Father's Day Weekend

My parents and Uncle Dave came to town on Saturday to spend a couple days with us. We had a nice backyard BBQ on Saturday evening (while the weather was still nice!) I even made my grandma's famous potato salad which turned out AMAZING (thank you for the recipe Grandma - who knew it was so easy?) On Sunday morning, we took them to Anthony's restaurant on the Falls and had a lovely Father' Day brunch. Here's a pic of my folks on the deck at Anthony's:

Afterwards, we took them by Steve's station to show them the studio where Steve does his show, and so Dave could see how the radio station works. We even had them cut some promos and Steve played them back - just for fun. As those who know Uncle Dave are aware...he has Down syndrome and music has been his "business" since he was a young boy. He will sit for hours in his room spinning his old LP's and singing along. So to see a REAL deejay booth was pretty exciting for him:

The rest of the weekend's weather was rainy and chilly, so we watched some movies, went to Spaghetti Factory, and Steve was even able to score them some free tickets to the Suzanne Somers cabaret show at a local casino (Suzanne Somers being one of Uncle Dave's all time favorite ladies!) So overall, a very fun weekend. Love you guys! XOXO

House Hunter

Although I was born and raised in Seattle, over the past fifteen years, I have lived in many places and moved no less than 12 times. During that time I have rented apartments and homes of all shapes and sizes. I’m going to go ahead and admit it - I am an HGTV addict. I tivo episodes of House Hunters every week and watch other buy/sell/rent shows with a vengeance that most people reserve for sports-viewing (since I'm not a sports fan myself).

On the weekends, in addition to checking in on adoption blogs and Facebook friends, I research real estate. Steve thinks I should get my real estate license. But I really enjoy this as an extracurricular hobby. Besides, I truly consider it research - someday I will live in my dream house and actually OWN it so I can make it truly mine. But for now, work transitions and saving for adoption expenses keep us from taking the real estate plunge. Some days that frustrates me – but most of the time, I think it is exciting. I’m not tied down to any specific location. We could end up anywhere, and with the timelines on China adoptions ever-growing, who knows when that will happen or where we’ll be living…but it WILL happen eventually… the good news is, over the past two years, I’ve never lived in a house long enough decorate a nursery, so I’ve never had anywhere in a house to go sit and be sad about the wait.

Anyway, just for the sake of research, this morning I decided to take a look at what kind of single, detached home we could buy for $300k in all the various towns where I’ve lived, and still be in a safe, family-friendly neighborhood which is within a 10-15 min. commute to a downtown area. Here is what I found:

Seattle - 2 beds, 1 bath – 750 sq. ft

This is near the neighborhood where I grew up.

One car garage in back.

Denver - 3 beds, 2. 5 bath – 1500 sq ft

No yard, 2-car garage in back. Close neighbors on both sides!

Des Moines (Iowa) – 4 beds, 2. 5 bath – 2250 sq ft

Lots of land - but no trees and a lot of grass to mow!

Spokane – 5 beds, 3 baths – 3200 sq ft
Backs up to a state park, with no neighbors behind you.

It’s funny when I compare all these places –I’ve imagined myself being able to live quite happily in any one of them. Somehow that is comforting. It reminds me that – no matter where we end up raising Lia – home isn't about renting vs. owning, or how many bedrooms or garage spaces you have...it truly is about where the heart is - so we will be happy. :)

26 Months (+ one day!)

Okay - so clearly the whole skunk episode was traumatic and threw me off schedule for the week, because I totally SPACED that yesterday was the 10th of the month - which was the 26th month anniversary of my log in date in China. So dear baby Lia, when you read these blog entries years from now, please know that I didn't forget you yesterday. In fact, I was wearing my new ladybug charm necklace all day yesterday...but due to "skunk brain"...I simply forgot that it was the 10th of the month.

When I found the "26" photo with the dolphins, it reminded me of my trip to Puerto Vallarta in 2006, where I invested in the experience of a lifetime by swimming with dolpins for an hour...it was SO COOL. My particular dolphin was named Nacho. I'm not sure what I expected a dolphin to feel like, but Nacho felt really smooth and rubbery. Nacho was so friendly and calm. I think we can all learn some lessons from a creature like that...it was seriously one of the best things I've ever done. This photo brings back great memories!

Where the Wild Things Are...

2:30 a.m. - Sleeping with the bedroom window open. Our Yorkie needs to pee. Steve gets up to let him out. The dog comes back in, but suddenly there is commotion. Both dogs are jumping at the backdoor and barking…going crazy in fact. I hear Steve telling the dogs to hush in an intense, low voice – (in case I might have slept thru all the commotion - I wish!). I hear a rustling in the shrubs outside the bedroom window…first, I think "oh my gosh, a burglar?" and then it hits me…

THE SMELL!

I jump out of bed to slam the window shut…but it’s too late…the malodorous funk of SKUNK has permeated my nasal passages. I hide my head in my pillow to filter out the smell. It doesn’t work. I wake up in the morning, certain the odor is still clinging to me. Steve assures me it is not.
GROSS!!!

Seating now available on the patio...

What a gorgeous weekend we had (that's two in a row!). The heat on Saturday was almost in the oppressive category (90 degrees +) when you weren't in the shade. Lucky for us, our home is surrounded by giant pine trees, so we were shaded most of the day, and the temp never rose above 74 in the house (even with no A/C - wahoo!) - so that made me happy.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we attempted to buy patio furniture at a local retailer (initials F.M.). In fact we DID purchase patio furniture from F.M., but when we drove around to the loading dock to pick it up, we were told they we out of that particular set, but if we drove to their other store (15 minutes east) we could pick it up there. Lo and behold, we showed up at the 2nd F.M. store and THEY didn't have it either! We were more than a little annoyed, but as I told Steve on the way home, clearly we weren't meant to have that patio furniture...at least last weekend!

Everything happens for a reason...because we found out that a different retailer was putting all their patio furniture on sale Saturday for 50% off - and it was BETTER quality furniture! So we got up bright and early Saturday morning at were at the store at 8 a.m. sharp to pick up our furniture - YAY! We were even able to get it all put together before the heat of the day:

Later in the day, we visited the local fish market so I could buy ingredients for grilled fishkabobs (halibut, jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, onions, peppers and my secret marinade) OMG! they turned out amazing!

The only downside were the mosquitoes, which required "deep woods" skin repellent and a couple of citronella candles to dispel. I guess our incredibly "wet" (a.k.a six feet of snow) winter weather makes for even more mosquitoes than usual this summer. Annoying. Oh well, when you live amongst pine trees, you have the pleasure of feeling like you're camping in your own backyard...and that includes mosquitoes I guess!

Snapshots of Spring

It's been awhile since I updated my blog. The last three weeks have completely escaped me somehow. Well, actually, I know how...I was working - and playing - but mostly working. I can finally, FINALLY announce that the website I have been redeveloping for the past 13 months was launched last weekend, with only a few minor glitches - HOORAY! But the two weeks leading up to the launch were definitely stressful and looooong. Also last weekend, we took a road trip over to Seattle to see my family and belatedly celebrate my birthday and Mother's Day. That was fun and the drive over the Cascades was gorgeous. We stopped at Snoqualmie Falls along the way:

Spokane is also beautiful this time of year as the flowers and trees are in full spring bloom. We are so lucky to live just three blocks from the Japanese Garden at Manito Park. A very tranquil setting (but much smaller waterfall!):

So after all the hustle and bustle of the past few weeks, we were thrilled not to have ANY plans for Memorial Day Weekend. We also had been car shopping the past few weeks, and pulled the trigger on buying a new vehicle Saturday - so we had Sunday and Monday to drive around in the new car and have fun! Due to his pinched sciatic nerve, Steve really needed a vehicle that sits up higher, especially for road trips. So as sad as we were to see his Acura TL sedan be traded in, and after test-driving many different brands and models of SUV's - we ultimately chose an Acura again - this time an MDX - to replace it. We believe this will be a great "family truckster" for many years to come - so we are excited about it:

Temps have been in the low 80s here with blue skies the past few days. We took a drive out through the backroads over to Lake Coeur d'Alene yesterday afternoon and absolutely loved it. Luna was in heaven sitting up so high with the wind in her face:

We are looking forward to many more road trips in the coming months!

25 Months...and Happy(?) Mother's Day

Today marks my 25th month logged in for Lia...and it falls on Mother's Day....sort of bittersweet to say the least. But I have to look at it like 25 months behind me is 25 months closer to my girl. Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my grandma, and to all my friends who are mothers (some for the first time this year!) - as well as to all my fellow "moms-in-waiting" - I know this can be a tough day for a lot of us. You are ALL in my thoughts and prayers on this special day!