Paul and Randy - getting ready to start up the trail. 

Paul / Mt. Jefferson 

Sand in the City 

Sand in the City 

This morning Paul woke me up at 6am (do you know that it's Saturday?). Why? To go to the REI garage sale. It was worth it! We were about 20th in line and scored some hiking boots, chacos, a backpack and some climbing shoes all for ridiculously low prices. We've decided to make it an annual event. We've been before but never gotten up so early. And yes, in case you are wondering, Dave Duff was about third in line! He always beats us.  

My brother Dan is on a student ministry team that this summer goes around to different camps and helps out with counseling, etc. Someone told me about this picture of Dan on Mt. Gilead's website. If you knew my brother, you would think this was hilarious. Talk about getting out of your comfort zone! WE LOVE YOU DAN!!! 

One time, when I was young, my brother and I were in the same Sunday School class.  It was a small church.  The Sunday School teacher (bless her heart) asked us the inevitable question about what had been going on in our lives. 
My brother liked to tell stories.  Mostly ones that weren't true.  So while him and I were there in front of everyone he made up a story about how his family had gone to Hawaii that week on Alaska Airlines.  Being young and innocent I first thought, "wait a minute, did I miss something..."  Then I thought, "is he really stupid enough to let me catch him lying so I can tell on him".  As much as my brother liked to lie, I liked to tattle. 
Then I realized, "It's fun to lie!"  I felt a camaraderie with him, and even thought about helping him out.  Even as an adult, I sometimes wonder whether I could make up stories and get away with it.  The thought crossed my mind earlier today.  "What if I started a blog that only contained made up stories by me?"  The thought was electrifying!  This is what is so beautiful about blogging. 
 
P.S. I mean lying in the most non-harmful way :)

Titles of some kindergartener-made books:
 
Shrek's Birthday Cake
The Snow Wolf that Could
The Mean Fairy and the Theater that got Bombed Adventure
The Freaking Out Scared Dragon
Mean Butterfly and Scary Mad Tree
 

Kara and Annie picking blueberries on Sauvie Island 

Marionberries 

We love our church here in Portland, Mosaic (we don't yet have a website or I would link you), but this weekend decided to visit a church in Seattle named Mars Hill. We absolutely loved it. It's so refreshing to see churches doing church differently all over the world.

Beans 

Romaine Lettuce 

Lettuce 

Our Garden 

The Emerald City (from Alki Beach) 

My favorite place to eat in Seattle 

At the Ballard Locks 

Our Seattlite friends Sarah and Paul 

On the sailboat before watching the fireworks from Elliot Bay 

Here are some of the pictures from Seattle. You can tell we new digital camera owners because we take sooooo many pictures. I will post more tomorrow.

Happy Independence Day!!! We were in Seattle for the weekend and had TONS of good times with my best friend Sarah and her fiance Paul. I have pictures but the software I use to put them on the blog is not working so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see them.

These are the apples I told you about a long time ago. Yes, I saved them. Now that I have taken a picture I am going to finally throw them away. 

A man attempted to rob a bank, but wasn't able to get past the front door. Due to a previous holdup, the bank had installed a system to buzz in customers. Suspicious employees refused to unlock the door since the man was wearing a stocking over his face...

This is the reason I am up at 3:23 am. I ordered decaf and I just hate it when this happens. I'm finding that I can be surprisingly efficient early in the morning.  

We sold our car. It wasn't as painful as I thought it was going to be, especially when we started to decide which kind of digital camera we were going to buy with the money. We chose one and so far we love it. Paul figured out how to work it in two minutes.
Below are some pictures of out first day with our camera. We had fun playing around with it. I am really excited to be able to share more of our life through our blog. I know my family especially enjoys reading it and many of our friends as well.

The fun begins 

Paul speed reading the manual for our camera. Isn't he amazing? 

Paul is overjoyed that we have a new camera. 

My favorite Portland fountain 

The Rose Garden 

Bon Voyage to my parents, who this summer are fulfilling a dream of going on a cruise to Alaska! I can just see them waving from the deck of a ship.

We have a car to sell! Anyone need a car with high milage that overheats in the summer sometimes? It's a steal at 800$. The other day I was cleaning out the car and became very emotional as memories of first date, first kiss, honeymoon and vacations came flooding back to me. I can asure you that as the sold car drives away from our house there will be tears in my eyes. I have to remind myself that a sold car means a new digital camera for me and my little blog!

I heard this in passing last night at "Last Thursday" an art/street fair:

"Cool, who did your tatoo?"
"Well a guy started it but then he died..."

So the taste test was a low carb alternative to mashed potatoes and they were surprisingly very, very good. I actually loved them. I am still hungry for dinner though.

My Grandma - Bonnie 

I am going to take a taste test today at 2:30. I get paid twenty dollars for it. Hey, I would take a taste test even if I didn't get paid for it. I love tasting. Helpful advice from my grandma when I told her about the test: "take big bites Annie, then you won't need dinner." That's why I love her!

We went out for a hike on Saturday and ended up climbing rocks! Also, we went canoeing and saw two beavers. I think canoeing is one of my favorite outdoor things to do. I like laying in the bottom and sleeping.