Lately (or "It's About Time!")

Hello, long lost blog 

- it's been a while... nearly 30 days, from the looks of it.

I could provide a comprehensive list of the reasons I haven't posted but that sounds kind of boring.  Basically, I have been busy (as usual) but more than that, I think I've had so so much on my mind that I have been a bit overwhelmed.  Plus, I haven't taken any snazzy pictures.  Plus, I really do not like working with this new blogger template.  And some days, in all honesty, I've just been too tired -- or lazy.  Oopsies - this is starting to sound like that comprehensive [boring] list that I promised I wasn't going to do.  

Anyway...

With May coming to a rapid close, here is a pictorial glimpse ~ with a little list thrown in ~ of our lovely life, lately:

Centennial Trail - Snohomish

Downtown Snohomish Park   

 Duthy Hill - Issaquah

 FlowerWorld - Clearview

 Comeford Park - Marysville

The rest of our daily adventure tales will have to suffice as a word-only list (in no particular order, except how they come to mind)!

• Trip to the Woodland Park Zoo with Julie, Seth & Elise
• "The Barbecue That Almost Was" at Phantom Lake.  Brought out all of the food and realized an animal/rodent had chewed through the gas line.  Sad day - but the next one is going to be epic!
• Day trip to Fort Langley, Canada to visit Mike, Lynette & the rest of the Haladin clan for the baby blessing of their newest addition, Christopher
• Lots of trips to area parks
• Benj & I took various walks/runs in the beautiful pre-summer sun while Dave explored the roads and trails of Western Washington on his road or mountain bike
• Lots of Storytime adventures
• The Epic Battle to Keep our Yard/Grass Alive
• Got a beautiful honeysuckle for Mother's Day, which is going to smell like heaven this summer!
• Attended the national conference of the Medical Library Association in Seattle
• Mother's Day BBQ at our house with the Goodwin clan and my parents
• Lots of playdates with cousins, friends and nursery classmates
• Benjamin's first cold of Spring - bring on the tissues
• Dave & I attended the much-anticipated, opening night of the first summer blockbuster, "The Avengers".  It was the first date night we'd had in a while.  Didn't have time to eat dinner beforehand, so I headed out a side door and bought two huge Qdoba burritos and water bottles which I stuffed in my purse.  Eating Qdoba during the movie? Best dinner ever!  And, it was the perfect date night to celebrate and kick off Summer!
• Quarterly dinner party was a Girls-Only event this time.  Allison & I helped Michelle, who hosted, pull off a lovely evening of cheese fondue with bread & veggies, followed by a dark chocolate (Williams-Sonoma chocolate is a-mazing) fondue with a huge spread of all kinds of dipping goodies!  Beautiful orange poppies and lime-colored flowers, gorgeous fanned-paper flowers, delectable food and wonderful conversation.  Good night, all around!
• Most recently, our ward was chopped in half.  After last Sunday's big news, we have a smaller ward, new bishopric, new members, which = nothing but new and exciting adventures ahead, I'm sure!

I know I've forgotten a lot of happenings around here, but that gives a quick snapshot of things.  Best of all, this post lets you know we are, in fact, still alive.  

You're welcome. :)