Sounders Game

In my absence from blogging, I'm sure that many of you have come back to my sad, lonely homepage. . . 

In wishing that I would post, or perhaps checking if I had, those of you who've missed me and wandered to my other pages MUST have seen that number 55 on my bucket list has been crossed off.

I went to a Sounders game!

My dear friend, Marian, (link up, here's her awesome blog :) http://all-that-is-gold.blogspot.com/)
noticed that I had this on my list and emailed me saying she had tickets, and I was invited! Not only was this the Sounders, but they were playing LA Galaxy, which currently has both David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Needless to say I was beside myself with excitement.

We went up to Seattle and traversed a 1/2 mile from the car to the stadium. It was hot! My phone said it was 91* F, but it felt hotter, we were all melting. We were escorted to the stadium by a sea of blue and green clad fans, all seeming hardcore and under the belief that this wasn't "just a game" (Never say that to a sports fan, any sport).

If you have never been to a soccer game, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you like sports, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you don't like sports, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you live in Washington, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. If you live in Minnesota, New Mexico or Michigan, go to a Seattle Sounders FC home game. 

So, these fans. . . The crowd was alive. A.L.I.V.E. There is no way I can think of to describe the energy of the crowd. And the loyalty. When LA came out, one by one, every team member, besides Donovan and Beckham, got booed. Every time the ball came anywhere *near* a goal for the home team, everyone (including me, it's contagious) would leap to their feet screaming and cheering. Every other person was chanting, screaming, cursing, booing - all very loudly. I think I counted like, 10 fight songs, it was insane.

Phone wallpaper, please don't laugh at Mr. Baldspot

We won ("we" didn't do anything, we just watched :P) 4-0. Every score was incredible, and I'm still swept away by the pure energy that filled the stadium. I can't wait to go to another game (there's actually a home game going on today, wish I was there). Thank you, Marian, for taking me and helping cross off #55! We need another get together soon! :D

*All the pics are from my phone, which usually turn out bigger and better on my blog. . . Hmm. . .

Church Family Camp 2011

 

 Wow, was this really over a week ago? Well, about a fortnight ago, we spent a day at our church's annual family camp. We tried to head out pretty early, though despite our efforts we were a bit late and came during the morning sermon.

After the morning service we went to a nearby lake for the baptisms. On the way back to the campgrounds I was surprised at how close the lake actually was. It had seemed further away since we had gotten lost on the way there - and led a few other cars astray too. :)

And we saw two camels! How awesome is that?

I was cheering for both teams during the ongoing kickball tournament. . . It was super fun to watch and "commentate" from the sidelines. Don't bother asking for the tapes, they were destroyed. :evil laugh:

 

My sis watching the tournament.

There was gluten-free, dairy-free cake and it was ah-mazing. . . Not that I had two slices - one was for a friend. :)

Okay, finally tonight I learn why he is soaking in this pic. . . Apparently the 94* weather merited  dousing with water in between scooter rides. . .

The boy can't smile for a picture!

Before the evening service. . .

Sitting with friends!

 

Before dinner there was an epic parents-versus-children volleyball game. Otherwise known to some as "Oldies" versus "Youth Group". Yeah, um, you didn't hear that from me. . . I took part as a photographer and enthusiastic cheerleader. 

  

 Score for the parents!

Meanwhile, another kickball game was in full swing.

Watching that ball. . .

I happened to look over and see my two little sisters riding friends' bikes like nobody's business! How did their friends teach them in one hour what took me a week to learn? Needless to say, they have fabulous friends and had a fun time on those bikes! They were still whizzing around the parking area when it was time to go. . .

Me watching all the activity

 

I was offered a pen and a friends' feet, so we had fun with that. :) 

Trying to get in a few artsy shots (displaying my pen tattoo work :P). As you can see, my summer henna job is faded (all gone now).

 The moon was hauntingly beautiful, and this shot also includes the bat that was flying overhead during the volleyball game!

A friend let me borrow his gorgeous new guitar and I got to jam (jam with friends - off my bucket list!). Two fiddles, two guitars and a drum. I took this pic just as we were leaving.

The city lights on the water.

 

The ride back home was pretty blurry as I dozed off quite a few times.  Gareth dubbed it, "The ride of many dozings". After a long day we were glad to be home and thankful for warm beds instead of the hard ground. I love faux camping. . . We'll see about next year!

Summer, summer, summer!

Wow, hi there! Remember me? No?

Oh. Well, I’ve been caught up in the thick of summer! In my opinion, summer really starts in August. It’s one of my favorite times of the year.

Mall trip! Last week Clara and I went to the mall with friends. Love Bath and Body Works (which we visited several times during the course of the afternoon for aromatherapy :D)

Debating outfit choices in Romy’s. . . Playing with make-up in Sephora.

Buying some cute stuff at Forever 21. I find all of my favorite sweaters there! My friend and I unconsciously bought the same sweater this time around – great minds think alike!

We all bought the same bracelet though, on purpose. . . :)

The guys finished the barn just this week. It’s amazing! The goats are living there now, and the ducks are still in their brooder. They grow so, so fast!

Big families: Put everyone in the same room with Matt Belsante, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé and you have a spontaneous swing party going!

All of the girls got our hair trimmed a few weeks ago. Araminta hasn’t had a trim in a long time – she ended up with a short bob!

Here are her curls in action!

Our tomatoes haven’t done very well this year, but we have had some!

Strawberries are done this year!

Summertime means volunteering at the Fort! This year I worked at all of the camps.

This was at a summer event. The next big one is soon!

Summer is also having more time to bake. This is the first of many cakes that we’ve made so far. A few days ago a friend gave me a recipe for a cake that didn’t survive long enough to be photographed. . .

So far this summer’s been amazing, and it’s not over yet!

A Million Marshmallows

Yesterday I spent the morning hanging out with a friend. We went to the shoe store and tried on sunglasses, hats, jewelry, purses and every shoe in our size. We chatted the whole time and danced to the music playing- pretending that the clerks weren't there. :)
We decided that such strenuous exercise deserved ice cream, so we bought some cones and then went home.



After making some deviled eggs and cookies, we went to the neighbor's backyard party and played volleyball, badminton, ladder golf, lawn darts and ate food. We also boated, lit fireworks, roasted marshmallows and spent time on the dock!

I taught the younger three to roast marshmallows. My efforts were more or less wasted, but they had a fabulous time trying.

Tarquie would try his best, have me put it out, and then run and select a fresh stick from the stack and try, try again. Next time I'll try to save some room for dinner. . .

"It's okay Sophie. I'll make you another one."

The boys trying out the boat. I'm not sure what you'd call it, but it was operated by foot pedals. Pedal-boat? Well, it was a Human Powered Boat at any rate :).

We headed out to our annual spot to watch fireworks. For the first time in 14 years, we couldn't park there- a new building was in the works. We found another spot some lots away, and stayed in the car. The moon was spectacular. . .

As were the fireworks! I fell asleep half-way through, woke up for the finale, then slept the way home.


God bless our country!