This time, it's been eight months. I'm sorry, folks. Life in Burbank, WA is busy. We love it here. Our house is perfect, except for the bugs and the drafty windows (oh, and the fact that the deck has no railing). Den's job is going beautifully. Kate settled down nicely at her new school, with only a few break down and cry days. Girls are starting to get mean early. I guess third grade isn't too soon for rumors and punch down drag outs. Wow.
Remember when I mentioned in my last post that I shouldn't say anything about a peaceful, quiet job for myself? I was right. I shouldn't have said it. My job at the office turned out to be one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. Maybe it was just that office, but it appears office life is not for me. I like the hands on, getting dirty kind of work, not the paperwork, stressed out, go home and wear the same bra again the next day kind of work. So anyway, here I am, at 3:30 am, working in labor and delivery again (AMEN!) I'm working per diem for a nursing staffing agency, so I make my own hours and enjoy the work I'm doing. Plus, in theory, I'm home a little more.
Winter was a time of snuggling down as a family. The advantage to moving twice in a year is drawing together as a little unit and depending on each other. We have the most amazing support system in our families and our small group of friends here, but the three of us do pretty well together when we're by ourselves. We played cards, spent too much time watching Phineas and Ferb, and talked about the best and worst parts of our days. We even spent some freezing hours down in the blind at the nature preserve a couple of miles from our house. Mom and Dad joined us out there a few times, and we even got Travis and Carrie and the boys out birdwatching. I'm getting old.
Spring seemed to last forever. It's just now getting warm. We went to Boise in early May and spent some time with the Banuelos fam when Heather graduated. Yea, Heather! We had a great time with our friends and realized just how much we miss them. Den and I started a diet called Ideal Protein when we got back, and we've each lost about 20 pounds. Feels good!
We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on June 24th. We decided it would be fun to go for a little hike. Eagle Creek is a beautiful place down in the Gorge that my dad used to take me as a kid. I was pretty sure we'd get up to Punch Bowl, which is 2 miles in, and turn around. But we got there and thought, we're doing pretty good. Let's keep going. The next big waterfall is the doozy... Tunnel Falls, where you're able to walk along this tiny path on the side of a cliff and then go underneath the center of the waterfall through a little tunnel. It's really incredible, but it's also 6.5 miles in and 1640 feet up from the trailhead. We had never planned on going that far, but we DID! It was all fun and games until the last two miles out, after we had already hiked 11 miles. We're far too old and out of shape for that and we could barely walk by the time we were done. Den doesn't plan on doing it again in the foreseeable future. I, however, cannot wait to get back in the saddle and take Kate with us. I'm sure my hips will be screaming at me to stop much earlier this next time...
The fourth was great. Den's cousin, Jason, and his daughter Jordan (who has become Kate's Siamese twin) spent the weekend at our place. They only live about 25 minutes away, but we have the space, and the kids love to spend nights together as much as possible :) Our other Jason was over with his family from Yakima to visit his parents, so we spent some time with them too. Den and cousin Jason put up the pool on Friday and Saturday, so we swam and the kids jumped on the trampoline all day on the fourth. We watched fireworks from the deck until the big shows started, and then we drove down by the preserve where we watched at least six big shows from a distance over the lake. It was fantastic.
We're heading just south of Lincoln City with my parents the end of July. Can't wait. I love the beach. Kate's going to an animal encounter at the aquarium, where its purported she will receive her first kiss. From a sea lion. I think Den will be okay with that one.
I realize there is nothing remotely funny or entertaining about this blog post. But throw me a bone here... it is almost 4 am. There is nothing comical in the entire world at this time of night. I do solemnly swear to post a wittier post with some pictures at a time in the future less than or equal to the time it took me to post this one. That's not saying much.
I love ya'll.
