Washington Renaissance Fair

How fun!!!! 

We found out about the Washington Renaissance Fair last week so on Sunday we decided to check it out. The last time we went to one of these was several years ago when we still lived in GA.

As soon as we parked the car, I felt like we had teleported to another time. It is always amazing to me to see how serious some people take this event. We saw all sorts of costumes. The part my kids enjoyed the most was the entertainers that walked about the place. When we first entered we saw a group of pirates hassling people in the pub. There was another pirate in the street walking around with a plank on a rope. We didn't really understand that. we really enjoyed seeing the Queen walking about from show to show with the Royal Court. Sadly, there was no King with her. And the food! Well, let's just say we all looked forward to walking around eating our huge turkey leg (not pictured). Enjoy the few pictures I was able to get.

Shoveling snow ain't easy....

and if you have the wrong equipment, darn near impossible I would say!

That is a pretty narrow garden shovel.

Yes!!! That is a garden rake you see. No! Do not adjust your screens. He is shoveling snow with a garden rake. How you ask???

Like that!

and that!

We like our snow to line up in neat little rows

before we drive over it!

Let's take a look again!!!

Narrow garden shovel

Garden rake!

Who knew????

This is what a snow shovel will do for you!

You can actually see the sidewalk!

This is what a narrow garden shovel and a garden rake will do

NOTHING!!!!!!!

At least they gave up with this one.....

Yes!!! That is a leaf rake you see. No! Don't adjust your screens.

The toes belong to.....

this bundle of joy!!!

10 minutes old and already has daddy wrapped around her finger!

And those toes?? I was able to capture them when she was just 2 hours old!!!!

Now back to the wedding.....

Since we have been busy, I have not had time to finish off the wedding post. Well, to sum it up it was the best wedding I had ever been too. Not one single hiccup( but a few welcomed surprises along the way). My aunts (the one getting married and the one that practically raised her) did a great job of preparing everything months in advanced. I actually went to Ecuador 2 weeks ahead of schedule so that I could help with the last minute things and there were few things left to do. They were just amazing. The ceremony was beautiful in a very nice church and the party afterwards....well, we will just let the pictures speak for themselves.






So the wedding was sweet but then we went to the reception..........

My aunt (the one getting married) really wanted a new "thing" they are doing in Ecuador for weddings and other special occassions. You hire a company to liven your party. They come with a mime (not the kind we know but one who dances and dances and dances), a clown on stilts, a drummer type, and a cute dancer lady. They bring their own music, stay for one hour, and make sure every single guest at your event is on their feet and having the time of their life! They also bring hats, whistles, containers with that foam snake stuff and anything else you are willing to pay for! I managed to hire the group you see in the slideshow without anyone knowing what I was up to. I had to be sneaky because in a family like mine keeping secrets is NOT easy! Everyone was surprised and we had a wonderful, wonderful time as seen by the last two pictures of feet no longer able to stand having shoes on them.

Back and gone again

I only have a brief update. I have returned from Ecuador safe and sound only a little sadder because I do not know when I will return. The flight is so much farther now and therefore so much more expensive.

We had a wonderful time. The peeps made many new friends and thanks to the internet they will be able to keep in touch easier. Many of them have already called them to make sure they made it home safely. I promise pictures soon but unfortunately my laptop has decided to not work properly. Papa Peep is on the case but I may end up with a new desk top. I am using Oldest Peep's computer for the moment. My pictures are not stored here but I doing some transferring.

But that will all have to wait until next week because......... We are headed out of town again. A vacation from my vacation! Since Papa Peep was not able to join us on our previous trip we are all going this time. It is a family retreat with our new homeschool group. We can't wait. The peeps are especially excited because we will be taking a ferry in a few shorts hours. You all have a fabulous week and I will post pictures upon our return.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

My oldest had a birthday yesterday! My baby is now 12 years old! I have no idea where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday was the 3rd day at the hospital of the horrible contractions and no progress birth that was my daughters. I still remember the look on my midwife's face as I was pushing and she saw all the hair that baby had. She still even more hair now and all the 12 year old charm of being the old girl in a family of boys! Below is my little homage of her 12 years with us. We have laughed, cried, and screamed at time but she is my heart and soul. What I would do without my rock, I can not even begin to imagine.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

I love Papa Peep

Look what he just got us for our anniversary!

He is not the most romantic guy out there, but he sure knows what makes me smile. I sure do love him.

Since today is our anniversary, I will write ten things I love about my sweetie!

His eyes and those lush eyelashes!

His tiny, tiny ears!

His big, sexy biceps!

His silly, nervous smirk!

His not very funny jokes!

His brain......He is a very intelligent guy!

His childishness!!!!

His kisses!

His love for his children!

And the No. 1 thing I love about Papa Peep is.......

That he loves me!!!!!!

Happy Anniversary Darling!

My word!

They had called for snow yesterday but we got a beautiful sunny day so I thought the snow would not come. As I was going to sleep it started, but I awoke to this scene this morning.

That is a lot of snow!

Here are some accumulations from the front yard.

The view from the back.

Then of course the kids bundled up and ran out there to play.

(Note: The slideshow that should go here is in the post above because photobucket is determined to make me crazy and not work like it should.)

(Note 2: I think there is something wrong with blogger as I tried a new photo service website and it gave me a hard time also. I think I have it resolved above, but I still can't put it here where it belongs. Bummer)

I wonder if we will get any school done today. We are behind schedule as it is. These snow days don't help the matter.

Peeps' Winter Wonderland

Monday night it snowed here. While the peeps did play in it that night, it was not until Tuesday morning that all the fun was really to be had. Everything froze over night and it was just slick enough for cardboard boxes (like we don't have enough of those about) and some cooped up peeps to really enjoy. We witnessed several trucks try to skid their way up our little hill while the peeps tried to skid down. I continually had to tell Baby Peep to STOP eating the snow while trying to get Middle Peep not to be so risky. Oldest Peep, as usual, first cautious quietly observing and then the last to be dragged back inside.

One last post for the night

For the last few hours I have been downloading pictures of today and putting them in that nice little slideshow below.


What has Papa Peep (and the little peeps but mostly Papa Peep) been doing this entire time, you ask?????? Thank you, Sister Peep!!!

Let me introduce ROCK BAND MANIAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Snow Balls

Here you can see the peeps enjoying the snow.

SNOW

First I want to share my kitchen up closer. I just love it. I have cooked more in the last 2 days than a week's worth in the old house. We will have to keep the gym active at this rate.



Now, just in case you had not heard (HA!) it snowed here yesterday. It started around 1 (as we were on our way to Ikea) and has not stopped. At one point this morning it was raining but then it turned to snow again and I think right now it is raining again. The shots below were at just about the peak of the storm. I would guesstimate we got about 3". Papa Peep was shocked. He was told it rarely snows and when it does it melts right away. The snow may be gone by the afternoon but it was definitely more than just a dusting.

Thanksgiving Trip Part 2

So on the way back, we took Rt 299 to the 101. Papa Peep just had to see the ocean. Well the 299 is not just an ordinary road. It goes up a mountain, via curvy, steep, windy, roads. We hoped to get there before the sun went down so we could actually see. We did make it and the drive was worth it. On the way back to the 5 we drove throught Redwood National Park and let me tell you it is very dark (read frightening) at night. We finally made it out but the pictures came to an end since I had no more daylight. I took over the driving and we got home around 2am. Happily we climbed into bed and enjoyed a relaxing Sunday.

Thanksgiving Trip

This will be mostly a picture post as I have dozens and dozens.....OK hundreds of pictures of our most recent road trip.

Things I learned from this road trip......

• Papa Peep UNDER estimated how far Sacramento is from Seattle
• Papa Peep UNDER estimated how bad the traffic would be Wednesday afternoon
• In future Mama Peep plans the road trips
• Redwood National Park is DARK at night
• Driving at 3000 feet above sea level will make your ears pop..painfully if you have a cold and are stuffy
• Mama Peep will never drive on mountain roads heading towards the Pacific.....REALLY SCARY little windy, curvy, sloppy roads with sheer drops!!!! S C A R Y!!!

So without further delay, here is a sample of our trip.

Maybe Mount Rainer? We were taking the streets because the the freeway was a parking lot for MILES!


Since it took us so long to get underway we had to stop. We found a tee pee type establishment. It was very "cute". They did not keep the heat or water on in the rooms so we had to turn everything on when we got in and the cold was just too much. The peeps used body heat until the heat warmed the place up.

The fog was very thick in most places making the whole scene gloomy and depressing eventually we were higher than the fog and the sun was shining in all its glory. It made everything breathe-taking.

This picture only captures a small small piece of all the beauty. This picture proves I need a wide angle lens for my camera....anyone shopping for me....Canon Rebel XTi.

Elevation: 3000 FT. My ears!


Can you guess where we are now?

Here is a close up. Come on guess!

Last one. Look at that water. Papa Peep said it is blue because of a high lime content. Sounds good to me.

We finally arrived and meet some new family.....lots of babies and an adult we had never met before. The peeps loved the babies and enjoyed getting to know their new big cousin. She has recently moved to the California area so we will be able to get to know her better.

I know my picture is off...there was a child running underfoot and I never checked it to see how it came out. Unfortunately, I did not take another.

This post is getting really long and big so I will post the return trip some other time. I promise more awesome pictures to come.