FOR ME?????

My Dream House on the shores of Lake Washington. Since my birthday is just a mere 5 short weeks away, Tim has been asking me what I want. Well, I picked out this amazingly beautiful house. You know what they say.....Dream Big! I think this house might just be big enough. There are even two chairs on the dock waiting to be filled with Babbitts!
The only problem is that the people hired to simply maintain the grounds probably make more money than we do! I don't think I'll be seeing this house with a big red bow on it anytime soon, but its a nice dream!

Commercial Ready!

Tim is ready to star in the next Coors Light commercial. We were out on the Instant Gratification this weekend and darned if he weren't wearing a Coors Light shirt while drinking a Coors Light. How unusual for Tim to be wearing a beer shirt and/or drinking a beer!
Don't you think the Coors company should pay for this great advertisement?

When you're HOT you're HOTT!

Tim-the-Tool-Man Babbitt

Most people would just use hornet spray to kill the nasty critters in their nest - but not my husband. Oh No! He uses expandable insulation foam to completely fill their home and suffocate the buggers. However, since he doesn't read directions, he did this during daylight hours and not all the hornets were inside their nest, so some of them are completely ticked off flying around trying to get back into their home. I do hope they go away soon!

Nasty Nasty Bees

Make that Bald-Faced Hornets. I got an email from Kaitlyn when I was at work today that we had a bees nest at home that was bigger than her head. Well, turns out she was right. It's the size of a freaking basketball! Needless to say that I will not be venturing into the backyard until these nasty little buggers are dead and gone! The exterminator people want $150 to dawn their gear and make this go away. Sounds like money well spent to me. Tim hasn't seen it yet, but guessing my his macho-man attitude, he'll be doing the job himself. I hope he doesn't get stung, cuz he'll be on his own. I'll be safely tucked away inside the house with all of the windows and doors closed and locked up tight! Did I mention that I HATE bees!!!

Up...Up....And Away

Tim Flies!
Yes, the photos are of Tim actually flying an airplane! A flight lesson, with fabulous instructor Jeff Christopher, was Tim's birthday present this year. Yesterday afternoon Tim and Jeff took to the sky from Northwest Aviation College in Auburn. They flew up over Enumclaw, right over our house on South Hill but Tim got to feeling mighty queasy and they headed back for the airport. Tim had a blast and only wish he hadn't felt so bad toward the end. Tim even received an official Pilot Log book with is flight details as a souvenier. Jeff said he'd fly with Tim again anytime. Boy, does Tim have some big shoes to fill with my birthday just a about 7 weeks away!
(coming in for landing over Lowes!)

Princess Fieona

Leave it to my sister to name my niece after a cartoon character, but she is so adorable that she has been forgiven! She might be named after the princess in Shrek, but she looks more like Boo from Monster's Inc.

a ray of sunshine....

Sometimes when you are at your lowest, the simplest things can help you remember the happy times...like attending a wedding. This weekend we made the trek to Bellingham for the wedding of Michael & Kristine Mauss (don't you just love her name?!) Not only was it a beautiful wedding and fun reception (Tim got to bartend on his birthday - what could be better for him....he got to be around beer all night long and 200+ people sang "Happy Birthday" to him) but Tom Mauss provided just the break that I needed. He got the Garden Suite at the Hotel Bellwether on Bellingham Bay for Tim and I. It was amazing! A beautiful setting and oh so relaxing....just what the doctor ordered! The scenic photo is the view (about 25 yards) from our patio. The other photos are some of my favorties from the evening! The last photo is from our stroll around the marina this morning before heading back to real life at home. It was a WONDERFUL escape - even if just for 24 hours!

Rest in Peace!

Darlene A. Lundberg

Dec. 6, 1929 to July 30, 2006

My step-mother, Darlene, passed from death to Paradise this past weekend after a courageous battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with lung cancer this spring and two weeks ago was hospitalized as the cancer had spread to her brain. After spending a week in the hospital we took her home, and cared for her with the help of Hospice until she passed away on Sunday. Today was her funeral service. Family and friends gathered to remember her. Some long-time friends of mine that never even met Darlene made the 1 1/2 hour drive to the service to support me. I also had a surprise guardian angel appear, Michael G. I was extremely touched by his presence, especially considering what his family is currently going through in their fight against cancer.
My Dad and Darlene were together for nearly 35 years. I was just a little girl when they got married. I didn't fully appreciate the gifts she brought to my life until I was an adult. She was a loving and caring person who had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. She followed, and encouraged others to follow, that golden rule that "if you can't say something nice about someone, then you shouldn't say anything at all". Being from the old school, she tried not to cuss. Her favorite substitute phrases were "berry sauce" and "biscuit eater". I catch myself saying those phrases from time to time. She will be a part of me always.
Darlene, you were loved and will be greatly missed by many. I am so glad you are in a better place with a brand new body that is cancer free. Rest in Peace!

Birthday Party

Today Kaitlyn finally had her 14th birthday party. The girls (and Derek) had pizza, brownies and then headed off to the movies to see The Pirates of the Caribbean 2.

Bye Bye Hair!

Tonight Kaitlyn took a HUGE step.....she had 10 inches of her hair cut off! Wow! She's holding 8 inches of it in her hand in the photo and another 2 inches hit the salon floor.
It's amazing how much older she looks without the long ponytail! She's donating the wad of hair she's holding to Locks of Love to benefit kids that have lost their hair due to cancer or other medical conditions. Since Kaitlyn has fabulous thick hair, it will make a beautiful hair piece for someone!

A Room with a View!

....but not the room you'd expect to have this kind of a view!

Last Friday I was able to go to the Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle for a celebration lunch with some lovely ladies from work.
The photo is the view from my individual bathroom stall in the ladies restroom - 76 floors above the city. It's quite the view of the Seattle, Lake Washington and the Cascades! Just incredible, especially for a ladies restroom!

Bliss

Today we went to the wedding of Stephanie-Sue and Kyle. It was a beautifully personal ceremony at the Edgewater Hotel on the waterfront in downtown Seattle. The bride cried through the ceremony, as did most of us in the audience. The bride and groom appear to be a perfect match.

This photo was completely candid, the bride and groom had no idea I was photographing them and I just captured a personal moment.

The photo editing was compliments of Shelley Mauss Photography. I can't wait to order it and send it to the bride and groom as a surprise!

Happy 14th Birthday Kaitlyn!!!

Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday Dear Katie Sue!
Happy Birthday to You!

Wishing you pure joy and happiness as you experience the coming year and your first year of high school! I love you (more than the whole sky)!

(Yes, she did get a laptop for her birthday!)

Beautiful Day on the Water

Yesterday we spent the day on the water with our friends, Pam & John, in their brand new 26.5 foot Cobalt. What an amazing boat. Tim got boat-envy all over again! We cruised through Lake Washington, Lake Union, and out through the Ballard Locks into the Sound. We then headed to Seattle and around Alki point. The weather was amazing - got just a little more sun!