********Nit Picking********

So, I almost didn't post this on the blog - but then, I thought "life happens" so I can share the good, the bad, & the ugly. This definitely qualifies under the latter two. I spent 4 hours going through Audrey's hair our last Friday before school, fun hair treatments all weekend, etc . . . she was quite the trooper. I don't wish this experience on anyone!! She loved the shower cap & said "Look mom, I'm a cafeteria lady!" She's a riot, to say the least.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Audrey (3rd grade) & Jake (5th grade) getting ready to walk to the bus stop.

Jake getting on the bus for Endeavour Elementary.




Gabrielle is walking to the bus stop with her ginormous backpack. She's a ninth grader now at Pacific Cascades - HELP ME!!

Hilarious pics that make me laugh!

"Pimp my Dad" - - - Chris on the trail in style!

Our friend, Bryan Nielson, "camping" - - - getting his beauty sleep in the van.

"Bee Girl" (Audrey) must be expecting some rain.

Amazon Picnic - Aug 2008

Audrey & Jake love to go rockclimbing!

Jake & Audrey got tatoos - Jake has a lion & Audrey has an eagle.

Jake & Gabby decided to race. Gabby kept running into tires & lost by quite a bit. We told her that Jake will probably be getting his driver's license before she does - I guess video games really do help you drive better. GO JAKE!!

The Finance & Accounting "Funkenbrumin" Broomball Team. Chris helped created the t-shirt logo & named the team.

Broomball is an interesting sport to watch - kind of a cross between soccer & hockey. Their team did very well & got 3rd place. It was a blast to watch them!

CRAZY - It Runs In the Family

My 60-something Dad...




For those of you who wonder where the "wild and crazy" streak comes from....
(you can check out Papa's blog for the details)

Yes - I'm a nerdy book-worm who loves adventure!

You Are Belle!

Intelligent and kind. Your beauty goes much further than your apperance. Also, you make judgements of people based on their personality and not their looks. Attaining all the knowledge that you can is one of your major goals in life, but you are also a person who can make things happen.

Which Disney Princess Are You?">

Yum - Ice Cream's my fav!

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Paradise Park - Mount Rainier, WA

The kids decided to work on their "junior ranger" books before we started on the Skyline Trail. They passed off all the requirements & got their badges at the end of the day.

Aud & Jake on Skyline Trail - one of the most beautiful hikes we've ever done!

Audrey was a little trooper. Some of the trail was still covered in snow. Yes, snow! And, did I mention that it's August? We had a few snow ball fights along the way.

It was a LONG way up - only a 1700 ft. elevation gain, no problem! I figured that if the kids could do it, then so could I. The trail was a around 5 miles & took us about 4 hours to complete.

We reached the top - Panorama Point - we did it! We could see in the distance Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood & Mt. St. Helens.

Beautiful Mount Rainier - - - need I say more!

Grove of the Partiarchs Trail - Mt. Rainier

Chris & Laura by the river.

The Nielson kids & Struempler kids on the trail. (Samantha, Jakob, Audrey, Daniel, Zoe & Zach)

Jakob sitting inside the trunk of an uprooted "giant" tree. It's incredible to see how big they are.

We are standing by 1,000 year old trees! Amazing! They have survived so long, because this grove is surrounded by rivers on all sides keeping them protected from fires.

XXX Burger - Issaquah, WA

No trip to visit us is complete without eating at "XXX" Burger - it's a unique 50's style burger joint with the biggest burgers I've ever seen. From left to right: Katie, Gabby, Jakob, Audrey, Jenna, Laura & Bryan (my brother).

Jenna Ferguson & Audrey Struempler trying to open their mouths big enough for their burgers. And, yes, they are only eating half a burger - I'd like to see anyone eat a whole "XXX" burger and live to tell about it!

Bry & Di Ferguson trying to keep up with the kids!

Snoqualmie Falls with my brother's fam, the Fergusons

Wow - What a view!

Cousins: Jakob, Katie, Gabby, Jenna & Audrey - hiking down the trail to the river.

We all hiked down the trail & made it to the river at the bottom of the falls. The kids loved climbing all over the rocks.

Cousins: Katie Ferguson & Gabby Struempler enjoying the great view of the waterfall

Jake is excited about the falls - it felt great because you could feel the mist on you

FOOTBALL!

Jake is a mini Skyline Spartan (our High School team) - he decided to break away from soccer this fall & try football - practices start mid-August, 2 hours a day & 6 days a week until schools starts - boy, is he going to be wiped out, but I'm sure he'll have fun!

Yes, we know his hair is WAY too long - - - We got it cut yesterday morning, after a long battle of the wills and a little bribing (whatever works, right?)

The traditional "Sam Moon" shopping trip (Dallas)

The two little Divas, Audrey Struempler & Jenna Ferguson - - - they love sparkly bags and hats! Do you like our hats? (Emily Platt, Kara McCarthy and Gabrielle Struempler) Shopping cousins: Kara McCarthy, Jenna Ferguson, Katie Ferguson, Emily Platt & Audrey Struempler All of the girl cousins, after lunch at Gloria's, left to right: Audrey Struempler, Kara McCarthy, Katie Ferguson, Jenna Ferguson, Emily Platt, Gabrielle Struempler, and Kiersten McCarthy

More American Girl Fun

Audrey visits the American Girl store in Dallas with her cousins: Samantha & Olivia Timothy, as well as Addison & Reagan Dover - - - and boy, did they shop!

Audrey and her cousins watch their dolls get a new hairstyle in the American Girl salon.

Elizabeth's hair is done - - - she's all "dolled up" and ready to go.

The girls topped off their shopping trip by going to the Kit Kittredge movie.

Audrey's Baptism (June 21st - Texas)

Audrey with her three cousins, from left to right: Samantha Timothy, Addison Dover, Audrey Struempler, and Jenna Ferguson - this was a very special day for them all!

Audrey with her Dad, right before she is baptized

Wow - 2008 Is Gonna Be Awesome

Laura's NYC Girl Trip

I got a great Mother's Day week off this year. I left with my gal pal, Stephanie (brunette) and her sister-in-law Jen (red head) and took a trip to the big apple. We stayed with Steph's sister in Nyack and spent a lot of time on trains . . . subways (Grand Central Station) . . . and crossed many bridges We went on a guided tour on a water taxi and saw the Lady herself We went on a 3 hour bus tour of famous TV/film locations around the city A pic of the Empire State Building from the bus window We saw the brownstone where they filmed the "Cosby Show" . . . and the building where they filmed "Friends" We went to the American Museum of Natural History.

We found him! "No more gum gum, dumb dumb" . . .

and Dexter (from Night at the Museum) Got a tatoo - why not? We saw 3 shows (Young Frankenstein & Curtains) - But my favorite was . . .

We had an amazing time . . . a great week to relax and have fun in the city!