Just was playing with some editing tools and loved how this picture of brother and Laura turned out. It looks like it could be my mom and dad in the 70's...especially if you could see the beard on Z's face!

Similarities and Differences

Tonight was rather bittersweet. We said goodbye to our dear friends Laura and Justin Sleasman. They are moving to the Bay Area on their fabulous adventure!! They both got jobs with some small companies you probably haven't ever heard of....Stanford University and NASA? Impressive!!

The girls all gathered at Diggy's for some bonding, and the boys gathered at Drew and Emily's. In talking about the night with Nick after I got home, here were some of the similarities and differences in the two gatherings:

Differences: girls had a candle pass, boys played Dart Golf. Some of the girls dreamed of puppies, the boys party included dogs that were humping their legs.

Similarities: lots of yummy food, they ended at about the same time (Nick and I got home within about 5 minutes of each other!), lots of laughs, and lots of love for the Sleasmans!

You will be missed, but we know we'll see you soon. Good luck friends....we love you!

One of my all-time favorite pictures of me and Miss Loobie-Doo....twirling and dancing, what could be better?!

"Live-Aboards"

My second cousin Greg and his wife Nicole, live on their 40 foot sailboat and tonight Nick, Papa, Auntie, Peter and I all got to meet their beauty! Such a lovely sailboat, though I can honestly say, I don't know how they live on it. Makes me think that I should try to live more simply without so much stuff. We were learning all about some sailing terminology (to the regular Duck Dodgers this would have probably been repeat information, but I was pretty excited to learn the terms). Since Greg and Nicole live on their boats, they are referred to as "Live-Aboards"...so cute!

Found while "Blog Stalking"...

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

Try this fun little test...I think it turned out pretty accurate!! Michelle and Brad are going on their Italian adventure in a few months and I am SO wishing that I could tag along. Someday...

Somebody's ONE!

Happy Birthday Miss Adelaide! We celebrated Addie's first birthday party with an afternoon BBQ at Dave and Amy's...can't believe she is already a year old!

Pretty precious mom/daughter combo if you ask me!

Perfection

Saturday morning: Eastlake, Louisa's treat, bagel with cream cheese and a tomato, my girls

Saturday night: my girl Michelle, air-popped popcorn from the world's craziest popcorn maker, double feature movie night, Sour Jacks, slumber sisters.

These things, to me, are perfect.

Suprise!

Rothie planned a fabulous suprise party for Mike's 30th birthday celebration! The deck had such an amazing Seattle view! Jamie made the most delicious cupcakes...chocoate with peanut butter frosting, um....yes please!

And of course, crazy dancing! Nights with the girls always include some
wild and weird behavior!

I've discovered...

• A night spent in the kitchen with girlfriends, making yuumy food, sipping wine, chatting... is pretty much the BEST!
• When I am home alone, my sense of sound becomes much more acute
• I love when my love leaves me notes to find when he leaves town!
• I've been listening to the song "The Prayer for the Children" performed by the University of Wisconsin choir on repeat lately, and it makes me extremely excited for choir to start up again!!
• I am sleepy....goodnight! XO

Secretly...

-I don't mind that it is raining out. Of course, only if it is for a day...but I am kind of enjoying curling up inside tonight, candles lit, reading favorite blogs, helping Nick get packed for his hiking trip...

-I am looking forward to some "alone" time...I feel like starting a great new book (any suggestions?), having a glass of wine, sleeping in, just a relaxing weekend. As Carrie in Sex and the City said, she could return to her S.S.B....Secret Single Behavior. Michelle and I were discussing this tonight....mine will be to have corn niblets for dinner (Nick would NEVER go for this!)

-I want kids like these and these (not yet of course, but someday)....and I want to take photographs like their moms!! (More to come on these future goals/dreams of me and M...)

So weird

Why do I, instead of just taking a normal slice of cake, insist on taking many, many tiny slices? I start with just one tiny sliver, telling myself I just want a taste. But that one tiny sliver, turns into many tiny slivers, which in the end....adds up to a slice of cake! I will never understand the reasoning, or rather lack-of, as to why I do this. But I seriously do it ALL the time with "treats".

Am I the only one who has such crazy human behavior??

I'm a Bridesmaid!

Last night Court, Chris, Hans and Mary all came over for a little birthday and engagement celebrating! Courty asked me to be a Bridesmaid for their upcoming nuptials! I am so excited and so honored. I love my in-laws!

Best Yardsale EVA!

So today when Nick and I were coming home from church and breakfast, the neighborhood was just packed with activity! We noticed a sign for "HUGE Yardsale"...which it was, but that wasn't the best part. In addition to selling items they didn't need anymore, they also had pony rides AND a psychic! How cool is that?! $4 out of the $5 it cost for the pony rides, and all $15 for the psychic went towards Animal Rescue. They were trying to rescue some poodle puppies from a puppy mill. So creative!! Check out my finds...a cupcake displayer, a frame and a belt...all for the price of...$2.50! I have got to get into this yardsaling business...deals galore!

Juno you're going to like it...

Tonight we celebrated Nick's birthday just the two of us at a new Seattle restaurant, Juno. It was new on the Passport Card so we thought we'd try it out. It is located in the recently renovated Arctic Hotel which is a gorgeous old Seattle building. The originally building was built in 1917 I think! Everything was delicious, but I must say my favorite was my appetizer of roasted beets, herbed feta and bacon....and the panzanella salad pictured here, amazing! It was a lovely evening, and even as we walked to our car at 10:30 it was still 82 degrees out. Doesn't get much better than that!

I heart Seattle

It was another perfect day on Lake Washington! Me, Nick, Michelle, Brad, Kim, Mike and a couple of Mike's friends went out on their fabulous boat to enjoy this wonderful summer weather we are having. We hooked up with Steve, Coffey, Carrie, Eric and Scottie and the Knot Perfect and played the afternoon away. Our favorite is to lounge in the water with our "diapers" a.k.a. life vests worn in a diaper fashion!Michelle is about to take the plunge!

Me, just being super happy....I love moments like this. When we were boating around yesterday, it was one of the times where I was completely aware of how lucky I am, and that there was absolutely no where else in the world I would rather have been. I love when I am able to be so present and in the moment like that.

The Future Rinabarger's!!

WOW! What an engagement party celebration for Steve and Coffey! "The people that Coffey nannied for" threw them THE engagement party of all engagement parties. It was held at the Seattle Aquarium...super fancy and super fun! Here we are on the Pier for cocktail hour...gorgeous!
They had a portion of the aquarium open for us...AJ and Jamie are getting a Sea Urchin hug here...careful, only one finger!
Nick didn't measure up too well to Mr. Shark...Look at all those colorful dresses....good work girls!

Such a beautiful night to celebrate a beautiful couple....Coffey and Steve, can't wait for the wedding in Hawaii!