The financial aid process is so long and disheartening. Ugh and ugh.

We returned last night from 3-4 days at my parents’. During which we were quite busy. Looking very much forward to staying put for awhile. Even if that’s only a couple of weeks.

Here are a few photos from the days before we left:

On our way home we stopped to play at Magnolia Park in Hillsboro. It was a great way to blow off some steam and ensure a sleepy girl the whole way home.

Last Sunday, no not yesterday but the over-a-week-ago Sunday, we were lucky enough to attend my friend Kelsey’s wedding. I’ve known Kelsey forever, probably since first grade at least and we went to the same church from third grade through high school. She married Josh Anderson at Timberline Lodge, and the service was so beautiful and unique in the outdoor amphitheatre there. The weather was so, so perfect. It was a scorcher in the valley, but up there is was cool enough to be pleasant. Though it sprinkled as we got out of our car, and began to thunderstorm as we returned to the parking lot, the unwanted elements stayed at bay throughout. At least while we were there.

My dad and sisters waiting beforehand.

The beautiful bride and her dad. I loved the black-white-red scheme.

Ali was being a pain throughout the ceremony because she wanted to nurse.

Awww, getting pictures taken.

Ali learned to say "Uh-oh" at the reception.

Ali and I.

The whole family.

Trista and I on the ride home.

To give credit where credit is due, Tony and I have now been motivated to finally finally start planning our own wedding. We have set a date (one we’ve had our eye on for quite awhile) and hoping to scout a venue this coming weekend. More on that to come I’m sure. Also, more pictures.

Reshma just posted her own pics of the Lewis picnic, including these two great shots. Which I have now stolen. Thanks Resh!

For those of you not closely acquainted with the Lewis’ I will give you a quick rundown. My dad is the youngest of four boys, borne to my grandparents William and Shirley Lewis. Bill is the oldest, Dean is second, and Perry is third. Bill is eleven years older than my dad and Perry is seven. So my dad (Steve) is the baby-baby. Or was. Is? I think being the youngest (or oldest) is one of those things you never really overcome. Anyway…

From those four sons came twelve grandkids. Six are older and six are younger, with five years separating the two groups. The older ones are in thier late twenties and early thirties. I, at twenty-three, am the oldest of the younger cousins. My sisters are the babies of the cousins. There is actually only six(?) years between Alyssa and Esther, the oldest great-grandkid.

And there are a LOT of great-grandkids now. Katy is mom to Essie, Sam, and twins Zach and Joey (ages 9,8, and almost 6 I think). Kari has Dominick, Breanna, and Isaac (7, 5, and just-turned 1), go to her post to see some great pictures, especially the one where it looks like Ali is break dancing or something. Anna has Emilie, Eli, Grace, and brand-new Anderson (7,6,4, and less than two months). And Heather is mama to Boston (almost three) and ready to have baby Cooper any day. Add Ali to the mix and that makes thirteen…..almost fourteen.

So, there were a lot of Lewis’, former Lewis’, friends of Lewis’, and those married or born to Lewis’ all gathered in one spot. Which, btw, was Rivercrest park in Oregon City. Could not have been a more perfect location. Though it was about 100 degrees there was plenty of shade and even a spray park for the kids to cool off in. And, sometimes, the adults.

Ali and Isaac. Less than six weeks apart, they both seem to be at that age where they’re much more interested in older kids.

The leis were for the Hawaiian theme. Hydration was key in the hot weather.

There are a lot of August birthdays. From the back left: Katy, Bill, Isaac, Anna, Boston, Ben, Nana and Grandpa (who is actually a March baby).

She is so adorable. I love that halter back dress on her.

Ali and Isaac (and in the background my cousin Hannah) playing at the spray park. Isaac is a much better walker than Ali but in this pic they both are looking pretty proficient. It’s amazing how much these kids have grown in just a year.

Late August 2007.

Our little water girl.

Trista and Alyssa getting in on the action.

Actually, it was so funny…some little kid (like 7 or 8 ) got some crush on Trista and kept following her around squirting her with one of those huge squirt guns. But, really, can we blame him?

Last Monday is was Beeeeeautiful here. But before we could hit the beach Ali and I had to man Off Our Rocker while Tony had a business call. Note the beads, Huggies spray-sunscreen, and what appears to be texting. Oh, and her ADORABLE new hair-do.

Baby in her toy box/basket.

I got my hair highlighted last Wednesday!!!

Sleeping on the way to Grandma and Grandpa’s Thursday morning[ish].

Trista and Ali running through the sprinkler on Friday because it was HOT.

Then we cooled off the this boat turned pool.

And that brings me to last Saturday, which was the annual Lewis family picnic. Upcoming!

So we’ve been back well over a week now. But this just never happend. And now it seems kind of distant, so I’m just going to narrarate some pictures. Thank you Billie for a lovely week up in the San Juan Islands!

This is Ali wating for the ferry in Anacortes. We left in the evening and drove to Seattle. Got there about 12:30am and slept at Billie’s house. Then got up in the morning, left about 7:30am to catch the 11am ferry (it’s about a two hour drive). Got in line and everything. Ferry was delayed almost an hour. Ali did well though and we made it and surprised Billie!

The crowd at the last softball game.

Ali playing with her new friends Jade(right) and Coral(left).

Ali playing on the beach just down from our apartment.

Huddle.

Projecting Sesame Street.

We were a family of crabs forthe annual Invertebrate Ball.

If you haven’t taken a look at the numerous other pictures yet. Hoping to get a quicky update in today, assuming Ali goes down for an afternoon nap soon. This evening we are going to Manzanita to see/have dinner with my Grandma and my Uncle Don’s family. And we seen to be spending 9pm-9am in bed lately trying, trying, trying to get some sleep. ANY SLEEP!

She took these adorable pictures, during two separate mini-shoots while we were in Friday Harbor last week. And introduced me to a new technique for getting Ali to smile. Camera peekaboo! Now why didn’t I think of that before?

At this point it seems like forever ago, but just afew short weeks ago we were at my parents’ house. We got there on July 16th (I know because the reason for our visit was my getting a wisdom tooth pulled). When we left their house for my appt. we noticed a flatter than flat tire. Lame. Luckily Trista let us take her car, which had just gotten out of the shop the day before. Sometimes luck follows lack of luck.

The tooth removal was fine, I was done 45 minutes after walking in the door. Was sore for a few days, but they give you the good medicine and oneof could supposedly breastfeed with so I survived. Although I did spend a few days fighting nausea while on it.

The first night we were there Ali opened a bunch of presents from my parents and siblings. Jordan got her this Elmo house which she loved (and is still loving- she now scampers into it to hide out everytime a diaper is brought out) but kept knocking over in her attempt to hug and kiss Elmo.

Saturday (we were there from Wed-Mon) we went to the zoo. I don’t think I’ve been there much on weekends before. Especially not summer weekends. Actually I haven’t been to the zoo at all in five years at least. Much had changed and it was pretty crowded. Reminder to do as my mom did when we were kids and go on in-service days. Ali was kind of cranky and much more interested in the other kids than the animals but we had a good time.

Real-life baby bear!

She was into these fish…

…until this little guy showed up.

Before she took a stroller nap.

On the way home.

Saturday evening we had a BBQ. That turned into a birthday BBQ. But began as me asking my dad to BBQ for dinner sometime when we’re there. Because he usually works swing shift this was a number of months in the coming. First we invited my Grandma, then Jordan and Becky, then Gabby and Trista’s new boy Tyler. Although at that point I don’t think they were offical yet. Anyway…

Doing the ‘more’ sign.

My mom told her to kiss the Elmo on her plate.

Playing ‘Apples to Apples.’

Playing with Alyssa at Hammerlee park on Sunday.

If you haven’t seen yet, many more pics here.

Got back from visiting my parents this afternoon. No time for posting much anymore, when we don’t get to spend much time with so many people. Had a good visit, will post more about it soon. Hopefully tomorrow. Until then, I have uploaded an album.

Take it easy. These are, after all, the dog days of summer. Or something along those lines…

Hmmm, where have the last few days gone? Must be a post to come in the future. Anyway.

We woke up about 4am on the fifth, last Saturday. We left the house at 4:30am and Ali was still asleep in her carseat. She woke up in the airport, happy. She was so funny. We first flew from Des Moines to Minneapolis. Ali slept. Pretty sure I did too. The plane was bigger this time, which was a relief to me. In Minneapolis we had about an hour and a half to wait. We let Ali play a bit in this kid’s area. At the gate she had a blow-out (which she doesn’t normally do anymore) that required a clothes change. Glad we carried on her luggage.

Out last flight left around 9:30am and we got to PDX just after eleven! It was a three plus hour flight so we were putting the time change to good use. And on the way back….we got an extra seat between us! It was absolutely glorious. When reserving the seats on flights with three-seat rows Tony specifically reserved the window and aisle seats hopnig forthis exact situation. And it couldn’t have happened on a better flight. ali didn’t fall asleep until we’d been in the air for awhile. Then she was awoken shortly after by how FREAKING LOUD they talk on the overhead system. For the first time we had to work to amuse her.

Before take off.

First nap.

Eventually we all napped, Ali and I laying down across Tony. It was nice. Well, airplane nice. When we landed in PDX we had to descend through layer after layer after layer of clouds. Welcome home. It rained over the mountains. We got home about 2pm. And now, about a week later, I think we’re actually to a point we could consider "recovered."

In case you haven’t seen the third album yet, which has party pictures, pics from the 4th, and these click here.