Scout's Trip to the Ballpark

On Sunday, lil' Scout got to go to Safeco Field for her very first Mariner game! She was pretty excited to go since we (Kevin) watches baseball on TV and we talk about the Mariners and of course, the Mariner Moose mascot.

Kevin's firm hosted a family baseball day at the ballpark and since they booked a suite, we saw it as the best opportunity to let Clara experience the ball park. It ended up being a perfect way to take a potty training toddler. There was a nice food and beverage buffet, kids to play with, indoor and outdoor seating, and of course clean, bathrooms that were close by and not busy.

Clara liked sitting in the outdoor stadium seats and listening to all of the announcements and music. She LOVED clapping when the M's made a good play, too!

After her hamburger lunch the kiddos got to make their own Mariner sundaes in these cute baseball hat bowls. A lot of this treat ended up on Clara's pink M's shirt!

The highlight of the game may have been a visit from the Mariner Moose. Clara wasn't too sure what to think of him, but was willing to pose with Daddy for a picture and give him a high five as he headed out!

Later in the game, we went down to meet Auntie Michele who has season tickets to the game. Michele was quick to march Clara into one of the merchandise stores and allowed her to pick out a special souvenir. While Auntie Michele was willing, Mommy and Daddy talked Clara down a few sizes in the Mariner Moose stuffed animal she selected. As it was, the one we ended up with is literally half her size.

Thank you, Michele! Clara LOVES her Moose!

She was entertained by him the rest of the game and the whole car ride home!

Clara clapping and cheering with the crowd

Momma, Clara and the Moose

Happy 88th Birthday Great Grandma Elaine!

This past weekend we met up with Grandma & Grandpa Stevens in Auburn to spend time with our sweet Grandma Elaine who was celebrating her 88th Birthday! Grandma's memory is continuing to decline, but this visit she appeared peppy and upbeat. After a nice lunch we went to a park that was near her old home. She talked about the area seeming familiar but didn't seem to recognize her previous home of over 50 years after being gone over 2 1/2 years. Clara enjoyed playing in the park where Mommy, Uncle Matt & Uncle Ryan grew up playing in as children. All of the play equipment has changed and some of the large trees have been taken out, but it still has the same feel.

Peek-a-boo

4 Generations

Clara swinging with Papa Mark - you can't tell by her facial expression but she was having a blast!

Clara and Grandma Jan

We all enjoyed the lovely June weather, after all of the rain that we have been drowning in, it was a nice break - too bad it didn't last long, as the next day the rain returned.

Scout's Vacation

Last week was a very big milestone for the Michael family... Clara made her first trip to stay in Quincy with Grandma & Grandpa Michael without Mommy & Daddy!! We spent nine (child free, or semi-child free if you count the presence Gem Baby had) days in London and Paris! We all had a wonderful time on our adventures!

Clara was kept busy in Quincy having fun with her cousins

Grandma Carol coordinated a sleep over for all of the girls.

It included ICE CREAM!!

Clara loves to do whatever her big cousins, Ashley, Taylor and Hailey are doing...

...even brushing teeth!

Clara got to attend Cousin Ashley's dance lesson and watch Cousin Zane's T-ball game.

Which included more ICE CREAM!!

She spent a lot of time outside and improved her trike riding skills on this new bike Grandma got for her.

And she had a blast exploring the orchard! Murray and Carol are moving into town in a few days, making this even more special than Clara understands. What she did understand is that she likes being at Grandma and Grandpa's house!!

While we all enjoyed our vacation, it was sure wonderful to see our sweet girl again after nine days! It was clear that she missed us too and that felt so nice!

We are so lucky and thankful for our special lil' family!

Bye Bye Bunny!!

This past week, we lost our sweet Himalayan rabbit, Vertigo. She was named after the Alfred Hitchcock movie and how she would practically give you vertigo watching her run around as a young bunny. Mommy and Daddy have had her for the past 7 1/2 years and she has been a wonderful pet. Go-Go (as C called her) was so gentle with Scout despite being a little afraid of C's more recent toddler ways. It appears that she passed peacefully and while her appetite had significantly reduced in the past few weeks, she still appreciated a firm nose nuzzle right up until the end.

Kevin found a nice place to bury her in our back yard and as were getting ready to go to sleep that night we remembered all of the fun times we had with her. Unfortunately, most of them were before Scout's arrival.

I bought Vertigo from a fellow 4-Her because she was related to rabbits in my line back when I was showing. When I got settled after college, I tracked the breeder down at the state fair and within months got to bring home an itty-bitty baby bunny! She was so little and had frosty fur all over her black markings. She looked so little in her cage the first night I had her and so I let her snuggle with a special FAO Schwartz stuffed animal had given me when we first started dating - from that point on the snuggle friend was "claimed". It wasn't long before she was flitting and frolicking around my apartment like the little queen that she was demanding our attention whenever possible. She would do mini-tricks for bunny treats like rolling a small ball or rolling on her side and would always let us know when she disapproved of something with a firm thump of her hind legs. All in all, she made a pretty decent house rabbit and learned to use her cage as her restroom, but we never could break her of chewing on chords. Kevin always seems to have had some task of replacing speaker wire or a phone cords from Verti's latest chewing debacle, despite our best efforts to keep them covered!

She LOVED bananas, apples, dried cranberries and any dead leaf she encountered outside. She was never much into eating the grass. When we watched movies (that used to be frequent before Clara) she would either lay down at our feet or right in front of the entertainment center and wouldn't move for the whole two hours or so!

Her last few years were spent running about in our laundry room going back and forth between her cage and a couple of her hiding spots. Unlike many of my other rabbits she had an independent spirit and never really liked to be held, but if you sat on the floor near her, she climb up on your lap and nudge your hand until you pet her.


Luckily Clara doesn't fully understand yet what has happen to Verti although she has asked about her every day. As she grows up I will let her know that the two of them had many fun times together. Once we feel ready, we anticipate getting another bunny for our girls to enjoy - hopefully as much as we enjoyed our Verti!!

Mother's Day 2010

Mother's Day was such a beautiful day this year, both in the sunny weather and wonderful treats that I received from my loving husband and adorable daughter! Clara was able to tell me "Happy Mother's Day" all by her self and made me a beautiful card with stamps and stickers all over. Such a treasure!!!

We enjoyed a pleasant morning drive to Chehalis to share the day with my family. This trip Clara took a little more interest in cousin Brendan. She asked to hold him then laid down and talked to him while he was kicking on the floor. He is such a smiley and happy little guy and it was neat to see her enjoy him so much!

The girls with Grandma Wanda and Grandma Jan.

With the weather so perfect, Papa Mark found lots of outside activities to entertain the girls - wagon rides, bug collecting even motorcycle rides in the back yard!!

We spent the evening at my sister-in-law's parents' home BBQing and celebrating Matthew and Ryan's 28th birthday (which was Saturday). Clara and Taylor ran around in the field and rode the trikes. Clara had been trying to ride the trike at Grandma & Grandpa's earlier that day, but couldn't get the hang of peddling. Tyring to keep up with Taylor at Jerry & Linda's must have been the key, because she seemed to find her grove with the pedals. Next thing to master, combined peddling and steering!! We are so very proud of all the new things that Miss Clara is learning to do.

Uncle Matt & Uncle Ryan with all the kids after blowing out their candles on their super yummy German chocolate ice cream cake! YUM!!

Swinging Cousins!

I thought that this series of Taylor and Clara playing on the swing was just too sweet! The girls have so much fun together! At first, Clara doesn't seem so sure about what Tay is doing, but goes along with it... ...and it ends up being worth it!!!
Woo hoo!!

Exciting Michael Family News!!

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