I do have to say, once I purchased all of the canning supplies, it really was easy, gratifying and fun to do. I think I could really get the hang of this. I have a canning date on Saturday with Laura to make “Blue-Ribbon Prize Winning Corn Relish.”

Here’s my morning o’ canning:

Washed, Cut & Prepped Veggies from the Farmers’ Market

Sterilizing the Jars

Brine, Dill Seed & Veggies All Ready

Lids on, Ready for their Bath

10 min. Hot Water Bath

Viola…at least I hope, we’ll see in a week

Needless to say, the door to the bathroom now remains closed…if I remember.

We’re so happy for Scott & Nicole’s little family of three.

This now makes 1 niece on each side, both with the middle name Elizabeth, I’m so honored they were named after me…wink, wink.

Today, Little Man and I took advantage of the Denver Botanical Garden’s FREE DAY. We strolled around looking at flowers, bees, waterfalls and sculptures. Charlie’s favorite part was crawling on the grassy hills. The flowers were gorgeous and made me quite envious. I was sure to take notes for my own little perennial garden.

After the gardens, we made a pit stop at Pinkberry to split a mini frozen yogurt. I don’t need to tell you Charlie liked it. We loaded up just in time for a rainstorm to hit.

I sure love outings with my Little Man.

…how your little tooshie looks in PJs
…when you grab both of my cheeks and give me a big smooch
…when you’re all wrapped up, ready for bed and look up and me with your beautiful blue eyes while I’m rocking you and you give me a big smile
…when I start singing our songs to you, you immediately snuggle into me and close your eyes
…when your left arm escapes the wrap and you start stroking my neck
…when I place you in your crib and you automatically roll onto your right side
…how after a few hours of time with Dadda, we sneak into your room and watch you sleep
…that even though you look like such a big guy asleep, you’re still our little baby

I’ll Love You Forever and Always

Charlie is just glad that after 9 months he finally has a real high chair.

We celebrated by riding the Cog Railroad up to Pike’s Peak. The train was so much fun and the views were spectacular. Charlie loved hanging onto the window {drooling} and looking outside.

Later that evening, we set ofF some baby fireworks for our baby. Aside from it being close to bed time, he didn’t really know what to think. Alas a picture says a thousand words.

{Friday}

After checking into our hotel, we walked down to Pike Place Market to share a fresh halibut sandwich with rosemary mayo before we ventured to Gas Works Park.

We loved relaxing at the park and watching sea planes land and take-off.

Thankfully, my knowledgeable metro-riding husband was with me, because we took a confusing bus route to the Chittenden Locks to watch barges and mini yachts cross from Lake Washington to the ocean. We also timed the trip perfectly to see the salmon swimming up stream through the Salmon Ladder for the summer. We were completely fascinated with this stop.

{Saturday}

We took a walking, food tour of Pike Place Market. We fell in LOVE with this market! The tour was such a great way to experience the people, the goods and the food. We tasted everything from fresh cherries to hot donuts to smoked salmon to homemade cheese. We got up and personal with the FISH Guys. After the tour, we also knew exactly where we wanted to go back and buy goodies. We highly recommend taking the tour if you go to Seattle.

I bought fresh dill seed at this spice shop to can hot pickles this summer

After the tour, we went to the top of the Space Needle and were lucky to have semi-clear, blue skies. What a view.

We also went to the Music & Science Fiction Museum. If you know anything about Husband, you KNOW that this was the perfect combination for him. He. Was. In. Heaven.

We grabbed dinner at the Crab Pot. They boil crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, sausage & corn together, lay out butcher paper on the table, dump out the goodies and hand you a bib & mallet. We ate outside on the water front and had a smashing time.

After dinner, we channeled Grey’s Anatomy and took a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island. We timed it perfectly to watch the sun set over the city while we were crossing and then have the night skyline lit up for our return. We fell in love with the island. It’s so quaint and quiet. We found an adorable ice cream parlor with fresh, homemade ice cream. We chatted with some locals that let us know we would be able to see the International Space Station on our return. It was pituresque and perfect…until a couple of guys got in a fight on the way back and one of them started yelling “White Power”…are…you…kidding…me?

{Sunday}

We lounged in the hotel and grabbed one of the best breakfasts at Lola - the fresh donuts with house-made apricot jam & mascarpone cheese and the house-made maple pork sausage are to die for - before hitting up the Market to make our last minute purchases.

We missed our little guy but so appreciated our time together. Can’t wait til the next getaway!

Until the longer post (and I know you devout readers are probably still wondering where the Disneyland video is…uh hem…HUSBAND!), enjoy the view from our top floor hotel room Husband got us upgraded to where we could lie in bed and watch the ferries cross the Sound.