More Updates Than You Would Ever Want

Summer in the Tri-Cities is pretty much the busiest time of year for us here at the Schweighardt Complex. Forget Christmas and Thanksgiving, or even the birth of children, these three months consist of the most travel, company and celebration we'll see all year. Did I mention Steve, Julie, Isaac, Lucas and Uncle Joe all came to visit? Well, before we met up with them in Portland, we spent a weekend in Vancouver to see D'Arcy debut on pointe. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Duck is an amazing dancer! I so look forward to getting Audrey involved in dance. Judging from the private performances she gives us at home, she'll be nothing short of a natural.

That weekend we got in a lot of quality time with the Moore kids and also got to pick up Uncle Joe in Portland. Before heading home through the Gorge, we decided to take a side trip to the Oregon Coast to see Haystack Rock. Uncle Joe had never been to Cannon Beach and he was excited to see the notorious formation from The Goonies. (Never say die!!) As always, Audrey was super stoked to see the ocean. I wish we lived closer!


Steve and Julie caught up with us in the Tri-Cities a few days later; we had a great time showing them around the area and attempting to convince them to move to the Northwest. Audrey and Isaac amazingly got along very well while they were here. Isaac has had a tendency to deny Audrey's existence while they're in the same room, so I was floored when they started giggling, and chasing each other around the house. Luke and Bailey really just sat around smiling, getting tickled and being cute. It's a rough life.


I've appeared to somewhat drop off the radar since then because we spent the rest of the month of June trying to get ready for the Annual Schweighardt 4th of July Extravaganza. We had the fence replaced, hauled off all the old wood, ripped out plants, planted new ones, assembled lawn furniture, swept, cleaned and hosed down every surface and then played some bocce ball. In between all that, I tried to fit in all the birthday celebrating I could. I've been eating steak, (really, really good steak) and drinking wine, getting my toes painted, helping Audrey make birthday cake, drinking lots of coffee, shopping at my favorite kitchen store and picking out new running shoes. Let's just say I take the Gamelin motto of "Celebrate early and often" to heart.

All too soon the 4th of July was upon us! It's not only our Country's Birthday, but Tina's birthday as well! Between prepping for the party and greeting out of town guests, we had a birthday celebration for Tina complete with fairy cupcakes. I think she's starting to understand what those Christmas babies are complaining about.

The 4th ended up being an uncharacteristically cool windy day in the Tri-Cities and we had a record number of people over at the house. I made a 14 lb. brisket that was so yummy, I've decided to make 30 lbs. for next year's celebration. Add 36 hamburgers and 90 hotdogs to that and you've got one heck of a celebration.

For entertainment this year we filled close to 400 water balloons for an incredible battle between the kids and a few young-hearted adults. Jeff also was in charge of our private fireworks show and after that we settled in to relax and watch the City of Kennewick's show from our back yard. It's a tradition (for those of us who are so inclined) to smoke cigars during the Fireworks show; I've been pregnant for the past two 4ths and have had to abstain from this particular indulgence, so man, oh man, was it a welcome respite from all the hard work we'd put in to sit back with a beer and a cigar and just relax for a while.

Needless to say, this morning we woke to a house that looked like it had hosted a frat party and even though we had lots of help cleaning up the night before, it was time to start prepping food to do it all again for Granny's 70th Surprise Birthday Party! We spent the morning tearing down decorations, putting up new ones and cooking food to celebrate one heck of a Grandma. The surprise, by the way, was a complete success...maybe too much of a success. We're just glad we didn't give her a heart attack.

Now we're looking forward to a visit from my buddy Jessica and a trip with the girls back to the North of the South. Then my parents are coming back with us to celebrate Audrey's birthday and do some camping and climbing at Mt. Adams. I love this picture of them together at the airport when they flew in for her 1st birthday last year. I'm thinking this year she'll actually eat the cake.


Here are some videos for your viewing pleasure too: Audrey running to the ocean and Granny's reaction to the surprise!