UW Volleyball Game

Dad took the kids to the Husky women's volleyball game. We were late and missed the first game, and the Husky's destroyed Ariz State in 3, so we weren't there long. Still, they both seemed to like it and not get bored.

I assume the popcorn helped.

Wife Art

From October, arrived home on day to find our garage door decorated by my awesomely talented wife.

Tashana's Cake

Finally after the wedding business/family slowed down, we got to decorating the three layer chocolate/vanilla cake with chocolate inside frosting and vanilla outside frosting that Edy helped decorate.

After all that, Dad was the only once who liked the cake - after I scraped the outside frosting off.

Good Wedding Photos

We also got some good ones on Hurricane Ridge. You'll probably be seeing this again on our Christmas card.

Good Reception Photos

Our family portrait photographer also took the wedding photos (I think Tashana made Lyndsey hire her, and made Charis take the job), so we knew there would be some good shots. These are some of our family that Charis sent to us.

I'm sure the ones of the people who got married are good too.

All dressed up at the Reception

We got all dressed up for the reception. We borrowed this tuxedo for Edison and he looked very debonair; when he wasn't moving. There are more pictures coming from the wedding and reception, and much better ones than these.

Dinner was a fabulous paella cooked in this custom made 5' - yes that's foot - diameter skillet. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of that.

Edison stayed up until 9 before Mom took him back to the hotel to go to bed. Dad and Edy partied on, dancing and enjoying seeing (or meeting) all the family.

Edy got up and danced to "Happy" and learned how to do the "YMCA". That disco is infectious. We also sang it on the car ride all the way home.

Edy finally voluntarily went to bed at 11. Dad partied on until 1:30. Of course the kids were still up at 6:30 the next day.

Of course we found sand...

Back at the hotel between the wedding and the evening reception, we found some sand to play in. It appeared they had a sandcastle carving competition a weekend or two before, and there were still some hard packed mounds left over. I think we spent about 6 hours or so over the course a few days playing in this sand. We even made a few friends who brought construction trucks, to Edison's delight.

Dave's Wedding Ceremony

Dave and Lyndsey got married at sunrise at Hurricane Ridge. They honored me by asking me to play guitar and sing a few songs at the ceremony.

It was a pain getting up there in the dark, but it doesn't get much better than strumming guitar and singing songs at sunrise. The wedding came complete with sunlight and rainbows.

PreWedding in Port Angeles

We took a trip out to the Dungeonous spit before the wedding on the 4th. We though we would try to make it to the lighthouse, until we got there and found out it was a 5 mile hike! So we played on the beach, skipped some rocks, and took in the sites.

Edy started picking rocks up for me to try and skip that were approaching 10 lbs, I though I was going to throw my shoulder out. So I told her I would only try to skip rocks that she would drop on her foot first. She started choosing lighter ones.

Tashana's Actual Birthday

Got a little crowded out this year due to my family in town, my brothers wedding, and it being on a Wednesday. We had cupcakes on her birthday and postponed the triple decker double flavored cake until later. Happy 40th Sweetie!

Family in Town

Doing some catch up posting from Dave and Lyndsey's wedding activities from early October. The entire Repka clan was together the weekend before the wedding. We spent all day together on Sat - Grandpa gave Edison Tips on how to make laser noises, Dawn got to play board games with Edy, Grandma got to put together the giant fire truck puzzle with Edison, and everyone named John took a nap.

Edy wants a Parrot

We were at the Ballard Farmers Market last Sunday when a man with a parrot happened to be walking by. Edy got to hold the parrot on her shoulder, and she loved it.

Ed also asked to hold it, but given his reaction at feeding the birds at the zoo, when he panicked when they tried to land on his hand, I thought it was not a good idea.

Edy has been wanting a pet for a while now. Yesterday she said to me, "dad, I want a parrot because they live a long time, longer than 14 years, and don't die, so I won't have to be sad.

So true.

Grandma T's 70th Bday

Grandma Tonjia turned 70 last Friday, so we partied all weekend to celebrate. On Friday, we went to dinner at Canlis, a fancy restaurant overlooking Lake Union, and ate very good food without small children.

Geoff made the trip up from California and surprised Tonjia at the restaurant.

On Saturday, Tashana put together another surprise yard party for Tonjia with streamers and balloons, and a potluck where everybody brought their favorite foods.

We partied into the evening with Tashana's handmade yard Jenga set.

Tonjia said she liked it so much, she can't wait until next weekend when we expects we will do it again. :-)

Eighth Anniversary Dinner

We had a low key steak dinner on the patio for our Anniversary on Tuesday. Grandma was there too, (she took the photo.)

It's not as often as I should, but these moments are when I take the time to be grateful for the beautiful, smart, and ever patient woman I married, and for the children she is raising with me.

Even when life seems a little rough, it is difficult to be unhappy when I go home to this family each day.

More Saturday Action

After the zoo in the morning, we went to the street fair on Greenwood Ave. they closed the main arterial down for a day so kids could ride bikes in the street and play games.

Local businesses participated - like the piano rental store put pianos in the street for anyone to play, and others had Plinko or beanbag throwing games.

Most favorite, however, was that the fire station was open to the public, and we got to crawl around inside the fire trucks. Super cool!

Busy Saturday

Mom was working on Saturday, so Dad took the kids out for a busy, busy day. We started out at the zoo, where we fed the birds. Edy really has fun with this. You buy a Popsicle stick with birdseed glued to it, and the birds come land it, and many times on you, and have a snack. It was a good idea for Edison in concept until the bird flapped down and actually tried to land on his stick, at which point he started waving his arm around trying to get it off him.

From there we moved on to the Snow Leopard exhibit, where is was hard to spot the sleeping leopard, but we did climb on the sculpture and get a picture.

We capped it off with a ride on the carousel. And that was all before 11:AM!

Chilling by the Grandma's Pool

It has been hot in Seattle the past few weeks - no rain and in the 90's earlier this week. Lucky for us, Grandma Tonjia has a pool at her apartment complex that she lets us use.

Here are the kids relaxing (and warming up in the sunshine) after a swim. Of course, as soon as they see pictures being taken, silly things start to happen.

Safety First

I've described my job in Construction Management to Edy and Edison as "I tell the workers on the construction site what to do, and answer questions they have if they don't know how to do it."

Edison has been to the jobsite and seen the excavators and dump trucks and other heavy equipment, and he was very excited.

This morning before leaving for work, I gave Edison a kiss, said goodbye and told him to have a good day. He responded by saying bye, then bringing my ear close to his and telling me "Tell the workers don't get smushed by the big machines."

Fourth of July Camping Part 2

We cooked all of our meals over the open fire, roasted marshmallows, and played down by the river. Edy and Edison even managed to find a dead fish to examine.

The last two times we stayed in a yurt. This time we got the refitted shipping container, which was small but pretty good to stay in. It was hot and could have used screens on all the windows to keep the bugs out.

Edison managed to burn his toes on the fire pit, which was not much fun. It wasn't too bad, however, since he seems all healed up as of yesterday. We all managed to get home safely and in one piece beyond that.

The other great part about this campground is that is was a 15 minute walk to the fireworks show, which both the kids managed to stay awake for after 2 1/2 hour naps that afternoon. We think we might go back next year if we can get a reservation. Anyone care to join?