For Christmas the kids got an easel. I put it in the kitchen with every intention of using it all the time. Well, we do use the chalk board side often, but for some reason I did not want to paint. I never thought I would have a hard time with messy art projects – but I do! So lots of paint, kids not trapped in their seats, and roaming around the kitchen = stressful!!!
I finally broke down and bought 11 different colors of tempra paint. Then it sat, unused for a couple of weeks. Last weekend when Joshua was taking a nap, I wanted to do something quiet….so we painted.
Two brushes at once!
Painting circles
And it worked out great. They both got to paint at the same time. Each kid got to pick 3 colors to paint with. Wesley chose black, purple and blue. Jillian chose yellow, orange and pink.
Just some of the masterpieces.
Now that I know how easy it was, we will be doing it more often!
Wesley's "Beetle": purple legs, blue antenna, blue eye with a black body.
Jillian's "Circles and Lines"
Wesley's "Feathers"
Jillian's "Wild"
At SW High School the day before graduation.
Even though we have known each other since 6th grade, this is the first picture of the 2 of us together that we have. It is a good thing that Joshua said no to me when I asked to go out with me in the sixth grade, because it probably would not have lasted. 
June 3rd 1997 is when we had our first date and since that date I have been in love with him with all of my heart. I am truly a lucky woman. Joshua is an amazing friend and husband.
Here is just some of the many pictures we have taken over the past 12 years…
At Joshua's house, when I lived there with his family.
In our first apartment together.
Carving pumpkins! We have always loved to do this together.
Before kids, we were able to get creative with the ways we said I Love You! Here are just some of Joshua’s amazing creations.
2 of his favorite things: the outdoors and airplanes.
He sprayed the "famous" rock on the way to Bellingham, WA.
What an amazing day!!
After 6 years together, we finally got married. August 2, 2003 we were married on Del Mar Beach in Anacortes, Washington.
We do love to celebrate the holidays together!
Halloween pumpkins.
Getting read for Thanksgiving Dinner.
We got this tree with our backcountry permit!
Valentine's Day
4th of July on Lake Union.
Our two wonderful Subarus. We sold Moose to someone in Mount Vernon and we still have good old Roosevelt.
We spent a lot of time hiking all around the Puget sound area.
On Little Si in Seattle
Snoqualmie Falls
Our favorite place, Sauk Mountain
Waptus River, near Roslyn WA. This was my first over night trip.
Our Waptus River trip prepared me for our next trip. A 2 day 27 mile hiking adventure up Sourdough Mountain in Diablo, WA.
At the top of Sourdough Mountain.
- On day 2
Then on November 26th 2005 we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Wesley Buckley.
Going from 2 to 3
Two more big changes came in 2007. In July we moved to Austin Texas and on August 13th our sweet little girl, Jillian Rose was born!
Our fabulous family of four at our house in Austin - August 2007.
And almost 2 years later - May 2009
Thank you Joshua every day we have spent together! With your love and support I have grown into a strong and happy woman and mother.
Celebrating my 30th Birthday
Tags: Amber, anniversary, Joshua
- I just finished picking up the dog poop in the yard. It’s like the world’s worst Easter egg hunt. #
- Just dropped Mom and Dave off at the airport. Sucks when they leave. #
- Kids asleep. Sad to be back at work tomorrow. They are going to miss Mom and Dave when they get up. Me and Amber too. #
- on my way to dallas to fix the 5e data collector. fingers crossed that it is something ridiculously simple (else I won’t have a clue) #
- sitting at a wendys/subway/pilot gas station. which one is giving me gas? your guess. #
- http://twitpic.com/63ahv – made it to the westin. dinner soon I hope #
- just waiting for jeff then off to do something to that datacollector. what exactly I don’t know. #
- data collectollecting data. of course now it looks corrupt. maybe we can salvage it yet. #
- waiting to board sw flight 472 to Austin. home in time for diiner with Pat. #
- back on the ground in austin. only 5 min late. grab bag, and dinner at fonda san miguel #
Tags: twitter
