Our Lil' Baseball Player

Colin is enjoying playing with his new baseball t-ball set. He is learning that you have to face a certain way to hit the ball NOT at the BBQ grill or the house, and he seems to have little care as to whether he bats right or left handed.

The Death of Mommy's Camera

My camera made it 3 1/2 years, faithful to take tons of pictures of each little Colin and family activity. It survived several drops (oops!) and many snorkel trips in the ocean in it's special water case. But for some reason and without warning, the digital screen decided at the end of May that it was done.

I took it out while in downtown Seattle to snap some pics while on a date night with Matt and nothing. Nada.

So, with another trip in sight, we ventured out for a mommy proof camera -- this new thing is shock proof and waterproof to 3 meters. I had fun taking some pictures of my roses, which are so thrilled that we gave them some plant food late this spring!

More from Grandma's Visit

Colin enjoyed spending time with his Grandma for a belated birthday celebration.


And while she was here, Colin beat the heat in the yard while Dad watered the garden. Sprinklers are SO much fun! He ended up in his "skives" this particular evening (below) because he was soaked. A few days later while it was still hot outside in the evening, he just went ahead and stripped down to his birthday suit and frolicked in the water. Ahhhh, to be three and without a care in the world!

Beach Heat Playtime

Colin enjoyed a visit from his Texas Grandma the last weekend in May. Grandma brought some hot weather with her, so we hit the beach! Colin had fun playing in the water and sand!

Memorial Day

We enjoyed a relaxing Memorial Day BBQ with friends and Colin's favorite lunch buddy and soccer pal. I decided to have a little fun with the dessert (you can't go wrong with a fruit trifle) and finally got around to fixing the salad I had last summer, recipe compliments of my MOPS and Bible study friend, Carly. Here's the recipe (it's absolutely delicious!):

Dressing:
2/3 c. extra virgin olive oil, mixed with canola oil
1/3 c. rice vinegar
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp oregano
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper

Add to romaine lettuce torn on platter:

green onions
avocado
dried cranberries
candied pecans (2 c pecans, 1 c sugar, constantly stirred over med/high heat until sugar is melted and nuts are golden brown. Spread immediately over foil and let cool)
pears
blue cheese
optional: tomatoes, jicama, orange slices

Colin and his friend had fun playing outside with the golf go-cart and other fun outdoors toys. So nice to relax and enjoy the fellowship!

Beach Exploration

Catching up from the third week in May, we made a trip over to West Seattle and visited a beach at low tide. Colin was not pleased that he was expected to walk over that slimy seaweed ("Yuck, seaweed, yuck! Daddy hold me!")

When Dad and Colin walked over a particular patch of large seaweed, I saw it starting to really move and out came a HUGE eating-sized dungeness crab, followed by 2 others. They had rafted in at low tide and wanted to make a quick escape from us. Colin had talked all the way to the each about seeing crabs, and boy did we ever!

No starfish on this trip, though. We'll have to check out a different beach next time.