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http://shannonsewell.com/theblankpage/2011/07/27/cause-if-i-gotta-play-by-your-rules-i-am-being-phony/

my FAVORITE photographer came to snoqualmie on sunday to do a family photo shoot for us.  check it out - shannon has posted a sneak peak on her blog.  it's a little crazy to see our pictures on a blog that i read regularly :)  the photo shoot was so much fun, and i love the pictures!  she is amazing, and i feel so fortunate to have had her take our pictures - she doesn't even do family photo shoots!  i can't wait to see some of these beautiful pictures hanging up in our new house :)

bainbridge

catching up... over memorial day weekend we took a quick little afternoon trip to bainbridge island.  we walked onto the ferry with the kids in the buggy, which was a super easy way to go.  the kids loved the ferry ride and had fun goofing around with each other during the short ride over.  we enjoyed the entertainment provided by our two silly kids as well as the great views of downtown seattle from the ferry.  bainbridge was super quaint and immediately struck me as the type of northwest island i'd want to have a house on.  idyllic little houses line the shore as you pull into the harbor, and the main street in town is a short walk from the ferry.  we didn't have much time so we took a brisk stroll to brunch at cafe nola where gavin slept, brooke colored and we enjoyed some good food.  after brunch we went looking for the "can't miss" mora creamery.  so glad we did!  amazing ice cream in so many yummy, original flavors....  while brooke and i were in line to get ice cream for the family, kevin and gavin walked down to a park where kevin ran into ashley, one of his best friends from high school.  what are the odds?  we didn't have much time to visit with ashley and her family before we had to run back to catch the ferry.  bainbridge was a really great place to spend an afternoon, and i'd love to go back when we have more time to spare.

first baseball game

we took the kids to their first baseball game on june 3rd to see the seattle mariners play the tampa bay devil rays.  it was a perfect night for a ball game, and we had great seats.  the kids loved the atmosphere and all the treats that came along with it - new baseball hats, train giveaways, cotton candy.  what's not to like?  we even got to see 4 home runs!  gavin was thrilled.  kevin taught him to say "hey, batter batter batter" when the other team was up to bat.  he still says that to this day when we're playing ball.  we made it through 5 innings and left with a score of 7-0 mariners.  it was a special night for all of us.

recital 2011

one of my favorite days of the entire year.  brooke's dance recital.  this year we knew what to expect; we knew how wonderful it was going to be.  i got butterflies in my stomach for brooke as her group was about to go on stage.  they danced to "reflection" from mulan, which was a beautiful song for a beautiful bunch of girls.  brooke did every single dance move in her routine.  it brought tears to my eyes.  not only was brooke very focused on her dancing, but she was also the one girl who made sure all of the other girls remembered where to stand and when to switch places.  she made us so proud.  this year it rained the day of the recital, but it didn't put a damper on our spirits.  gavin beamed with pride.  brooke danced her heart out.  mommy and daddy celebrated.