Self Portraits

I got to go to Seattle to see Ben, Aya, and Steven yesterday.  We played airplane and horsey and colored.  Sooo much fun!  The highlights of the day included lunch of homemade mapo tofu, the library, and taking self-portraits and family photos with my camera.  Next week I'm hoping to get there in time for Aya's ballet class: so cute!
All of the pictures on the left were taken by Aya and the pictures on the right were taken by Steven.  They're pretty good!  I am so thankful! xoxo

"Cheese"

Marine Corps Ball!

A few weekends ago I was honored to attend the Marine Corps Ball with my best friend Brent and his great wife, Erin.  I'm a bit late posting these pictures because of Thanksgiving, but we had a really great time!  The drive to Spokane was about 5 hours of blue/grey with a brief interlude in the mountains.  I stopped at a Mexican restaurant in a mountain village for lunch, where they were quite surprised I could speak enough Spanish to order and carry on a simple conversation!

Lately Kem and I are just laying low, trying to keep dry and warm.  I'm making vegetable soup with veggies from the Farmer's Market tomorrow to fortify us and make Mr Wonderful big and strong!

The mountain was hiding

Brent bought a cape....and couldn't hook it closed!

Especially dapper with the slippers

 Erin and I had a great day shopping before the ball and then stopped in this great coffee/gift shop

I'm so proud of Brent.  He's a Gunnery Sargent in the Marine Corps and just celebrated his 13th year!  He was chosen to read the History of the Corps at the ball, which is a great honor.  It is so great to see how respected he is by his subordinates, how relied upon he is by his commanding officers, 

and how loved he is by his wife and friends. 

Our feet at the ball!
(Not nearly as happy at 2:30am)

 Goofin' with the cape!

We went to a delicious restaurant for brunch before I headed home!

I am reminded daily how blessed I am to be around my family and loved by my friends. xoxo

Baby Shower

We can't wait to meet the newest addition! Thanks to Melissa for organizing the girls' celebration yesterday!
He had a great time watching "Skyfall" last night: kicking and generally making Mom uncomfortable in the Luxe seats!

Thanksgiving!

Doesn't everyone have a dance party after turkey?

Here we go! Parked at a funny little hotel with only three bags between us! Yay Boston!!

Our feet are at the Marine Corps Ball!

How you know your best friends love you

my placecard: "Naomi Halasz"

Eastern Washington

I am out in Spokane this weekend for the Marine Corps Ball with Erin and Brent! I pulled over and got some beautiful shots of the mountains on my camera and was surprised by the contrast with the valley, pictured here. It was very monochromatic! More pictures to come! Xoxo

Fun!

I've had a really great few days, and I'm excited to share them!

 I found a watch tower looking out over the Puget Sound in downtown Olympia on Saturday when I was wandering around.  I got to go to the Olympia Farmer's Market (this is their website!), wandered around the little independent shops, and had a pretty great breakfast.  Then Kem and I got to cook together!

Why do fowl love me?

Ben, Aya, Steven, and I walked to Magnusen Park on Friday.  It was a beautiful, brisk day!

"Cheeeeese!!!"

"Aya, do you want to play or chill?"
"Chill, please!"

 Kem and Sophie were dancing and playing...till the kisses began and the fun was called off.

Tree shadows=sunshine!

I was so thankful for the sunshine yesterday! It turns out I'm Much happier when it isn't raining. It might be a long winter....

The zoo!

Sunshine for the first time in a week. What a pleasant start to my weekend!