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Third year in a row hitting the Disney on Ice show with the girls.  This year was High School Musical - the first act was all the songs from the first movie and the second act was all the songs from the second one.

Reese with her $18 pompom.  I’m such a sucker.  She broke the first one within 10 minutes of owning it, but the staff saw this and swooped in with a new one right away.

Marissa of course loved the whole event.

Third row seats has us practically in Sharpay’s golf cart.

Kelly doing her best Ryan impression…

Only to be outdone by Reese…

Late posting these - but it was a fun hike so worth sharing.  My pops was in town, so I wanted to do something quick and easy….and new to us.  So we did the 4 mile round trip hike up to Rattlesnake Ridge out in North Bend.  It’s a ~1,200 ft gain; so a little workout, but nothing too hard.  We got there before sunrise and were ready to head out at first break of day light.

Once you arrive at the top, you’re treated to a great panoramic view of a few lakes, Mt Si and Seattle.   I’ll for sure do this hike again.

Despite Marissa being a bit ill - we managed to take advantage of the warm weather and clear skies to get some trick or treating in on Friday night.

Gorgeous weekend in Seattle.  Marissa had her final soccer game of the season and we did the pumpkin patch today with the girls.

She improved so much over the course of the season - too bad it’s now over, she was just getting really good.

She received a trophy for being ‘champions’ with her team, the Dragons.  She was so proud of herself!

Sunny fall day, so we went and got MORE pumpkins.

Reese, as usual wanted nothing to do with the camera.

Marissa found the largest pumpkin they had - all $17 of it.

We’ll carve it up one night this week.

I tend to buy a lot of crap i really don’t need.  Kelly likes to point this out.  Case in point - I’m the owner of a new digital electric smoker.  But come on, ck out these pics and tell me you don’t sort of want one.

You buy the pucks that come in all sorts of flavors - apple, cedar, alder, etc.

Got these stuffed pork chops down at Fisher meats on Front Street.  Double bone in each.

Got two helpers, one who earlier in the week took sheers to her own bangs and the other who walks around outside with no clothes on.

Every 20 minutes it automatically pushes out another puck to smoke.  I mean come on, this really takes the ’set it and forget it’ to a whole new level.

Note to self, close the upstairs window or you’ll have a VERY upset wife…trust me on this one.

And whoolaaa, you’re eatin’ real good.

Just returned from three nights down in Sonoma County with my whole family.  We were there for Patty’s 40th birthday.  Weather was stunning, wines were delicious and everyone really had a good time.  Took quite a few pictures - as the whole area is quite scenic.  Click this sentence if you want to see a whole bunch more.

Kelly and i in Napa on Day One - ended up coming home with 32 bottles….that should last us a good long while I hope.

My brother David and sister Patty about 3 hours after their cross country flight

Stag Leap District had some of the best wines from the weekend.

Wrapping up Napa on day one - time to head to Sonoma

We got a great behind the scenes tour at St Francis Winery in Sonoma - hour tour, then two hour tasting and food pairing.  This is the tool that moves the grapes into the de-stemer.

The grapes that were picked about one hour prior.

Oldest brother Paul actually doing some work ….

St. Francis produces about 300,000 cases a year, but has the capacity to produce 350,000.  They have $30 million worth of barrels on site here.  Truly an amazing facility.

Quick shot from the patio.

Time for the big b-day dinner on the second night.  This worked out great since our Inn was walking distance to all the places in Sonoma Plaza.

Paul was playing with my camera…

Kelly awaiting the fromage tower.

I had some stemless wineglasses made for everyone.  Says “You only get so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one”.

Night three - Italian food.

Mom and Mike

Dad and Paul

Brought out my fisheye lens to get some fun pics of the Golden Gate Bridge on the way home.

Then we drove up to the viewing point for a few more shots.  Some of my family had never been here before, so we really played the tourist role today.

Last one with the whole family before we had to jam to catch our flight home.

Little late posting these - Kelly reminded me this week that I didn’t put any pics of the party up.  Unfortunately didn’t really get too many good ones.  Guess that’s what I get for asking my dad to be the camera man.  Kelly had the party pretty well organized; kids got to do an art project then decorate their own cupcakes.

Here’s the birthday girl

Hard to see from this pic, but the cake is a huge cupcake.  My decorating skills are simply amazing….

Since she’s three, it’s time to get her on skis…brand new boots too.

Mark and Beaven had a get together before Beaven’s starring performance in “1776″ as Martha Jefferson.  The play was extremely well done - we really enjoyed it.  Nothing exciting here; but snapped a few quick shots:

Jamie and Carrie…

Me with the birthday girl…

CD and MD

Pete was riding solo last night - figuratively and literally

Super fun night at the Garage on Capital Hill last night.  My buddy Brian Walker turned 35, so Marci threw a little surprise party….

Marci put up a 61 in the final game…only to be outdone by one of kelly’s throws ending up behind her….

Mikey Mo and the Birthday boy.  Wristbands compliments of Mr. Drake.

Notice no pins standing in the background…

Darren was in it to win in…until the call came from downtown about a better offer.

Lund - must be standing on his toes….

Losing team of six had to buy shots…of Jager…

For some reason his shirt always comes off.

I’m the only one who doesn’t golf in the 80’s anymore - even Mike does now.

AJ is getting old - gripping about tendinitis in his arm.

They only come out at night.

Bowls like he putts - one handed as to always have a beer in hand.

So Marci walks into the bar and asks me if I’ve ever heard of a Duck Fart.

No, they’re not sisters.

Laura had to sit on the sidelines - no socks.

Kelly with the birthday boy

Normally I wouldn’t post this - but come on, look at Andy in this one would you?

DF #2

Honestly - don’t tell me you want more of me.

Whoa?

Not a bad party at all….

We wanted to do something on Reese’s actual birthday - she turned three this week - so what’s better than dropping 80 bucks at Build a Bear?

When you’re done ‘building’ the bear you go to the computer and register him/her; part of this process involves picking a name.  I said ‘how about Ruthie?’ to Reese and she thought it sounded great.  Now she’s running around saying “I got a roofie for my birthday”.   Not good….

Stuff ‘em up!

Marissa with her foot on the fluff pedal

Reese and her “roofie”.

Two of this week’s birthday girls….

Spent the weekend in Chelan with a group that Kelly knits with - name of the crew is “Stitch and Bitch”, and they all brought their spouses out; most visited for the first time.  Kelly and Jamie were up early on Saturday to run the Chelan Half Marathon….they were up about 3 hours after some of the guys got back from the casio.  Yep, it was one of those type of weekends. We had a great time, and never got hit with the rain that everyone in Seattle was talking about.

Our two favorite runners up and ready to roll.  Starting line was right in front of Jamie’s house.

I didn’t say this was the Boston Marathon did I?  That’s everyone in the race - it starts with one guy yelling, “ready, go!”, and that’s it…no need to over complicate things with a gun or starter with a bullhorn I guess.

Two hours later, we jumped in the boat to cross the lake and grab the girls at the finish line.

Reese, still in her PJ’s came along too.

Arrival in Manson, where the finish line is right by “My Buddy’s Tavern” - great name huh?

Jamie laughing b/c she thought Matt was joking about how much $$$ he lost at the casino?

Rob and James visiting Chelan for the first time.

I’m a shuttlecock master.  Logged a lot of 2 X 2 games this weekend. Who knew that they make those things with real feathers?  I grew up with the Wal-Mart plastic ones.  Matt had the real deal ones.

Reese, Marissa and Sophie swam for hours.  Actually the adult girls jumped into the lake around 11pm on Friday - makes the hot tub that much more warm I guess.

Matt cooked up some special burgers - there’s basically a ball of blue cheese and cream cheese in the center of the patties.  They were damn good.

Pete’s soooooo close to standing on his own.  Crawling everywhere of course.

I only have two pictures of Becky, and the other one isn’t rated PG; so this is what you’re going to get.

Carrie has Sam down and is ready to rumble now.

Got home from Lake Chelan today - had a super time there with our friends for Labor Day.  The water was a bit choppy, so we only got a few hours on the boat; but the new sand volleyball court was a smash hit.  Chris, Mark, Andy and I got about 9 or 10 games in with some of the neighbors - then we had a super dinner with gourmet burgers, stellar wine from Sonoma that Dave brought, and Kelly made Blue Thai Mojitios - good times.  Tack on a great bonfire to cap off the night and you’ve got yourself a great three day weekend.

I put up ~90 other shots if you click this sentence - but here’s a few to give you the idea.  It really was a blast and I’m glad everyone had such a good time last night.

Mark and Kelly were both reading this books - Kelly “Pillars of the Earth”, and Mark “Salt”.

Chris Drake looks good here - but I’m certain he goofed this shot.

Dig Lund, dig!

I can set better than Misty May….

Scooter cheered us on….

We all showered up after v-ball and popped the cork on the Stagg’s Leap….

Lund was on grill, and it’s a good thing too, Kelly and Beaven were at Nefarious for ~3 hours.  We all had to kick in a bit more than usual…

Melissa and Kelly - ready for the burgers.

I LOVE this shot of Garret and his new baby boy….

CD and Haldi…

Two of my favorite three girls….

Marissa came a long way this summer - she’s full on swimming laps in the pool now.  She’s the greatest little girl in the world.

After several hours out at the bonfire we came in and found Marissa’s Bubble Tape and had to have a bubble blowing contest.

I clearly beat my inferior opponents.

I mean, do you even enter a grape size bubble into the contest? Michelle came in second according to my score keeping.

Had a super time down in Sun River, OR for the wedding of Elina and Tom.  Their wedding was on Friday, 08.08.2008 - and what a great setting it was.  We stayed there an extra day and got in a little R&R by floating down the Deschutes River, and even found a rope swing to launch into the water.  No pictures of the river, but take my word for it; it was fun.

I took a lot of pictures, both of the service and the reception; and while I’m not permitted to post them all, here’s a few of my favorites. It was just a perfect wedding start to finish!!!

Made to the ceremony with about 15 minutes to spare.

Great setting on an absolute perfect day!  Elina and Tom moments before the “I do’s”.

The Linden Ave boys - Mark Walters, Matt Drake and I

Mark is demonstrating how one remembers which side the “B”read and which side the “D”rink goes on.

Getting ready for the amazingly well done slide show….

Matt’s ready to start dancing….

So was I…

Umm, is there a groom here?

That’s better….

S-n-B crew….

Jamie’s first weekend away from Pete….time to leave it all on the dance floor….

Turns out that Becky frequently sings to beer bottles at weddings?

Matt and the Man of the Hour - Tom!

Returned home today from a VERY relaxing vacation in Chelan.  We were out there for a whole week and while we had the occasional visit from friends and my folks who were down lake, we really had a lot of down time…just what we wanted.  We did manage to do quite a bit though…picked blueberries to make a pie, putt putt golf, Slide Waters, and a few meals out in town. We were surprised by a visit from Brian/Marci, and even went to dinner up at Garret’s so he could show us his potato gun and green laser.  Of course we got to hear about Dave’s party which required Chelan’s finest to be summoned out - twice!   Good times indeed!

I posted a few more pictures which you can see by clicking this sentence.  

Here’s Paris Soligon…oops, Marissa Soligon getting ready to pick Blueberries…

Reese getting into the lake to cool off….

‘Lil Skipper actually did all the driving for us.

Isn’t this the scene in the Shawshank Redemption?

Reese and I on the patio at Campbell’s in downtown Chelan.

Marissa trying to figure out Sudoku puzzle…

Post dinner walk in town….

“Emerson Cracks”

Reese wanted to climb the bear….

Marissa about ready to bake her blueberry pie….

That’s me…I can tell you where I won’t be on 8-8-08…..

Well I’m home and a bit beat.  Lot of food and long nights of going out in Atlanta this whole week.  Good to relax with my work friends in a different environment.  Maybe I’ll post some more on facebook…I took a lot of random shots.  Who knows, I’ll probably get asked to pull a few of these this week.

Atlantic Station is a new area in Atlanta that has good food and nightlife.  Geisha House sushi was terrific.

Deanna’s first MGX - she loved it.

Kristen and Dametra bringing down the house.

OMG, OMG, I’M HAVING SOOOOO MUCH FUN.

Augusto prepping for the next night’s LATAM party.

Honestly, STOP requesting Will Smith would you?

Do I know how to land a punchline or what….

Keep your head up and everything will fall into place.

You going to light that?

Is there a wrapper on still?

Think that’s better now…

Called FY09 Planning.

Hooked up with Julie Spence for a few beers at her team party at Stats.  Few issues with the doorman, but nothing Julie AKA Cool Hand Luke couldn’t get us past.