Grand Apple Blossom Parade

Kent and the Cashmere High School Marching Band marching down the streets of Wenatchee.

The band performed a routine which involved getting into one single-file line.

The five football players in the band wore their uniforms because they were state champions this year.

Brooke and I were invited onto the judges float. It was nice of them because there was standing room only on the parade route!



Once the Cashmere band passed by I followed them to the buses. Brooke was fast asleep by the end of the parade and stayed asleep on the bus in my backpack until we arrived in Cashmere.

A Special Story

There is an incredible story in the making with the adoption of Sylvi Lois DeBoer. I know the DeBoer family from my hometown of Petersburg, Alaska. The blog posts have been so beautifully written that I end up in tears reading them! Tuesday is the day that this special little girl gets to have a family all of her own. I can't wait to see the photos and stories that the future will hold. Click here to see the blog.

Fun with Riley

Today we had a fun walk and playing on the floor with Whitney and her daughter Riley. The girls enjoyed grabbing ears, eyes, heads, and socks. Riley was amazing at smiling for the camera, but it took about five shots to get both of them smiling at the same time. Too cute!

An April Garden

The lilacs are almost in bloom. By this weekend they will be absolutely beautiful!

A few photos from our garden.

I'm not sure what flower this is, but I can't keep it from taking over EVERYTHING.

So many varieties of tulips!

Watch Out, Here She Comes!

In the last two days Brooke has become very mobile! She's figured out how to sit up and pull up in her crib. She also is army crawling pretty quickly. She seems to be much more happier now that she can go where she wants!

"Now that I got it, where do I go next?"


She's off!

"I'll visit Maisy under the dining room table."

"Now I'll come and get the CAMERA!"

New Orleans

Thanks to band parent Janet, I have a few photos to share from Kent's New Orleans trip. Around 50 students and parents left on Thursday for the four day trip to Louisiana. Above is Kent on a steamboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi River.

"Annie, look at what I bought!"

Warming up for their performance at Xavier University. Kent told me today that it was the best adjudication that his band has ever received. "These guys KNOW jazz", he told me. The professors were even trying to recruit one of his top jazz students!

Jr. Apple Blossom Parade

The main reason for me to substitute the last two days was so I could help out with the band in the Jr. Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee. It's hard to believe it's marching season again! I just love Kent's students. Not only are they a pretty talented group, but they are so respectful and such great kids.

You never know what kind of problem you will run into! I tried my best to fix the saxophone with some tape.

The percussion section decided to wear aviator glasses and bandanas!

After a long parade the students really enjoy their icecream bar and the walk to the bus with their friends. What a good day!

Grandma Britta's Visit

Thursday morning Kent left to New Orleans with his jazz band. Grandma Britta come down to watch Brooke while I was Kent's substitute at school for two days. We had a meal outside on the patio one night. It was a little breezy but enjoyable to be outside in the sunshine.

Brooke and Gma Britta really bonded and had a fun time together. One day they even walked up to the school with the stroller to watch the 8th grade band march!

When mommy's away Brooke has a bottle. Britta quickly found out that Brooke gets to do it all by herself!

Thanks so much for your help! (Can you see the resemblance!!!?) I think we have a little Britta on our hands!

San Diego

I really wanted to get a short day trip in while in Palm Desert. Dad, Brooke and I took off this morning for Carlsbad and San Diego. At Carlsbad we visited The Flower Fields and had a great time viewing the colorful fields of ranunculus.

Brooke sits and examines some blooms.

Rows and rows of bright beautiful colors!

We made sure that Brooke got her favorite physical activity in... walking!

We got to ride on the tractor ride! It was fun to bounce behind and look at all the beautiful fields. Brooke got a little fussy at the end of the ride, probably because of the loud noise and heat.

After visiting the flower fields we drove down to San Diego to spend the rest of our day at the Balboa Park. There were four or five museums that were free admission. This made it great to make a quick walk through and not worry about "getting your money's worth".

Grandpa John walking around the rose garden.

We loved the cacti garden. It was huge and there were so many neat varieties of plants.

Pool Time

It's such a good thing that Grandpa and Grandma have a pool at their house that is only four or five houses away from ours! We enjoy a daily trip to the pool to enjoy a little splashing around.

Brooke is a happy girl in the pool. Her favorite part is chewing on the pool toys!

After a little dip in the pool, she dries off with her Great-Grandpa!

My Grandma has a beautiful pool and garden in her backyard.

All the different varieties of roses make a colorful backdrop.

A beautiful night in Palm Desert.