camping trip #1 and 4th of july

Thursday. James and the boys went up to Kayak Point with Mom, Dad and Leah. They got everything all set up by the time I arrived straight from work. We had meat and veggies for dinner cooked on the camp stove, made plastic bag ice cream and got dirty at the campsite (well a few of us did). It was unusually warm for camping in Seattle, I liked not getting wet or being freezing.

James teaching Greyson how to be a MAN

The BFF cousins sitting still for once

Aidan can get more dirty than any other kid I know, it doesn't bother him


Shaking their ice cream

After shaking this is what you get

Then you dig in, Grey's turned out a little salty, but he still ate it

Of course Dad made his all fancy

Oh, look at that face

On our walk back from the flushies, James would rather camp in the wild, but not I

My boys

Friday. We hung at the Beach most of the day. I even got in the water, its been years. I actually had fun though and it was the best way to stay cool. Natalie and Clara came for lunch and shortly after Rob and Steph arrived. It was a lazy, perfect day.

They made a pirate ship

Arrr!

On our voyage

Leah was so brave

Clara just chilled/cried

Both little girls crashed

Poor Leah was out of it the rest of the day, she got a little too much sun

Just when I thought we were almost dry and clean for the night...

Thank heaven for little boys

Back up at the campsite, Dad made Dutch oven chicken and rice and peach cobbler for dessert. We ate smores again and since everyone was exhausted we went to sleep pretty early.

Clara's first camp out

We brought our picnic table from home, very smart

Since they're boys they found a tree to climb on and

pretended to be dead and

took turns playing "pet" (Grey is hold a string that is tied to Aidan's wrist)

Natalie bought the biggest marshmallows, not that good but cool

Look at that technique

Grey eating a monster smore

Strawberry sticky goodness

Leah took a bite or 2 and I got the rest! That's how I like to make smores (have someone else do all of the work)

Saturday. Happy 4th of July. We woke up early and packed up camp since we'd (the Quigleys) be going home at the end of the day. Then we joined the party that was already going on down at the beach. We ate lots of food, played in the water, James played volleyball, we visited with friends and family and enjoyed our freedom. I love Independence Day!

Too cute, I love being "matchy-matchy"

Isn't it so pretty?

These two...they are trouble makers, they have to have everything the exact same

Best buds but can drive each other (and all of us crazy)

See what I mean? TROUBLE

This is how Clara spent most her first major holiday

Stephanie copied her

Aunt Susan and Uncle Eric came with Grandma Jackie (G.G.)

I love this one

Almost there, its a big deal to pass Grandma Jackie, but fairly easy to do

Mark and Amy (up from Arizona) coordinated their chocolate outfits

The other Washington Quigleys came too

Arren played kayak tour guide

Ammon Shaw

Jaedyn Quigley

Andrea and Liz (Sam came too,but I didn't get a picture of him)

We were so tired after all of the festivities we came home did a few fireworks in the street, watched a movie and went to bed

Watching things get blown up was a perfect way to end such a great weekend

summer of big fun 2009

The boys arrived today for one month of fun and adventure! We are going to have a great time...they have new matching superhero pjs, we are going camping over the weekend and that's just the beginning. Stay tuned for updates of our totally awesome summer.

the quigley's first house guests

My former roommates, Erica Brown and Kristy Dimmick came to town a couple of weeks ago. They joined the Farrar Family for our Curry Fest and got a taste of Sunday night at the Farrar's (it can get pretty crazy). I took the girls to close by Edmonds to see one of favorite views in town. They really liked the Pacific Northwest and thought it was really pretty. After Edmonds we picked up James at our house and took the girls by the Seattle Temple. The gates were closed but we still wondered around and got some great photos.

Sunday night we stayed up super late talking. I love having house guests! I worked Monday but the girls explored the city. The weather was perfect and they had a wonderful time. They are professional travels and did great on their own. We all met up for dinner, with the Nylands, in downtown Kirkland. We got take out from that Greek place we like and brought it down to the Marina. We walked around a bit, a frozen yogurt and talked some more. We didn't stay up as late on Monday. And then the girls left Tuesday. It was a super short trip, but so fun! (Kristen we missed you). We love having visitors, all are welcome!

pizza party

I made this, from scratch...and it was dang good

the poster says how I feel, I love doing things for my family and they love when I do:

James suggested we make pizza dough in the bread machine, I thought it would be too much work and rolling the dough would be too messy. I was wrong. James was right! It was wonderful and so delicious. My parents stopped by after the Temple and my dad ate dinner with us. I grew up with my mom making her own pizza dough, it was fun to do the same for my family. I think we are going to make homemade pizza a new Quigley tradition.

date night challenge

A sister (family marriage therapist, 39 weeks pregnant with her 2nd son, super cute) in my Ward issued a challenge to all of us in her marriage class at Enrichment Meeting earlier this week. The class was called "An Enduring Happy Marriage" and it was really good. At the end of it she challenged us to 4 weeks of date night with no media. I think that means no TV, movies, DVDs, etc. She said we can rent a movie and watch it during the week but just not on date night. Sounds fun, huh? A little bit of a challenge, I like going to the movies or watching a movie in bed, but the Quigleys are up for the challenge...anyone else want to join us?

So last night on our date we stayed local and ate at a delicious Greek restaurant in downtown Kirkland. It was so warm and lovely, we took our food outside and ate at a little table on the sidewalk. It felt like we were on vacation. We walked to the waterfront and people watched. People watching, btw, is often better than the movies. Boy, did we see some characters last night. We talked a lot, sat silent and just watched, so peaceful and wonderful. I love date night with my sweet husband.

easter

We started the week before Easter with Family Home Evening lesson on Jesus Christ. I hung a ribbon by the fireplace and for family scripture study all week we read about an event from the last week of Christ's life each night. We hung the coordinating picture up on the ribbon as a reminder all week long. It was really great, we also tried to focus more on the Savior (Mr. Easter Bunny doesn't get to stop by the Quigley house, but Santa comes for Christmas!). We had a family Easter egg hunt on Saturday, but Sunday was church, talking about Christ and a family dinner. Oh, and we had the boys for Spring Break this year, which meant they were home for our first Easter as a family.

date night

James found this place on yelp

we got a sample platter...it was okay

you eat with your hands using a pita bread like food (except for really spongy and a little sour) to scoop up the goods

the show is about to start

Date nights are very serious business at our house. We try to go on a date every week, our dates are mostly simple, dinner and a movie type. And sometimes we try new things, like Ethiopian food. That was interesting! Then we came home for a short nap before heading to the theater for the 12:01am showing of X-man. That was a great date. Last week we went to the Temple and then out for dinner. Anything goes. We take turns planning, we have a monthly date budget, we have specific date night rules (like no laundry or cell phones, if we eat dinner at home it has to be by candlelight, etc.) and we try to dress up. I love date nights with my sweetie and I am SO grateful that they are important to James. What are some of your favorite date night ideas?

i'm back and i'm married!

For those of you without facebook or who don't read Jacob and Lindsay's blogs #1 Shame on you #2 You are missing out on darling pictures of my amazing wedding...We get our pictures from the photographers tomorrow, so I will be sharing them soon. You all know how often I post these days. Oops. Sorry.

Let me just tell you that everything was perfect. It was just as we had dreamed. Perfect. Really. Lots of friends and family came into town. We celebrated all weekend long. I loved my dress and I thought I looked pretty. James was handsome and so happy (still is!). Natalie, my family and so many helpers made the reception amazing. The food was great, cupcakes darling and delicious...serious every detail turned out better than I could have hoped. I am so sad its over, I can't believe it. I miss it, I miss the party. I miss the honeymoon.

Speaking of honeymoon we do have those pictures. Want some?

We went to Mexico and loved every second of it. I love James and love being married, this was our best idea ever!