Some Randomness and Snow!

Please see post below also!

So we've had a good month. We moved again at the begining of the month. We only had to move down the hall. Our new place is MUCH bigger. See my video below.
We had a very nice fall and got some good sunny days mixed in with cloudy ones. Now mother nature has decided to throw Seattle a little curveball and send us snow and ice. Ice and steep hills with no sand/plows/salt is not the funnest mix. Mon eve everything was total GRIDLOCK here. Like it took people 4-5 hrs or more to get home from work! Crazy!! But it should warm up this weekend so I'm hoping some of the icy roads melt a little bit.
Here's a bunch of random pictures for you!


Elk watching in North Bend. Pretty Cool!




Gorgeous Fall! View from our deck.




Erik cutting down our Christmas Tree at Snoqualmie Pass




Tonya helping a friend with a school project at Pike's Market




From a beautiful fall to this?!?!




Showing a little at 6 mos.




One of Rio's nicknames is "sniffer"




This is his favorite spot when you are typing!!!


Wishing you well! Until next time.

Trip to see Tara

So still catching up on posts I should have done months ago. But I'm getting closer.... I went to visit Tara in Oct and it's only the end of Nov.

I was able to see her in Austin, TX for 4 1/2 days.  We had super good weather, nice and sunny and hot. This northern gal was a little warm sometimes but I really enjoyed all the sun.
First day we hung around Austin and took in some of the sights like the State Capitol. We went on a tour there and it was really intersting. Then later that evening we went to the Continental Club and listened to some great music, Tara danced, I didn't!


Enjoying coffee and a Sunrise tea drink





I loved my drink!



Plates on all the doors at the Capitol



Me in front of the capitol



Another view with a monument to the frontier women.



Strom was a ways off but looked great with view of Austin.



The next day we headed west of Austin to Fredrickburg and Enchanted Rock. We climbed up the rock a ways, not to the top since I was having an issue with my foot hurting! Still don't know what I did but it hurt most of the time in TX and then got better the last day! We had fun seeing part of TX and hanging out in a German town.



Enchanted Rock



Two gals, shades and sun at the top.



The next day we hung around in Austin again, Tara had and eye appt. so I sat in a coffee shop and checked emails and such. Then we checked out a local farmer's market. That night she took me to the Broken Spoke for a real TX experience!! We had a really good time there. Again she danced, alot! and I didn't. ;-) I loved the band that was playing Dale Watson.  Here's one of his songs on you tube. So fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwJz-QM51uU  Just imagine my little sis swing across the dance floor to this lively music! Fun, Fun, Fun!



Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke



Sisters enjoying the music.



The last day we did some more relxing Austin sights and just enjoyed ourselves.



Looking down on the River (can't remember which one!)

 

View of Austin across Lady Bird Lake



Dragonflies, smiles and crochet hooks?

 Tara, I had the best time visiting you in Austin!!! It might be the last time we can do that, just the two of us for a while so I'm very grateful we got too!! Love you to pieces!!!!

still catching up.....

Hello again,
Yes I'm still trying to play catch up on our pics from over the summer. Ugh! What will happen when I have a baby to take care of........ I'll still try to post, but I may be posting about the baby! I guess that won't be a bad thing!

So let's go back to Aug and my trip back to MN and then to MI to visit family. Erik was also in MN in Aug for a short time but I had the camera! I was actually only in MN for a very short time. Arrived last on a Wed night. Left EARLY on Friday morning with Mom to drive to Muskegon, MI. I realy wanted to see all the family there since I hadn't seen them since my cousin Rory's wedding 4+ yrs ago.  Mom and I had a very good trip together considering we did a lot of driving and we with each other 24/7 for 4 days!  So we headed across WI to Manitowok (sp??). There we hopped on the ferry that took us to Ludington, MI. I think it was about4-5 hrs, now I can't remember.   It was a nice trip, we took naps and talked and read. Great way to travel. 
Once in MI we spent 2 1/2 days seeing family. It was so great to see everyone!!! And thanks to Chere for having an ice cream social so we could see all the adults and meet the newest Gardner, Louie!  So adorable.  Before we knew it it was time to travel back. Well, that was an exciting cast off on the ferry! The wind was whipping across Lake Michigan. We thought we were going to get to spend all day on the lounge chairs out in the sun and there was no way! The chairs we blowing around and everything. So we found a good table in the cafe where we had good views and still enjoyed the trip.  Then I was home in MN for about a day and a half and then flew back to Seattle. A whirlwind trip but well worth it! Love to my Michigan family!!!!

        

Pulling in to pier in Ludington

Back end of ferry where they off load the cars

Grandma noticed the pic of her between Mom and her!

Me and my Grandma!

At Pier Marquette

Mom and Me in the wind and the sun

The lighthouse and a passing gull

Loving all the bright blue that day!

Grandma meets Louie

Looks at the waves!

Small lighthouse at the Ludington Pier



Laughing in the wind



More laughing.. love this one!

Hope you enjoyed!

New apartment

Hi Folks!
This past weekend Erik and I moved to a new bigger apartment. I made this video meaning to send it to only a few family members cuz it's a cheezy video but it was too big to send via hotmail. So all of you now get to see the cheezy video of me showing off our new apartment! Enjoy! I had to upload it to youtube to get it to work so you'll have to click the link.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q41T_Hz1Qo
PS: Now that we're moved I plan on still posting pics from my MN trip and my TX trip so stay tuned.