Friday, May 13, 2011

5k in Maple Valley

(click on image to enlarge)
Anyone want to run with me? Well, not really RUN WITH me, just show up at the same event at the same time and run PAST me. I have a goal to run a few of these this year and am excited to see that this one is local. If you register by May 14, you are guaranteed a free t-shirt.



Registration form here.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Cannon (ball) Beach

Rob's mom was very generous to invite us to Cannon Beach for one night over spring break. We were threatened with snow and thunderstorms and we got the optimum opposite...mostly sunshine both days. Cannon Beach, Oregon has tons of charm and activities that I adore...first and foremost...some of the best salt water taffy west of the Mississippi. Sadly, being involved in a weight loss challenge has its downfalls. I ate 3 pieces instead of my usual 56. Bruce's Candy Kitchen has the most mouthwatering homemade candy of which I did not get to sample...including a chocolate covered, caramel covered homemade marshmallow. Be still my soul.

My kids are always first to jump in.



It was a balmy 46 the first evening after the sun went down and the three oldest posed for half a second before giving in to the cold.







Speaking on behalf of my children, they would say the best part of the trip was the indoor pool, hands down. Tatum even got to wear that cute baby swimsuit that never gets used.






Hot tub. Best thing evah!






Catapulting Indy was a favorite activity.









Haystack Rock and the Atwood family.











Funny mirror in one of the shops...fun for hours minutes.


Our last stop on the way out of town was The Pirate's Cove which was lame but the outdoor picture booth had at least one photo op.



Thanks Martha for a wonderful memory. Here's to many more walks on the beach!!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

So Much to Post...So Little Time

Here is a small glance to tide you over...



Monday, April 11, 2011

The Great TP Debate




I, I mean, Eden participated in the Elementary School Science Fair a couple weeks ago and of the hundreds of people there...guess who got her mug in the paper....again.




The Voice of the Valley newspaper finds the Atwoods just too tempting...like here, here and here.



For those who want to know...



Sunday, April 3, 2011

Barbies...who knew?

My mother.


When she gets a request from someone, she will go to the ends of the earth to fill it.



Olivia likes Barbies.



My mom has spent the last 4 months collecting, searching, buying and cleaning Barbie clothes, dolls and furniture. She has gone to the extent of ironing dresses, brushing and braiding hair and individually bagging outfits.



She is comical and amazing at the same time. It's a lot of effort for someone who is incapable of appreciating it as much as she should.



Last weekend, my mom came to visit for Eden's baptism and brought with her a giant bin full of well-loved Barbie madness from my aunt who passed away in February.



As we sat with Olivia and swooned over the magic that is Barbie, I pulled out a certain doll that had me close to passing out. At first I smiled and then it turned into full fledged, doubled-over hysterical laughter. The more I looked at that thing, the more I couldn't breathe. This poor gumby style Barbie had been through years of salon torture and my mother, bless her heart, had attempted to tame the hairy beast. Unfortunately, her hair would not lay down. I was drooling, crying and gasping for air at the same time. (Truth be told, a large portion of my madness was just from sheer exhausting mixed with the 11:00pm hour.)



I had my mother hold it up against the door so I could take a picture lest the "do" be undone before I could capture it. Look at how serious she is about the end product!


Even though it was plenty hilarious, the funniest part turned out to be later when my dad chimed in with a story. He had been laying in bed one night a few days prior, a light was coming from behind the closed bathroom door and he was questioning a loud scraping sound. Brick on concrete if you will, over and over again. As he arose to see what on earth could be making that sound, he opened the door to find my mother lovingly brushing, with all her might, the mane of that gumby Barbie. Hair flying & poofing, tender care exuding.


She did the best she could but I'll tell you, if it looks this bad now, I can only imagine...



That Barbie is now mine forever. She even joined me on my bike ride the next morning as my special passenger.