Summer is here!

We have officially kicked off the summer. Rick is taking a week-long sabbatical out at Grayland, WA at Twin Harbors State Park. He is camping for a week by himself, and I look forward to hearing how his time away was. Nothing like being in natural alone for a week...

The kids and I have been making the most of the days! Taylor is really loving being outside this year. He is always wanting to ride his bike, his razor scooter, go swimming, play basketball. He is turning into a lover of the sun!



Maddie, of course, doesn't even remember we live inside once the sun comes out! She is like a fish - she is always in the water! She loves to socialize. The owners of our house are in town, and she can't seem to stop talking to them when she sees them. She wears swimsuits more than anything else now, and she is ready for the water slides... she reminds me of them EVERY DAY!
The lack of structure from the school year does seem to be making life a little difficult, but mostly, we are just SO glad the weather is beautiful and we can enjoy playing.

We are off to Olympia tomorrow for the rest of the week. There will surely be more to report later...

100th Post Celebration!

Wow... I didn't realize it had been that long, but apparently it has. December 1, 2006, I took the blogger plunge. I still don't think I am very good at it. However, I really love sharing the stories and pictures of my family, even if no one looks at my blog! So... whatever. I like it.

I guess, I thought for my 100th blog, I would share with you some of my favorite past blogs. If you feel so inclined to go down memory lane with me... click on the links!

• An Honorable Experience - a blog about sharing a man's last day with him, and sharing in his death
• Seester Time - a weekend get away with my sister, Christine. I don't get a lot time with her, so any chance I get (especially for more than a couple hours) is a prize!
• Pray for the Injured - "before" the surgery...
• We are home and How do you spell relief? - and after the surgery
• Grand Canyon - the hike of my life!
• Anyone looking for a hair dresser? - Maddie took matters into her own hands
• Today is THE day - Ahhh... nursing school. I was so excited... if I'd only known... :-)
• Lake Padden Triathlon - my other major feat of the year...
• Chicago... finally! - my reunion trip with my friends from college (the first time around!)
• I am so proud - Maddie's milestone
• Maddie N. Norris, Kindergartener - her other milestone
• First day of preschool - Taylor's milestone
• Survival... - This was my blog after my first week of nursing school. As I read it now, I am LAUGHING!! What a joke that was... I had it SO easy then. I really am amazed I survived the first YEAR. God is to thank for that! I cried out SO many times in desperation. He answered every one. My husband is also a big reason I made it. His patience and understanding is incredible. Lastly, I have the most amazing study group - without my girls, I KNOW I would not have made it through. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me this year. One down, one to go!
• Twenty-first century Mozart - Taylor's talents shining through
• What are you thankful for - Just a insight of my son's personality
• I love family days - a blog about what I love doing the most - being with my family!
• Pajama Ride - a new family tradition
• A cow's WHAT? - just in case you missed it the first time, this one is worth reading!
• It must be tough being a boy and The next day - Taylor's adventures at the ER. Can you hear me grumbling...
• Graduating Class of 2020 - onward and upward!

Whew! There you go... thank you for reading!

This is how summer should be

So... I have been late in blogging, and I really have NO excuse. School is out for summer (cue Alice Cooper...)!! I have been soaking up the freedom like rum on cake! I love being free. There is so much life to experience and celebrate. I love being able to play with my kids, watch a movie, fall asleep in the sun, spend time with my husband on the deck.... ALL things I found nearly impossible to do during this year of school.

However, now that I am free for 3 whole months, I will be taking full advantage. To celebrate this new-found freedom, my friends from school, Rick and I all went camping at Deception Pass State Park. What a gorgeous place to be.
It was not the most warm camping experience (whew, it was windy), but glorious nonetheless.
I call this picture, "Hey, Hey, we're the Monkees." That's Rick, Jenny, and Kasie.
Jenny and Kasie, two of my best friends, and a new friend, Kelsey (on right), all came with us. We had our big three room tent, plus we stayed in the lap of luxury inside Jim and Joanne's (Rick's parents) trailer. It was a perfect set up.
The sun was out the entire weekend! It was so wonderful just to relax. Actually, it was so wonderful to sit and not be studying! We kept looking dumbfounded at each other. We didn't know what to do with ourselves. One of the days, Kasie, Jenny and I went on a little hike, found the perfect hillside above the water, and fell asleep. It was amazing.
The campfires were great. S'mores, stories, jokes, cigars, drinks... fun was had by all!
I am looking forward to more of this ALL SUMMER!