The Life and Times of the Watters Family

our anniversary weekend

A beautiful drive down Chuckanut, dinner at The Rhododendron Cafe, Cat Stevens on the ipod, a scenic drive, LaConner, The Wild Iris, yummy cookies, chocolates and champagne, watched Goodwill Hunting, delicious breakfast, antique stores and boutiques, lunch at the Calico Cupboard, more antique stores and boutiques, reading, dinner at El Gitano, watched Pride and Prejudice, another delicious breakfast, fresh fruit from the market, take out lunch from Calico Cupboard, scenic drive, Jars of Clay on the ipod, Deception Pass, Rosario Beach, reading, sunburn, and then home.  Here are some of our self-portraits from the weekend…

We had a fantastic time! I can hardly imagine how much the next decade will hold for us. We talked a lot about the challenges and joys the next 10 years could possibly bring. We are excited and also feel the need to prepare– especially for those teenage years. 

Thank you so much Cam for planning this weekend away for us!

a decade ago….

When Two People Marry

Helen Steiner Rice

Your hearts are filled with happiness
so great and overflowing
You cannot comprehend it,
for it’s far beyond all knowing
How any heart could hold such joy
or feel the fullness of
The wonder and the glory
and the ecstacy of love.
You wish that you could capture it
and never let it go
So you might walk forever
in its magic, radiant glow.
And love in all its ecstacy
is such a fragile thing,
Like gossamer in cloudless skies
or a hummingbird’s small wing.
And love that lasts forever
must be made of something strong-
The kind of strength that’s gathered
when the heart can hear no song.
When the sunshine of your wedding day
runs into stormy weather,
and hand in hand you brave the gale
and climb steep hills together,
And, clinging to each other
while the thunder rolls above,
You seek divine protection
in faith and hope and love.
For days of wine and roses
never make love’s dreams come true-
It takes sacrifice and teardrops
and problems shared by two.
To give true love its beauty,
its grandeur, and its finesse,
And to mold an earthly ecstasy
into heavenly diviness.

Happy Anniversary Baby!

aliza pictures and whining

I took these pictures of Aliza at Cambria’s the other day. We were there celebrating Gretchen’s first Birthday (I can’t believe it’s been a year already). Gretchen is such a cutie and it’s been fun to watch her grow up this last year. You can see more pictures of the birthday here.

Aliza is one of my favorite photography subjects as I am sure you have noticed, hence the pictures below. I just love taking pictures! It is one of my most favorite things to do. I love how you can capture time, memories, expressions, and emotion in a photograph. I love how pictures can take you back to how you felt and what you thought (good or bad) when the image was captured or how you can watch your kids grow up all over again. 

Cambria generously let me use her camera (Canon xti with 50mm fixed 1.8 lens) to take these pictures.  So, on to the whining part–I REALLY want a new camera, in fact I would be really happy with the exact set up that Cambria has. I never plan on being a professional photographer, I would just like to be able to get really great pictures of my family and friends. I get by with my little Canon “point and shoot” but there’s so much more I could do and learn with a digital SLR.

I am very blessed and God has been more than good to me and our family so I really shouldn’t whine about a camera but I still feel like whining about it! Multiple times we have set aside money and a time for when we could purchase a new camera but something unforeseen always comes up– which we are then very thankful we had the resources to cover. Again, I remind myself, God continues to bless us beyond our expectations year after year and I really should not complain. See how this works? I do this back and forth thing, counting my blessings and then whining, at least 4 or 5 times a week. 

In the scope of what’s important in life, I do realize this doesn’t even show up on the radar. I’m just being honest. Sometimes I feel like whining. The feeling usually doesn’t last long. Actually, it’s pretty much gone now. Cam has been so good for me in this area! He doesn’t whine and it’s about the only thing he doesn’t have much patience for. I may or may not get a new camera but I will continue to love taking pictures, remember to be thankful for all the beauty that God has put in my life and try not to whine (too much). 

Argghh!

Warning: Pirates lurking below

Shhh… this is top secret stuff! Admittance to Pirate Beach is by invitation only!

If you want to proceed, you’ll have to get by this guy

This pirate looks a little more welcoming

Can you climb a rope? It’ll be necessary.

Are you brave enough to proceed?

Don’t forget, this pirate doesn’t take kindly to strangers!

Don’t even think about approaching this beach by boat!

Maybe he’s not as friendly as we first thought!

Or maybe he is, just not to his brother!

This little pirate isn’t old enough for rum–he’ll have to stick with apple juice.

Too much juice for this pirate! Maybe that’s why he’s so cranky?

Not quite the Black Pearl but it’ll have to do.

like father, like son

This boy is much more like his daddy than I ever imagined he would be– and I don’t just mean how they make the same smirk/smile. Caleb remembers crazy, random details but gets distracted walking across the room. He gets overwhelmed with too many instructions and is much better at handling one thing at a time. He is SUPER sensitive and very articulate about his feelings. He is very smart and very loving. He can be a stinker sometimes but has a way of making my heart melt with his sweet, expressive, big eyes.

Both of the boys are a lot like Cam and I am so glad! He is a great example to emulate. If both the boys grow up to be like their daddy, they will be amazing men.

summer, boys

We are trying to make the most of this stretch of beautiful summer weather! When it’s sunny and warm in Bellingham, there’s no other place on earth we’d rather be. We live in the most beautiful town. We have awesome parks and there are lots of fun (and mostly free) activities to participate in if you do some research. We enjoyed a concert at Elizabeth Park last night and will hopefully make it to a few more of those throughout the summer. On Saturday night we will be heading over to the Fairhaven Green to watch We are Marshall on the outdoor screen there.

As a family we are trying to be much more intentional about how we spend our time together. Days, weeks and months go by so quickly. The boys are growing up and we don’t want to take our time with them for granted.

There probably won’t be much posted here throughout the summer (except pictures, occasionally) because I plan on being outside more, using my computer less and playing with my kids. Hope you enjoy your summer!

picnic lunch at Boulevard park

hanging out at the beach, making sandcastles

dinner picnic and concert at Elizabeth Park

sweet, little niece

Aliza looks especially “little” in the arms of and between these two adoring uncles. She is such a loved little girl. God has truly blessed our family through the gift of Aliza.

I love Shane’s expression in this picture! What do you think he may be thinking?

I just love him

more and more everyday.

Small Group BBQ

Our small group is taking some time off over the summer but we planned a couple summer BBQs together. We had a great time before the thunder/lightening and rain started! We missed Jonathon and Deanna though!