up with Tim & Amanda, who were graced with the "Luck of the Irish", as when they pulled into the parking lot a fellow goer gave them a V.I.P parking pass, which allows you to park right behind the stage and have unlimited access. The storm broke and we experienced the most amazing sunset with double rainbows. The show was bleep-ity bleep awesome and because of the larger crowd it was louder than you could have imagined! Next year we are definitely going to all three shows. ;)

Brothers & Sisters gotta hug!

And dance footloose & fancy free!

The first rainbow to appear.

Soul Sistas

Mr. & Mrs. Oz

My Gwen Pose.

Thunderstorm's Sunset

Anniversary Camping Weekend

First family camping trip was a success! We ventured out to Long Beach, WA and set up camp on Friday and spent the whole day at the beach. Kids loved being able to see what a real beach looks like... with the soft sand, shells and huge waves. Saturday we ventured all down the coast, even down into Oregon to stop in Seaside and Cannon Beach. Sunday we packed up and drove over to Portland to see the sites and some tax free shopping before heading home. Can't wait to do it again next year.

Northern Lighthouse @ Cape Disappointment

Ethne looking chic at the beach.

Gwen making sandcastles

Tristan @ Cannon Beach near Haystack Rock.

Waiting for the waves.

SeaFair

This year I worked during SeaFair weekend and it was just as amazing as if I was down on the waterfront. The Blue Angels flew right over the cafe so we all got to see the whole show. People from all over came down to watch the show & see the Angels land one by one at Boeing Field. It was a great day!

Playing the Wii

Tristan... playing Lego STARWARS while wearing his STARWARS sunglasses. Future's so bright, he's gotta wear shades!

Cool New Shirts!