JAPAN DEBRIS FROM TSUNAMI

We went to Agate Beach to see the dock that had crossed the Pacific Ocean and washed up on one of our Oregon beaches.  It's an incredible sight.

It's amazing to realize it's here because of a chain reaction of the earthquake in Japan that caused a tsunami and now we are getting debris.
This is cool but I wonder about what will be coming in next.  I've heard about the expected rubbish and when it comes we are ready to help with the clean up.

WE SPENT THE MORNING AT THE

Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.
We hadn't been there in ages.  It was such a fun way to spend the morning.

 Our favorite area of the aquarium is the shark tank.  It's incredible!

 We put the boys in the hurricane simulator.  Wind speeds got up to almost 80 mph!

They have a couple cool touch tanks.  I could sit there for hours.  To touch the sting rays, I almost had to - they were messing with us.
Next time I'll be more prepared - I know their tricks.

FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND AT THE BEACH

We whisked Larry away to the coast for the weekend to celebrate Father's Day.

We have incredible weather and are having a great time!

PAINTING OF GRANDMA BETTY

My sister, Stephanie, gave me a belated birthday present. She painted a picture of our Grandma Betty.

This photo was her inspiration.  Grandma Betty is on the right.

And here is the painting.  I love it!

MY FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR MICHAEL X 2

OUR AVATAR GOT HIS BLUE ARROW

When Landon got his avatar haircut, he really, really, REALLY wanted his arrow to be blue.  We told him that if he still liked his Aang haircut in a few weeks, we'd dye it for him for the last week of school.

Tonight was the night.

The first step was to bleach his hair.  He was so excited when he saw it blonde, he asked, "Since I have golden hair, does that mean I'm the golden child of the family?"

 It's blue now and the arrow has been reshaped.  He is ecstatic!

He wanted his eyelids blue also, so that when he closed his eyes it would look like he was in the avatar state.  I love his imagination and creativity but we had to draw the line somewhere....

GRADUATION CAKE

Two of my Soul Sister's daughters are graduating from high school and I was asked to make a cake for the graduation party.

It was such a fun cake to do - a whimsical white, orange and black (school colors) for two fun, beautiful young ladies.
The toppers were made by a family member out of polymer clay - aren't they amazing?!

Glass apothecary jars held orange, black and gold candies, there was a table of food and an Italian soda bar.  The house was full of family and friends to celebrate this huge milestone.  

On a side note - This photo is of me and my sister.  She came over and helped me with the cake.  This photo was taken in the wee hours and we were a little giggly.

PS - I think it looks like my mouth should be in a denture commercial.

IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY TO

celebrate my brother's birthday.

I'm 8 and Michael is 2

The coolest part of Michael's birthday, is that his son, Michael Jr, was born on the same day.  Seriously how cool is that?  We are having a double celebration tonight for the birthday boys.  So if you have a chance to have cake today, have two and celebrate the birthdays of Michael x 2.

THIS MAY NOT BE NEW TO YOU, BUT IT'S NEW TO ME AND I'M HOOKED

Larry took me to the movie tonight at Salem Cinema.  I usually don't get popcorn because of my ridiculous food allergy situation, so imagine my surprise when Larry came back informing me that this movie joint uses canola oil and they had a brewers yeast option for a topping.  I've never had brewers yeast, and man, have I been missing out.  It tasted similar to Parmesan cheese.

Do you know how long it's been since I've had Parmesan cheese?!  Brewers yeast is at the top of my grocery list now.

This popcorn was heavenly - my taste buds were singing in my mouth.  I'm one happy girl.  Happy, happy birthday to me.

GEMINI BIRTHDAYS WERE CELEBRATED AT YAYAS

I get to celebrate with my YaYa sister, Kathy, every year and it is so much fun!  YaYa birthdays are definitely a night to look forward to!
We had a delicious dinner at Cindy's and ate on her grandmother's china - what a fabulous treasure she has there!  We got super spoiled by our YaYa sisters with fabulous gifts and ended the evening with red velvet cupcakes and a vegan cake.
I smiled all the way home - I always do on our nights.  There is something about YaYa night that fills my cup.

LARRY TOOK ME TO A NEON TREES CONCERT FOR MY BIRTHDAY

It was an amazing concert!
Neon Trees put on one energetic, super fun performance - they were incredible!

There were two opening acts - Nico Vega and The Devil Whale

Nico Vega was incredible.  Lead singer Aja Volkman is darling and really fun to watch.  She is incredibly talented.

We hadn't heard of The Devil Whale and really liked them.

It was a wonderful, wonderful night with my man.  I love that we still feel and act like we're 25.  I hope we always do.  Thanks for a fun night out on the town, babe.

PEONIES

My grandmother's peonies have decided to start blooming and they are beautiful, as they are every year.

I feel so lucky to have some of her bushes in my flower garden.  I find myself smiling, as they welcome me, as I pull into the driveway.  They make me a happy, happy girl.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE PARK WITH A COLOR WAR

We had a family dinner at the park, complete with candles and cupcakes to celebrate my birthday a few days early.

Then we had a color war with those who chose to participate.  I was hoping they all would - maybe next time a color war erupts...

I've had a super fun weekend!  I love birthday extravaganzas - especially when they are mine!

I MET ED!

When we saw that the Mother Earth News Fair was going to be in Puyallup, we thought it would be fun to go.
When I saw that Ed Begley Jr was going to be there, I knew we HAD to go!

I found the booth Ed was in before he went on stage to speak.  I was so excited!  That smile didn't leave my face all day.  Larry was in a solar class, so he missed it  :-(

Ed's presentation was amazing.  Top three pointers I got were:
1.  Get a home energy audit.
2.  Don't go into debt going green.  Do what you can with the simple and inexpensive changes first.  With the savings you are getting from your changes, upgrade to better green options when you can.
3.  Live simply so that others can simply live.    

PS - For those of you who love Ed also, and are wondering if Living With Ed will be coming back, it won't. BUT there is great news.  A new series called On Begley Street will.  It will either be on cable or a web series.  Yay!