365 Project: Before sunset – Kohala Coast Big Island, Hawaii

365 Project: Images from an 8 year-old girl’s birthday party :)

Family, friends, an American Girl theme, balloons and cake…Nora’s birthday wish came true for her 8 year-old birthday party! 🙂

The birthday girl by candlelight

Nora with her Lola Norma

Nora’s American Girl doll, Makena, is having the best birthday ever! LOL

I don’t care if this pic is a little blurry. The sentiment of these BFFs is priceless!

Slumber party!! With Paco our cozy dog 😉

365 Project: Opaline Cafe & Bakery #seattle

Following Yelp reviews, we stumbled upon this little bakery with a tiny dining room in the back allowing a full view of glass blowers at work. It was fascinating and fun for both my daughter and I. And, it’s free, although we grabbed a bite and chai at the cafe. Such a fun find!

365 Project: Sorry, Nora, I know you’re trying to be spooky but, you’re just still darn adorable! ;)

Despite her efforts to create a scary Halloween stoop and to look gruesome with these fake fangs, Norita still just makes me smile instead of spooking me! 🙂

Nora’s owls…a sweet drawing for me :)

I thought it was so sweet when Nora handed me an envelope labeled “To: Mom, Love: Nora” in a giant red heart. Then inside was this sweet drawing of owls, which she knows I love.   It’s not my birthday. There was no occasion to prompt this act of kindness.  She just felt like drawing it for me.  When being a mom feels like a never-ending thankless job, these simple gestures mean so much.   Love this…love her! 🙂

365 Project – 233: Ruby Beach playdate (August 21, 2013)

Olympic National Park boasts gorgeous beaches on the northwestern coast of Washington state but, not all have sandy beaches like Ruby Beach. It’s an easy stroll from the parking lot and if you go left (south), there’s a big stretch of fine sand, as opposed to the more typical coarse sand or rocks found on many ONP beaches. Time it at low tide to enjoy tidepooling, and plan on staying late to catch a stunning sunset. Ruby Beach is a gem we often enjoy with our family and friends. 🙂

p.s. For our family, a few of our other favorite fine sandy beaches are Shi Shi Beach and Third Beach but, they’re not as accessible as Ruby Beach. In comparison, Rialto Beach is absolutely gorgeous and has amazing tidepooling and the famous “hole in the wall”, but, the beach is strewn with rocks and it’s often very windy and thus, colder. Rialto is also a favorite for our family but, if we’re in the mood for swimming and making sand castles, we opt for Ruby Beach or Third Beach. 🙂

Tidepooling before sunset

Yup, the ocean is “warm” for these Pacific Northwest girls! 🙂

365 Project – 229: Sol Duc Falls and Hot Springs (Aug. 17, 2013) #olympicnationalpark #solduc #portangeles #picsoftheday

Playing tourist in our backyard, hiking to Sol Duc Falls then taking a soak and swim at the hot springs. So blessed this is so close to home. Awww…

365 Project – 222: The color purple (August 10, 2013)

For years Nora has asked to paint her room purple. FINALLY, almost 8 years after we painted her nursery a newborn-neutral sage green, we’re giving her an accent wall coated in Wild Violet, which is the vibrant, bold hue she chose. We told her SOMETIME before school starts we’d paint her room, and today, while she’s away at a sleepover, we’re making quick work of this task so she’ll be surprised when she comes home tomorrow!  😀

365 Project – 206: Family game night – Clue (August 3, 2013)

I have the best childhood memories playing games with my family, and Clue was one of my favs!

365 Project – 199: Luncheon of the boating party ;) – Lake Crescent, Port Angeles, WA (July 18, 2013)

In 1880, Renoir had a more refined setting in mind when he painted Luncheon of the Boating Party but, in 2013 this is how girls lunch, after air-mattress kayaking on the lake, digging into their grub while reclining on their air mattresses! I love their style! LOL