Walla Walla and Wallowa

Walla Walla and Wallowa. Can you say that ten times fast?

Mid-June Mom, Levi, and I headed SE to visit my friend, Katie, from college. We stayed in Walla Walla for two days and visited the Whitman Mission, Ft. Walla Walla, and a couple of wineries. Oh, and we ate at this great French restaurant that was tres kid-friendly.

The Whitman Mission was a very interesting and solemn experience.

There was an old covered wagon on the mission grounds that Levi had a grand time playing in. My mom has always loved the "pioneer days" and covered wagons--and she loves Levi, too, so I had to take a picture of the two of them beside it.

Katie and I on her doorstep. She was a fabulous hostess and showed us about Wallowa Co. (as much as two days allowed.) It is a beautiful piece of this country. She calls it "The Shire," and I see why: community is rich, life is lived closely to the land, it is hedged in by mountains, and even its women have hairy feet :).

Yes, we are sitting on a giant chair. We hobbit folk are small.

One of my better photographs, I think.

Beautiful Wallowa Lake

I feel that this welcome mat by Katie's front step is very fitting. It is bright, cheery, and welcoming--just like Katie and her home.

Ryan's 30th B-day

For Ryan's 30th (in May) we hosted a work party in our yard. You can see the pile of brush behind Ryan that the guys hauled out of the backyard. They hauled out two or three loads worth while the ladies weeded in the front and spread bark. We really appreciated all of the help as our wilderness of a yard can be a bit overwhelming.

Later in May we traveled to Kelowna, BC to visit Ryan's Grandma, sister, and brother-in-law. He was celebrated again there.

On our way back we stopped in Hope. Did you know that Rambo was filmed there? I can't say that I've ever even seen the movie, but Ryan has and was ecstatic to find this photo op outside the visitor's centre.

Levi's First Haircut

Shortly after his first birthday (in April), Levi got his first haircut.

Birthday Boy

Levi turned one on April 6th. We had a little party for him in the park the Saturday before. Here he is with his frosted muffin and unlit candle, which he preferred to the muffin.

Aunt Angie and Levi

This is Levi's friend, Lydia, and her daddy. We were in birth class with Lydia's parents.

Levi's friend, Kai, helped him open some of his presents.

This could quite possibly be the last picture of Diana taken while still pregnant. She went into labor that night. Art and Diana now have an adorable baby girl, Lily.

"Sunshine On My Shoulder..."

We escaped this depressing "spring" weather for five days in exchange for the sunshine of Southern California.

Levi's only true curl. The Klassen side still believes he'll have curls like Daddy. I say, don't hold your breath. But I guess one can hope.

Doing what the Klassen boys do best.

"I love Grandma sooo much!"

My favorite memory of Palm Desert: one morning we awoke to search out citrus trees. Mainly, we wanted grapefruit for breakfast--which we found, mmmmm. We also found lemons. Kristen is holding a lemon--not a grapefruit. Some of the lemons were huge! Kristen steeped some rosemary in boiling water and made rosemary lemonade--my favorite treat from Avenue Bread here in town. It was so refreshing and free!

We'd look like a typical S. Calfornia family if it wasn't for the pasty white tan.

Ryan giving Levi a frisbee catching lesson. The first of many.

Doesn't Kristen look tall next to the palm tree? She's always seemed tall to me (since she was ten and I was fourteen, I mean).

This is one of my favorite photos that I've taken of my mom. Isn't she beautiful?

Notice that Levi is standing holding onto his daddy with only one hand. He is getting more stable every day. He will be walking in the near future.

Levi finds a friend wherever he goes!

"Put a cork in it, son."

The wait-staff at the fine restaurant we visited to celebrate Daniel's 30th and Mom's 25th birthdays escorted us to a table in the back corner, far way from anyone else. I'm not sure if it was because we had Levi along or because Daniel was wearing a bright pick shirt.

The bougainvillea looks nice, doesn't it?

Cheeezz!

He's already a strong reader :).

While I was working away at the computer I suddenly realized that something had changed--there was quiet. Levi was sitting on the living room floor with his back to me while he busily played with something in front of him. A toy, I assumed. But the quiet (he's rarely to never silent) disturbed me. So I came in for a look and--whoa! he was playing with the tub of vaseline I had used to moisturize his dry, rosy cheeks that day. Vaseline was all over his hands, his clothes, and--sigh--the rug that I bought to cover stains in the carpet. Now the rug has greasy vaseline stains. Should I buy an area rug to cover the stains on the area rug? If I start this, we'll have a dozen area rugs stacked in the living room before he's three. I think I'll let it go.

A Day on San Juan

Near the end of February we took a trip with Ryan's family to San Juan Island.

Levi waiting eagerly for the ferry.