My week with fam & friends

I jus got back from a great little trip to the Northwest. Oh how I am reminded once again of the sweet smell of the fir trees and the grand inspiration of the mountains. I love my northwest home and will someday return for sure.


I stayed with my dad & Lisa & the "trids" (Mari & Duncan)
We all had a great time hanging out, shopping, getting our hair done, eating and of course playing wih the dogs. (they breed havanese dogs and have a new litter - so cute)















I was also able to take a quick trip down to portland where I saw my little sister Michelle, the Bullocks, my old boss, and the Harmons.



After all that I headed down to Salem for a girls night with two of the coolest chicks in the world. Sasha and Marcy !!!! We ate thai food and girl talked all night. In the morning we all (and sash's mum) all went to a yummmy breakfast.
I'll never forget that omlette.....












The weather was horrible, traffic was worse and Dakota's fussing made it all very difficult. There were lots of friends I wanted to see but just missed this time around. fortunately I may just get out there again in the spring.

Other hightlights of the trip include Dakota's first proper shoe fitting at Nordstrom.



(Lisa bought him some great big boy shoes)



and lunch at the rainforest cafe


















A family trip some huge sporting goods store where we shot riffals, saw lots of dead stuffed animals, and ate bison burgers (I have to admit I was a little fleshed out and only had a salad)
















The Traveling was nothing less than long and arduous but i must say it was definately well worth it and quite a treat. Thank you mostely to Lisa and my dad too for letting it happen

Want some good Karma?

My little cousin Ashleigh is only in 1st grade (I think?) Her class is studying the United States and they have asked people to send them postcards from all over. But poor sweet little cousin has been secretly very sad because she "hasn't received a single postcard!" Can anyone help? Can we cure her embarrassment and encourage her studies?
Will anyone out there send her a postcard?
Just imagine what delight could come from a small effort

I am "creating the possibility" that she will recieve a bunch of cool postcards so please help if you can.
Just mention Ashleigh's name and Send it to:
St. Joseph Catholic School
Mrs. Dickey's Class
1355 Motherhead Road
St. Charles, MO 63304.

Happy Birthday Dakota Jack!!!!!!!!

The big 0-1
I can't believe my little bumpkin is a whole year old!
Oh did we have fun today! Here is just a peek at the cake part....

Don't worry, it was a homemade low sugar gluten free all organic triple layer cake with an organic goats cream frosting! Yummmmm

Guess who's going to be a whole year old tomorow?!

Expect cake pictures next.....

boy meets "Bushy"

My Ravioli Face

Guess where Im going? then let me vent

I'm busting this joint and heading back to the sweet northwest for a little visit! This happened quite spontaneously thanks to Lisa hooking me up with an impromptu ticket. The family is actually in the Tacoma area but I may be able to get down to Portland for a day or two and would just love to see my peeps.
Here is my honest ugly opinion on my new midwest home: It stinks. Michigan is a hole. the stores are dirty with little variety. the landscape is flat and uninteresting. They smoke in restaurants. It is freezing already. I am bored, lonely, isolated, very poor, stressed and I feel like im struggling to get through each day. I cant join anything or do anything that cost money or is unbaby friendly. I have not had a real break from my baby in almost a whole year! Our house projects are at a standstill because we underestimated (of course) the cost/time/difficulty of finishing them. So home feels unhomey. Im tiered and worn out and so is my wardrobe. I see my husband maybe an hour a day. Many days not at all and he is naturally tired and grumpy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. So, here I am alone in my house feeling miserable for myself and wallowing in despair with itchy skin and another flea found.
Thank goodness for this magical ticket! A short visit home should do me good.
This girl needs a refreshing.

ITCHY itchy bo b-itchy

At first I thought it was just a few flea bites - and it was.
Then it started getting bad so I thought maybe I have FAD (flea allergy dermatitis)
Keith wrote me a Rx for cortizone but it was only getting worse
After 5 days of horrible scratching and tossing in my sleep i went in to see the dermatologist

























Poison Oak! Now when did I come in contact with that? I can only think of the pumpkin photo shoot in the backyard but, Dakota was rolling all over everything and he is fine.

Baffled and Itchy

it's cool mom, this is my thing

Walk in the park - its getting cold.....

Halloween Trick: Taking candy from a baby

Which one?

A

B

This was a horrible photoshoot! We were both too tiered and frustrated and he was antsy to crawl around. (being quite natural for his age of course) So these are my two best ones - I think. The others are more like this. but all I really wanted was one good holiday picture so I think these will do.