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Quite a few people have been asking me about the house we're living in here in Washington. On a nice day last week I took some pictures.
The patio is not at all large enough, but we're making it work!

Now this... this WAS our grill. My uncle gifted it to me brand new when I moved into 3130 with all the ladies in Chicago... 5 or 6 years ago. It's been moved a lot, and finally after many trusty years, things inside began to desinigrate. The ignitor hasn't worked for years so I was using matches or a lighter (dangerous) to get it going. We really needed something new, and finally...

Chad's company has this program that they earn points and can get fun stuff. It took a long time to get the points... but we were able to get this new grill (at no cost to us, yay!). I very much enjoy cooking on our new grill, the ignitor works and it's a breeze!

And to take care of our new grill we got a nice cover... GO BEARS! (By the way I got to sign up my Fantasy Football team today... so fun, but then I realized I really need to do some more research. My days of ESPN radio at work are no longer since I'm home now and I'm behind).

Celebrate the Butscher Babe!

The last part of my trip was Sunday, off to Staci and Jason's baby shower for Baby Butscher! It was a great shower (more than 60 people!) at the Rosewood (tasty food!). Staci and Jason are holding out for a delivery surprise, but still got plenty of clothes to dress their little one in! Massive amounts of gifts, and each guest brought a book to start the baby's book collection! Staci, Jason and their families will make this one lucky (and very loved) bambino! I'm so happy it worked out that I could be there. It's true that I completely took Jack for a lot of the shower and didn't share him. It was a bit selfish... I know that, but I really didn't care. I get so little time with him... I had to take advantage!

Baby Jack's hot momma, Katie. I can't believe we almost went the entire weekend without taking a picture together!!! But we remembered right in time... as Big B would say, "Whew, that was close!"
Last belly shot of the three of us... I'll see both of them in July, but not at the same time!

L to R - me (9/14), Staci (8/22), Kristy (9/14)
The Delta Delta Delta group shot

Girls Night Out!

Saturday night in Chicago I was lucky that a big group of 13 of us were able to get together for a wonderful meal at Mia Francesca (if you haven't eaten there... you must!!!). We then ventured to Johnny O'Hagens for some more conversation and lots of laughs. Thank you ladies for coming near and far (Kristy from Bloomington and Jill from Indy). I very much enjoyed getting to talk, catch up and see everyone. It went by way too fast... it always does.

5 of 13 were PG! From left to right - Leslie - 17 weeks, due 12/5, Kristy - 28 weeks, due 9/14 (we have the exact same due date!), Me at 28 weeks, Staci - 32 weeks, due 8/22, Ami, 37 weeks, due 7/16

A picture of the blonds of the group. (Melissa to the left, Brianne to the right). In college I always felt like there were so many of us with the light locks, but I guess not! Can you believe that there were 3 blonds... but also 3 redheads out that night! :)

Chicago visit - Jen's Bridal Shower

Hmmm... cake! Served at the bridal shower for my little sister (by less than 13 months), Jenni Lou. I was grateful they moved the date around to make it possible for me to be there. Mom and Uncle Jim got a huge pool in the backyard (pictures next trip, forgot to bring my camera out). I got to spend some time in the morning swimming with my cute niece, Raina! The bridal shower was very nice and Jen got some nice things for their home. 3 weeks and 2 days until the Big Day!!!

My niece Raina... cute!!! :)Raina and her buddy, Noami - getting into the goods and opening them up right away. We think they were making "chocolate cake".
Me and my sister, Jenni Lou (she'll always be Jen to me though!)
Happy Bridal Shower sister... see you SOON!

Chicago visit, part 1

Last weekend I was lucky enough to get the chance to visit Chicago for a long weekend (major thanks to Chad for taking care of our little man so I could have a weekend to myself before I am a mommy to two!). The timing was perfect, my sister had her bridal shower that Saturday and my good friend Staci had her baby shower that Sunday. I flew in Thursday night (ate Aurelios!) hung out with Katie, her baby Jack and our friend Lisa. Katie and I stayed up late catching up. On Friday, Staci and I treated our larger than average PG bodies to some pampering and got some a mani/pedi. We had a long lunch at Northside Grill in Bucktown, where Katie and Baby Jack joined us. We walked around (Dairy Queen!) and I went to Staci's that night (hmm... Panera for dinner) where we talked late into the night. And yes, I might have a small obsession with food at this point in the game, so I managed to get in some of my favorites that I can't get here in Washington.

Precious, sweet, adorable Baby Jack Hager. He's a little peanut! He's already 6 months old! I hadn't seen him since he was 2 weeks old. I did a lot of snuggling with this handsome man over the weekend!Baby Jack perched on two PG bellies. Staci and I - the first of many belly photos over the weekend. Staci is due just over 3 weeks ahead of me, on August 22nd (hey Staci, mind letting the baby cook an extra 5 days so your bundle will share a birthday with me?)Mani/Pedi bliss... although what I really could have used was a whole day long at the spa - with a massage, facial, the works. But I have a little plan plotted in my head for this when I make my next child-free visit in March!

More Beautiful Victoria

I'm back with more details on our nice trip to Victoria two weeks ago. This is mostly a picture post... but my pictures won't do it justice. We started in the morning visiting the Butterfly Garden and then off to the Butchart Gardens, which was really beautiful. Grandma Ramsey was with us and is a flower/landscape whiz so it was great to be there with someone that knew a lot and also appreciated it. Braden was kind enough to give us a nearly 2 hour nap in his stroller as we toodled around and ate lunch (that's right... we got adult conversation over lunch instead of being toddler entertainers!) Picture above - Grandma Ramsey and Braden goofin' around.

These are Atlas Moths, they are quite big, probably a bit larger than my hand. But what really made these interesting to me was that they spend 5 years in their cocoon, but only live 3-5 days after emerging.
An interested little fella... As amazed and interested as he was... there were a few moments even this guy was a bit timid.

The first thing we saw at the Butchart Gardens was this interesting "violin/violia/bass" thing... Braden was interested in trying to "play" it. That is until I realized it was a piece of art for sale. And the price tag... $3,000. Needless to say, I quickly removed my man from the scene. Can you imagine if some part of it broke?

By far the most impressive part of Butchart Gardens, and the pictures don't capture how large, beautiful and impressive it was. This area was called "The Sunken Garden"

The Ross Fountains... they were huge (but I don't think you can get that from the photo). They were set up on a sort of "dance", the water just kept shooting up, across and all around.

Just a few random shots of the scenery

He was fasinated by this horse.

Climbing... like most kids his age I'm sure. Braden loves to climb (and to run, and jump, and run, and climb, wait - I already mentioned that... oops).

Rubbing the Boar's nose for a little luck!

If you're a blog regular you know that all big outings end with ice cream cones!

Something "official"

We left Chicago for the West Coast nearly 16 months ago. And it wasn't until yesterday that I finally got rid of the Illinois plates on my car. In Canada I probably should have, but then it was a lock down I would be victim to the outrageous ICBC costs (Insurance Company of British Columbia - there is only one place to get insurance... it's a monopoly and about three times what you would pay in the states). So I kept my Illinois car insurance and while maybe that wasn't the smartest (or legal) choice... it's done and over. Judgers not welcome... because the story continues.

Back to the plates. I finally gave in (after waiting for my duplicate title to get here) and got Washington State plates. It was actually something I HAD to do since my Illinois plates expired... in February... of 2008. Oops! But I'm all up to date and legal now.

Just for the record, I'm not usually that irresponsible. I think that letting go of my "home" plates really made it official that we don't live there, but not just that... we probably aren't coming back.

My next step... a new drivers license.

On a side note - when filling out all the paperwork yesterday Braden was getting a bit restless. I gave him my passport to flip through and when he opened to my picture this is our exchange:

Me: Braden - who is in that picture?

Braden: My Beautiful Princess Mommy

Lady behind the counter: Awwweee... so precious. How did you teach him to say that?

Me: I didn't... first time. Braden, you make me smile.

*** And I think it was actually the Dora he watched over breakfast yesterday, but I'll take it however I can get it!

Oh Victoria!

Another post about our recent trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island. We were there at the "start" of the major visiting season. The flowers and landscape is beautiful... add that to the water as a backdrop and the charming downtown and harbor area, it's a nice place to visit!

I still have more, but too much for one post.

Picture above, Braden (with Grandma Ramsey's help) finds an interesting tree to climb.

Grandma Ramsey and Braden on the Big Boat (Ferry) Ride to the IslandAbove, the front of our hotel and below the back of our hotel. We stayed at the Fairmont Empress, one of the hot spots in the area, central location and lots of things to walk to. It was an impressive sight!

Walking through Beacon Hill Park... I just liked this photo of my two special men.

Beacon Hill (walking distance from our hotel) had a children's zoo, with a petting farm. Petting one at a time just wasn't enough for our curious fellow.

Braden enjoyed the animals a lot and quickly went from one to the next. Chad was on "chasing Braden around duty"... what a good sport!I think this is the only family shot of the three and half of us. Chad was pretty busy with his work conference, but he ventured across the street to the Harbor with us for about an hour. Big B looks grumpy... I think he kind of was, and obsessing about the sailboats (more on that in a later post).
At the end of both nights... in effort to completely exhaust Braden so surely he would fall right asleep (didn't work) we took him to the hotel pool for some swimming. Since our swim classes he's become increasing fond of the water and the 1.5 ft children's pool was perfect for him to "swim" around in and be a bit more independent. :)

My Music Man

For those of you that know Chad, you will appreciate this. He'll dance anywhere, throw me into the two step in a hotel lobby if he's had a few drinks and he hears some tunes. And if it's not the Texas Two Step, then it's some "Chad version" of a Latin dance, as long as he's shaking his hips and kicking his feet it feels right to him. (Which reminds me, friends - in a few weeks at Dunbar and Amy's wedding I will be 8 1/2 months PG... feel free to offer yourself up as his dancing partner and give me a rest!)

But singing is a whole other matter. Now I have personally been witness to Chad's memorable voice (especially when he thinks he is the reincarnation of Old Blue Eyes and belts out some Frank Sinatra... and this is without any drinks). But Karaoke? Not that I can recall in the almost 10 years I've known him. However... in the spirit of the team, (and the help of some liquid courage), Chad did just that at his work "outing" with his sales team and boss that were all in Vancouver last week.

Chad sent me a text, and I knew they had already been out for 5 hours that said "Robyn is going to make me to karaoke". My response... "good, I need to meet her, she sounds fun" (Robyn is Chad's manager). I immediately sent a message to Stephanie (of Steph and Paul from Seattle fame). She's working with Chad now and I told her I needed pictures to share with you all. Steph was a good sport and sent them over to me. Yay!

The scene: The Best Western Hotel Bar in Downtown Vancouver

* I could not take out red eye or edit since I copied the pics from another album

Chad let his team pick a song for him... "Back on the Bayou". He didn't really know it. Chad admitted to me himself this was a bit of a disaster. He could read the words of course... but didn't really know how to pull it all together.

Now since he doesn't really know the song, rumor has it he started dancing a bit... the Texas Two Step (not really made to be danced solo). I think through the haze he thought it may provide a distraction, which it did.

Once wasn't enough... Chad had to make another appearance to redeem himself a bit. Steph's notes said he did much better singing "Friends in Low Places". I can picture him kind of enjoying it! :)

Stop and Smell the Roses...

Last week we took a trip to Victoria, British Columbia. It's the capital of BC and you get there by taking a ferry ride to Vancouver Island. I have LOTS to post about this trip, but wanted to start by sharing our final morning spent in the hotel garden letting Big B run around and try to expend some energy before we left. While we were there a good photo op came up to capture Baby Girl Ramsey in momma's growing belly.

I love his smiles... sigh.

And in case you didn't know, or hadn't figured it out yet, this kid just goes and goes, he'll run in circles if it means he can run. (No seriously, he runs circles around the furniture in the living room at home.)

It was a fluke, I was wearing pink... so we had to take pictures of that in front of the pink roses for our Baby Girl! I'm 27 weeks in this picture (one week short of 7 months).

Braden wants to give his sister some love... but instead of looking like sweet kisses, it always winds up looking like he's tackling me (which he kind of did) and smashing his whole face in my belly.

Stopping to smell the roses! :)