Labor Day weekend fishing.......

We went fishing at Langus Riverside Park over Labor Day weekend.....the first thing we saw was this blue heron........

But it soon flew away!

The next thing we saw was this dead seal.....it just floated up to the dock. The kids were fascinated! And grossed out.

We didn't catch anything but smiles this day...........

But it was a gorgeous, late summer day...........

It was a great way to spend the day, even if we didn't catch any fish......

We also saw this red-tailed hawk...........

Nothing like fishing with my honey!

Hanging with the family......

I love you!

Arlie and I had a little photo shoot..........

We laughed!

Later we headed to Country Village.........

Where we played like little kids on the playground.........

Even though we're big kids now and the toys don't fit us anymore........

The parents sat and watched...........

Until Jeff joined in the fun! Yee-haw!

Feeding the Ducks!

Myla feeds the ducks.....

The rooster stops to cluck.......

Two cute toddlers smile......

A nanny and her child.......

Yay for feeding the ducks!

Feeding the Ducks

Today I took Myla to Country Village to feed the ducks. I should have known things would not go well when a large and colorful rooster sauntered up to my car door and waited for me to open it. I did this with some trepidation, as one time I was chased by a deranged chicken at a KOA campground (true story) and Jeff thought it was the funniest thing ever and instead of coming to my rescue, sat securely in the locked car while I screamed and kicked at the offending creature and tried to maneuver my way to the car. Anyway, this very large rooster today just waited.....kind of sinister-like and everything! So, I opened the door with a flourish (meaning, I tried to hit him with it) and he just moved ever so slowly, only to duck under my legs and practically take my place in the driver's seat! I unbuckled Myla, gave her the bag of bread to hold, and headed to the duck pond. We didn't even make it that far! We were surrounded by a gaggle of geese, a dozen ducks and raging roosters.........with a few heckling hens thrown in for good measure. The chickens actually pecked at my legs trying to get to the bread (which, by this time, I had mercifully taken from poor Myla who was not much bigger than the creatures). One particularly brazen goose, who was as tall as Myla, kept snatching bread out of her hand before she even got a chance to toss it. I was tossing entire dinner rolls fifteen feet away to try to disperse the angry crowd, but they kept converging! I wanted riot gear! I admit I had to use force, kicking a few of the particularly aggressive ones away before finally scooping up little Myla, tossing the bread in the car and jogging to the relative safety of the toy store. On the way, I shouted, "get away, you mean ducks!" and stomped at them. Apparently they were offended by my parting words because, when we returned to the car, the entire windshield and hood were covered in poop! And I'm talking big poops, little poops, and everything in between. I'm not sure how they pulled it off, but somehow they managed to get my car bombed by the poop squadron. And it was just MY car. Not any of the cars around me. Stupid ducks! Next time I'm heading to the office park where the ducks have more manners, there are no chickens and I can park my car far away.

Country Village

Seems like every time someone is in town, we go to Country Village. For those who don't live here, it's a cute little shopping village. Unique stores and such. Jeff's mom and stepdad were here visiting Fri. and today and we went to the village yesterday to check out a few favorite stores. All I thought to take photos of was the rooster! But here he is in all his glory!

Simple Sunday

Jeff is off at another job interview and I'm blogging from my bed, which is currently being shared by Shade and Charlie (ick, but not worth the hassle to kick them off). Today was a good day. Jeff and I slept in and then he brought me Starbucks and donuts for the kids. Harrison went with some friends to a "mini curling camp" where he got to try out the Olympic sport of curling. Interesting! He enjoyed it and has two more Sundays to try it out. When he got back we all piled into the car and headed to Country Village where we fed the ducks (great way to get rid of stale oyster crackers, gross cereal and old pita bread!). Then, we went to a fancy cookie shop and had various sugar-laden treats. We had two extra kids with us, so with the seven of us in there, one couple asked if we were having a party. I said "oh, no, these are just my kids!" Last stop was a little shop that sells realistic looking animals that "breathe", on which Arlie and Harrison spent $30 each of their own money (update - Arlie's dog's battery door won't shut and Harrison's doesn't work at all - we'll be heading back tomorrow to remedy that!). Hayley, Hannah and I all got some cute scarves and Hannah also bought a hat. It was a nice outing with the kids, even though it rained buckets and is still pouring down. Stupid Seattle weather! It did make for some cute pictures though.

Valentine's Day Weekend

We had a great weekend visiting with Mimi and Papa. We didn't do a whole lot, but it was nice to just visit. Mimi and I went to our favorite shopping destinations, Ostrom's in Kenmore and Country Village. We had the Hansen's over for lunch on Saturday. Mike and Carol brought their baby, Peter, and he was very entertaining! Here are some pics of Saturday.

Now that's a dedicated biker!

Here's one way to keep yourself safe on the roads at night when you're a bicyclist! We saw this guy at Country Village. Wow!

Ahoy, Mateys!

There's a new pirate ship at the playground at Country Village! Harrison and Arlie were so excited to go see it and play on it, and so off we went, despite the fact that it was dark, on Friday night. It turned out to be WAY cooler than we expected. It has a cannon, a plank, a real ship's wheel, a crow's nest, the Jolly Roger, and even a crocodile! I don't know who built it but it's very cleverly done and kept Arlie and Harrison entertained for over an hour until I was freezing and said we had to go! There is a "hull" to the ship, too, with a sandbox area inside. When Harrison was about to go in (and it was very dark in there), he was scared by the fake rat (which, in the dark, looked pretty real!). I think this will be one of our new favorite spots to go play!