Apple Picking on the Farm!!

I always love going back home to the farm. No matter how short the visit, it seems to always be able to put a smile on my face and refresh me. There are a lot of times when the day gets to be too much or things just don't seem to be going my way just thinking of the fresh air and gorgeous flatness of the country, I seem to be able to make it through!

John and I stool the kids from my sister and went apple picking! These kids are quick pickers and I'm sure my sister would let people borrow them for work!! :)

After we finished our apple picking, the kids wanted to show off all that they had picked! Definately enough to fill the back of the vehicle!! Winston even started taking pictures of everyone (I think he has seen his mother take a few pictures)!!

Of course at the end, we all had to taste the produce....I think we definitely all agree Lawrence apples are the best!!!!

Hawaii--part 2

More fun in Hawaii....including measuring our arm spans versus that of a very large bird at the lighthouse and wildlife refuge on Kauai.

John and I had fun at a luau put on at the resort which featured delicious food and the best fire dancer on the islands!! Very impressive.

We finished our trip with a kayak adventure and swimming under secret falls and cliff jumping. I never thought I would be willing to jump off a perfectly good cliff but aparently I got a wild hair....it may have taken me a while but I did eventually jump. If you look closely at the rope that is in the bottom right picture, you will notice the severe fraying of the rope. By the way, my husband along with multiple other people were using this to swing on...really glad it didn't break while someone was using it!!

We went on a tour of the Hawaiian Village that we rented the kayak from and I found the doctor's house!!!

There is a cut out wooden pig in the picture above, but of course it just wouldn't be me if I didn't find the living animals on the trip...oh yeah and the statue Schnauzers on the bench in the lobby!!

We also had the opportunity to see some of the most gorgeous colors and flowers!!

CE in Hawaii--part 1

So, I think I have take long enough to get this updated onto my blog....many things have happened to delay me finishing this but my procrastination and frustration with computers has played a large roll!

So in June, John and I got to take our second trip to Hawaii together! This time to Kauai with the excuse that I had continuing education to go to. We got to spend a few extra days having fun just the two of us before and after the conference as well thanks to my generous boss.

We stayed at the gorgeous Grand Hyatt...absolutely the nicest accomodations I have ever had!

We had fun touring the island and even got to see the caves that were used in the last Pirates movie!! I'm not going to lie, it was pretty amazing to know that I was standing where Captain Jack Sparrow once stood!!

Our trip to the north shore had multiple stops along the way.

We also had a lot of fun around the hotel as well. The resort itself was about 5200 acres...including resteraunts, a golf course, multiple connecting pools with tide pools as well as a personal spa (which I did spend some time at)!

We even watched a wedding from our balcony eating chips and salsa with our feet up!!

Weekend of Family

This weekend started with my brother-in-law graduating from high school. I still can't believe that the young fourth grader that I first met is now on his way to college and becoming a cougar!! I have to admit that I am especially excited that there will be one less person in the family wearing purple and gold (even if they're wearing it because they are Connell Eagles)!!

Congrats Rex!!! We are so proud of you and can't wait to come see you in Pullman on and off the field!!

Next came helping my parents work outside on the rock garden. While I decided to help more from a distance, John decided crawling directly under the large equipment that my dad was driving...I really wish I had taken a picture of my husband displaying the amount of trust he has in his father-in-law!

Of course it wouldn't have been a weekend on the farm without a sick dog, who is hopefully feeling better now!!

We finished the weekend off with a trip to the races. I don't think Josh could have chosen a better way to enjoy his birthday! He did very well and we had a blast hanging out with my sister and her adorable kids!!

Simple Things

Sometimes it's just nice to sit back and enjoy some of the simple things in life. This past weekend John and I were sitting on the couch when the birds started enjoying the food in the bird feeder. While watching the birds enjoy their weekend feast, I once again realized how talented my dad is. He made the bird house in the pictures for John and I as a Christmas gift a couple years ago. The entire time we had the bird house in Pullman, we never saw birds at it; however, in the move we did discover a nest had been built inside it....hope that family found another home!!

Ocean Time

So I have been hounded by everyone that I am bad about posting anything on here so I am officially stating that I will try to update our blog at least twice monthly...whether I have any exciting pictures or not!!

With John now working in Eastern Washington for his uncle doing construction we are trying to make the most of our weekend visits.

On one of his latest visits home it was actually sunny and nice! We took advantage of the weather and spent the afternoon with the pups on the beach in Westport....

It was a successful day all in all. The pups slept great that night and John and I added a significant number of sand dollars to our collection. We must have found at least 30 whole dollars and left at least that many behind (we had to have some to go back for!)!!! Until our next nice day for our next sunny adventure....hope you enjoy the pictures!

The Holidays...

Christmas

John and I both enjoyed having my family

for Christmas weekend...it was the first holiday

we have gotten to host and it was also really nice

not to have to make the drive this year!!

This year was full of rain, hail, more rain and a lot of fun. We opened presents, ate delicious food and played games.

We also were able to go out to the beach with my whole family. I'm actually not sure if we have ever gotten to all go to the ocean together. It was cold but it was a lot of fun.

December 21st was the official day that I had been working at Raintree for 6 months!! This was exciting for a couple reasons but the biggest one is the fact that I now have paid vacation days. I took my first paid day off (EVER) Monday following Christmas. John and I were able to spend the entire day with Josh, Havila and the kids. It was a lot of fun to spend some extra time with them.

New Years

2011 was brought in with some great friends from vet school!! We rented a house in Sun River, OR for the weekend and all just kicked back for once. It was a weekend full of food, games, snow and ice!

We enjoyed games and hot tubbing (only sort of though due to the 500 degree hot tub!!!) the first night, new years eve.

New years day was spent shopping, eating, and ice skating. It was John's first time on the ice and he did great. He only fell once....but I think any of us would have in his situation (he had to either fall on purpose or plow over a little boy). I think he made the right choice even if the little boy was wearing a UW hat!!

Thank you to all our friends and family for making 2010 such a great year!! Now to begin enjoying the new year....the first year of no school for us!!!!