day 11 - SLC and greens

Goodbye Mt. Rainier! See you soon...

I loved these colors of greens along the Salt Lake when we approached... 

like literal water-colors:

At the Reeders were fresh banana muffins... 

hello muffin top (dual meaning):

We sat outside and visited (I've craved the outdoors - maybe this baby will be a mountain climber like his mother - ha!): 

It was so peaceful outside. Wind chimes and spicket water fountain (say that 3 times.. weird word).  Peaceful, pretty stairs:

Yummy spinach from their garden 

(what I had on my burger AND salad, AND for dinner)

This little boy is getting so strong. Like Popeye:

Stacey is waiting for finches to find her mounted tea-cup with seeds: 

When Tessa came to join us, she and Molly made these.. YUM:  

While they worked, Tessa still found time to take a picture for Mark:

Then while I worked on my muffin top, they worked off the cookies:

What cute helmet heads!! I love these girls. 

day 10 - Ikea, packing, toting, and tucking

Busy day! This morning was filled with a run to Target and TJMaxx with my mom, found a great tote to use a diaper bag! I'm so excited about it. But then! I got a call from a friend's husband saying he was going to be at the IKEA soon, so we packed up mine and Tessa's old crib and set out to meet him. Hello, Ikea: 

He was in a frantic rush, so my dad and I stepped inside this glorious furniture heaven and helped him rush through his lists. It was crazy!! But we found nearly everything on his list. 
Here is the non-diaper-bag, diaper-bag. I figured my kiddo is going to be my work, so why not look super chic changing diapers with a "work tote"!? We'll see if it works as well as I am hoping. It is bigger than it looks:

See inside? that's one of my favorite color combinations. Bright green + black. I don't think it stems from high school colors, I just love the colors together! Anyway, two of the zippers actually make up a pouch that can be removed for extra room:
I'm all packed up and ready for SLC tomorrow. This little guy doesn't know that I'm leaving. Let's try not to disturb him with the bad news... 
When I came back into my room tonight after brushing my teeth, I saw my mom had tucked him in under a blanket she knotted for him. We were laughing so hard! That was about an hour ago, and he is still in the EXACT same spot. What a spoiled little pooch! Good thing he's so sweet. 

SLC here I come! 

day 9 - planes and piano

Everyone, I think, has had an 'airport moment.' This afternoon we had to send this girl back to SLC, so she can make some dinero. I couldn't just give her one hug, so I gave her two. We miss her! The house is too quiet now. 

So to make some noise tonight, I sat down at this big ole' stringed instrument and had some fun. 
I began with this song:
Written by this guy: 
Then wanted a little more of a challenge so I tried this one.. it was more familiar than I thought it would be; I guess I've heard it before! Go Chopin!
Even with an electric piano at home, and playing wall pianos at church every Sunday for primary, I miss the sound a Grand can make. Especially my mom's Yamaha. When I was once at a piano retailer with Mark, we were asking about all the different sounds of pianos, prices, comparisons, information of all sorts. When the experienced older woman explained the Yamaha's trademark sound, I got a wave of nostalgia for my mom's piano. "It sounds like sunshine. Bright and light." I love it's sound. Mark likes the softer, rich sound of his parents', while I can't get enough of my mom's playing and her piano!

PS to Aubrey - I was thinking of you while your party is going on! (currently) and hope it's a smash! Can't wait to hear about it and see the faves. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, tomorrow!

day 8 - clever. don's and dolls

Today's activities began after my parents' daily routine of walking and gardening. We had our lunch/dinner (lunner?) at this place. Everything I've had here has been so yummy. I'm going to gain about 45 lbs. on this trip. Don't tell anyone. 

After lunch we drove to Owen Beach at Point Defiance. So green:

Don's (you'll meet Don's Market in a moment) kayak rentals:

Driftwood on Owen Beach... La Push?

Puget Sound from Owen Beach:

Then we visited Clever. (check out her blog!)

Her name is Heidi Grace, and we all got to meet her; she even loved Buckwheat! 

You may have even seen her line before if you like paper products and 

all sorts of crafty stuff: 

cute little candy jars dot her shop:

clever., right?

I love mossy stuff, bird cages, and cards. Combined? Ideal!

Above the check out counter is a huge chandelier she's hung with her artwork behind:

a little somethin' somethin' for the baby boy:

more cute cleverness:

I love mobiles, and this is pretty cute!

Her shop is an old street front, with a few doors on the side that were worth a photograph:

Tessa looked pretty urban next to that bright blue color:

Next stop was her neighbor, Don's Market:

Inside, there's a little market, plus an old-time soda bar. 

You can sit here:

or here: 

Along with the market-goods, there are old pieces of the town on display. 

I almost asked if these were for sale. I'd love some:

I ordered a strawberry/banana milkshake. Perhaps I should up my weight gain prediction to 46 lbs?

mmmm:

Final stop of the day was a neighbor of my parents. In the 80s, she got into Barbies. 

Lots and lots and lots of Barbies:

Along with sewing many of the outfits, she has made little perfume-bottles like this (we loved these):

A hippie barbie (peace and love, man). Inside the glass case she looked like a store's manikin:

My favorite, the Red Riding outfit she designed:

And an Around the World Barbie:

It was a full, fun, filling, fun, fun day!

day 7 - nursery and salon

This morning at about 9 we went around to a couple of my dad's favorite nurseries. There were all sorts of pretty flowers, trees, shrubs (even sculpted into tea kettles and windmills!), and antique gas pumps to stare and ogle at. 

Pretty plants that look like fall year round: 

sculpt-able plants:

old cash register near the antique gas pumps:

After our lunch at a Mexican restaurant, Tessa and I got to get our hair done! Tessa had hers cut, while I got mine colored a more natural color; you know, not 3 different colors from grow-out.

I looove this picture of these two. Well, I just love these two:  

Tessa was really good at getting Buckwheat to look a certain direction so she could get a picture. I know I look like a goober: 

... and my hair up close: 

it's one color! it's magical!

P.S. to Jordan - the camera is huge and annoying to carry around, but I have too much fun to really care. It only gets really heavy when I have the telephoto lens on it. ow! And even then I have to carry it around for a good 10 minutes or so to start feeling it. But people today asked me, "what are you taking pictures for?" They must think I'm a journalist or something. ha! right. I just wave my hand at the question and say, "oh, nothing." Still fun!! I always have my little point and shoot in my purse though in case I don't have the 'big guy' with me, or if it's just faster. :) I think you should put your point-and-shoot to work!!

28 weeks

At the park today. 

Mauri, the shorts are perfect! Though, I could use a bit of a tan.... so I'm wearing the shorts in the sun from now on. I will get one! 

I was a little less swollen today, so I felt better in the shorts. Everyone say YES for Summer. one...two...three... YES!!