Tagged

Here I go with 7 things about me....

1. I am a staunch boycotter of McDonalds (the entire fast food industry, really, but McDonalds especially) and Abercrombie & Fitch.

2. I really, really like to exercise. This is interesting to me because I wasn't anywhere near athletic or active while I was growing up. I was on dance team for two years in high school, but I don't count that because it was so incredibly DUMB. My favorite exercise DVD right now is "Butts & Guts", which is so long and difficult that I can't finish the whole thing in one shot, but I like it because it makes me work hard.

3. I love flowers and gardens and beautiful lawns but I am very, very good at killing all of those things.

4. I am a college drop-out. Jan Michael was offered a really good job when we were both very close to graduating, and it took us about 5 minutes to decide to quit school. I don't regret not finishing, and don't have any plans to ever go back, although if someone forced me to start again, I'd study something to do with fitness or sign language.


5. I could not ask for a better husband.


6. I'm the biggest baby about being sick or getting cuts and bumps and scratches (which I do a lot because I'm a little bit klutzy). Last week I konked myself on the head at work, and thought I had a concussion. Last spring we both had the flu and I was sure I had mono. Jan Michael just shakes his head and laughs.

7. I can do a one-handed cartwheel.

Finito!

After almost two years and countless hours of work in the mud and muck and rain and snow and flood waters and even some scorching heat, Brent and Danny have an almost finished, brand new house. All that's left to do is install flooring and they will be ready to move in and settle down. We're so thrilled for the four of you and can't wait to come and visit!

This was right in the middle of a boisterous game of "Chase me, Uncle Jan!"

Uncle Jan does double duty with the pushing :)
Swinging is serious business!

Baseball!

Our #1 #1 precious parents came to visit this weekend, and we had a smashing time. The main event, and our (late!) Father's Day present to dad, was a trip to Safeco Field to watch the Mariners play. We were shellacked by the Indians, but nevermind - the weather was beautiful and the company was fantastic :) We love you two! Please come again!

This is where I work.

Poor, sad, miserable little me.

Family love

We had a fun little lunch on the water with my parents, brother & sister last weekend. The only person missing was our other brother. It's hard to find the seven of us all in one place at the same time these days. We'll try again later :)

The 4th of July, 11 friends & 1 beach house

This year, Eric's parents very generously allowed us to invade their home for the holiday. It was a firework watching, marina visiting, beach strolling, bonfire building, S'more making, Pictionary & Taboo & Cranium & Pit playing, Rock Band jamming, all day eating, all day laughing, happy memory making weekend. I hope we're still doing this sort of thing when we're 75.



Soren & Leyla & baby boy coming in November
Ryan & Natalie
Bill & Sheryl
Eric & Tessa & baby girl arriving in October

If you've never played Pit, you should do it. Right now.

The beach, the beach, the beach

Jan Michael took these pictures (except, of course, the ones of he & D together) and they are so spectacular that I will not muck them up by putting captions underneath.

A sporting evening

Before I post the pictures from the river on Saturday, I'll post these from last night. Our ministers, Jenith and Julie, came for dinner, and after a feast of fish we engaged in two very serious games of croquet on the front lawn. Shots of croquet playing aren't super exciting, I know, but we love these ladies and want to show off our time with them :)
My husband, undisputed croquet champion of the valley!
It was the intense concentration displayed here that propelled Julie to two 2nd place finishes.
Jenith held tightly to 3rd place in each round, and was heard muttering to herself, "Jenith, if you had a brain, you'd be dangerous."
I came screeching in at dead last both games. As it turns out, croquet is not my event :)