Another Trip to PDZA

We headed back to Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium last week with some other friends. Little did we know, it was free for Tacoma residents. I walked right in without paying a cent! Luckily, we went early...when we left, the line snaked around almost to the top of the hill. It was crazy!

I could NOT get Weed to touch these sea stars. Her finger kept pointing and reaching and then, at the last second, she would back away. Maybe next year.

L and Michael feeding the budgies.

Goofing Around

Leila went with me and some of my girlfriends on Tuesday to the nail salon. She asked if she could have her nails painted purple. I was SHOCKED when she sat long enough to have the gal do it. She HATES having her toenails clipped (this is an understatement!!), so I thought once the gal touched her feet it would be the end of it. I was wrong.

She giggles now every time she catches sight of her toes. It was fun!

Our landing at the bottom of the back porch is the perfect sized canvas for sidewalk chalk.


"Scrunch Face!" Her and Dad have done this since she was about 6 months old.

Girls' Day

My Mom and cousin, Elisabeth, drove up from Portland yesterday to spend the day with us. We hit the mall and had much success at Macy's. After our outing at the mall, we came home and hung out with Chris, talking and eating way too much guacamole, but boy does Chris rock at the guac. Such a fun day!!

Leila and her best friend. This is what she calls my cousin. They have quite the special bond!

New Love

Lovin' the summer weather and the sprinkler.

Headshots

Have you seen the Broadway musical RENT ? I think Leila should audition...

"No room at the Holiday Inn and it's beginning to snow..."

Weekend in Coquille

We spent the weekend with my Mom's side of the family in Coquille, OR. This is the small town near the coast where my Papa Holmstrom was born and raised. A few second and third cousins still live there and we were invited to see the community theater show that my third cousin (I guess that is right???) plays the piano for. June is in her 70s and still going strong playing the piano for most of the shows throughout the summer nights.

My favorite part of the trip was spending time before the show on Saturday visiting with my relatives and seeing the "ol' stompin' grounds" of my Papa.

This was my Great Grandmother's house. The renters were kind enough to let us come in and see the inside too. June and her husband live right next door and they rent Great Grandma's house out. This is the house where my Papa and Grammy got married.

Showing Leila around was pretty neat for my Mom, who remembers playing here at her Grandma's place.

Woody, Chris, June and Jim enjoying some music before the show.
Leila on the hillside of the property. There have now been 4 generations of Holmstrom kids to play amongst these trees!



Leila and Grammy
Aunt Faffy (Kathy) and L. L is enjoying some back rubbing.
June at the piano for the Sawdust Theater show.
June rigged it so Chris would be called on stage during the show to dance the ballet. Leila cried the entire time because he was too close to the "mean guy" (the villain of the show, out of the shot). She was worried for her Dad.

The drive was long, but we really enjoyed getting to see the area. We are hoping to go back soon and spend a little more time in Coquille.

Day at the Zoo

Thursday we met up with some friends at the Point Defiance Zoo. We got there at 8:30 and had the zoo to ourselves for quite a while. For the first hour and a half, we didn't see ANYONE except zoo employees. I have never had that experience before. Thanks Aimee and Jamie for the invite!

Leila, Leila (said Layla) and Chris with ET the walrus.

The new tiger cubs! So stinkin' cute!