Two Practically Perfect Weekends

The past couple of weeks have gone past in a blur. Life has been hectic both at work and with last-minute preparations for Brian's mission. The weekends have been the perfect respite from the craziness.

Last weekend we started off on Lake Sammamish with the Blakely's. The water cooperated most of the time and everyone (excepting whimpy me!) got some great ski runs in. Luckily I bring my camera, so I'm invited on the boat anyway. It is so fun to watch the continual progress. Watching really top-notch skiers is a thing of beauty. It was a wonderful morning.

After the ski run, we celebrated with Breakfast at our favorite place in down town Kirkland. Brian has recently discovered Eggs Benedict, and it is changing his life... After the heavy brunch and Brian's nap (you'd swear he was either four or seventy-four, wouldn't you?), we headed to hills for a nice little hike to Barkley Creek. It was an easy 4.5 mile hike and it was so beautiful. I think everything seems a little more special knowing that we won't be able to do this for quite some time. We thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and each other's company.


While Brian is typically never in a rush, it was fun to watch him move us all along at a good pace... He was very concerned we'd finish after his favorite burger joint on Highway 2 was closed. I loved this rare burst of speed on the part of the Rowley males, because we kept a great pace, which I thrive on. And, miracle of miracles, we finished on time and were able to counteract any of the health benefits of the hike with burgers, onion rings and malts. Whew!

Thank heavens for the break because Labor Day brought true labor. It was Attic Cleaning Day. I think Brian was ready to divorce his mother. That being said, the attic has been cleared of 18 years of junk and I am seriously considering giving tours of it. Brian did a fabulous job laying down new plywood and organizing the remaining essentials. Essentials is defined as things we'll still never really need again but couldn't bring ourselves to part with.


There was real entertainment to be found in finding pieces of our history during the cleaning process. We found an East High School seat cushion (which of course Gail has claimed as her own), baby clothes, Brian's elementary school artwork and pictures of when we were all younger and thinner.


After an arm wrestle at the pickup where Steve kept taking things out of the DI pile and Lynn kept replacing them, we reach an amicable settlement (except I'm pretty sure that Steve stashed some stuff that was supposed to be thrown.... such is my life).


We finally completed the project just in time for last weekend. It was another fabulous one! Alicia arrived Thursday evening. We love spending time with her. She is energetic and fun and seems to roll with everything the Rowley's throw at her. And what we tend to throw at her is family and food!

Saturday morning we all went to another great breakfast joint. And when I say "all" I do mean "all". There were 22 of us. It was so wonderful and so loud having the family together again. Mike was in from Colorado and many of the McLaughlins from Provo and Eastern WA. The Armstrongs represented Central Washington so it was a fully house. After the heaviest breakfast on the planet (if you've been to the Brown Bag, you'll know what I'm talking about), we went en masse to the U of W/BYU game. For any one who missed the game, you really missed a game. What was supposed to have been a blow out became a real nail biter... but then you would expect nothing less of the Cougars! But in the end, victory prevailed (unless you were one of the tens of thousands of Husky fans in the stadium). There was a great contingency of cougar fans and we were loud! I certainly did my part and still have no voice today.

The final blocked Kick. Yikes!

The fun continued back at our place with take out from, of course, Thin Pan. No, it hasn't closed yet. Halleluiah!!!!! It was great food and a wonderful visit. Two of the highlights were cousins Ethan and Henry. These little guys are amazing! They are beautiful and so much fun. Sitting out on the picnic bench with "the girls" gossiping and watching the little ones play was one of those perfect moments that life gives you occasionally. I was having so much fun that I didn't take any photos... shame on me, but Steve did catch this one below of Ethan with his Papa Mike.

The older I get the more I am in awe at how blessed I am in my family. Both the Rowleys and the Beagleys are fun, supportive and more importantly, would walk through fire to help a family member. We are truly blessed. As great as the past couple of weekends have been, we are anticipating one more. Next week, Brian will be speaking in church so the families will be gathering one more time. Thank you to all of you who show us continued love and support.