The blog

Day Trippin'

2009-03-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

It looks like I'm headed to the airport but not so lucky. I am headed to surgery #11 in the Breast Cancer journey!

Getting nervous now...

Like my outfit!

This was our view for 2 hours while we waiting.

Happy medicine! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! They were taking me back at this point. I didn't even care about the party hat!

Is it funny now? I was sacked out.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-24T22:29:00.001-07:00

Cathy and I tried on the outfits to make sure they were festive enough!

Debbie and I decked them out!

Top hat to patent leather toes! Dont' forget the pot-o-gold purses!

Deck Snow Angels!

2009-03-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

What is going on outside???

Tom is curious...

It's MARCH MADNESS!!!

Cathy had the great idea to make a snow angel on the deck!

...So did Ty...

Like Mother like Daughter.

Storm Damage

2009-03-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of tree limbs fall as a result of all the snow...you can see our yard is just covered.

Tom needed to relax before he got to work on all those limbs...

New Year's Eve in Eastern Washington

2009-03-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

We went to Cave B Winery in Eastern Washington for New Year's. This was our place.

Tom and his 'magic' whistle fingers...

Hiking around on January 1st.

Dad's Day!

Cuvee the winery dog...came to stay with us one night.

Tom at Dad's Day Dinner.

Christmas in Bend, Oregon

2009-03-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

Santa got a brand new bag! Cathy gave this figure to me for Christmas and she just works perfectly with Santa...he'll enjoy her every year.

Tom got a new hat...

If you look closely they are almost touching each other...

This is what Jessie did one day...

So Tommy did too...

Dad waxed the skiis! I told him this doesn't count as ironing.

Winter Wonderland

2009-03-24T22:03:00.001-07:00

We were completely snowed in and for some reason Tom decided to see if he could drive out of our driveway...

Look at the tracks...he DROVE the car backwards, but the downward tracks are skids and he is about 6" from a huge rock taking out his front end.

This is what it looked like when we got back from out 6 mile hike for chains...

He ended up having to shovel the entire driveway to get the car out of this...

2008-12-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

Snow in Seattle. Saturday night we had our first snow for the season. It was beautiful.

We started to decorate for Christmas.

And as with tradition in our family, we decorated the tree on Dad's birthday.

Tom's Graduation from Basic Training

2008-10-23T07:22:00.001-07:00

Tom and I went to Georgia to see Tommy graduate from Basic Training in Ft. Benning Georgia. He was allowed a day with us on Wednesday, October 15, and graduation was on Thursday, October 16. We arrived on Friday the 10th and took some time to explore Georgia and the surrounding states. After a fun night in Atlanta, we took off East to the ocean. First stop...Macon, Georgia and the Bass Pro Shop.

Tom at the Bass Pro Shop in Macon, Georgia.

We made it to Savannah, Georgia for Saturday and Sunday night. What a great city. So much history. We had a little bit of trouble finding a hotel because the Red Hat Purple Clothes ladies were in town by the hundreds...

The weather was not cooperating with us this afternoon. The skies got pretty dark that afternoon. Kind of a cool Southern Storm!

So we found a cool outdoor patio bar and just took in the views of the city and the storm. Here Tom is getting ready to watch the Georgia-Tennessee game in Savannah, Georgia.

SHIP SHOTS! Every time a big ship passed through the harbor the bartender would sound his ship horn and 'ship shots' would be passed out. They are yummy little shots that taste like watermelon jolly ranchers. That with the sweet tea vodka drink...goodness...

After getting settled at the Hilton with a party of 700 for a wedding we headed out for dinner and adventure in town. According to the locals this is the most overrated place in Savannah...The Lady and Sons...I'll let you guess who's restaurant this is. We didn't eat here...instead we ate at the Alligator Soul restaurant up the street and down the spooky stairs. The food was amazing!

On Sunday morning we thought we'd drive out to Tybee Island just outside of Savannah to see if the weather was any better at the beach...it wasn't and there was huge Pirate event and just to get a cup of coffee was a :30 minute wait - so we headed back to town.

Tom on the dock...

We stayed in The River-something Inn - and let me tell you - it is seriously haunted! And Tom hiding in the closet by the elevator and jumping out when I got there...DIDN'T HELP!

Once the weather sort of cleared we thought we would take the river tour. Here is Tom on the boat - this is exactly how exciting it was...

The Georgia something..I can't remember. We took the harbor tour and saw the old ports and docks used to bring cotton from Savannah to Europe. In the day Savannah was the second largest cotton port in the world.

An old ship in the harbor. We didn't tour the ship but admired it from the bar just behind it!

The oldest building in Savannah. Built entirely of stone ballasts from old ships that used to come into the Savannah port. The stones were deposited once the ships arrived to pick up loads of cotton. The port was covered with these stones and the people of Savannah used them to pave the streets, build houses and buildings.

We left Savannah on Monday and headed North into South Carolina. It was just 25 miles to Hilton Head so we thought we would check it out. A sunny day at the Atlantic Ocean in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

We didn't have to be in Columbus until Tuesday night, so we decided to stay in Hilton Head right on the beach. This area is quite beautiful. We didn't play golf but saw the courses...amazing.

We made it to Columbus on Tuesday afternoon and were very excited to see Tom in the morning. On Wednesday we made it to base pretty early and picked up Tom's pictures.

We don't have words to describe how very proud we are of him. This picture was taken with his first few days at Basic Training.

This picture was taken a few days before Graduation...

Tom's Barracks at Ft. Benning.

Tom's Platoon during the ceremony for Family Day. Tom is second from the right in the front row. WOW!

Tommy with Tom just after they released the troops to their families for "Family Day" - October 15, 2008

T2 and T3!

We spent the day with Tom, getting him settled with what he needed for AIT in Arizona. It was good for him to just have some time of his own for a few hours. Graduation was on Thursday. Tom's Platoon during the Graduation Ceremony.

Tom's Platoon walking in the parade past the Commanders of Ft. Benning. At one point he flashed a smile but that was only for a nano second - then back to all business!

Tommy was off to Arizona on Friday morning, so we headed out to Alabama. We went to Talladaga and if you've ever been to that area you will understand why there are no pictures. On to Tennessee..

We took the Ruby Falls tour just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was 1100+ feet underground. A falls was discovered in this cave and they don't know the source of it. We thought it would be a great place to host a party. You have to walk down these narrow pathways...

It opens up to this...

The Chattahoochee Riverfront in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This is how most of my pictures of Tom would look if I took a picture every :20 seconds...Thanks for that IPhone - he missed most of the real world trying to see it in the phone!

The Chattanooga waterfront was really pretty. Lots of history and very artsy!

We had a great trip but like Tommy - we've seen enough of that part of the country. Next trip - my guess is somewhere near Ft. Huachuca, Arizona.

Take me out to the ball game...and to Cowgirls Inc.

2008-09-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

We went with Joyce and Eric Bloomquist to the Mariner's game on Friday night. We had a great time and the Mariner's were actually winning!

We ended up at Cowgirls Inc . after the game- the guys love the dancing ladies...but Joyce and I...

We rode the bull!

OK, Eric did too!

2008-09-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

Lisa and I watched the Seahawks game on Sunday.

Light the Night

2008-09-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

Debbie and I met up with Michelle, Spencer, Bobby, and Valarie - plus all the kids to honor Aunt Judy in the Light the Night walk. It was a pretty cool experience with the blinking red and gold balloons.

Yes, Benjamin Franklin was there!

The 2008 Breast Cancer 3 Day

2008-09-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

These picture are a little out of order, but you'll get the gist!

Walking through Bellevue, day one - it was pretty hot, and the route skirted all around Bellevue - familiar territory.

He was electronically prepared, as always. With the GPS we were able to count off every painful mile. We learned that GPS miles are a lot longer than "Komen" miles.

Opening Ceremonies - it took almost 2 hours to get out on the route. 3299 walkers take a while to get going.

Obviously someone was tired - good focus job!

At the end of the day we arrived at Marymoor Park. Jessie and her boyfriend, Alec, were so cool and set up our tent and got our gear from the trucks.

Stretching out at Microsoft - day one.

This is obviously early in the walk as we are all smiles!

Lunch at Meydenbauer Park in Bellevue

These feet are made for walking....this was opening ceremonies.

We took this picture for the kids. Lakeview Elementary school is where they both went to grade school.

I spent almost a year at this place - glad to be out on the walk!

These ladies were hilarious and followed the walkers each day. He just had to drive the cow car!

Day one down...two to go. 22.5 miles the first day.

Day two requires a bit more stretching...

Day three we drove to the Arboretum to start the final stretch to the Space Needle.

All the tents were taken down and we got ready to finish this thing! Yeah, it's dark.

OK, back to Day 2!

Starting the walk on day 2.

Stretching in Wallingford - good thing you can stretch and email at the same time.

The gear!

TOMMY Called!!!! While we were walking around Greenlake we got the weekly call from Tommy. He sounded great and happy to be able to talk to us.

The bones!

At the University of Washington - this is the morning of day 3.

We took this one for Stephanie!

The Fremont Bridge.

Lunch at Gas Works Park. (day 3)

I don't know where this is...some park...

On the street in Seattle by the ferry terminals. 2.5 miles to go!

Along Lake Union - this was very refreshing!

Cheering in the final walkers!

...and taking their pictures.

The sculpure garden - obviously I need to figure out how to rotate these pictures..

Again...nice focus - but this is the end...they say 60 miles...but the GPS says 61! And trust me that last one was a doosy!

The survivors coming into closing ceremonies. I am in the middle at the top - flag and flowers in my pink hat.

Pit stop 2 on Ravenna. Day 3. We were pretty sore but taking it one step at a time.

Back to closing ceremonies.

Waiting for the ceremonies to start as the final walkers were coming in.

OK, so the reason this picture is funny is because all day, my husband was pushing and pushing to get to the front of the pack. He did NOT want to be in the last bunch to come in. I think we were in the first 100 or so to finish.

This is day 1 - I think I am talking to Jessie.

The survivor circle!

As you can see the room really filled up.

Our home for two nights!

Thank you to everyone who supported us this year. It was a long way for a good cause. We think we'll sponsor Jessie and her friends next year! Maybe my husband will dress up like a cow! :)

Guitar Heroes

2008-09-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Donald brought Dante and Dominic over for dinner on Saturday. Dante wrote a postcard to Tommy in Basic and Dominic tore it up on Guitar Hero!

You're in the Army Now...well almost.

2008-09-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

We took Tommy to Anthony's for his 'last supper' before Basic Training. At one Point he said, "I want to take this all in because I don't think I'll see anything like this for a while!"

Count down to the 3Day

2008-09-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

We are counting down to the 3Day. We'll start the walk on September 12, at 6:40AM. The first day will be through Bellevue, ending at Marymoor Park for the big Pink Tent Camp out! Saturday we'll trek through Kirkland and Sunday we'll go through the UofW campus, Fremont, the Market and back to the Space Needle for closing ceremonies. We'll be taking pictures along the way and we'll share them with you here!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in our fund raising efforts.

Oh, we're doin' it!

2008-09-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

OK, we had to jump on the blogging band wagon! I guess we'll need to take more pictures and share the details of our lives with everyone...coming soon.