.pickle backs.

Yesterday, I got to go to the Tri-Cities with Nick, Kate, & Kamryn to run some errands and then meet up with the Clark’s!

Kamryn had super cute french braid pigtails – seriously adorable!

It was so great to see Chris, Candace, Delt, & Libby! I was at the Lake this summer and missed seeing them, so it had been about 10 months since I’d seen Chris & the kids last. They are growing up so much!

 

 

These two are so cute together!

 

 

 

We left the kids with Dale & Ginger, Chris’ parents, and went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Even though it was past our birthdays, Candace took a quick ride on the saddle!

 

We went to the mega liquor store – did some browsing and a little beer tasting…

 

and then met up with Delt, Mari, and their friends at Uncle Sam’s Saloon. They had been there for quite a while and were having a grand old time! One of their friends ordered Pickle Backs – which look as nasty as they sound. I didn’t even have one and they still made me cringe. It was supposed to be a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice – but they came already mixed together. Dis.Gust.Ting. Chris had THREE – and we made a quick getaway after the 3rd so he could get something to cleanse his palate. I think it’s permanently damaged after that nastiness.

It was so fun to get to be with Chris & Candace – but makes me really miss getting to be around them all the time. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they’ll come back to the area before too too long!!!

.happy birthday Amy!.

I got to celebrate Amy Kleinbach’s 40th birthday with her tonight at Anthony’s! I missed out on the afternoon wine tasting tour, but joined the group for dinner. Always a delicious dinner there and fun to celebrate Amy with friends – Pam, Jessica, Kinuyo, Bonnie, Keri, Stacey, Kara, & Martha. We even got to enjoy the Lighted Boat Parade as it went past!

Amy gets to turn 40 on 12/12/12 – what could be so bad about that?! Even though we didn’t get to celebrate in Vegas like she’s originally talked about – we had a great time anyway. Love you Amy!

.friends.

 

I got to catch up with a great friend this week – Anna was in town! She lives in Florida now and it had been about 8 years since we had seen each other. She had one precious little babe then….now she has 4 darling daughters!

Anna and I met in 2nd grade when she moved to Connell from Cheney with her family. I spent lots of time at her house and loved being amongst the bustling and rustling of 7 siblings. I am so glad we have stayed friends for so many years despite our distance. It was so good to get to see her and catch up a little bit. It was fun to visit with Anna and her sister, Melissa, and our friends Sora & Kelli. 

Who knows when we will get to see each other next…I hope it’s not 8 more years! We were already complaining about the gifts 30-years-old brings (gray hair, sun spots beginning to show)…just wait until we’re pushing 40! :)

Love you Annaklee! :)

.oldies but goodies.

Tonight some friends from high school and I got together for dinner…this happens so rarely, so it was really fun to get to spend time with them!

 

Shannon is in town this week for her sister Allyson’s graduation – and the rest of us live around here, but never make the time to get together – so thanks, Shan, for helping us take the time to get together!

Libby, Lindsay, Shannon, Kelli, & Marcie
even Miss Harper (2 1/2 weeks old!) got to have her first girls night out!

I feel like I write about my friends a lot on my blog – but I still feel like I need to write more!

These girls have been such an integral piece of the fabric of my life. Our lives are interwoven with inside jokes & memories and shared experiences. I am so lucky to have them in my life and to share a friendship that lasts for years and years. I’ve known Kelli & Lindsay since before kindergarten! Even though we don’t get to see each other often or talk much, I still count them as dear friends and would do anything for them!

We missed you, Jenn, Jilayne, & Christine – and everyone else that doesn’t live around here. Hope it’s not such a long time before our next get together!

.girls night out.

My blogging has been non-existent this week because I came down with the nasty cold. It got me good. I went to work each day – you’re welcome, co-workers! – but came home at night exhausted and worn out. I’m finally feeling better and was ready to get out of the house and have some fun!

Lucky for me, Jessica, Amy, Kate, and I had a girls night planned! It was a great way to kick off SPRING BREAK! Kate and I met Jessica, Amy, and Emersyn at the Quilt Show to start the fun. I love the quilt show – so many quilts and inspiration. So many quilts I would NEVER EVER make – but fun to look at! Add in a good dose of quilty shopping – so many options all in ONE place!

Amy, Kate, and I went to Twigs for dinner. Appetizers, dinner, dessert, AND drinks – along with lots and lots of laughs makes for a perfect dinner out. Makes me realize how much I love my friends and I’m so thankful for them!

We dropped Amy off back at her car, then Kate and I went to a late showing of “Mirror, Mirror” – the new Julia Roberts Snow White movie. I’m not sure what my problem was (maybe the BIG meal right before?!), but I could NOT stay awake. I felt so sorry for Kate sitting next to my restless self, trying to keep myself awake. The movie wasn’t great, which didn’t help!

This was such a great way to start Spring Break. Can’t wait to do it again very SOON!

.ROADtrip to Kelso!.

Kate, Kamryn, and I  roadtripped to Kelso this past weekend to visit Chris, Candace, Delt, and Libby Clark. It was a long trip, but so good to spend the weekend with them and see where their new home is.

We stayed up too late talking both nights we were there (1-1:30AM!!!) so we were pretty lazy in the mornings, which was so nice! We drank coffee, watched the kids play, and talked some more! Candace took us on a driving tour of Longview and Kelso. I’d never been in that area before so it was great to get to see it!

We went to Vancouver on Saturday evening to Costco! Just for Kate. :)

Candace didn’t have to twist our arm any to go to Costco, but when she said handmade gelato, we were on our way!! It was delicious!

These girls had a great time playing. Kamryn kept crouching down to Libby and holding her chin to give her kisses. Like Libby is so much smaller than Kamryn is – 1 whole month younger!!

 

We didn’t see much of Delt. He played Angry Birds on my phone most of the time. He’s loving kindergarten and hopefully he can read to us the next time we see him!

 

This is Chris’ new school – Huntington Middle School. It sounds like the adjustment has been tough, but hopefully he’s on the upward swing.

 

I took this picture just for Esther. Look at all those recycling bins!

 

Thanks so much for the hospitality, Chris and Candace. Hope it’s not too long before we get to see you again!

.at the lake with family.

Last week, my Grandma and her brother Larry (who is visiting from California) came to the Lake. One day while they were there, my cousins Lisa and Craig came up with Frances and Louise.

We had lots of good photo ops!

Grandma, Larry, and Louise

Uncle Craig and Louise

 

Frances and Larry

 

The obligatory deck photo before departure!

 

Grandma enjoyed being on the beach with the girls…

Frances trying to drink out of a shovel!

 

Frances and Kamryn are about 11 months apart. They weren’t too sure about each other at first, but then played really well together!

Frances was trying to push the boat out into the water!

It was just as much fun running up and down the hill as it was to play in the water!

 

 

  

Miss Frances…
I asked her if she could smile for me and she said, “NO!”

    

 

 

Little friends sharing popsicles…

     

The next day, we went over to Strohmaier’s for happy hour. Clancy and Lois are dear friends of my Grandma and Grandpa. They travelled quite a bit together when they were younger.

 

Grandma, Larry, Lois, and Clancy

Clancy and my Mom

My Mom and I both said that we love being at the lake when it’s quiet and just us for the peace and relaxation and calmness…but we really love it when there are lots of people around and lots of action – especially with family and friends. We had such a great time with everyone there.

.first weekend of summer break.

I got to come home about 1pm on Friday after crossing all my items off my to-do list! It feels great!  I have a long list of quilt projects I want to complete this summer – (what’s new?!) – so after catching up on some DVR, I got to work in the craft room. By the time I went to bed that night, I had my first quilt top of the summer completed!

It’s a baby quilt for a little girl…
(Pattern: Coming Soon by Thimble Blossoms. Fabric: Coquette by Michael Miller.)

I worked some more in the craft room yesterday morning before my Mom & I went to the Tri-Cities. Just did some Father’s Day shopping, a stop at JoAnn’s & Target, pedicures, and Starbucks, of course!

When I was at Clark’s a few weeks ago with Nick & Kate, Candace showed us that she’d been published in a magazine! I found it on the rack at Target yesterday and had to take a picture. That is so cool!

 

Way to go Candace! :)

Today, we’re celebrating Father’s Day with a late lunch in the Tri-Cities. Who knows what else. I’m sure what my Dad would love more than anything is a good long uninterrupted nap. :)

Cheer camp starts tomorrow and I’m pumped! I love to see our squads come together at camp and get excited for their season. I see lots of stunting in our future!!