July 2012

We found a new family hobby, hiking! I think our favorite hike this summer was "Rattle Snake Ridge." I was so impressed with Stella it was actually a pretty steep hike... but she did it! And then she ran most of the way down, I could barely keep up!

The view from the top....

We had some incredible weather this summer! These are just some sunny Sunday snap shots in the yard:

So much summer fun.... Lake Wilderness play dates, Lake Easton Camping, lots of trips to the falls, 4th of July picnics and don't forget the kick ball games!

This is what little boys are made of...... (check out those guns!!!)

And little girls.......... sugar and spice and everything nice!

 (Ya right! These three girls, all born within a year of each other, can get into worlds of trouble together!)

Gotta love cousins!

Townes just chillin in the shade!

Since so many of us were in town, my sisters and I decided to throw Kristina a baby shower for her soon to be here little boy, Miles. Audrey actually helped quite a bit, and was the one to pick the adorable theme.... "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

Eric Carle's illustrations make it so easy to turn this beloved children's book into a celebration for welcoming a new nephew! (Thanks for giving us another excuse to throw a party Tina!)

Not a shabby spread for trying to incorporate all the random food items mentioned in the book.

Clear glass apothecary dishes made the food the decor as well. What could be better?!?

Those are hanging paper lanterns over the fireplace, with some embellishments.

The favors were cute packaged pip-n-fill sugar cookies.

Time consuming but worth it!

Instead of lame baby shower games, we had all the guests choose an image from the book to turn into a handmade onesie for baby Miles. Iron-on interfacing made it do-able, but the careful hand stitching around the simple images is what made it so adorable! 

Audrey's first 5K. (With her friend Mikayla).  She did so awesome at the Mill Creek 2012 "Run of the Mill."

I see track in our future..... Great job Audrey!

Another angle of the falls..... they don't take a bad photo! Seriously people, the Garden of Eden lives!

June 2012

Our last Sunday in Lynnwood.

I had the opportunity to chaperon one of Audrey's 4th grade field trips.

While we were downtown I couldn't help but look around Pioneer Square and appreciate the beautiful city Seattle is. We did the underground tour, and I highly recommend it! 

(Especially if you have an interest in Architecture.)

Joey's 6th grade graduation ceremony. Lynnwood Elementary was good to us.

Middle School here we come!

Ok, so the last day of school in Lynnwood was also the first Monday we were officially in the new house. As we awoke at 5:30 am that morning to get ready and drive the 50 minutes back to Lynnwood, Joey came into my bedroom which over looks the back yard and gasped.  Joe and I came running to the window and there it was...... A Black Bear!

We knew we might see a little more wild life out here than we had in congested Lynnwood, but seriously there are not words to describe! Joe has a hilarious video with commentary which of course I can't get to upload right. 

He (or she) just wanted some strawberries off of our bush, and then easily scaled the fence and went to our next door neighbors fruit trees. Since then we have regularly seen wild rabbit, raccoon, hawks, bald eagles, and tons of deer in our front and back yard. The only sign we've had of bear have been the litter and big paw prints found all around our trash can. ("oh.... so that's why everyone keeps their trash inside their garage!")

That first week was kind of a doozy! First Bear and first injury! Quinn's stitches from the new banister.

May 2012

This was a fun cake I did for a family friend. The little girl, Cami, was turning 10 and had a "Mad Hatter" themed party. Let's just say I learned what I needed to about gravity doing this project and I continue to feel my imagination and sketching skills don't match the reality of my cake-making skills.

 As the school year was ending I realized that Joey and I were in much need of some one-on-one time.... it had been a crazy year with him in 6th grade and me being consumed with Primary and the baby. Joe was so awesome to help us plan a fun "Mom/Son date", and then took all the other kids so we had the whole day to ourselves! It was a very good thing.

 After spending the morning at the famous Seattle Farmer's Market: "Pike's Place"........

We went and visited the EMP (Experience Music Project). 

This was the perfect spot for this Beatles loving boy!

He got to try out every instrument he could think of, and some new ones we had never even heard of before. So fun! We added in a yummy lunch and the movies..... one of the best Saturday's I can remember!

These are the bouquets and boutonnieres I did for a wedding of one of my Mom's friends.

Joe's Dad, or better known in our house as Papa, came all the way up to visit us from Southeast Texas. We were so happy to have those 10 days with him. Memorial weekend gave us gorgeous weather! (and boy did we drag him everywhere!)

This is an incredible fort Joey and Audrey built in the woods when we were out for a picnic one day.

We took Papa up to Snoqualmie Ridge to see our new home. Yes we moved! And you could not have found a family more excited than ours. While moving a family of seven is pretty much a nightmare any way you slice it, spirits were high and the hope and anticipation of a new start in a beautiful community that was carefully hand picked was the overriding emotion felt and observed!

Our back yard looks out over 20 miles of beautiful wild life preserve. And we are about 3 miles down the road from the incredible Snoqualmie Falls. It feels like the Garden of Eden people! 

I love the picture below. Three generations of McNames men!

This was a special weekend for Joey, and really our entire family. He turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood. He is an impressive young man in all the ways a mother would hope for, but he surprises me with very unique extra things that he has incorporated into his character and to be really honest the personal pride is overwhelming! Now don't get me wrong...... Joey is all boy! And you can tell by that mischievous look on his face, he probably has something "cooking". But I wouldn't change one thing about him, and I can't think of another human that I've come across that I would rather be the eldest and the example to my other four children.

 Just loved this picture! It almost captures mine and Audrey's relationship.

Townes is 6 months old!!! And this kid is happy....... 

I mean HAPPY!!!