28th B-Day, Leavenworth, Elena 8 months

Wow, what a weekend!  Friday, we had Lisa spend the night so that we could go on an EARLY (6:30am) morning session to the temple.  It's been a long time since we've gone together.  So it was very nice and the spirit felt so good.  (Though, due to the earliness,  I did yawn quite a bit and my head bobbed to sleep for a second).

Then, THEN, we all hopped in the car and drove drove drove to Leavenworth, WA.  It's a cute Bavarian town (the closest to Switzerland that we'll ever get to...sigh--it was nice talking to you Erichhhhhh--)   Afterward, we took a flat hike along the river and enjoyed nature in its finest!

 click on pix for close up:

On Sunday,  I slept in big time and almost didn't make it to church (thanks Lisa for getting us!)  After church, Dan surprised me with a yummy dish of bison (what?  that's right--buffalo), veggie kabobs and yummy fried rice.  Very thoughtful-- apparently, bison is rich in iron, something my body lacks.

Lisa (along w/ Charles and Kelly) then brought over an apple pie, and gave us tickets to the Pacific Science Center! (she gets major hook-ups; a perk for volunteering!)  Then Dan surprised me with a salt shaker, because I accidentally threw out our old one.  Very thoughtful indeed!  (though I admit I looked at him funny when he said, 'surprise!'  But we all know that I am mean sometimes.  only sometimes, right? hehe....he)

Oh yeah, and Dan dropped Elena.  He finally learned his lesson to not twirl her around.  Don't worry for Elena; she is not injured.  Don't worry for Dan; I held in my wrath--though I zapped him with my eyes.   Here she is 8 mo!  Crawling, climbing to her feet, eating cords and paper with her 8 teeth... occasionally biting mommy... oh the joy... (oh but we adore her!)

That evening I went to the seminary students' graduation, and I admit, my eyes started to water.  The youth are growing up!  sniff, sniff.  I'm going to lose it when my own leave the house, I'm sure.  So is life.