Stay-cation

This week Andy and I both took work off for our anniversary.  We had big plans of hiking overnight, Tulalip, Vegas, etc, but due to the falling of paydays, we just had a stay-cation.

(Warning, these are all pictures from my phone so they aren't the best quality.)

On Monday (our anniversary) we went to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, the cheesecake factory (Yes Berners, we are still taking you lol).  Andy had "the best hamburger" he's ever had, and I had some fry-bread chicken Navajo sandwich thing.  Sawyer had a baby plate and some fries.  Then we had the best cheesecake ever, banana. MMMmm.

On Tuesday we went to the batting cages to hit some fastpitch with my free coupons.  I missed a couple but considering their bats are awkward shaped and heavier than crap, and it has been 7 years, I did pretty well.  We also got Sawyer some new kicks now that he can walk and we can't let him go barefoot in parking lots. We went to Ivars afterwards, then I had practice.

Awful picture, but you can see his new shoes (i used to have the same ones lol)

On Wednesday, we were lucky enough to go to Wild Waves theme park.  It was one of the things we wanted to do this week but didn't want to spend the $80 to go.  Luckily, my awesome mom found tickets at Costco and bought them for us for our anniversary!  It was SO fun.  We got to ride the new "riptide" which is when you drop down a steep hill on a tube and swirl around a bowl.  We went so fast with the weight of Andy and me and made it around the bowl 4 times! (To compare, my brother and Des only made it twice around).  I guess in some ways it pays to be heavier lol.  We went down the hydro slides a bunch since there weren't ever lines for those (probably because you end up with a wedgie every time), found the biggest wave spot in the wave pool, and rode the major roller coasters and all the water slides. To end it all, we saw my favorite Sounder, Osvaldo  Alonso there and said hello.  Well, Andy yelled "hey ozzie! go sounders!" and he laughed really hard and said "yeah, go sounders!"

I did not take this picture, but it is Ben from the Jackie and Bender morning show going on my favorite ride, Riptide.

On Thursday, we went to the Department of Licensing and I said goodbye to Green Car.  He would cost too much to fix so I signed the car over to Andy's mechanic.

There's Green Car in the middle

 We then went to the hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Sumner "The Buttered Biscuit".  A friend suggested it and after I found it on Yelp, it looked like a good place to go.  BIGGEST MEAL EVER.  And deadly. Really. The drinks were served in Mason Jars (cute.)  First came a big cornbread with sweet frosting butter, then my breakfast came which included chicken fried steak, gravy, biscuits, eggs with ham, cheese and sausage, potatoes with peppers and onions, and it was all greasy and the size of my plate.  To put into perspective, Andy finished his burger and helped me eat.  After taking home the leftovers, we still had a late night snack, breakfast for the 2 of us, and another breakfast for Andy the next day. This could kill you but it was sooooo goooood.  It was a good thing I had practice that night to burn off calories.

"Don't be a chicken" This pic doesn't do the size justice. The biscuits underneath were a couple inches tall.

Cornbread!

Tuckered out Beany with his squished cheek.

On Friday we went to the park for a bit with Everett and Tyrell.

That evening we had a team meeting to elect our rugby executive board.  We had to nominate and vote for President, VP, Treasurer/Fundraiser, Social Chair, Recruitment Chair, and Captain.  We actually had to elect 2 captains, one for the forwards (the strong ones that are in the scrum and do most of the rucking) and one for the backs (the quick people that do most of the ball handling). I got elected captain for the backs!  Which excited me because it meant I am officially a back now, since they had me hooking (a forward) most of last year and I don't like being in the scrums much (it is painful lol and the rest of the peeps were usually larger than me).  We got a new coach and I'm glad he put me somewhere I think I am better. After that we met Erik and Des and my 'rents at our favorite family hang out spot, Famous Dave's happy hour.

It wasn't the vacation we had in mind when originally planning the week off months and months ago, but it was a nice break from work and got to spend some time together which is tough when we both work full time and stuff.  I feel like Sawyer grew up a ton this week too, he is definitely acting like a toddler now.

Moving

It is official! We are moving September 10th!  A 2nd/top floor apartment opened up at Meridian Firs and we got the spot!  It is next door to Bradley Lake so we can just take off from our house to go for a walk, run, or play in the giant playground.  They also have free tanning, fitness room, pool, and covered playset of their own. Plus it is across the street from Walmart! We are moving to save some money so we can save up for a down payment and hopefully get a house next year, but I am loving the benefits too.  Also, they just renovated them all so the heat isn't the annoying floor electric box things, it is in the ceiling so you can fit more furniture.  Plus the kitchens look good.  I am also excited there isn't any stairs so Sawyer won't fall down when he is drowsy.  All we have to do is sell a lot of stuff that isn't going to fit in there :-/

Our home isn't the only thing on the move, so is Sawyer.  He is a solid walker now.  He even got his first walking injury!

Yesterday we went to Irene's after the Sounders game because my parents took him for us.  My cousin Adam graduated homeschool so we were celebrating. He looked so cute waddling around with a bell Uncle Bob gave him in his little swimming suit.  It is hard to keep a look out for things he could trip on though.

My mom likes to show him the ducks and they came up to get some food so my mom brought a bun down to feed them.  They were jumping up at them- definitely not afraid of people.  It was funny because my mom would feed them, then give Sawyer a piece to throw to him but he would just eat it himself.  I tried to stay far away, because I hate hate hate birds. I was afraid they would come over to me to try to find food!

This week Andy and I are both on vacation.  It is our anniversary on Monday! It fell on the worst time of the month payday wise so I am trying to find free things we can do all week. We will probably be packing up a lot of our stuff too for the move.

Toddling

Sawyer has been getting braver lately and letting go to waddle over to us.  Today he learned to stand up on his own and was walking all over the living room.  He was pro by the time he went to bed.  Here is a video of him when he was first learning.

High Rock Hike

My parents wanted to go on a hike and so did we.  We planned to go to Sunrise at Mt. Rainier, but my mom heard a lot of it was still snowy.  After asking my facebook friends and double-checking it on the WTA website (Washington trails association)  We decided to go to High Rock.  It is a hike up to an old fire watch tower near Mt. Rainier and I heard that the snow had recently melted.

After a very bumpy drive up a mountain, we found the trailhead.

The highest peak at the top of the picture is where the tower was

We started the hike up.  It was about 1.6 miles each way, but if you hike you know it feels like way longer when it is steep!

I found some snow still! In August!

There were all sorts of wildflowers on the way

Mt. Rainier to the right

We finally got near the top with some great views. It was straight down though.

You can see some snow patches but it was warm

Up a little bit more and we saw the tower!  The picture doesnt do it justice...it was pretty steep going up to it and there were no trails, just a rock.

We finally made it up (even Andy with Sawyer on his back which was very scary for me and my mom haha)

Its a long way down, but good view of the mountain!

Sawyer peek-a-boo.  To the left and right of the rock was a LONG way down if you slip

In the tower

While we were in the tower we talked with some people that got there after us.  The guy played rugby and had been at our tournament last weekend. They had a NINE DAY OLD BABY with them!  The most incredible part of that is the lady that gave birth nine days ago climbed that.  You arent supposed to exercise for 6 weeks (your uterus can actually fall out- yeah gross) post partum, but I dont know how you even could. For a couple months after, even walking in the park would be painful afterwards, but this lady climbed a mountain!  Kudos to her lol. I was tired and I have been exercising.

Anyway, we went back down (easier on the body as a whole, but my bad knees were giving out), and took a different route down the mountain in the car with a million potholes.  I dont know how anyone without an SUV or truck could make it up or down but we saw a car there so it must be possible.  We stopped at a park in Ashford on the way home for a picnic. MMmm. Definitely a good day!  We are all completely tired though!

Sawyer's first Lunchable

They had a nice new park!

Parks

I like that Sawyer is old enough to play on the toys at the parks.  It is so exciting to see him look at the other kids and try to play with them. He looks so happy and makes little friends.

Pics with Sammie and Cameron

Yesterday I went to take pictures of Samantha and Cameron.  Their mom Megan used to watch Sawyer/ ex bf's sister.  I hadn't seen them in awhile and it was fun but difficult trying to calm Cameron down when he knew there was a playground near lol.  We went to Jubilee Cupcakes afterwards.