Merry Christmas 2010

Our Christmas Card this year 

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!

Tim's crazy idea of mixing seasons!  I kinda liked how it turned out though.  Poor little Sophia in bare feet had snow between her toes!  And yes, this is in Fall City, in our own front yard.  We had a few fun days of unexpected snow around Thanksgiving.  Woo Hoo!

Sneaking into Tim's suitcase

I got to join Tim on one of his many business trips this year.  Half of his accounts are located in the San Francisco area, so he travels there about 2 weeks out of each month.  We miss him terribly when he is gone, but this time, I got to go with him and enjoy the wharf and other fun places!  Most of all it was just a fun getaway for us last August.  (Yes, I'm still trying to catch up on the blog!)

Spending time on the Fisherman's Wharf!

Creative Sourdough!  We walked by the Boudin San Francisco Sourdough Bread Co. window and watched them make it! 

Many ways to get around downtown San Fran!

One of my favorite pics of Tim

Oh to have the life of a Sea Lion on the Wharf.

We drove to many places around the area.  At one point I thought we were heading back to the airport, but Tim surprised me and drove us up to the Oakland Temple which overlooks the bay.  This is one of the most beautiful temples I've seen.  I loved the grounds which included this beautiful rocky stream leading up to the temple with outside music coming out of hidden speakers in the ground.  I only wish we had more time to go inside.  Maybe next time!

Natalia - swimmer and gymnast!

Natty is learning to swim!  She took lessons with Sophia last summer for the first time!  They both did great!

Getting comfortable in the water!

Natty has been doing gymnastics for almost 3 years now and LOVES it.  We started out in the mommy and me classes, and now she's moved up to the Invitational Butterfly class.  She is the youngest and smallest in her class of Kindergartener's, but her teacher felt she had the skills to move up to the older class.  Here she is with her old teacher, Miss Frances. 

Fun on the tramp!

The best part...getting stamps afer every class!

Visit with Gran

While in Spokane a few time last summer, we stopped in to visit Gran in Cheney, WA.  Here are Audrey, Celeste, and Sophia posing with Gran in front of the beautiful flowers she grew from seed!

Celeste is double digits!

 For Celeste's 10th Birthday she recieved a horse riding lesson.  Our new neighbor, Manuel runs a ranch just up the road from us and taught Celeste the basics of riding.  She took to it right away.  Celeste has always loved horses and her desire to ride them has never lessened over the years.  Happy Birthday Celeste, we love you!

Glacier National Park

This was THE trip of the year for our family.  Glacier National Park was INCREDIBLE!  Despite the windy and rainy weather at the park itself, we enjoyed our trip so much!  Becky's friend, Christine joined us and fit in as one of the girls!  We took a couple days to get there, stopping in Spokane and then in Polson, MT on Flathead lake.  We stopped here two times, on the way to Glacier and on the way back.  While at the Park we camped in the small town of St. Mary and enjoyed the 4th of July Fireworks from our camper.  It was clear, but COLD!  Temperatures are definitely quite a bit colder on at the park.  A little pit stop on our trip through the park, making our way to the Going to the Sun Road (the main drive through the park).

Did I say the temps were a little colder?  Quick, climb out of the car for a picture with a Glacier!

Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park (here is a little info. on the melting Glaciers in the park.  We are so glad we were able to visit to see these beatiful Glaciers before they dissapear!)

"In Glacier National Park (GNP), MT some effects of global climate change are strikingly clear. Glacier recession is underway, and many glaciers have already disappeared. The retreat of these small alpine glaciers reflects changes in recent climate as glaciers respond to altered temperature and precipitation. It has been estimated that there were approximately 150 glaciers present in 1850, and most glaciers were still present in 1910 when the park was established. In 2010, we consider there to be only 25 glaciers larger than 25 acres remaining in GNP. A computer-based climate model predicts that some of the park’s largest glaciers will vanish by 2030 (Hall and Fagre, 2003). This is only one model prediction but, if true, then the park’s glaciers could disappear in the next several decades. However, glacier disappearance may occur even earlier, as many of the glaciers are retreating faster than their predicted rates."

Becky and Christine posing with a Red Bus Jammer which takes tourists all around the park. 

We saw a couple of the huge lodges around the park, built in the early 1920's and kept renovated with the orginal feel.

Relaxing Sunday in the Lodge after church.We drove A LOT, but everywhere we went it was worth it!  What a beautiful rainbow!  On our drives we would look for animals...and this is what we saw!

Baby Grizzley just out in plain site.We also saw Praire Dogs.  In fact here is Christine on a hunt to catch one...but they were just too quick for her!  Our animal count included mountain goats, bear, prarie dog, dog wandering on the side of the road - some of us were convinced he was a wild dog following the scent of a nearby McDonald's bag), lots of squirrel, and deer.

While we stopped for Christine to go Prarie Dog hunting, we saw this sign and learned we were at the Farthest point West that the Lewis and Clark expedition traveled.

The water in this lake, really was this green. It has a special color due to the mineral particles coming from the friction of the glacier against the rocky bed.

Here is Natty's favorite place to be, in the camper with Daddy.  Despite the cold temps at the park, we found summer in Polson, MT.  Both times we camped here, first priorty was getting to the pool.  While in Polson, Becky and Christine had fun getting lost on Flathead lake with their deflating boats.  But, Dad came to the rescue after the rest of us took a side trip to the Kerr Dam. 

Go Glacier!

Annual Father's Day Camping trip

We kicked off our 2010 camping season, taking Sylvia out to the Tri-cities area for camping on the Snake River last June.  After spending a long weekend, we've decided it is one of our favorite spots.  We'll definitely be returning each year.  Unfortnately my camera came out just this one evening, but we also enjoyed some fishing, family time on the nearby playground, and playing in the sandy beach off the river.  Tim and I also took a little excursion to the Ice Harbor Dam.  Becky was able to finish her cheerleading activities and even drove over to join us for an evening to celebrate our Daddy who we love so much! 

Audrey and Dad enjoying the campfire and view right outside our camper door!

We found these huge marshmallows at a local market.  Perfect for BIG s'mores!

Natty enjoyed hers...can't you tell?  Her face matches the pink sunset behind her. 

Celeste making grass bracelets under the sunset.

I

  love this toothless grin!

100 years, 1000 memories

I've already posted some of my pictures from my Grandmother's (Nani) 100th birthday bash on my photography website, but I felt I needed to add more here.   First to document what an incredible woman Edna K. Shaefers is, and second to show what a roaring good time we had at the Stinson-Green Mansion in Seattle...1930's style!  June 2010

To start things off, a month before the party, I spent the afternoon with Nani at her apartment and we did a little photo shoot.  I used this picture on her invitation.  Beautiful spring flowers in her garden area were a perfect backdrop!

Stinson-Green Mansion.  Seattle, WA

Audrey all decked out in her flapper attire.  We had a fun time dancing...

My friend, Natalie Gunter made this beautiful cake!  Even the picture was edible!

Becky and her friend, Taylor who joined us for the night!

What a spread of food...typical NW fare...salmon and fresh goodies! 

More dancing! 

Me and Nat cuttin' a rug!  Tim and Clint...the "men in black".

Celeste with cousin Elise and friend, Lola.

Natty with cousin, Sacia..".it's so hard waiting for Nani to cut the cake...hmm, I think I'll just try a little first."

Check Daddy and Natty swingin'!  Grammy and Sophia sure have the moves!

Cheers to Nani!  We love you!

The best dressed of the evening!  Audrey, Aunt Sandrine, Uncle Carl, cousins Elise and Margot.

Grandad, Aunt Dana, Aunt Trish, Uncle Carl and Mommy.   Thanks to everyone for making this evening one we'll never forget!  Happy 100th Birthday Nani!