Canyon Lost His First Tooth!!!!

It finally happened! December 23rd, 2008 Canyon lost his first tooth while pulling a snow glove off his hand with his teeth. Here it shows him placing his tooth in his tooth fairy pillow. He was thrilled in the morning to see she had arrived!

Snow Days!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a ton of snow these past couple of weeks. It has since rained and it is all gone but we had a great time playing in it everyday!

Sock Hop

At Brooke and Canyon's school back in November they had a Sock Hop which was a ton of fun! My girlfriend let Brooke and I borrow costumes and we had a great time blowing bubbles with bubble gum and having hoola hoop contests. Brooke and Canyon were thrilled to be recognized for their costumes and came home with ribbons!

Costumes!

Brooke was a Parrot this year. I found this costume at a Thrift store in downtown Issaquah. Canyon was a Skeleton and I've never had such a hard time finding such an easy costume! I literally went to four stores and online to try and get it in his size! Wal Mart.com came to the recue at the last minute. Whew!

Halloween Time!

This year was great seeing how now my kids are old enough to do most of the gutting and carving themselves!

Pumpkin Patch!

The month of October is one of my favorites! Pumpkin patches, Halloween, Fall leaves. It's so much fun! We spent some time at this pumpkin patch to pick out our favorite ones. Here Brooke and Canyon get a ride from Dad to the field!




Here is our collection of Pumpkins and corn. There was a really good crop this year so it was fun to get some white ones too!


Brooke and Canyon thought it was quite clever to show us their "ears" of corn. They couldn't stop laughing!

Mt. Ruth

Mt Ruth standing at 7200 feet in the Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful climbs ever! Four couples went which included Mike and Kerrie (the planners), Carlen and Matt, Leslie and Greg, myself and Jeff. It was a twelve hour climb which started about 8am. We were greatful to our other friends the Mathews who graciously offered to let us stay overnight in Bellingham prior to the climb. The last part of the climb included a glacier where we roped up with crampons and ice axes. Always exciting! A truly majestic climb!

First day of School!

Brooke started third grade this Fall and a day later Canyon was very brave and started Kindergarten. Both have adjusted very nicely. For Brooke, the first day was about making a fashion statement! Everything coordinated including the hat. Her fashion Diva cousins helped shop with us when they were here visiting. As for Canyon, he was very excited and very nervous. As we stood at the bus stop he pulled me down, wrapped his arms around my neck and said,"Mommy, I might forget about you while I'm at school because I'll be having such a good time." I replied, "That's OK buddy, you go have yourself the best time ever!" Too cute!

Lake Powell

The beginning of August we flew out to Salt Lake City and then drove with the Harmer family to Lake Powell. The weather was perfect and the company was too!

Guests for the month of August!!!

My parents DROVE from Florida all the way out here! We all had a wonderful visit and it was sad to see them go.














My sister and her family came to visit us this August. We a had a great time touring around and seeing the sites. We are greatful they made the trip from North Carolina!


Here the cousins are at Northwest Trek and on the right they are swimming at Whidbey Island.

Pu Pu Point with the Kids!

JULY


We packed a picnic style dinner and climbed Pu Pu point with the kids. They were awesome and Riley came too! What a beautiful view and a great memory for all of us.

Summer Camp!

JULY




Brooke enjoyed Horse Camp this summer at Triple B Stables. Her horse's name was "Cowboy". She always LOVES this camp!!!
Canyon went to a fun golf camp where he learned putting, driving and chipping. He met a great friend Nicolas and had a great time!

Jeff Summit's Rainier! (for the third time)

As you can see my mountain climbing husband is always ready for fun. Even at 14,411 feet, ice axe and all, he is ready for a good time! Gotta love it! So, Jeff jumped on the opportunity to guide three of his coworkers (one being his boss!) up the highest peak in Washington state. One gentleman Bern the IT guy at the office has a great story to tell. Just a couple of years ago he was close to 300lbs. For as long as he could remember he has looked at the picture of Mt Rainier in his home wishing he could stand at the summit. Well, one day he made the choice to change his lifestyle. He started eating right and exercising. He is now a trim 175lbs and Jeff helped him accomplish his life long dream of climbing this mountain. Isn't that cool?




Here they all stand at the summit with a banner of the project they are currently working on "The Bravern"
From Left to right. Bern, Spencer, Jeff and Mark

Boating on Lake Sammamish

We are thrilled that Seattle summers are full of sun! We've been able to take our boat out by ourselves and with some great friends! Here Canyon and Brooke sport their trendy shades while we cruise around, ski, wakeboard and tube! We have to soak up every last ray before the rain comes again!

Twin Falls

I took the kids about 30 minutes East of Issaquah to a gem of a hike for kids called Twin Falls. We packed a lunch and hit the trail. We spent all day there exploring and seeing the beautiful Water Falls. We hiked about five hours and they were great hikers! I love spending lazy summer days with them!

Escape From the Rock

I did it! I survived the 1.5 mile swim through the San Fransisco Bay from Alcatraz! What an event it was! Pictured above is myself with my sister Christine in the middle and her friend Kim who swims with her on their Master's Swim Team in North Carolina. My time was 50 minutes which is great seeing how I was hoping to finish in a bit over an hour. Christine did it in 43 minutes. She rocks! Below, my sister and I pose in front of our swimming challenge. So, now I am done training for the summer. I have completed a Triathlon, Mt. Hood and this swim all in a months time and I am tired. It's time to play with my kids and enjoy some Seattle sun!

Mt Hood

This past Friday we had the awesome opportunity to summit Mt Hood which stands a bit over 11,000 feet in Oregon. It was a challenging but wonderful climb that we did with two other couples. All the husbands are mountaineers and we are greatful for the love and belief they had in us wives to make it to the summit! I had an injury the Tues. before and didn't realize that the metal object that had driven itself into my big toe while getting up from a chair was a needle. Well, part of the needle was still in my toe during the climb! Ouch! A TON of Ibuprofen is given credit to help me endure to the end! I told Jeff he can no longer say I am a "not tough" about things. I ended up at the ER on Sun. night having it removed. Just one more thing I must overcome before my swim from Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Swim

So, I have been training so that I can do the Alcatraz swim June 28th. My sister Christine is the master mind behind this. SHE is the swimmer in the family. I am the runner. This will be an amazing accomplishment for the both of us! I am terrified yet excited and I wish it were tomorrow so that it can just be over! I've trained in the freezing water out here so the cold is not my fear. Just the current and waves and those creatures that lurk at the bottom of the San Francisco Bay! Wish me luck!

Pu Pu Point

On June 14th I was able to climb to Pu Pu point which is where Jeff took off on his Paragliding trip. It was a breathtaking view of Lake Sammamish. It was a "Ladies" trip with friends from the Triathlon. Nice climb to prepare us for our hike up Mt. Hood this weekend!

Mariners Game

We had the opportunity to go to the Seattle Mariners Game this evening with the kids. Fifteen minutes prior to walking out the door Brooke says, "Mom, if we make a big sign then we will be on the big screen at the game!" I thought to myself..."I just need to get out the door", but I saw the excitement in her eyes and drew the words "Mariners Rule" in block letters as quickly as I could on poster board and out the door we went with a bucket of markers in hand. The kids decorated the letters all the way to the game. At the seventh inning stretch I told Brooke to hold up her sign and jump around, "Now is your chance!" I said. Low and behold the camera man came right up to her and there she was on the big screen! The people behind us called their dad at home and he said they saw it on T.V. Way to go Brookie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paragliding

I gave Jeff a Paragliding trip for his birthday this year. He loved it! It was crummy weather so he gets to do again on a sunny day!Just another thing to check off the "to do" list.

2008 Issaquah Triathlon

I completed my third Triathlon yesterday! It was great to do it with a group of friends. Kerrie, Rachelle, Monica, Leslie and myself. It was perfect weather and the water temperature was not as bad as I had anticipated. Leslie hosted a celebration BBQ that afternoon. We are still waiting for time results so stay tuned....

Camping at Tolt McDonald Campgound

We celebrated Jeff's Birthday camping!

We had a great time and Riley got to come too!