Where does the time go? Father's Day and Lake Steven's

I'm not sure if it's that I'm turly busy or that I spend too much time either facebooking or watching the Food Network. Either way, I have not posted anything on my blog in what feels like FOREVER! My apologies. Now, then, on to what we've been up to.

For Father’s Day the girls gave Kurt some small but thoughtful gifts and we enjoyed a yummy “home grilled” meal.

Later in June we spent an afternoon boating at Lake Stevens. This would be the first time in over a year that I went out

wakeboarding after some trouble with my back last summer. I was nervous but excited. I had never even gone since we added the tower to the boat. It took me two tries but then I got up like I had never missed any time at all. It was a blast! The water was a little choppy, but Kurt and I both got to wakeboard.

Ashley brought her friend Mackenzie along and they did a ton of tubing along with Lauren. I think we really pooped them out. :) It was a great day on the lake and the weather was beautiful!

Take me out to the ball game...

Some friends of ours gave us tickets to a Mariner's game. We hadn't been to a game in a really long time, so it sounded like a lot of fun to us!

It was even bobble-head night, but we we're a little late so we didn't get any. :(

Of course half of the fun of going to a ball game is all the yummy food! We wasted no time getting a big ol' bag of kettle corn to share and the biggest pop we could find. The kettle corn was a good deal - we even brought some home at the end of the night. The pop, however, was gone in NO time!

I snuck a shot of Kurt eating - he just LOVES it when I do that! ;) Yummy!!

It was a lot of fun - the Mariner's even won. In the eighth inning, they came back from behind with a few home runs and some other great plays.

Hopefully we can go back again soon!

Dance Recital

Ashley and Lauren dance in a lyrical ballet class at The Monroe Dance Studio. They have been there for four years now. Many of the girls in the class have been dancing together that whole time. It has been amazing to watch them progress and improve over the years. They have become beautiful dancers.

Going to class each week can be a little hard on them at times - especially when the weather get nice outside and they would rather play around the neighborhood. But the hard work really pays off! They LOVE the rehearsal and the show - all the energy backstage and everyone dressed up in full makeup and costumes. Glitter flying all through the air. They should be proud of themselves - they did a fantastic job! Their instructor, Miss Ronna, has been so great with them. A wonderful roll model, too!

We are so proud of our dancers - here are a few pictures from the dress rehearsal and the day of the recital.

Talent Show by Day, Band Concert by Night

Mom and David were getting to experience a whole bunch of neat things that the girls had going on the week they were here. Lauren was participating in the Salem Woods talent show. She and two of her really good friends (Maranda and Kasey) performed a really nice version of the Miley Cyrus song, The Climb. They worked really hard together before the show and even added choreography. They sang beautifully and we all agreed that they had one of the best acts! Great job, girls!

Ashley had her last band concert of the year on the same night, so Mom and David got to see her perform, too. Mr. Duemchen is going to Park Place Middle next year so that he can maintain his fulltime teaching status. We are all going to miss him so much. The kids all did a nice job of letting him know just how special he has been to them. It was an emotional goodbye. If all goes well, though, Ashley will join Mr. D's Jazz band next year as a zero period class. It was a great concert, way to go kids! Of course, every band concert must be followed by a trip to Dairy Queen! :)

Cornish Pasties with Nana

There is a tradition in our family passed down from my Great-grandma, Nannie Nicholls from Cornwall England. The tradition is Cornish Pasties - a meat pie type dinner made with a pie pastry, steak, pork, rutabaga, onion and potatoes. I have a great memories of eating these tasty treats growing up. I have yet to make them myself, but occasionally Mom makes them for us when she is in town. This was the first time the girls had them and they both loved them! :) Thanks, Nana!!

Chuckanut Drive & Larrabee State Park

On Sunday the weather was just amazing and we wanted to get out and enjoy it somehow. Kurt came up with the idea of going out to Chuckanut Drive (we had never been before). Ashley had gone out with a friend on her boat for the day, so it was just Mom, David, Kurt, Lauren and I. The drive was really pretty along the water of the Puget Sound. We stopped at Larrabee State Park and took a little walk down the hill to the beach. We really liked the campground and thought we might like to take a camping trip there someday.

After checking out the park, we hopped back in the car and drove into Bellingham with a brief stop at a quaint little coffee shop. It was a fantasitc day.

Mukilteo Beach with Nana & Grandpa David

Mom had heard me talk several times about going to Mukilteo Beach. She thought she'd like to go and check it out if we had the time. We absolutely love it there, so I thought it was a great idea. We headed out there to watch the sunset - the best way to enjoy Mukilteo in my opinion! It was a tad bit windy and a little cold, but not so bad that we couldn't stick around for the sunset. The girls enjoyed the playground and we adults just strolled around checking out the kites, watching the sun go down and just enjoying our time together. It was a near perfect night!