ISABELLE GRACE is 2...

enough said.

September 13th was Isabelle's 2nd birthday. She sang happy birthday to herself all day.

The candles on the cake really excited her and we had to lite them a second time because her cousin was helpful and blew them out before we even sang to her.

New SHOES!!

WOODEN VEGETABLES!!

And I found this. At TARGET they are bringing back all the old fashioned Fisher Price toys. I wanted to buy them all. But settled on the chatter telephone.

Which she absolutely loved!!

Isabelle is one of a kind. She is a lot like Jillian with her mischievous ways though. She loves to sing and dance around, she is saying so many words, and makes us giggle all the time. She lights up every room she is in. She does, however, have a pretty incredible temper!! Two years ago, we were blessed with this little surprise miracle and we are so incredibly grateful to have her as a part of our family.

11 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

September 11, 2009

So, I took Doug to the SWANTOWN INN B&B in Olympia for our anniversary. It was sort of a last minute kind-of thing, but worked out perfectly. We got there Friday night and entered a quaint little oasis. The house was built in the 1800's and has an interesting history. It is filled with antique furniture and they have tried to keep it as original as possible. Our very hospitable hosts called a lovely little restaurant and got us a reservation at GARDNER'S. After we took a minute to settle in, we headed over there and enjoyed a delicious dinner. We especially enjoyed the crab dip with little pieces of toasted bread. After we stuffed ourselves silly, we just wanted to go relax in the huge garden tub that was in our bathroom. Oh, one of the things that Doug was a little apprehensive about with the whole bed and breakfast thing was the fact that we would be sharing a bathroom with strangers. Well, we got the master room and had a huge bathroom to ourselves!!! We started the tub immediately and since it was so big, we just let it run. Well....it's an old house. The hot water ran out and when we checked the water level, it was so cold. No bath!!

Willow Tree Doug got me!

Cute little Gazebo

The next morning, we did enjoy the bathtub. Breakfast was served at 9a.m. Oh my goodness!! It was unbelievable. First we enjoyed some home-made banana coconut sorbet. Sounds weird...but it was wonderful! Then we were treated to some of the best french toast I have ever had. It was 'Decadent French Toast' stuffed with cream cheese and boysenberry sauce. Then the boysenberry sauce was dribbled all over the top. HEAVEN!!! And it was made perfect with a side of bacon. I would go back just to have that again.

After we ate, I had scheduled massages. A few years back, the owners converted the attic of the inn, into a day spa. It was magnificent. We went in and changed into very cozy robes. They then drew us old fashioned foot baths to help us relax. We went into separate rooms and got our massages on! They lasted a full hour. After we were done, they allowed us time to shower. The shower in there has so many shower heads, we hardly had to move around. We have got to get one of those!!

Their entire purpose for doing the 'Attic Day Spa' was to allow people a truly relaxing, fulfilling experience. And, indeed, it was!!

We had a pretty remarkable anniversary!! I am glad that I happened upon this place!!

P.S. It just so happens that we were browsing through this little book that they have in the room for all of their guests to write something in...and we found that our friends, the Mahoney's, were guests there a few years back!!

*GIFFORD FAMILY REUNION*

August 28-30th 2009

ZION'S CAMP

We had ourselves a little gathering. Everyone decided that we should do one last big shin-dig before Ted and Eileen went on their mission. (Oh, they are going to the Colorado Springs, Colorado Mission...same place Doug served...crazy!!)

So all but ONE of the 7 kids made it. Judi, her husband and family (minus one son who is serving a mission in Nevada), live in New Jersey and just weren't able to come. :( We were also missing Cari's husband, David who couldn't get leave from his military duties. :(

We filled our time with different kinds of activities, quality time, laughter and food! Unfortunately, the rain decided to come on Friday night and lasted until Saturday afternoon-ish...but it didn't put too much of a 'damper' on things.

*SETTING UP CAMP*

*FAMILY HOME EVENING*

*GAMES*

*PLAY TIME*

Family Reunion

Part 2

*FAMILY PICTURES*

*HORSESHOES*

*THE LAKE*

*SCAVENGER HUNT*

The Treasure!

*TALENT SHOW*

Ted
"The Memory Test"

Eileen
sharing her Family Tree painting

The Gifford Family

"Popcorn Popping"

The Gifford Family

"Peanut Butter and Jelly"

The Dobosz Family

"Gilligan's Island Episode"

Jillian, Isabelle and Savannah

"The Hippo Song"

Payton, Bryce and Jarom

"The Ugliest Man"

The Hayward's (two of them, anyway)

doing a song in sign language.

There were a few activities that we were not able to do because of the rain, but what we did get to do was great. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and had fun laughing, talking and just being together. We packed up camp on Sunday morning and most of the family went to church together to end the weekend. It was a fabulous family reunion!!