Theft

Um...somebody stole my newspaper today.

It was there at 8:52 when I left to go running, and it was gone at 10:07 when I got back.

I shouldn't be terribly upset, it's only a newspaper that I hardly even skim. However, I am deeply attached to doing the crossword puzzle.

I only get the paper Thursday and Sunday and I look forward to those days with anticipation so that I can spend a stimulating hour or two solving the day's riddles. Today, someone has deprived me of that joy. That's just rude! What's next, my mail?

I suspect my next door neighbors. I think they might be mad that sometimes my dogs poop in their yard. (I ALWAYS make sure Bryce picks it up, though.)

Maybe on Sunday I will hold a stakeout and watch from the upstairs window to see if I can catch the thief. If somebody steals my Sunday coupon insert...ooh, their will be trouble!

Now I am going to have to be productive for the next hour without that crossword!

On the road again

We're in Omaha visiting 5 of the cutest kids in the world.

This is the first year I've been away from Spokane for this particular holiday. I miss my family, the flag cake and I forgot to bring my patriotic flip flops. However, balloon swords fights with our niece and nephews are a blast.

(I'm making a pirate face)

Next week we will be in exotic South Dakota for a week of Fortner Family fun! I'm looking forward to seeing Mt. Rushmore again, exploring the Black Hills, hot springs, bonding with Bryce's siblings and lots of relaxation.


Happy Fourth everyone. God bless America!

There Are No Cats In America And The Streets Are Paved With Cheese

Do you remember the movie An American Tail?

Fivel and I have two things in common.

#1: Neither of us like cats (sorry Meghan); Fivel because they eat him and me because I am allergic.

#2: We both LOVE...

CHEESE!!!

Some might even say I am a bit fanatic in my love, devotion, craving and obsession for cheese.


I love all kinds; hard, soft, smelly, melted , on top of things, under things, mixed in, as a garnish or as a main dish.

Cheddar, Provolone, Gouda, Pepper jack, Monterrey, Munster, Brie, Feta , Cream Cheese, Cheese Cake, Cottage Cheese, Mithra, Mozzarella , Cheese balls, even spray cheese...I love it in every variety

For one month every year I give up cheese. It's a matter of self-control, and it's always good to set goals. So this year I did not seek out any kind of cheese for the ENTIRE month of June.

There were a few accidental indulgences, namely when I ate dinner at someone else's house and cheese was on the menu. I couldn't very well be rude, and I promise you I didn't enjoy it!

But as today is July 1st...

For breakfast I ate mozzarella sticks and cheddar jalapeno poppers.

For lunch I think I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich and an extra cheesy pizza.

For dinner, the possibilities are endless!

You'll have to excuse me now, I need to go eat more cheese!

Goodmorning Baltimore!

One day of our DC trip we went to Maryland

We went to the beautiful DC temple


And we went to Baltimore to go to an Orioles game.

It was pouring that day, so we sported dorky ponchos.

It was free bobble head day at Oriole park, so sitting through the rain was totally worth it. Plus, I got to have cotton candy.

We walked around downtown Baltimore, but didn't see any of those famous crabs.

Paddle boats on the Potomac

Two weeks ago we went to D.C. These are some of the fun things we did:

Visited all the monuments and memorials





Stood in front of the white house



Saw the amazing man who plays water glasses. He let Bryce help him play a little!



Took an awesome tour of the Capitol building, (Thanks Ryan!)


Went through MANY of the Smithsonian museums. Our favorites were the Natural History, National History, Air & Space, and the Conservatory & National Gardens.


And road a paddle boat around the Tidal Basin. (If you ever happen to go paddle boat-ing, don't wear a skirt!)

We also saw lots and lots of squirrels, sat in the Senate chamber and watched some of the senators vote, walked a ton, watched planes take off at plane park, saw Old town D.C., Visited with my dear friend Michelle, and had a nice (but too short) visit with the love-of-my-life Meghan and her hubby Ryan.

As a capstone to our trip we went and saw Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian after we got home.
Super cute movie. It was really fun to see all the sites we had just visited (and I have a girl crush on Amy Adams).

It was a great trip, I highly recommend DC as a perfect vacation destination if you like to go to free museums and walk 10 miles a day.

Summer = Bugs

The heavy summer heat brings with it all the bugs. The rollie pollies that inexplicably inhabit my front porch, the mosquitoes the devour me every time I step outside, the flies that find their way in even when every door and window is shut and the giant wolf spider with a body the size of a quarter that crawled across my shoe the other day. Oh, and let's not forget the ants that have been steadily invading my kitchen and eating my dogs' food. Bugs are gross.

But they're not all so bad. I love watching the dragonflies skim the pond in the morning sunlight. They come in so many colors and sizes that I don't get tired of staring at them. and...

FIREFLIES!

If you are not lucky enough to live in a place where fireflies light up the night, then I hope you will at some point in your life! They almost make the drenching humidity worth it, (almost.)

Last night I went outside just to watch them. On the other side of the pond there is a little forest, and right before dark there are so many fireflies that it looks like some great hand is dumping gold glitter all over the trees. The last little bit of sunlight turned the sky into an orange and peach and blue paisley. A great blue heron flew right over my head and perched in a tree behind me. Except for one obnoxious frog it was very quiet, and if I was trying to design a perfect fairytale or romance setting I couldn't have imagined anything better. I couldn't believe the amazing beauty surrounding me. I kept expecting a unicorn to come trotting out from the trees or something.

No pictures of this, you just have to imagine it for yourself.

626.06 Miles

Today we drove through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia just to see these people:

Ryan & Meghan Clyde. They live just outside D.C. and are letting us crash with them for a few days while we explore the nations capitol.


Of course, we had to stop and see this along the way

Who wouldn't take a 2 1/2 hour detour to see the world's largest picnic basket? I have a small obsession with seeing cheesy roadside curiosities. Lucky for me I have an indulgent husband!

We also stopped here

Gettysburg National Military Park.

It was very moving to think about the price our country has paid. I have ancestors who fought on each side. However, when I play civil war, I like to pretend I'm a Union soldier if I can, (they won, you know.)

I love road trips!