Memorial Weekend in Seattle with family

We have come back to Washington. Derek and his cousin, Tate, had a great time together swinging in Aunt Janna's chair.

It is also quite wonderful to be able to spend time with Grandpa and swing with him and hear great stories from Grandpa

Hannah and I went with Derek, Aunt Janna, Stephanie, and Uncle Stuart's family to a most beautiful place called, "Tumwater Falls". I would love to go back again and again. It had great contrasts in the beautiful powerful, dangerous waterfalls moving at such great force and the fragile miraculous beauty of the delicate flowers and the ferns right by each other making the differences of their beauty even more aparent.

I love these picutures of Hannah and I. Hannah is just like this area, a great contrast in beauty and strength and I marvel at being able to be a part of her life.

This wonderful little girl with us is my twin sister's daughter, Miss Stephanie

This rainbow by Hannah is quite beautiful.

This area reminds me of a favorite book of Hannah's, Alice in Wonderland. This area reminds me of the place where Alice was supposed to paint the roses red. This was even more beautiful in person.

I love this picture where Hannah and I sandwiched Derek in between our love.

This is my brother Stuart and his family. Kim, Micah, Gavin and Tate.

More beauty. It seems to be never ending in Washington

The whole gang, Hannah, Me, Janna, Stephanie, Tate, Gavin, Derek, Micah, Kim and Stuart

Two of my very bestest friends, Derek and Hannah, sharing a beautiful day together with our family

This is down in one of Hannah's favorite places. It is the creek down on her Grandpa and Grandma Ely's place. It is another of the many many beautiful places to enjoy in Washington. We are so so lucky to be able to visit family as wonderful as the senery we see.

Derek LOVES Grandpa Ely's birds. Here are some pictures of us sharing some time together in one of Derek's favorite places on earth. I love to be able to share these times with my children in their favorite places, especially that they are with their families that makes it even more wonderful. Derek is so gentle and kind with the birds. He is my gentle giant. I call him my small bear. He is such a good example to me of kindness and gentleness. He always makes sure that peoples feelings are treated with great care. Especially mine. I love to be with him, I always feel better about myself for being with him.

Derek and another of his best buddies doing another of his favorite things. Boating on his Grandpa pond

Derek loves to play chess. This is a set that came from China, a place Derek has come to love through his Grandparents. He and Hannah love to play together, they are both quite good.

Another wonderful day with my two buddies at just one of their many favorite places

Derek's last Pinewood Derby

Well, this is Derek's last pinewood derby. I can't believe it was his last one. It has gone by fast as life does when you get to be my age... Derek and his Dad did very well and had a great time as usual with the preparation of the car and then the race.

Derek did very well as usual, he got 2nd place and we were all VERY excited and proud of him and the great way he finished off his pinewood derby career, I will miss it.

Orlando

February 22, March 1, 2010

Here is our wonderful trip to Orlando. These photos are a bit out of order. This was at the Magic Kingdom on the Jungle Cruise. The kids loved this ride. The guides were so funny.

In Tomorrow land and at Cinderella's Castle

These days were so much fun and COLD! There really is a magic here.

At yet another park

This was in Animal Kingdom. The kids were SO excited to meet Lilo and Stitch

This was in Hollywood Studios at the Movie Ride. It was actually nice to get inside to get warm. This was such a fun ride. It was quite nostalgic. It made us want to cuddle up with a warm blanket and popcorn.

This was in the Animal Kingdom Park for the Safari. It was fun to see so many animals Disney style.

At the Tree of Life in the Animal Kingdom. This tree was incredible. There were so many carvings of animals all over the tree.

This was at the Enchanted Tiki Room. We have been to Disney many times but this was our first time seeing this show.

Derek and I (Hannah took the photo) in Hollywood Studios going on the new Toy Story ride. It was VERY popular, and very fun

This is one of my favorite movies so I was so glad to see the characters and to get a picture with them.

This is another of my all time favorite movies. It took FOREVER to get through the line to get this photo...the Disney magic helped to keep us smiling

In Hollywood Studios with a backdrop of a San Francisco hill with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

We had so many hugs during this trip. It was great to get hugs from eachother and from a couple of funny monsters, which is also another of my favorite shows.

More of Hollywood Studios, I believe that is the Chrystler building or the Empire State building behind us. :)

Derek and I again in Andy's room at the beginning of the Toy Story ride in Hollywood Studios (the REALLY popular one)

Aunt Liz started this tradition for us when we went to New York City with her last April. Hannah has grapes in her mouth and is doing a Planet of the Apes immitation. We did this in Central Park with Aunt Liz for our first time

Night time in front of the BEAUTIFUL EPCOT ball. What a beautiful night.

Ok, so now we can say we've been to an "England" phone booth. In Epcot's World Showcase. This area of Disney World was fantastic. The details they went to were amazing. The next time we go I would really like to spend more time in the country area. Most days it was raining, this was one of those days. The rain was actually our friend as it discouraged people from coming to the park.

At the American showcase

This is Mulan with Goldie. This is one of Hannah's all time favorite shows. We were so incedibly happy to get a photo with her!

Hannah's nick name is Panda so this photo was a must :)

The kids have a special love for China so this was a wonderful spot. This is definately a spot we are going to go back to the next time we go.

I have Scandinavian blood in me so the kids and I had a great time with this area. This was Norway. The ride there is tons of fun too. I love this photo of us, pure fun!

Derek and I saw Chip and Dale when we were running through this building during a rain storm

This photo is a tradition of ours. We have photos of us in front of fire engines in many different states. We started in Chicago, then San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City, and now Orlando. We are excited for the tradition to continue and wonder where the next one will be.

We love this movie

on our last day. We were so glad to get a picture together

Hannah loves Mexico

All of us together with the World Showcase behind us

We thougth this would be a good family photo in remembrance of Vernal on the farm... with Mickey and Minnie

this is another of Hannah and Derek's favorite rides in Magic Kingdom

Well, I guess we could say that all the rides are the kid's and my favorite rides

This was in Magic Kingdom in Toon Town. Derek and Hannah loved this ride

Tea Cups, another of the kids favorites

The Snow White ride together

Small World ride

So many of these rides Grandma and Grandpa would love too. They would have loved this one as well as the last two

In Cinderella's Castle, the whole thing was beautiful, very hard to get photos though, so many people.

The Orlando Haunted House was totally different than the California one (as most of the rides were)This was more of a Norman Bates, Psycho look

This was Big Thunder Mountain, patterned after the Bryce National Park. The kids of course loved it. Derek especially

Splash Mountain, sadly was not working til the last day we were there

More of the Tiki Room

Hollywood Studios with the Sorcerer's hat

We were able to go as a family to Orlando while David had a business trip. The kids and I went to Disney World for 5 days.