Happy 8th Birthday, Gabe!!

It is hard to believe that it has been 8 years since our Gabe first made his debut into our lives! Wow, how he has changed----and so have we! He is such a great son, he is an awesome big brother, a wonderful student, and an eager helper---he always gives 100% in all that he decides to do...God has truly blessed us! Gabe decided to start his birthday celebrating with some chocolate chip pancakes and bacon for breakfast and then on to some game time at Chuck E. Cheese...of course that was a hit with little brother as well!! The boys played until their hearts content and then off to swimming lessons....nope, he didn't get to take his birthday off!! After swimming lessons Gabe wanted Pizza Hut for dinner....kids are so funny...I always give them a choice of whatever they want...it's always kind of fun to see what they pick! So after some yummy pizza, pasta and breadsticks we headed home for presents and cake! Again, Gabe never ceases to amaze me....he chose a variety of cheesecakes for his birthday cake!! What an adult palate he has! His favorite was the caramel apple cheesecake....I think I have to agree with him!
Thank you for all of the wonderful gifts and cards---Gabe enjoyed each one of them! He received baseball and football cards, Wii games, skateboard pads, a Royals shirt, a Seahawks jersey, a reading lamp, tons of great non-fiction books, his very first big boy Bible, gift cards, money.....and probably other stuff that I have forgotten!! He had a wonderful birthday....Watch out year 9 here he comes!!!

Gabe riding the waverunner at Chuck E. Cheese's!!

A new Wii game!

Woo Hoo more baseball cards!!

A new Seahawks Jersey!!

Checking out the University District!

While we have a visitor...we love to entertain and explore---yes, I always collapse when they leave, but we truly enjoy entertaining!! So to keep with the exploring, Monday we headed down to the University District! Greta was wanting to get a couple of her friends a souvenir and I have just finished reading a great little read entitled, "Out and About with Kids in Seattle"...and they talked about heading down to the "U" District and checking out the fun little eateries, novelty shops and of course the University of Washington Bookstore, so I decided this would be the perfect outing! We started out in the bookstore, which was huge and has everything UW you could ever imagine...you name it they got it!! I purchased a couple of crazy cheap books for the boys and Greta found some souvenirs...so with one place down we headed for the next...time to eat!! We found the perfect pizzeria! As you can tell from the pics...this place was not health concerned.....but it was some awesome tasting pizza!! It was definitely the large amounts of grease that added to the pleasure factor!! We ended our visit to the U District with some window browsing...there were all sorts of stores with interesting and different items...definitely keeping the "U" in mind for Christmas time!!!


How about some pizza with your grease!!!!

Splashing Around in Ocean Shores!

On Sunday we headed West...further west than we had ever ventured! We wanted to dip our toes into the Pacific Ocean, so we headed to Ocean Shores, WA! We had heard from several people this was a must see while we were here...so when better to see a "must see" than when we have a visitor! When we arrived to Ocean Shores....it was obvious this was just why people come here..to see the beach! We parked the Army right on the beach and unloaded to spend the day! The boys started sand castle building right away and before long figured out that the tide was going to be their biggest rival!! So, being the super intelligent people that we are..we set up our lunch goodies way back from the ocean...or so we thought! About midway into my making our sandwiches for lunch a rogue wave took out the 3 sandwiches I had made, 2 blankets, the silverware, homemade cookies, bread, ham, cheese, pickles, and Grady!! We were able to salvage Grady and most of the food--thank goodness for sealed packages!! So after moving our wet items way, way, way, way back we started making lunch, again....only on top of the cooler this time! Once we had accomplished making and eating lunch we headed into the Ocean! It was CRAZY COLD, but once your body went numb it wasn't so bad! We had a great time riding the waves and splashing around! Unfortunately Grady was less than impressed with the water...especially after the rogue wave incident....but he eventually got about knee deep into the water---against his better judgment at first! Gabe was a little fish--he loved every minute! I think he would have stayed in all day but, we decided it was time to head back to the soggy blanket and warm up when Gabe's pinky fingers started turning blue!! We warmed up by flying our kite and playing in the sand some more....Shawn covered both of the boys in sand....they thought that was fabulous! I was amazed how long Grady was able to lay still!! Before heading home we took a long walk along the water to check out some of the other kites and to do some people watching! I wish the coast was just a smidge closer...this was definitely one of my favorites so far!!!!

Soaking Wet at the AquaSox!!

On Saturday evening after hitting the Seafood Fest in Ballard, we headed to Everett for an AquaSox Game! When we got out of the Army we started noticing some ominous looking clouds to the west, but all of the weather people had stated that the next week or so would be hot and dry...so we didn't give it another thought....until it started dribbling on us about 30 minutes later! Thankfully, I am always a little over prepared and rain ponchos for all!!! So, while other weaker, less prepared fans headed for home..the Fox Clan held tight and enjoyed a great game! The rain let up in the 2nd inning, so the mascots really put on a show for the few fans who remained! We had a really good time...the boys really enjoyed it because they had run of the area...most people around us had left, so Grady was able to stand in the section right below us and do his own thing the whole time! We of course had to check out the snack bar and definitely had our fill of bad yummies!! Unfortunately the rain started back up in the 8th inning...which no doubt twarted the come back efforts of the Frogs..the final score Tri City 3 - AquaSox 2! Bummer! We may have been soggy, but we still had a great time!

Getting our Viking on at Seafood Fest!!

Saturday we headed down to Ballard for their Seafood Fest...yummy!! We attended this last year, and had a blast...so we couldn't possibly miss it this year! Greta is also up for a visit, so this is a great thing to entertain with. We started off walking through some of the "get your freebies" booths...the boys loaded up with frisbees, jump ropes, candy, rubber duckies...and who knows what else! Then we headed over to the craft booths and sidewalk sales! They had some really great booths with pottery and art....if we hadn't been walking, I think there would have been a couple of buyers in our group!! Once we made it through the booths...our tummies started growling, so we headed down the row of food vendors!! Last year, Nate and I had the BEST salmon burgers ever...well, Shawn has heard the two of us go on and on about these burgers for a whole year, so we all had our mouths watering for those babies!! Thankfully the stand was there again this year....I had visions of them not showing---was it a vision or a nightmare??!! So, Shawn, Greta and Nate all lined up for the burgers while I went with the boys to rustle up some hotdogs....yeah, go figure we are surrounded by the best seafood and my kids want hotdogs...jeez! We met back up outside of Tully's, grabbed some cement and started feasting! Here is Nate and my conversation.....

Nate: "Hey Amanda, Are these as good as you remember?"

Amanda: with a moan..."uh huh, you?"

Nate: "Most definitely!"

I think the salmon company is thinking about having us do a commercial!! HA! There are not any words that can describe these precious morsels.....they are soooooo good!! These are definitely something this girl will miss when we have to leave....we may just have to plan a visit every year towards the end of July!!

Okay enough with that....my mouth is beginning to water.....After the food, the kids bounced on the bouncy houses for a while and Shawn tried to climb a rock wall for a hundred dollars!! He didn't make to the top, so he walked away $5 dollars poorer!! Oh Well! After that we headed for some snow cones and to listen to the bands on the main stage---where we were also entertained by a man dancing around with colorful scarves! He was there last year as well, we still haven't figured out if he is trying to sell the scarves, is hired by the bands, or is just a transient with nothing better to do with his Saturday afternoon...whatever it is...he kept us entertained! We ended the day with boys making a wooden boat, or should I say Shawn making two wooden boats!! We had a wonderful day!!!

A Frozen Day at the Beach!

We were the group chosen to prepare lunch.....the rest were on the beach..I think we won out though...it was much warmer the farther from the water you were!

On Wednesdays this summer, our church has put together some outings called "Recess". These are loosly planned outings...sometimes a few show, sometimes noone shows, and on a freezing day in July at Edmonds Marina a TON of people show...go figure! This was a great time of getting to connect with new people we may know in passing, but haven't really had a chance to get to know! After our churches merged last winter, we have really been trying to stop being two churches and fully become one! I think we have done a wonderful job and having these outings is just one more way to do just that! Even with the chilly day, the kids still had fun chasing each other on the beach and of course the Mommas had a fun time doing what ladies do best....gabbing! One of the gals even brought a grill, so we all had grilled hotdogs... I think everyone wished we had a big bowl of chowder and a cup of coffee, but a warm hotdog was way better than a cold pb&j! A great day....spent with a great group of gals and kiddos!

However, Grady chose to go ahead and eat the cold pb&j....his tummy couldn't wait for the grill!

**Side note--You do not see Gabe in any pics because he was at Vacation Bible School with his best buddy Charlie!! He decided hanging with Charlie was way cooler than with Mom and Grady...yeah, I don't get it either!

And it was THIS BIG!!!!!

Shawn has a new hobby!! He has been doing research for the last few weeks on how to fish up here! Back home we are so fortunate to have family with ground and ponds...so it makes fishing pretty easy!! Last week he took the boys out fishing and they only caught a spidery looking crab...but this weekend he actually came home with a keeper! There are many rules to the type of fish you can keep, how long it has to be if it is a kind you can keep and the limit you are allowed per day---lots of rules for something that is supposed to be relaxing! Anywho, this one was a keeper....I believe he said it was a steelhead trout...but don't hold me to that---in all honesty a fish is a fish is a fish to me! He also caught a keeper dungeness crab...but it slipped off of his line somehow....I think we all know how those stories go...ha! He was definitely the envy of the Mukilteo Dock on Saturday!!

Gabe's First Sleepover!!!

Gabe had his first sleepover-style birthday party on Friday Night!! The boys were absolutely wonderful...we could not have asked for a better group of boys for Gabe's first sleepover! There was not a single fight...the only fighting were staged wrestling matches...they didn't even fight over the Wii!!! They took turns choosing games and taking turns to play!! Gabe has a great bunch of fellas for friends!!! As everyone was arriving they started the party with the Wii...of course!! They played some heated games of Excite Truck, Tony Hawk Skateboarding and Madden Football!!

If it were up to the boys, I'm sure they would have been content with spending the whole time in front of the Wii....but with the beautiful weather we have been blessed with.....we shooed them outside!! We had hotdogs, mac & cheese, cantelope, grapes, and chips.....Gabe's menu of course!

After supper, we had marscapone cupcakes....I saw this recipe on the Food Network....and thankfully I have a very adventuresome child...he let me experiment at his birthday party....they were a hit!!!! Someday this experimenting on company will backfire...keep your fingers crossed it won't be YOU!!!!

After cupcakes of course came the gifts!!! Gabe received the Everyone's Hero DVD and movie snacks and popcorn, ethnies finger skateboard, motocross bike, and snowboard, a swimming pool lacrosse set, football, and frisbee, and probably the show stopping gift.....Football cards!!! Gabe has just recently really gotten into collecting Baseball and Football cards.....these were definitely a huge hit!!!

Next, we sent the boys on a scavenger hunt through the woods....this was killing two birds with one stone...Shawn and I could clean up and they would use up some of the 8 year old boy energy!! They had a great time....but I guess I made the hunt a little hard....I had to give them a couple of hints!!!

While Shawn and I were making the smores the boys played a game of tackle basketball!! Amazingly noone got hurt.....although we aren't sure how!

About 9:30 they finally started slowing down...they all decided to watch Gabe's new movie, Everyone's Hero! We popped some popcorn and vegged out for movie time!!! I was really impressed we didn't lose anyone to the sandman during the movie....I had intentionally turned off most of the lights...wishful thinking!! After the movie they headed out to the back yard to camp out in the tent....well, that lasted all of about 45 minutes!! At 11:30 they came in saying the coyotes were a little scary!! Truth be told...they were telling ghost stories in the tent and I think they scared themselves silly!! So with sleeping bags and pillows in hand they headed up to the play room to "sleep"! Two hours later...I think everyone was finally asleep....Shawn and I were very happy until 6:30 a.m. on Saturday!!! It seems these little fellas only need 5 hours of sleep before some more Wii time!! So needless to say, we sent home some little zombies at 10:00!!! Gabe had a great time!! I am so happy everything went so well....I knew this experience would either make or break us.....it looks like there will be many more of these!!!

This was just too precious to leave out!! I walked in to check on Grady when the boys came upstairs to sleep...and this is what I found!

I guess the big boys were being a little too loud!!

Willis Tucker Park....Let's give her a whirl!!

So, today was new to us park #2 for the week...this one came as a recommendation from some gals at church...and yes, these were the naysayers of Green Lake! We got there just a few minutes after the spray pad opened, so there were only about 20 people there....the boys had a great time getting soaked...they had fun squirting each other and other unsuspecting passersby and running from one dumping bucket to the next! The nice part about this park was that the playground was just a few feet from the spray pad, so the kids could run from one area to the next..and if both of them weren't in the same place, I was still able to keep my eye on both of them! Gabe found his favorite part of the playground right away....the spider web, he climbed all the way to the top and sat there perched for the longest time...obviously Gabe does not share his Mom's fear of heights!! Grady on the other hand loved the teeter totters...and especially loved them when he got me to ride on them with him....oh how my legs got a work out!!! On the way home, the boys and I were having one of our conversations....these are coming a lot more often, becoming a lot more enjoyable, and actually resemble an adult conversation...anywho, the boys started comparing the two most recent parks...Green Lake and Willis Tucker! This was great to listen to...they were weighing the pros and cons of both parks, by the end of the conversation they had decided they liked both parks equally....they liked Willis Park because they could run from one area to the other and they liked Green Lake for the wading pool....hmmmm, they sound a little like their Momma!! So, I kind of strayed from the topic...but I have always said whatever age my kiddos are in at that moment is my very most favorite age...well, I'm saying it again....I am loving hanging with my fellas RIGHT NOW!!

Watch out....Gabe's got the water gun and he is on target!

Grady couldn't get enough of the teeter totters....and yes, I am on the other end!! That must be why he is so high up.....no wonder he wanted to teeter totter with me!!!!

Mr. Explorer at the top of the Spider Web!! How is the weather up there, Gabe?

A Pleasant Surprise = A Change in Attitude!

Today we headed down to Seattle to the Green Lake park! I have driven by this place several times and heard about it, but we had yet to go...so when our church started their weekly outings, I was happy to see this one on the list! Well.....that was until I started talking to people at church on Sunday---the few people I spoke of this to said that parking was hard to find and it was always busy no matter the day or the time that you went. That sort of bummed me out, plus when I woke up this morning it was foggy and did not look to be a promising day...so my mood started out crummy!! Fortunately, I had talked our friends, Carla and Josiah, into joining us on this first time adventure...so I had something going for me...at least I wouldn't be alone if this totally bombed! So, the boys and I headed out on the 30 minute trek to Green Lake and found that indeed parking was a bit of an issue! We circled the area a number of times and finally resorted to parking in a neighborhood approximately a quarter of a mile to the north and east of the park, but the sun had come out, so I took the parking in stride and headed to the play ground. Well, our church people are supposed to meet at 10:00...and at 10:20 no one besides me was there...obviously the fog, parking, and overcrowding kept all of these others home....and I was thinking to myself...rightfully so...those intelligent people! But, as I came out of my mood and we had our picnic lunch, I began feeling a little better...after all, we were there with wonderful friends, the sun was out, and it was warm---not a bad combination...even if I did trek half way across Seattle for parking and lost my kids I don't know how many times in the swarm of other children at the playground! So, with my new outlook on the day we hiked around the lake to the wading pool.....now this was worth it! The boys had a blast! The water was only about knee deep or so, but the boys splashed and soaked to their heart's content! I can't say I would visit this park for the playground alone, but throw in an afternoon in the wading pool and I am in---Even if I do have to park at home and walk! HA! Amazing how one thing can totally change your outlook on a place---Thank goodness I didn't just turn around and go home...look what I would have missed!

Watch out Gabe....Here comes Grady monster!

A direct spit hit from Grady to Gabe....Ahhh, brotherly love!

The Crab Pot!

Since the fellas didn't have much luck on the crabbing front on Saturday afternoon...we headed down to the famed Crab Pot for dinner! Actually we had this planned with our friend, Nate, long before the guys went crabbing....but it seemed like a good start to the story! The Crab Pot has been on the Food Channel and the Travel Channel both not to mention it is on the waterfront, so needless to say this place would be considered a tourist trap! Knowing all of this we still were dying to try this place out! The Crab Pot does not take reservations....so we got there at 7:00 and started waiting it out....we were told it would be an hour and a half, but to check back in 30 minutes! Not thinking too much of that we headed out to take in the beautiful Seattle summer evening...we walked down the pier outside of the restaurant and made fun of the tons of tourists snapping pics here and there---let's not mention we were one of those last year! The first 30 minutes flew by, so we headed in to "check in". No doubt this is a ploy to weed out the weak....amazingly our 1.5 hours turned into a mere 45 minutes...wow! So, finally Fox Party of 5 was called and our Crab Pot adventure began! We were lucky enough to be seated outside with a view of the sound, so that made the experience just that much better! We started off with 3 different appetizers...Nate is just as much a food junkie as Shawn and I.....we had crab and artichoke dip, oysters on the half shell, and calamari!!! Delicious!
Yes, if you order the Crab Pot you must wear a bib...thank goodness I take my camera everywhere....I will probably never again see these fellas in a bib...and them allow me to take a picture! Priceless!
The Crab Pot is known for their pot of seafood that is dumped directly on the table---no plates, no silverware....just a mallet, a board and a roll of paper towels! The guys had fun surfing their way through the mound of crabs, mussels, clams and who knows what else!!! I decided to order the Captain's Platter...I got to try everything, but had the opportunity to use silverware!! I did however try both the snow and dungeness crab---I may just have to go with the Pot next time!! We left the Crab Pot completely stuffed to the gills.....Can't wait until next time!

Guys Day Out!

So, while I was off galavanting the town with Carla, Shawn and the boys headed out to go fishing! They stopped off at the sporting goods store and purchased a fishing license and a crab pot and off they went! They headed down to Edmonds Marina, where it was Standing Room Only on the pier....obviously others had the same idea! With all the prep that went into fishing....they came up with only a scary looking crab - ask Grady about the crab!- and oodles of seaweed! But rest assured a great day was had by all!
The Scary Crab! I'm sure if we had video on this you would be hearing Our Brave Grady screaming and running in the background!!

Girl's Day Out!

On Saturday my best gal, Carla and I enjoyed a girl's day out! We headed to the movies and of course had to see a girly flick....we chose "My Sister's Keeper"! It was a fabulous movie...thankfully, Carla is a planner---yes, even more than myself!- and remembered a package of kleenex for each of us! They were definitely put to good use----it was a great crying here and there type of movie...definitely not a gusher the entire time! After the flick we headed over to Panera for lunch and ended up sitting there for 3 hours....my, my how we can gab!! We had an absolutely wonderful day.....this definitely needs to happen more often!!!

Happy 4th Of July!!!!

We spent the 4th of July in Fredonia this year! We started off at Mom and Joe's and ended the weekend at the Foxes'! The boys, or should I say Gabe, had a blast shooting off fireworks...he just couldn't get enough! We did get Grady to shoot off a couple of smoke bombs, but that is just about where it ended! By Saturday, he was at least watching the fireworks....a vast improvement from Thursday! We spent Friday with Mom and Joe, just chillaxin' around their house, doing laundry, working in the frame shop, checking out their new property, and feasting on some yummy catfish for dinner....we of course had to shoot off some fireworks...twice! On Saturday, we hung out at Mom and Dad Foxes house! All of Shawn's brothers and their families were there--so we had an extra special time! Shannon brought his new game "Guitar Hero", so we all had to try that out!! Unfortunately Ang and I will have to keep our day jobs---we were booed off everytime! The guys all caught on pretty quick---that was hilarious...I'm thinking we may have to invest in a version of this for the Wii!! On Saturday morning the guys took all of the kids fishing at the Fox Farm! Gabe and Grady both caught a fish! After fishing, Shawn and Grady decided to take Misty--mom and dad's horse--for a ride! I guess all started off fine, but one thing led to another and Grady and Shawn both ended up on the ground! Grady reassured all of us that he had a soft landing, but unfortunately the same could not be said for Shawn! As of today....3 days later, he is still sore---thankfully they both were okay...nothing serious, only some bruises and sore muscles! After that excitement they came home and it was time to celebrate America!!! While the boys were fishing, the ladies stayed behind and cooked!!---We also managed some time for coffee, gabbing and relaxing though! We had a yummy cookout---hamburgers, hotdogs, mountain oysters--Shawn's addition from a Vet Clinic find on Thursday!, salads, deviled eggs, chips, hummus, jello, cupcakes, and homemade icecream!!! YUM-O! We ended the evening with the Fredonia City fireworks!! What a great way to spend the 4th!!

Rock River Rapids!

So, after 2 full days of working on moving....we rewarded ourselves with a trip to the Rock River Rapids Water park in Derby! We met up with Shannon, Erin, Gideon and Mia and also ran into 2 of my cousins, Beth and Rebecca! We had a great time....the boys tried out the slides, floated along in the lazy river, had a gun fight with Dad, and splashed and swam until our hearts content!