One Year Down

I got a surprising email this morning...an alert informing me that this blog is one year old today. I then started to skim back through some old posts and relived the past year...good times!! I am sure glad that Mel had the patience to help me set our blog up!

It's no secret that this blog has been down in the dumps/on the back burner/left for dead lately, but that will not be the case for long. With the summer coming I have decided to cut back on the classes that I am taking so that Rob and I can spend some time together and hopefully get out and do things worthy of some blogging...so expect some posts documenting our fun summer...I hope!

Visit from the girls

We have been lucky enough to have some house guests this past week. My Mom, aunt Alane and sister-in-law Melanie arrived in Seattle on Wednesday. That evening we headed over to Alki Beach for a great seafood dinner at Dukes and did some catching up. Snoqualmie Falls was our first stop Thursday morning.

The foliage surrounding the falls was so beautiful. We took tons of pictures of all the changing leaves. That afternoon we walked around the Seattle Art Museum. It was definitely not on the list of my favorite museums, but it was interesting nonetheless. As you walked in they had white about 5 white Taurus cars hanging from the ceiling with big flashing light sticks coming out of them. Weird, but it's art...I guess. The last picture shows Mel's favorite piece (the long silver robe made out of dog tags) and my least favorite piece (a large rat on top of a bed).

On our way home we stopped by Southcenter Mall to grab some Red Mango and do a little shopping. Here is Mel posing with a crazy headband she found in Forever 21. She cracks me up!! I also found a great dusty blue handbag/clutch there for only $25! I love their accessories...they are so cheap!

On Friday we went to Pikes Place Market and did some shopping. Alane bought me a pretty bunch of dried flowers. I love getting dried flowers from the market...they look great and last forever!

That night we dined at a good old favorite; The Crab Pot on the waterfront.

After dinner we went home for a little R & R before hitting the 10:00 showing of The Secret Life of Bees at the Lincoln Center.

I read the book a few years back and liked it. The movie was great, but you know what they all say: the book is always better than the movie. Everyone else (minus Rob :) he was so good to go along with our movie selection!) really enjoyed the movie. It was 12:30 before we arrived home. We were all so tired!!

After sleeping in a few hours on Saturday morning we drove through the Arboretum to check out the changing leaves and have a little walk around. The weather was exceptionally warm and bright. There were so many people out with their cameras!

The next stop of the day was Gas Works Park. You get a great view of the city and Lake Union from this park. See the sky in the background? Clearness of that kind in nearly unheard of during this time of year. The girls really lucked out on their trip up here...hardly any rain at all! There were a bunch of people (all adults!) there dressed up crazy costumes and playing weird games...it was a funny site to see.

We arrived at the Seattle Center in the late afternoon. I was so surprised that they still had the fountain going. There were even a few people playing in the water...crazy! It was definitely starting to cool down by this time in the day, so I could only imagine how cold it was if you were wet. :)

While waiting in line at the Space Needle a lady in front of us handed us some free passes...nice, huh! Since everyone but Alane had been up in to the top before, Rob and Alane waited in line to go up to the top and Mel, Mom and I went back to the Center House to watch the Seattle Turkish Festival dancers. It was pretty entertaining!!

Back at home we played some games over pizza and a movie and hit the sack. The girls were off to the airport the next morning and our exciting time with them came to an end. We had such a great time with them all!! Rob was such a good tour guide and drove us all over the place! He sure did a better job than I could have. :)

Thanks for coming to visit us...can't wait to see you again soon!

Melanie

My very amazing sister-in-law Melanie is celebrating a birthday today (the 25th. I started the post last night so that date reads the 24...oops!). Melanie is such a riot! I always have so much fun with her. It is such a bummer that we live so far away from each other. As I was searching for a picture of Mel to use, I had so many fun ones to choose from - she isn't one of those people who is shy in front of the camera...it's great! The pictures I chose have great memories associated with them. The first one is a picture of Melanie on her first trip to visit us up in Seattle. We were messing around in the Seattle Aquarium gift shop and she modeled a few 'hats' for us (me and Mom). Gosh, I am giggling just looking at this picture...she always makes me laugh!! :)

This one is my favorite! You know those colored malt Easter egg candies? We were licking them and then using them as lipsticks...I think that this is a pretty common practice, right? I always did it growing up. Well, Melanie picked one that matched her outfit, applied it and then cheesed it up for a picture. Now, tell me that doesn't sound like someone who is a fun Mom!

These pictures really capture the Melanie that I love. She is so sweet, fun, caring and up for anything...even bowling the day before she has a baby (with no complaints at all...in fact, it was probably her idea to go in the first place).

Mel, I am so glad that you are a part of our family; I couldn't have asked for a better sister. I could talk and laugh with you for hours about nothing...I really miss you!! Cannot wait for you to come visit us next month! Happy Birthday!!!