Cloud 9 Years

May 30, 2000-Robert Atwood and Rachel Thackeray married in the Portland, Oregon Temple.

May 30, 2009-Robert & Rachel Atwood go out for 7 hours to get away from 3 children on their 9th wedding anniversary.

We first headed off to the Bahama's for some coconut shrimp and spicy fish tacos.

After drinking in pure cane sugar lemonade (unbelievable), we left the Caribbean and headed for a cruise on the high seas. Not wanting to get wet when clothing was limited, we opted just to sit on the beach and be hypnotized by the reflections on the water. It was a beautiful breezy and sunny day. I could have stayed their all day.

After Rob ate his fill of sailboats (which seems to be a stupid tradition of ours every time we are out alone with a camera) we wanted a small sample of chocolate.

After showing up for our dessert, Rob worked his magic with the manager and got us a table when we were repeatedly told no by the staff. We dove straight into a vat of peanut butter chocolate fondue. When asked by the waiter if we wanted the small platter to share, I shot him flaming daggers of death with my eyes and he figured out quickly that I would be having my own plate and Rob would need his own too. I don't share chocolate and strawberries, that was not mentioned in our marriage vows anywhere.

I started moaning after the last bite of enrobed cheesecake and it took me about 30 minutes to walk the 1/2 block back to the car. We took some advice from some friends and tried to walk down Main street in Bellevue only to find all the ritzy stores we were going to spend my hard earned yard sale money in, were closed by 5:00pm. Your loss!

Luckily, we accidentally happened upon a meadow as our final resting place for the day. It was perfect for watching the wild animals on their daily jog and momma's pushing their offspring in strollers. We laid in the cool grass and came just shy of falling asleep in the late afternoon sun.

Alas, we had to go to make it back to the main land by 7:00 but found just enough time to allow ourselves a real treat by making a quick trip to....the grocery store! 5 frozen pizzas (coupon deal) and a box of otter pops later and we were headed home.

Congratulations to us for a job well done these past 9 years.

Yeah for friends. Thanks to the Boultons, the Miners and the Ziemanns for taking our children so we could stare at the sky and eat 'til our stomach's ached.

Friday was rated E for Emotional

Friday dawned busy and bright with my yard sale. I had been working hard all week to price, organize and clear out the "stuff" to make a little space in the garage and a little cash for my pocket. I kept saying to my neighbor (who combined with me) that I didn't think I really had enough for a yard sale but low and behold, our driveway and lawn was filled to max capacity.

The day started early and was busy all morning but my emotions started to manifest themselves when the crib all three of my babies slept in caught the eye of a sweet old grandma. As soon as she offered me $15, I was almost irate. "I will take no less than $16,000 for this thing. It comes with a foam mattress after all." Memories just don't have a price tag (unless, let's be honest, it involves multiple zeros at the end.) After she gave me some sob story about wanting it for her grandchildren, I released her from the head lock I had her in, and let her have it for the cheaper price.



I really did swell with sadness as I watched her shove my precious crib into her car's stuffy little back seat. Take good care of her grandma or I will hunt you down. I feel like I have lost an actual child.


Then I was swiftly off to the 3 Piggy Opera put on by Eden's Kindergarten class at 9:30. To see her little face singing about blowing down houses sent me into tear mania. I couldn't believe my little 6-year old in a shirt with pigs on it had such power over me. I tried to contain myself so that others wouldn't think I was headed to the loony bin but every time she looked at me, I made a spectacle of myself with waving hysterics. I was in the back row so only a few people saw me.



As soon as I got home from the "opera," I finished up the yard sale and went upstairs to make a phone call. Rob yelled up at me to come down and after letting him know I was a little irritated that he would interupt my phone call with my mother, he opened up the front door to reveal my darling Eden riding around on her big girl bike with no training wheels.

SHUT UP!

It was all I could do to keep from having a screaming fit at the kids-grow-up-too-fast gods. I have been a horrible mother at teaching my children the finer art of childhood. No swimming lessons, not teaching them to ride bikes and no spontaneous mud pies so Eden decided she had had enough with waiting for me to buck up and be a parent. She "told" Rob to take the training wheels off and away she went. No crashing, no scares, just riding that bike like someone else taught her while we weren't looking. Boy is my face red.


Is Heavenly Father trying to teach me a lesson on who is in charge by all these cruel, growing up too fast antics? No more kids, huh, Rachel? I'll show you how I feel about that!!! BAM, your kids are all teenagers now.

Naked Karaoke

Getting ready for bathtime and my kids couldn't resist getting in a song of "Dangerous" by Roxette before the bubbles.

Happy Memorial Day

We attended the Tahoma Cemetary today for their Memorial Day ceremony.

It was lovely and the weather? To die for!!

Does anyone have a scooter?

I made a boo boo as a mom today as I was out garage sale-ing. Eden has been wanting a scooter for quite some time so when I found one for $2 I was quite excited. When I got home, she was elated but my son was not. My dearest Indiana, wanted one too and I didn't even think to buy another when I know better. I took him back to all the garage sales and he would poke his little cute face out the window and ask in his sweet little man voice "Do you have any scooters?" But to no avail. He was so brave to ask and we even looked at Goodwill. He is being so patient and even commented that he would be happy with ANY color of scooter. What a sweet boy.

So, my plea is thus...if anyone out there in Maple Valley that knows us has a scooter similar to the one above that they want to get rid of, Indy has a well-worn $5 bill he is willing to pay you for it. Give us a call!

School Assignment #2

Indy was asked in preschool to cut pictures out of a magazine that remind him of mom. Even though Tamsyn's collage was side splittingly funny, my little boy won serious bonus points.

He cut out only two pictures...one that reminds him of his dad...Oh Yah!

And one that reminds him of me. OH YAH!! You'd better believe it!

School ASSignment

What is this a picture of?

Scroll down for the answer!

It's Eden's rendition of a tooth with decay (obviously she was drawing my teeth), what were you thinking? Get your minds out of the gutter.

Sorry dad for the X-rated content. I couldn't resist.

Deceiving

These are the kids who have been driving me crazy this past week. Believe it!