unbreakable

My parents have been married 37 years today ...
(8 years longer than my mom has been alive ...)

our heart day

dinner: Alfy's heart-shaped pizza!
dessert: homemade heart-shaped chocolate chip bread (made from a muffin mix)
after making a valentine haul at school we delivered the majority of our valentines to our church friends and teachers ... then met andy and ammon at Alfy's. grandma, grandpa and ann joined us and we had ourselves some yummy all-you-can-eat salad bar and heart-shaped pizza! it was time for bed when we got back home. survivor was good ... csi was a re-run (thank heaven the strike is almost over!)

so much for having christmas put away completely ...

survivor isn't andy's favorite ... so he opted to collect and take out the garbage - the garbage man comes to our neighborhood friday morning. while he was out there he decided to take down my lights - how proactive of him ... reason 15 that i love him: be it dishes, vacuuming, or taking down my lights ... when he sees a job that needs to be done - he does it (most of the time).

it has been tradition that i put them up - i take them down ... that includes all holiday decorations especially christmas! therefore he didn't know where to put them ... once he had removed them from the trees. he came in and said "em, can you come outside for a minute? i, um, took down the lights ... " "what?? - why?" "mostly because it's dry." we made quick work of the bush lights and i couldn't leave up the house lights ... so i donned my wellies and got the step ladder out and finished the job. thanks honey - you know how to jump start the christmas light removal!

i finished watching survivor at about 10:ish (dsl is sent from heaven) and since everything else besides the news is a rerun ... i turned off the tv and finally had a shower - while spending all day in my workout clothes is comfortable, it's not very 'valentine-y' of me. andy was working on his computer when i came back down (smelling MUCH better) he said that he was almost done so i chatted with alicia for a little bit and then andy closed his computer and went up to get ready for bed. i turned out the lights and grabbed the bottle of bubbly (martinelli's) and 2 glasses and headed up the stairs - mid-flight the doorbell rang and my cell started ringing almost in sync. i looked out the peep hole to see andy's dad and sister ... i grabbed my phone and told alicia to hang on. i opened the door to find out that his sister wanted to have some movies that she had accidentally left here a while back when she tended the kids. andy retrieved them from his car while i talked on the phone and then finally at 11:30ish we headed upstairs again. phew! kids tucked in and lights off ... the best part: there was no 'get back in your bed'!!

i got andy a deck of conversation cards and we played a little bit (they are cards that ask questions like: if you could be reincarnated as an animal - which would you be and why? and what is your favorite childhood memory?). it was fun and i anticipate learning a lot about him that i didn't know before. it's amazing - even after 8+ years of marriage there are still things that i don't know about him!

it was a great valentine's day and it's not over yet!

hope yours was romantic and fun!!

ps ... i forgot the best part of all - my gift from andrew ... I LOVE IT!!

family night, jack-o-laterns and ghost candle jars!

a cute story i read a while back: A lady recently being baptized was asked by a co-worker what it was like to be a Christian. She replied, "It's like being a pumpkin: God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off that you may have gotten from the other pumpkins. Then he opens you up and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

on that note: for family night we carved our pumpkins!

after the kids went to bed i made these:

it's ripped masking tape and construction paper! easy, quick and cute huh?!

hay rides, pumpkins and apple cider (should have brought some!)

We were up and out at 9:55 AM on Saturday headed to The Farm, we have made it a tradition to go the weekend closest to Alicia's birthday and pick our pumpkins, go on the hay ride and take some really fun pictures!
The sun was shining and glorious when we left home and headed north on Highway 9 ... we looked toward Snohomish and were greeted by a BIG CLOUD that had taken up residence right in the valley! OH NO!! Fog is not fun and what's worse you can't take good pictures in it! I called Alicia - she convinced me that it would burn off and sure enough, by the time we finished visiting the animals and got Abi to stop crying about wanting to take a kitty home, it was sunny and warm! Halleluiah!!
So here are some of the good ones ... there's so many to pick from! I love the fall colors and the farm always makes me smile!

And now my display out front looks complete!


(until we carve them up!)

Happy Birthday Alicia!

When it comes to wonderful people - few hold a candle to Alicia!

There are many, many reasons to love her ... we all thought long and hard, we want to share with you what we love best about her.

Andy: She is a very good friend.

Emily: She is the Best Listener and helps me be a better mommy.

Abi: She comes and helps us carve pumpkins.

Elyssa: I like it when she comes over to sleep at our house.

Ammon: She makes yummy cookies.

Easton: She picks me up and loves me!

We love you!!

we did it! 3 whole days!!

after much deliberation including consulting weather.com, the weather man and 'encouragement' from our good friend Alicia - we finally decided that we would not be true seattleite-washingtonians if we never experienced a campout in the rain! I ran some errands before loading up and requested prayers for sunshine from the Conlin clan. We packed all the proper attire and necessities for protection from the LiquidSunshine (amidst intermittent showers!!) and headed to our fave campground Cascade Park! We had planned to arrive there about 5ish ... as per usual we were running late and unfortunately the Wrights were running a little later. We arrived around 7pm and hurried to set up before the sun went down ... the Wrights showed up about an hour later and we all pitched in to get their tent up in the dark! Saturday morning I expected the rain to drizzle but to my great-big-smiley-faced surprise it was sunny!! Sadly, I was so prepared for rain that I didn't put in the swimsuits!! We made due and got wet and sandy down at the river. Trav swam with the kids while the rest of the adults stood on the bank and put our feet in a little! Saturday evening the campers that had been there Friday night packed up and left. We were left with free reign of the whole campground! The missionary couples that are the caretakers came around on their 'jeeps' and gave the kids rides every once in a while - that by far was the greatest service they provided for us!! Sunday morning we woke early because Andy's battery that was running his sleep machine ran out of juice!! We got up and started the fire. Nicki came out and said that she had been wrestling with a migraine and feeling sick. She climbed in her van, turned on the heater and slept for a while - trying to sleep off the effects. The rest of us went fishing at Andy's parent's lot and when we came back she was feeling a little better - no longer thinking that she'd have to leave early. Our Sunday was pretty quiet - we didn't make it to the Ice Caves as we had planned ... but it was pleasant. Monday morning we woke to overcast skies ... just perfect so that we didn't sweat too much taking down camp. We had breakfast and then packed up while the kids played and rode the jeep with the missionaries!
All in all it was a great time had by all and we are so glad we decided to go!! I know that I would have been really upset had we decided not to go! We missed not having Alicia with us - next time! We learned a few things on this trip:
1) bring more clothes that you think you'll need
2) put in the swim suits ... even if you think it's gonna rain!
3) dinners can be simple - especially for the kids!
4) bring activities for the kids!!
and most important
5) take friday off - go up early and set up - make it a good long weekend!

We did it!!

o what do you do in the summer time?

when all the world is green ...

do you campout with friends and pray the rain ends

and play at grandma's house outside?

is that what you do? So do I!

do you play T-ball games, shout Zingers! Hooray!

and play at the beach on a sunny day?

is that what you do? So do I!

do you learn to climb high, spend a day at low tide

accidentally bring home a hermit crab?

is that what you do? So do I!

do you walk a 10K, have a firework display

and spend hot sunny days outside?

is that what you do? So do I!

do you swim in the pool, lessons - so cool!

and ride horses in Idaho?

is that what you do? So do I!

do you find a house to buy, put your house on the market, keep it nice, spic and span

then see the market flatline, try and fail to get a loan

and then finally decide that Heavenly Father doesn't want you to move??

is that what you do? So do I!

O what do you do when the summer's done and it's time to go back to school?

do you remember the fun you had in the sun and wish it could be prolonged?

is that what you do? So do I!!

This has been a GREAT summer and we have had a lot of fun ...

but it's time to go back to school and we're READY!

and the verdict is ...

we're staying put.

After many failed scenerios, mournful tears, and heart-felt prayers we came to the decision that it's best for our family to stay where we are for a while. Due partly to the facts: 1) we are unable to sell; 2) we can't find a bank to loan us the amount we needed at the rate and payment we can handle; 3) we are unsure what effect the recent market mayhem will have on our income; and most importantly, due to our need to 'be wise' - while we have faith that it will work out, we need to use our best judgment so that we don't put ourselves in a position that will put a strain on our family. Truth be told I really wanted the yard - a place for the 4 ping pong balls that bounce around our little townhouse to be free ... we'll just be learning to be more compatible, compassionate, contented and comfortable because as they say: Love grows best in little houses!

We went to talk to the sellers of 'the house' last night and suprisingly they weren't upset with us for not being able to buy their house. They felt bad that we weren't able to buy and were sad that our kids (who had been thru the house and picked their bedrooms and seen all the places to play) weren't going to be able to have the house. They had told the neighbors about us and mentioned how disappointed they'll be too. Overall it was a nice visit/parting with them. They sure are a nice older couple and it would have been wonderful to have that cool old house ... but it isn't meant to be.

Everett 4th Ward will have to put up with us for a little while longer, Silver Firs Elementary will have two Super Smart Shaw Students this year, and we'll be card carrying members at Imagine Children's Museum, Woodland Park Zoo, and the Seattle Aquarium to keep our little busy bodies out of trouble!!

the shaw ultimatum

As you all know we are in the midst of purchasing a house ... some of you may NOT know that the secondary market 'crashed' this week making it exceptionally difficult for us to close our loan. Especially due to the fact that the company that 'purchased' our loan closed it's doors on Tuesday - leaving all of the people that were trying to close loans thru them high and dry. One might think that this is a sign that we are NOT supposed to buy this house. In addition, we are having ZERO luck selling our townhouse, we've had TONS of people looking but not one offer!

I guess my question is - when do you chalk it up to bad timing/market mayhem and when do you say to yourself "someone's trying to tell me something!!" ?!?

a frog and a seahorse and a penguin ...

aka: Ammon and Elyssa and Abi! We started 2 weeks of daily swim lessons today! Ammon's a little short on one end for his class ... but he's doing great! Elyssa wasn't so sure she wanted to get in the water ... but took to it like the good little seahorse that she is!! Abi almost forgot to get her clothes off before jumping in! We have friends in Elyssa and Abi's classes -- hooray someone for mom to talk to!! Easton was a little squirmy ... but that's just cuz he wants to get in the water too. It's gonna be a great 2 weeks - pray for sunshine!

Ammon loves the water

Elyssa practising torpedo hands

Abi loves swim lessons!

Shaw's Super Summer Sabbatical

(there's so many words that begin with 'S' that alliteration is a cinch)

Saturday afternoon July 14th we made our way out of town ... as per usual we were behind schedule and it was too late to swim by the time we arrived in Couer d'Alene to spend the night in the horrible room reserved for us in hell; aka: Motel6. 1 queen size bed and not nearly enough room for the 6 of us! Needless to say we will not be staying in Motel6 ever again!

We arrived in Blackfoot before the sun went down on Jacob's birthday and were so excited to celebrate with him!

Monday thru Thursday were VERY relaxing and enjoyable days playing in the sunshine on the Bonzai water slide (the one that we picked up at Wal*mart in Smelterville, ID for the Cook's to replace the one that was chewed by the neighbor's dog!); working on the playhouse build project; swinging, slides and football at Jensen's Grove; trips to Wal*mart after the kids went to bed and we even went on a double date - left the babies asleep and kids with a babysitter! Don't even worry, there were 5 kids under 7 years old and 2 babies!!

Friday was spent at Bear Lake, we drove into Utah - barely. The sand was nice and the water was BEAUTIFUL!

Saturday was the much anticipated horseback riding day! We packed our stuff to head out of town and then drove up to Archer to Garth's house! They had planned a dinner and everything! We rode for a good hour or so in the side yard - enclosed for safety! Andy had the ride of his life ... He nearly found out why they named that horse Buck!

It was GREAT fun! We love the Cooks and look forward to seeing them more!

(by the way - we stayed in Ontario, OR at the SleepInn there and will TOTALLY do that again! 2 queen size beds AND a crib, with a swimming pool to boot!)

did you get the biggest bang for your buck?

The 4th of July was a blast (pun intended)!!
Seattle is having it's best 4th of July week in a century!!
For us the holiday started at the 27th Annual Everett 4th Ward 4th of July Pancake and Egg Breakfast, then to Kayak Point with the Farrar Family and friends. On this sizzling hot 80-ish degree day we lathered our fair-skinned crew with sunscreen and headed to the water. Andy took each of the kids on a kayak ride and then took a ride by himself. We ate, chatted, dug in the sand and played all day!! The tide was out and there were a ton of teeny-tiny crab all over! Abi was having such fun digging and finding baby crab that she didn't notice that the shells in the sand were ripping her fingertips to shreds - until one cut on her middle finger got deep enough to bleed and the salt water hit it! Ouch!
We headed home about 5:30. We stopped by Alfy's for a pizza for dinner, but everybody fell asleep in the air conditioned car on the way home! (I took full advantage of the opportunity to have a shower!!)
The heat woke them before I was finished and they all came trooping in the house with their sandy feet and bodies needing to be hosed off in the shower. After everyone was cleaned up we ate our now not-so-hot half-cheese-half-pepperoni pizza and then piled back into the van to go get some LastMinuteHalfPricedDiscounted Fireworks. We arrived at the tent and the guy told Andy that the prices marked were not true ... everything was $1 - we could have packages that were marked $5 and $10 for a buck ... and then he gave us a box and said "Go ahead and fill it up, and I'll give it to you for $20. I don't care if stuff is hanging out the top ... "

As luck would have it ... we had decided that $20 was our limit ... we started loading up on what ever we could get our hands on. We went to the register checked out and vowed to be loyal cutomers and return next year! We figure we got over $300 worth of every kind of exploding, noise-making, spark spraying, bomb throwing firework there was!
We came home and lit fireworks off out in the street for almost 3 solid hours ... we decided to spare our ears and not light anymore 'whistling petes' and we got bored of the confetti poppers ... so we have a bunch for the New Year! Our neighbor down the road brought us a box with fire crackers and about 18 bombs (you know the ones that shoot up in the air and the explode in a beautiful array of color and sometimes crackle - those are my faves).

We finished up at about 11pm and it took us about 20 minutes to do a quick clean up with a broom, dustpan and many hands! All in all it was a great time had by all! Although Andy confessed later that he was starting to get bored of lighting them! I like to go to firework shows but was out-voted!! We hope the kids got their fill of lighting fireworks - when we get into our new house we will be inside the city limits and not allowed to light them in our yard! Maybe I'll get to see a show set to music next year!!

what is that fiery ball in the sky?!

Yesterday we had the first real heat of the year and were forced to find a place to cool down!! Mukilteo Beach, right near the ferry dock, wasn't too crowded. We spent just about 45 minutes but the 3 biggest children got soaked and sandy! I foresee many more of these activities coming our way!!