Family pictures and updates

So, I realize that I may be the world’s worst blogger, but here I go again.

My sister took some pictures of the family, and a few turned out pretty good. I am so picky about pictures of me, so when I actually get one that I like it’s a miracle. Well done Lori!


Brandon and Duke



Rebekah, Denise, and Addie


Brandon is doing a big semester this fall, only 3-ish semesters to go, so he will be a busy boy. We are preparing for graduate school so we are downsizing and simplifying life. We have sold our house and are moving into an apt. Sounds drastic, I know,
but we are really excited about it – it will be better in so many ways.
We switched the kids to the school they will go to there, Canyon Creek – so far so good. Duke is in 4th grade, Bekah is in 2nd grade, and Addie just started pre-school. That means that 2 days a week I have 3 hours with no kids!! What ever shall I do with myself!!!



Bekah (7), Addie (4), and Duke (9)


I have recently been privileged to record some songs with Sally DeFord on her website. That was one of the reasons I needed to take some pictures of myself. Ugh. Other than that I am busy with Brandon and the kids school and other minor events, and trying to get enough hours in with my own Medical Transcription schooling. School is basically our life at this point in time. This too shall pass!



BF’sF - hehe



The Fam!


I have always wanted a cute kissy picture and I love this one (although Brandon wishes he had shaved - oh well.)




And I think this is the one I am going to use for my feature on the DeFord site.

10th Anniversary

Been awhile, I know!

So it had been about 7 years in February since Brandon and I had been away together on a trip - we went to Ouray, CO to a B & B for our anniversary in 2000 - other than that if we were alone together it was for a funeral or a wedding or a workshop of some sort - needless to say, it was way overdue for us to go away. So we thought for our 10th anniversary we just had to go somewhere, so we got Nana to watch the kids for us and we were on our way.

I served my mission in Washington State and loved it there and have always wanted to go back with Brandon. We talk about moving there one day but he had never actually been there. So we got fantastic airfare and left the day of our anniversary.

We spent the first night in Seattle. We went to the Space Needle for dinner at sunset - it was a fantastic view and awesome food!

Then the next day we drove up to Port Townsend, which was my last area in the missionfield, and piddled around a bit.

(Beach in Pt Townsend)

(Lighthouse in Pt Townsend)

(An old military fort by the lighthouse)


Then we drove over to Forks (the rainiest town in the nation) and stayed a night there. We went 15 minutes down to the Quillayute Indian reservation in LaPush. It has four of the most amazing scenic beaches. They call them First beach, Second beach, Third beach, and Rialto beach (they decided to get original on the last. hehe) Some are easily accessible and others you have to hike for a mile or so to get to, the hike was incredible, so beautiful.

(Third Beach)

(First beach)


There is tons of driftwood on these beaches, some new, some really old and weathered. And some HUGE!

(Rialto beach)

The next day we went to Hoh National Rainforest, which again, is so beautiful. We went on a hike called the Hall of Mosses - for obvious reasons. Our camera was being silly and we couldn't quite get the shots the way we saw them - pictures definitely don't do it justice - but you'll get the idea.

(Hall of Mosses)

Then we drove back over across from Seattle and stayed in my first area, (I served 1/3 of the mission there) Bainbridge Island. We stayed in a place called Abode by the Sea - had stairs down to the beach and we could watch the ferries come in and out to and from Seattle. We went to church and visited with some of my favorite people there.

(Bainbridge Island - view from Abode by the Sea)

The day we went home we hung out in Seattle some more and wandered around Pike's Market.

It only rained twice while we were there and both times were at night while we slept - the days were gloriously sunny and mild. It was by far the most refreshing, relaxing, rejuvenating trip I have been on. We planned hardly anything on purpose so we could do anything we wanted to, or nothing at all.