Chapultepec Park....our first venture out and about

Today we put on our big boy pants and went out to see the city. We walked down to Chapultepec Park (kind of like Central Park in NYC) and checked out the sites. There were huge crowds and vendors selling everything from cotton candy to knock-offs. First stop was....you guessed it CACTUS!

Botanical Garden

Autumn's first real-Spanish-speakin'-Mexico cactus!

It's the rainy season now, so the cacti were in bloom

Cac-tus-tic!!
 Hola! Prickly friends!

The ancient Aztec grasshopper!

Hey, it's honest Abe!
Thanks US for this wonderful present!

Mexico City!

Week one with no internet at home!! Arrg! Hopefully it will be up an running soon. Promise to put up new pictures as soon as we get it installed. We love and miss you all!! Come visit anytime!

Everything is going well. Autumn's been having a good time at work, and I have a few interviews lined up. We're having fun getting our new house set up, and can't wait to show it off to visitors.

Goodbye Seattle

Our last day in Seattle. We had great sushi with Steph and John and a final visit with Jeannie. Thanks again to everyone for your love and support!

Kettle Falls to Seattle

Today we said our goodbyes to all of the parents and had a final goodbye lunch at Rancho Chico! It was sad, but everyone pulled through...not too many tears!

A beautiful start to the day!

Dry Falls...half way there!

It's like a less grand Grand Canyon.

Boat Day!

Sunday Fun-Day indeed. After some much needed sleep from the party, we finally made it out on the water around 1:00. We met up with Ron & Julie, Pam & Joe, Dave & Debbie, and Cathy & Rich. We were kind-of partied-out, so it was a relaxing day in the shade.

Mom & Rich sailing away...

Dave & Deb after a hard day's work in the regatta...congrats on 1st runner up!

Stars from our room at Ron & Julie's

Anniversary / Going Away Party

Today was our anniversary, so my mom threw a big party. Thanks to everyone for coming out to send us off to Mexico with a bang. Rich cooked up some excellent tacos, and much beer was drank by all!

Autumn & Jason

After the rain...

Chrissy & Les

Holly, Haley & Connie...looking good!

Our "suitcase" cake complete with fondant driving directions to Mexico

6 years later...us with Jerry!

Autumn, Julie, Eric

Ed & Lynn...plotting to enlist us in more slave labor!

Shooting Lesson with Ron & Julie

Considering our new life abroad....Autumn thought we should learn how to shoot guns, so we could represent the United States to the best of our abilities. Overall, it was SUPER-FUN!!

A peaceful start to the day...


Look at that evil grin!

Right-handed and left-eyed...a deadly combination!

I of course, was a crack shot!

The true shooting master...Sensei Ron.

Our victim!

Looking forward to Boat Day!

"Our" Cool Car

Thanks to Jeannie's Rental Car Co., we've been driving a pretty sweet ride all week (for FREE!!), garnering all sorts of attention from the locals. And..thanks to Linda, we now have a picture of ourselves in the T-bird.
Dude! Sweet! Dude! ..... Sweet!

Tamales with Ed & Lynn

Today, we helped paint Ed & Lynn's new house, then made a big tamale dinner. Al, Evelyn and Gram joined in on the fiesta!

YUM!

Dinner with the Kowitz's

Autumn & Gram!

Visit with Ed & Lynn

Second stop on the Colville tour was with Ed & Lynn. After touring their new house in progress, we hiked up the mountain before dinner. Thursday we headed over to the new house to paint before returning home for a tamale party!

The horses wanted to come on the hike too, but the dogs said no!

Autumn nervously petting a horse.

Half-way up...

The new house!

Eric with orange blossom.

On the way back down through mosquito alley!


Our reward...stealing cherries from Todd's!

Visit with Cathy & Rich

First stop on the Colville tour was at my mom's house for two days. Autumn headed over to visit with her dad while he worked on his new house, while my mom and I took the boat out for a mid-afternoon sail. We even trailered the boat and got the engine going all by ourselves (but Rich had to come pick up up to put the boat back!!). We spent the evening and the next morning just talking and visiting. Next day we ran into Colville to renew our drivers licenses, car tabs, and open a safe deposit box. We got to go into the bank vault...just like in the movies!

Lake Roosevelt

Eric & Cathy on the boat!

4th of July

For the 4th, we drove over to Chelan to spend the weekend with Paul & Linda! We had a big barbeque with everyone from the condos and then watched the fireworks that night. On Monday, we trolled around the lake for trout, and Linda even caught one!!

Foggy and misty on the pass...

Happy birthday America!

2 da lake

E&A (without sunglasses...you're welcome grandma!)

Paul & Linda on the boat!

Ahhh... Que relaxing!

Linda & her trout!

E&A (w/ sunglasses...back to normal!)

Autumn & Linda!