Fun with Shannon!

My sister, Shannon, came to visit us for 10 days, and we all had a great time. We love having visitors from out of state because it helps us get out of our little comfort zone and explore the fun things around us. (You may notice some pictures on Shannon's blog may look a little familiar! Obviously, I found the missing pictures, Shannon!)

On the way home from the airport, we took Shannon to Snoqualmie Falls and the Seattle Temple.

Sophie made a new friend at the temple. One night we went hiking at Flaming Geyser.While the boys were at Cub Camp and Scout Camp, we took the girls to the zoo. It was Sophie's first visit to the zoo, and she loved the elephants. Here's a picture of Rachel with a tiger in the background.
And we thought ahead and brought swimming suits to the zoo so the girls could play in the water.

We all (minus Steve) went swimming at the Y--sorry--NO PHOTOS there!!!

And best of all, we played tourists and went downtown!

The kids' favorite stop was the Fremont Bridge Troll. My favorite part was the doughnut shop at Pike's Place Market.
Shannon "met" Sylvester in Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
The boys' favorite part of the visit was playing the Wii with Aunt Shannon. She's really good!

When we dropped Shannon off at the airport, Sophie was sobbing, "Shannon--Shannon!" We had to yell out of the van to Shannon to come back for one last hug. We took Sophie out of her car seat and she wrapped her arms and legs around her for one last big hug. (I wish I'd had my camera--it was so sweet!)

Thanks for coming Shannon! Come back again soon. We love you!

We Escaped!

We love our kids, and they are great kids, but let's face it- when we signed up for this there were only two of us. Occasionally we like to get back to the basics, just me and Tammy. You know- a chance to say something without the kids asking "Who did that?" (only to find out later how your great kids are lousy secret keepers). Or, a night's sleep without a baby yelling "Momma! Dadda!" at 7:00 am. Or going to bed without first telling 4 kids 64 times "Brush your teeth! Go to the bathroom! Go to Bed!"

So Tammy's sister Shannon came to visit this week and we left her with the kids while we took off. We got a room at the Edgewater for $100 (Thank you Priceline!). The Edgewater is a fancy place on Pier 67- right on the water. For a little more $$, we upgraded our room to a King room on the water. We checked in and looked out our window to see just how close we were to the water- and the cruise ship loading at Pier 65:

We left the hotel and walked down the piers to the ferry station- about a mile, but we caught a ride in a cycle rickshaw. We took the ferry over to Bainbridge Island (#2 place to live in the US, according to money magazine). From there, we walked another mile to a Thai food place- it was incredible! We ate right on the water, looking at all the sailboats at the docks and watching the sun go down. The food was the best Thai I've had.

Of course, on the ferry ride and walk back to the hotel, we spent most of the time talking about 14 years ago and our whirlwind romance. It scares us more every time we talk about it. But it worked out pretty well, we decided.

The next morning, after sleeping in as late as we possibly could, we walked around Pike Place Market where we had breakfast, watched the crowds, and had the fun you have at the market on a crowded Saturday morning:

Then, finally, it was over and we had to go home. But it was great to get a vacation. All we need now is more visits from our wonderful family... anyone want to come see Seattle in lovely Fall?

Cedar Badge

Two weeks ago, we sent Steven, who turned 12 in March, on a week and a half adventure to Idaho--ALL BY HIMSELF!!! I must say I'm proud that I put my control-freakishness on hold for 10 days and let my son have FUN! I just let go and didn't worry about him (too much) the whole time he was gone.

Steve's mom offered to take Steven to Cedar Badge at a camp in the Tetons if we could get him to Idaho. Cedar Badge is a leadership camp for Scouts similar to Wood Badge for adults. So, Saturday morning we sent him on an airplane to Boise where he met his Grandpa Trent's niece, Shelley, (whom Steven had never met.) Then he took a ride across Idaho on a shuttle to Idaho Falls--he had to change buses in Pocatello. He had his cell phone with him so we were able to call him once in awhile to check in.
He had a fun time--as far as we can tell anyway--he's becoming a teenager; speaking in one word phrases in responses to our inquiries. (i.e. Mom: What did you do while you were there? Steven: Stuff.) Luckily Steve had been to Cedar Badge when he was a kid, so he knew the right questions to ask. I only wish I'd been there when they were talking so I could have heard all about it.

Steve's mom took pictures of Steven up there. She and Steve's sisters also attended the Cedar Badge graduation ceremony. We only wish we could have been there to see him.

After Cedar Badge, he got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Packer and Shari, Jeni, Heather, and their families. He also got to relive old times by playing in Grandma's sandbox. (Grandma, thanks for doing all his laundry while he was there! There wasn't a speck of sand in his suitcase!)
On the way home, he spent a day with my cousin, Stephanie, and her kids. He loves going to their house because he gets to hang out with cousins his own age. (He seems to always be the oldest kid wherever we go!) Thanks, Steph, for picking him up from the shuttle, letting him stay with you and returning him to the airport!

As we sat and watched fireworks on the 4th of July, Steven actually wanted to sit next to me so he could tell me all the things about the flag and patriotism that he'd learned. I'm very impressed with his new-found patriotic attitude! (After awhile, I had to disappoint him by telling him I wanted to sit by Daddy because Independence Day is a "Romantic Holiday" for Daddy and me--see the post below!)

This week I get to "let go" again as he goes off with our own troop's scout camp. Have fun, Steven! When he gets back, I'll let him write all about his exciting adventures.

My favorite time of year

(Hi, this is Steve. You need to know this so you don't get confused by this Post)

I love Christmas, I like springtime, and I like most holidays. I love our anniversary, although that's changed a bit now that Sophie was born on it. But there's still one time of year that belongs to Tammy and me, one part of the year that we both love and remember fondly.

We met in 1994 on June 26th, at a Joseph Smith fireside at BYU. After the fireside, a mutual friend introduced us. That was Sunday night. Wednesday night, we met again at another friend's house, and we set up a date for Thursday morning- a walk along Bridal Veil Falls near Provo, UT. We had a great time, and got together again that night, the next morning, Friday night, Saturday morning, and any time that we could find.

Saturday night (July 2nd) we hiked up to the "Y" near BYU and watched the fireworks together. I was into photography so we used this as an excuse to make the hike:

That was the night I told Tammy that I was falling in love- that was the first time I'd told anyone that.

We went to Church together on Sunday, then spent the day together.

Monday morning we went to the parade in Provo to enjoy Independence Day. Really we just held hands and looked into each other's eyes. We were soooo cheesy, it was great.

That night as we sat watching the fireworks from our friend's house, we talked about getting married and started making plans. A few days later, I officially proposed and we started telling our family. We were married on September 21st.



So every year as we come upon June 26th we both look at each other and ask "What were you doing 14 years ago?" Then we struggle a little to remember the exact dates of each of the events of that week. Luckily, we made a video on July 9 to explain it all. We thought it was all moving very fast, but were both certain it was the right thing and we wanted to document it. So we went to the park, turned on the borrowed video camera, and talked for an hour of our whirlwind romance. The best part is watching us - oozing with sap, unable to keep our hands off of each other (ok, maybe that was just me). But it's so cheesy that we can only stand to watch it every several years. I think we've watched it twice since then. Our kids are under strict orders not to watch it until we're dead. I don't think they'll make it through until they themselves are old and almost dead. Maybe I'll post a few minutes of it for you...

At least we didn't sing for America!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pn-LEft_w

I love you Tammy! And happy July 4th!