So much stuff going on

The girls set up the couch cushions against the hearth the other day.
They had summer schoolwork to do (just a book I bought).
Anthony was having fun sitting with them.

Our friends found a Woody doll (or as men would say, action figure) for Anthony.

He had fun opening his first birthday present last week. :)

Poor Woody, the natural place for toddlers to hold him is around the neck.

We went to stay at Nana's last week too, for our monthly chemo trip to Seattle.

She had a bag of goodies too.

Nana got Anthony a Buzz pillow and some shirts.

He had fun with his new Buzz and Woody.

Anthony REALLY did not like Cars, the movie, before.

After our Disney trip though, he watched the whole movie several times at Nana's.

While we were in Seattle, our friends from Indiana were there again for a 1-year post stem cell transplant check.

We met up and went to lunch at Paseo's.

I'd never heard of it, but evidently, it's talked about on tv and in social media.

Good food.

We got to the front of the (long) line, and I saw this sign...

I don't normally carry much, if any, cash.

I asked Daniel and Josh if they saw an ATM anywhere.

Josh said he had some cash, and I asked him how much, thinking it'd be about $20.

Nope, he had $80! Extra, leftover spending money from our trip.

The place is so popular, the neighbors had to put up a sign, telling people not to go on their porch!

Brian shaved a smiley face.

Anthony had fun in the sprinklers.

We didn't bring a swimsuit or swim diapers for A, so I just let him play in the water to clean off his chip crumbs, then changed him.

The bandaid is from his chemo appointment.

I had been promising Daniel I'd take him to see Harry Potter in 3-D.

So, we went to the Pacific Science Center, for the iMax theater.

We have a friend who traveled a lot this summer.

He took planking pictures everywhere and put them on facebook.

So, Daniel planked at the giant table.

Gorgeous Science Center architecture.

The Science Center closed before the boys were done in their movie.

So, Anthony and I waited for a couple hours in Seattle Center.

We planned to go home the next day.

But, I was nervous about how the brakes on my van felt.

When we had driven over the mountain the day before, it felt like the brakes were not as tight as they normally are, and it was scary trying to turn into a rest stop.

So, we went to Nana's neighborhood Les Schwab.

Two years ago, my memory was so good, I could have told you if the brakes had been done, when they were done, and how much it cost--to a penny.

I couldn't remember if we'd gotten the brakes done in my van or not.

Evidently, we did....back in March.

But those were the front brakes.

The back brakes needed work this time.

So grateful we got them checked out and made safe though!

Anthony likes to hide behind the couch on the hearth, and get into what he thinks is mischief. ;)

We're still trying to get a good shot with Anthony in his mouse ears.

Anthony has been loving both his Woodys.

The other day, we had to take Kelly somewhere early, and he was clutching his Woody from Auntie Jenny like a security blanket the whole way.

(This picture is from before we bucked him in)

Daniel put the mouse ears on the cat.

Someone's having a birthday!!

Anthony will be 3 on Tuesday!

If you are local to us, you're welcome to come enjoy ice cream and cake from 6-7:30 PM.

*no gifts please...Anthony already has everything he wants/needs*

Traveling all over Washington State and entertainment

This is Andy's 21st year with his company.
So, we went to Yakima for his 20th anniversary dinner.
We hooked up 2 rooms at a hotel there through priceline, and drove down.
Last time we were in Yakima, I wasn't too impressed for some reason.
Now that I know several families from there, from the Ronald McDonald House, Yakima has a beauty I hadn't seen before.
It is beautiful!

A few days later, I needed to travel to Moses Lake for CPR training.
We were driving 60-70 MPH for about an hour, while it felt like something wasn't quite right.
Finally, we stopped at a rest stop and I had Andy look at the tires...
Sure enough, the back tire was flat.
We drove into Quincy and went to Les Schwab.
They found a screw in the tire, fixed it up, and had us on our way within about 15 minutes.
I was so impressed.

Josh wanted to prove that Weebles don't always not fall down.

Last week, Daniel and Josh went on a Scout hiking/camping trip.

They went 32 miles, although Daniel went 52 miles.

Kelly went to a leadership camp for the week.

So, it was just the younger girls, Anthony, Andy, and me.

We went to Spokane via Hwy. 2.

We hadn't been this way before and were astounded at the beauty of this route.

Almost NO traffic, and it was just so pretty!

We stopped at Dry Falls.

Anthony was tired of being strapped into his car seat.

The only place Andy felt it was safe to let him down in this caged area.

Everywhere else was a huge drop off.

While we stayed in Seattle for 14 months, one of the RMH families came from Davenport.

They said if we ever drove through, to stop at Edna's.

We did.

It was good.

But expensive for just a few of us.

Waiting for the food.

HUGE fries for Anthony.

He actually chose chips over fries though!

In Spokane, we stayed at the Ramada hotel right by the airport.

Another priceline deal.

I was very impressed with this one, it was roomy in the room, and there was a slide with the indoor pool.

Andy and I were there for a Michael Buble concert.

So, we went and picked up 2 of my nieces to babysit Anthony and the girls.

All the girls had fun, and Lilly only had to change one gross diaper.

I had Andy check his cell phone every 10 minutes, poor guy.

I have to be paranoid though.

Cousins in the pool.

Lilly

Grace

Janice

At the concert...Andy's not too comfortable with the self-portrait taking.

Naturally 7 was Michael's opening act.

If you EVER get a chance, SEE this group!

They were amazing, and made the cost of the tickets worth every penny.

They sing a capella, and use no instruments. Amazing.

We sat close, but it was still a better view to watch the screen next to us.

Although Michael Buble put on a great show, it wasn't that great to me.

He sounds better on cd or maybe in a more intimate setting than an arena.

He was pretty egotistical, although I can't blame him too much for that when there are so many women across the globe willing to give up everything to be with him.

His political humor was not needed, and if you're going to make a statement supporting a lifestyle, you don't mock those who do have that lifestyle in the next sentence.

Lastly, he used some language that wasn't necessary.

Buble's opening act, Naturally 7 was a lot cleaner, more fun, and made the concert.
I'll still be listening to Michael Buble though, and loving his velvet voice on the cd.

On the way back home, the next day, we went back via Hwy 2, then took a different road than the one before.

We went through Sun Lakes, Ephrata, and then Quincy.

Another gorgeous drive!

Maggie looking at little red dots in the water.

Little blue dragonflies that were all over the place.

66 drowning deaths in Grant County since 1990...only 2 had life vests on.

We went to the pool at Ephrata.

Anthony finally does better at not trying to stick his face in the water and inhale!

I think it's because he's walking more now, so he's a little further from the water?

Lilly going on the lily pads.

Maggie on lily pads.

Andy was so sunburnt.

We got back in time for me to go to a service night at church.

We were making pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa.

I was able to finish 5 at home, and they are so cute!

Friday and Saturday, I canned apricots and made apricot jam.

So pretty and soooo yummy!

After all the exhaustion of canning, I finished reading a book last night at 1AM.

At 4AM, Anthony woke up fussy and with a low temp.

After consulting with the on-call Hematology/Oncology doctor in Seattle, we went in to our local ER to get blood results and get Anthony checked out.

His blood results were good and after returning home, Anthony and I both slept for 4 1/2 hours.

It's pretty sad when I know who is likely to be working in the ER on a certain day at a certain time, so I rush to get in before shift change. Because I know how good the certain ones are with Anthony...although they're all good with him. Some are just more familiar now.