dahlia.

i first saw these on pinterest and loved them. i used this tutorial from "not martha" to make a felt dahlia barrette/pin and am so pleased with how it turned out. all i had on hand was some poly felt, but i'd like to get some nice quality wool felt to try this with, the colors are so much more vibrant.





i used hot glue instead of fabri-tack on mine and it was so easy, it dried instantly and i didn't have to set them under anything and wait for the glue to set. these would make a great teacher's gift for back-to-school!

thanks for looking!

scenes from the lake.

we went camping this weekend at lake quinault with some friends. here's a brief sampling of our weekend.


us, in front of our campground. it was just to the left of this sign.


sam helping tiff and andrew set up camp.


testing the water.


dimi and lauren chillin' in their tent.


austin getting some quality "benji-bonding" time :) (that was our tent up on the hill in the back)


ANYTIME is a great time for a pedicure! katie painted sam and gabby's toes for them.


dinner friday night. note how artfully andrew arranged the dogs.


katie thinks rabbit ears are HILARIOUS.


s'mores. need i say more?


dimi, lauren and aus playing "go fish" (at which apparently dimi was CHEATING *gasp*) LOL


saturday was perfect weather for a swim in the lake....


followed by a canoe ride.


benji just hanging out.


many hours were spent by the littles catching and releasing inchworms.


we couldn't leave without checking out the "world's largest" spruce tree....


thar she is.


all the kiddos.


nathan and i.

thanks for checking out our weekend escapades!

whaling days 2011.

saturday morning heidi and i ran in the whaling days "whale of a race". i didn't PR, i ran it faster last year by over 2 minutes but at least this year i didn't feel like i was going to hurl when i ran it. i still did okay, coming in at 33:39. then heidi and i booked it over to the new Y in silverdale to clean up before the parade. our families met up with us to watch the parade, and i made it just in time to see austin marching with his scout troop as he does every year.


the only pic of me and heidi that we both looked good in.


high-tailed it back to the parade just in time to see austin marching with his boy scout troop.


troop 1539's "camping" themed float.


katie, soph-ball, and sammy.


thought this was pretty cool.


pretty horses.


baby goat!


i tried to chase this guy down and lick him but he was too fast.


having fun watching the parade....


me and my boomer-boy.

sunday morning a bunch of friends and i took part in the Hui Hei Hei Wa'a Dye's Inlet Dash. it was cold and rainy, but we persevered. after we lost our first heat, we were a little discouraged, but we tried to stay positive. we went on to win the second, and third, and FOURTH race, to take home the WINNER'S trophy! we were SO stoked.


right before the first race, note the apprehensive look on my face.


my little tree-frog.


once jeff was there (our original steersman that we had during practice), we were ALL smiles.


hanging out between races with quincy.


right after we WON! me and my biggest fan.


L to R: jeff, rhonda, me, heidi, tricia, hollie.


that means we're winners :)


not to BRAG or anything.....but look at the size of our trophy!

afterwards, we had a celebratory beer at the beer garden with all of our supporters. thanks SO much to everyone who came out to cheer us on: my husband and kids, my mom, the watson family, mitch, wendy, the brown's.....i appreciate all of you!