Football Season

We are in full swing! Dave is back to 7 days a week and I am back to only having to make meals for myself and now for Ashby. While the schedule is demanding, it is also very fun. Every week flys by, and every Saturday feels slightly epic (and exhausting). Here are a few pictures of the new season.

Yes, they actually protect her ears!

Very far away daddy at a training camp practice.

Happy Monday

HOT WEEKEND

It was HOT this weekend!!!!

Fortunately we live by a lake and can cool off whenever we need to

 eating more avocado

 Enatai beach...

 cooling off

 in a pink bikini

 yay!! she loves it

happily eating some peaches after a good day in the water

Avocados and a win!

Ashby tried her first solids. She likes Avocados. I think more she likes the idea of being able to use a spoon and put stuff in her mouth like mom and dad. Here are some pictures of the first trial run.

Trying to figure out what it was we gave her...and surprised that we actually gave her something.

Little trial taste test

We quickly realized this was not a good idea because she was going for it.

She wanted to feed herself.

First big bite

Not really sure...

My turn!!!

Maybe I'll try the bowl..

I think she likes it!!!

It was Daddy's first Seahawks games this weekend. And it was 95 degrees outside. It ended up being the perfect football day. We even got some time with Dave mid-day before the game and we went to the Issaquah farmers market. It was great.

View of the Port of Seattle from the top of the stadium.

Ashby, Auntie Clare and I sweating our little tootsies off

My parent's neighbors, Dave and Tina came too.

Watching the game after she slept through the first 2 quarters... can you say football baby??!!

Proud of daddy after the big win..and really ready for bed.

Joy for tomorrow..

As I read this blog, and some of the comments I have been getting I just wanted to take a quick second to say one thing.

This time in my life is hard. I think this time in most of our lives is hard. Babies, careers, houses, this weird economy, trying to make sense of everything. Its not a piece of cake. Like they like to make it look like on the movies (of course its easy for Bethany Frankel, she has millions of dollars!)

But I am not depressed. Some days are easier than others. Some days, like yesterday, things are easier and Ashby and I have mini dance parties in the living room. Its not depressing to me to go through the hard stuff. Its just hard. And I think its really important to be honest when its not easy.

So please don't be afraid of it being hard. When its hard, something really good is going on. God wants to give us the 100 percent blessing, but be have to go through the 100 percent process to get it.

Have a fabulous day. Today Ashby is going to try her first solid food (happy day and a little sad too for momma). Stay posted for some really cute photos I can assure you.

Auntie Katie is the best photographer!

Mowing the lawn...

Today I had a chance to meet up with some of the other wives to do a walkthrough at Quest Stadium. It was really cool and I am so glad I have some sense of where I am going.

I realized something else about myself today. Beside the fact that they all have A LOT more money than I do, I don't really relate to most of them. I don't mean to say that I don't enjoy or like them. They are a wonderful bunch of women and I really do like to be around them. I came home and realized I needed to mow the lawn (not normally my job, but I do it 6 months out of the year). And I weeded. And I took a nap on the couch with Ashby and worked on my visual journal (I'll explain one of these days, but lots of magazine cutouts and ideas for the future...)

I think sometimes I need to be all or nothing. Which is what has gotten me into trouble in the past. I would feel like I needed to be one way around people, and then I was totally different when I was alone. Even the way I dress or the things I enjoy (ok..I realize that most of us don't wear heels at home and I don't). I just second guess myself when I am in public. Or I do things differently than I would naturally to make sure I fit or have approval.

Well, nothing is new. I didn't have some big life altering revelation of how to change that. I just noticed it. And listened to my insecurity speak up and let it be there. And then I came home and I put on my rubber boots and mowed the lawn, weeded, and hung out with my daughter.

It feels good to not be afraid of where I am. Its different to just be there and not feel bad about it. It will change, and I will not always be insecure or afraid, but to stop pretending is a big deal.

Here is a cute few pictures of Ashby and I at the beach. My little button.

We're back..

We had an amazing trip...Ashby, like the generations before her, is now an official Cannon Beach "seasonal local."

And now to unpack...

Time to reflect

Every year since I was 2, my mom, my sister, my grandma, my other mother and sisters, my aunts and my cousins have gone to a place called Cannon Beach for 1-2 weeks for a girls only (except Andrew..my only boy cousin who only can stay and handle the"estrogen fest" for a few days God bless him) week away from the world. We end up in the sleepy little south end of town at a place called windwhistle. And every year God does something amazing.

I cannot wait for this week to be close to the one place God always speaks to me: the ocean.

And to spend time with my mom, auntie mommy, sister-cousin-best friends.

Here is a shot of the beach I took last year from our side of town. And the quote is the words that God keeps whispering in my ear over and over...

Be back in a week.

PS. I watched Avatar last night again. Why does that movie make me cry???