July Passing By

4 years and counting...!

My handsome hubby love

Too bad the lighting wasn't right in this picture but hope you can see our oyster tray!

Dan calls this my Magoo face because my eyes squint when I get the giggles

Great view of Mt. Rainier on the way home from Seattle

Ellie and friend Gabriella

Wenatchee: Spent the day strolling the town and swimming in the pool while Dan golfed with friends!

Ellie and Mommy singing "The Wheels on the Bus" for the umpteenth time...she LOVES the water!

Hi family and Friends! We are back from Wenatchee and settling back in at home. Dan, Ellie, Jaxie and I are doing well and enjoying the summer days. Dan has recently been "informally" offered a new position with WSP and he is thinking it over. He would still be a trooper but would take on a specialized position with new and challenging responsibilities and opportunities. He hasn't made his decision yet but I will keep you "in the know" as the process unfolds. He also received a call from the command staff this weekend inviting Dan to accept an award (best police force in the nation!!!!!!!!!!!!) on behalf of the State Patrol. He and I (and Ellie and Tara) will be travelling to San Diego in November for a three day stay. Tara will get lots of time with Ellie and Dan and I will get some time to attend WSP functions and maybe even hit the town! :) It should be a lot of fun and I look forward to it because I have heard great things about San Diego. Ironically, we are planning a trip to San Diego two months prior with some friends of ours. Their little daughter, Gabriella, is one of Ellie's best friends and it should be a lot of fun for all of us.

Ellie is asserting her ideas, opinions, needs, and wants on a daily basis. Today she told me "Don't talk, Mama" when she wanted me to stop my conversation and pay attention to her (Dan thinks this is hilarious). She told Dan, "Dada, my hands are all dirty. Wash them all clean [with] soap and water." And her new trick is to tell stories that she imagines in her head. Most recently, she made up a story about a dog named Simpson (???) who waits at the front door of a lighthouse for a bone from her friend Sawyer. The dog is very hot and pants to cool off. It just cracks me up. Her sentences are so clear and complex and her ideas are so creative; she amazes us all the time with her articulation.

As for me, I am just enjoying being a mommy and a wife. I am content and feel proud of our recent efforts to establish a garden, a composting system, and an array of flower pots (this may seem like no big deal but to a black thumb like me, it's AWESOME :) ). I guess I should have a new goal to work toward but I am not sure what it is yet. I am just content right now and figure I'll know it when it comes to me.

July 10th was our 4 year anniversary. I think that sounds so substantial and so new at the same time. In any case, we had an AWESOME day and I've included pictures to share our memories. We started with a couple's massage at my favorite spa in Redmond and then went to dinner at Elliot Bay Oyster House on the Pier in Seattle. Actually, the oysters were very good...until the fourth, fifth...12th one! We ordered a dozen as an appetizer and it was a bit much but we had a lot of fun daring each other to try "one more" with spicy sauce, etc. The food was amazing and then we took a stroll on the boardwalk and enjoyed an ice cream cone. It was a perfect day. Love you Dan!

For those of you who haven't heard, my brother and sister in law just found out they are having a little boy! My dad is so excited that he has a grandson to carry on the Ciabattari name. Congrats Mary and Andre and Olivia! We can't wait until December to meet the new addition to our family!

Well, I think that is a long enough update. I am waiting for pictures from my Mom's camera from their visit. We got a great family picture at Point Defiance Zoo that I hope to post for all of you. Take care, enjoy the sunshine and keep in touch!

-Angela