So behind

Wow how time flies. Traveling makes for lots of pictures and not much time to put them on the blog. This post will be mainly catching up which means lots of pics and not much for words. Probably just as you would like!

I will begin with the rest of our wonderful Washington trip.
My Mom and I took Abby to a Children's Museum in downtown Olympia and she loved every room.
Abby the farmer:
Look Daddy, I can water just like you!
Abby the cashier:
Abby said, "I'm workin' Mom."
Abby the foreman:
Abby the sailor:
Abby the medic:
Abby the doctor:
Abby the musician:
What a fun place--she wants to go back!
My Dad builds and flies model airplanes and so he took Abby to the lake by their house and let her drive the plane on the water and showed her how it flies. She was very excited.
Tumwater Falls Park is one of my favorite places back home so I took Abby one afternoon. We walked around and saw all of the waterfalls and played on the boats I played on as a kid.
On July 2nd, Abby, Grandma, Grandpa, and I went up to my sister Tiffany's. The kids played outside and Uncle Jeremiah threw some of the kids down the slip and slide. They had popsicles, played with water guns and just had fun being outside.
My first popsicle Mom! (Mom looks on in the background.)
Well this is a start in catching up! More to come!

More Washington Adventures

On Monday, June 27th, My Dad and Mom, Abby, Aunt Christie, Uncle Jerry and I went over to our friend's the Sampson's for a really fun, somewhat rainy barbecue. They have the most beautiful house and yard and we all had a great time. Abby was able to play with new toys--especially a train and an enormous stuffed dog, and we all sat outside, roasted hot dogs and made smores. Jerry even decided to my 'berry smores' which included fresh cut up strawberries. It actually looked really good.

Mattie, a picture of the glass fence at the Sampson's. . . .(we would like to do the same around our pond if possible).
Tuesday (28th) Abby went up and played with Jerry for a little while and I took my Dad in to have a spot on his skin removed at the doctor. I of course watched and took pictures.
On the drive home we even saw some elk in the field. We tried to get Abby and show her too, but they were gone when we came back.
Jerry and Abby after a fun play date.
I learned something interesting on Tuesday: do not give a child a hostess cupcake while driving in a car. As you can see, Abby liked it, but boy did we clean up a mess! I think that was her first hostess cupcake ever. Maybe her last!
We also went and saw all of the boats in Puget Sound while my Mom had a massage therapy appointment. It was a little chilly, but Abby even got to get up close to one of the boats.
Wednesday, June 29 we went back up to Puyallup to my sister's to help with the kids while she ran to an appointment in Seattle. We had a great time and I even got a hair cut! It's completely different and I love it! Matt will be happier because it is much shorter.
Grandma Karen with the grandkids: Kylee, Abby, Kennedy, Brynley
Lunch time and dinner time
New hair!
On July 1st I had a grand adventure at the ophthalmologist. I thought I'd been battling some allergies but Friday morning I realized that my eyes were rather jelly and almost "fish-eye-like." Tricky to explain, but they did not look good. The family doctor said I should have a specialist look at them just to make sure, so we ventured over to the specialist and ended up with some eye drops that sting my eyes and an unsure diagnosis. But they are getting much better. You just never know what a day will bring.
There are more pics to share, but I think this is enough to post tonight and my eyes are telling me to go to bed! So more pics soon!

Washington Fun

I feel terrible. Abby and I did make it to Washington and we've had a wonderful time, but I have not posted anything since we got here. Matt is probably so lonely and he hasn't even been able to see a picture of Abby. So I will make amends with less words and more pics. Here goes:

June 19 (Sunday): First, a few pics when we were at Matt's parents in California.
Abby chatting with Great Granny Ruth in her bedroom
Grandpa Roger with both grand kids eating ice cream.
Matt torturing his sister Heather--notice that her spouse does not mind at all!
June 20: Abby and Dex playing in the kitchen.
Abby is the best traveler and this time she had her own backpack to carry on the plane. She was very excited.
Eating pizza with Daddy before the flight.
On the flight in her own seat.
We arrived in WA on Monday the 20th and were able to quickly see my sister, Tiff and her family. Abby was so excited to see them and I even let her stay up late because they were having so much fun. My sister and brother-in-law Jeremiah have four wonderful kids: Brynley, Kylee, Kennedy and Caleb. The girls all slept underneath the basketball game in the playroom. Abby was keeping all of the girls awake with her endless energy and laughter. Her cousins are so much fun and she was sad when they left to go to a family reunion in Utah.
Brynley bathed Abby and brought her down the stairs in the towel.
June 21: Abby, Kennedy and Kylee
Lunch outside on the deck
Reading books
Jen feeding Caleb
Tiff ran errands and I helped the kids accomplish their list of chores. They did a great job and ended up with a surprise treat: slurpies!
Sleeping kids on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's.
When they arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's it was straight to the sprinkler.
Grandpa trying to figure out what Abby is doing--she hops on one foot all of the time.
Yummy barbecue
Tiff with Abby and Jen
After the cousins left Abby played with Kevin and Kylee--they live with my parents right now with their Mom, Wendie and are the greatest blessing.
June 22: taking Grandma to her infusion.
Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and Happy Teriyaki: yum!
June 23: Nature Trail
Cuddling with Grandma
My sister-in-law Alix made a really cool quilt for my parents with the grandkids pictures on it.
They loved it.
June 24: helping Grandma with errands
Watching Grandpa bike home from work.
Jen's Chinese food (only egg rolls and fried rice)
June 25: met up with Grandpa and Uncle Jerry during their 90 mile bike ride training for the STP (Seattle to Portland bike ride)
Playing on playground after seeing Grandpa
Wrestling with Grandpa
June 26: My Dad and I played the organ for prelude and then performed our own arrangement of "How Great Thou Art." We took a piano solo and then made it into a duet. I love to play with my Dad and I think the congregation really enjoyed the music.

Sunday night we went up to my Aunt Christie and Uncle Jerry's for really yummy dinner.
Jerry ate with Abby up at the bar.
Christie and Abby and Jen.
Jen and Grandma Karen.
Super yummy homemade apple pie.
Well, that takes my through Sunday! I will catch up on the rest later--now it's way past time for bed and Abby will be up before I know it.
Your girls miss you and love you Mattie/Daddy!