Woodland Park Zoo - June 2010

This is a very cute photo / video montage put to very fun music of the sights we captured during the Eisenhower Middle School end of year field trip. I was the parent chaperone for Austin's group. We had a very good time and saw some really great animal antics. You will enjoy some very funny moments and some very touching moments. Watch it with your kids too... they will love it.... almost as fun as being at the zoo. ENJOY!

Attention Oprah Show!!! Thrill Mill Creek 2009 - Part of Thrill The World

Thrill Mill Creek 2009 - Part of Thrill The World - has a special message for the Oprah Show!!!

We hope you watch our video and like what you see and choose it to be featured on your show this Wednesday, October 28, 2009!! There is a special message for you at the beginning and then get ready to enjoy some great zombie dancing!

You should join us next year!

Thrill Mill Creek is sponsored by Applause Studio. 39 participants. Oct. 24, 2009, 5:30pm Pacific At The Forum in the Mill Creek Town Centre. Mill Creek, WA USA.

Road Trip to California - August 2009

We packed up the car and the kids and headed to sunny California for some fun in the sun. To pass the time in the car, I captured the scenery with photos. Farms, Barns, and Mountains.... oh my!!

From the Album: Road Trip to California - August 2009

From the Album: Road Trip to California - August 2009

Amanda & Austin in the Twilight Rain

An Edmonds Kinda Day with Bob & Austin

Enjoying the 75 degree weather at Sunset Beach on May 2, 2009!

Spring Time Fun 2009

Some random Spring happenings. Choir Field trip to: sing at a retirement home Tour the UW Play at the EMP, Shopping for Nikki's wedding dress with the girls and then on to the Wallingford Center for cupcakes, Spring Break Fun, and more...

Sledding Fun in the December Snow

Julie's Excellent Sledding Adventure


Bob's Excellent Sledding Adventure


Kool Kids Sledding


To see all my video creations, go to: http://www.youtube.com/julzplanet

Snow Storm - December 2008

It snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed... so we missed about 5 holiday events. So we decided to make the best of it!!

Click on any photo below to view the full album


This is day 5 of the snow.


The kids play in the backyard


Austin and I got crazy on the slides


Daisy and I took a night time stroll

This is Day 6

We decide to head of to the sledding hill.


Amanda shows us how it's done.

And now for something you'll really like...

Julie decides to give it a shot.

Monkey see, monkey do...

Bob shows us how it's done.

Austin & Bob...

Snowball fight time.

Let's take a look at our front yard...


Below is a panoramic view of our back yard from our back porch...



Too see all the fun, click the link below:
http://picasaweb.google.com/JulzNW/SnowfestDecember2008#

Edmonds Excursions - Episode 1

Now that Amanda is back dancing at Barclays…. I get to enjoy beautiful Edmonds three times a week... the town where I grew up. There is definitely something magic about that place. I feel so at peace when I’m there. It’s nice to think of my Dad too… I know he’s there, his spirit is sailing there forever!!! Austin and I have been capturing some photos and videos of our adventures. Here is our first episode of our Edmonds Adventures!!


Click the play button to watch.

Observing October

October came in with the first wind storm of the season. Bob had to go out and cut a big dangling branch off of a tree in our backyard. He rescued my bench too, which later was moved to our back porch for safe keeping.		We had a belated birthday celebration for Jesse. He was gone most of the summer feeding the fire fighters in Oregon and California... so we were not able to celebrate his birthday in August.
Amanda made it onto the Dance Theatrics Junior Company at Barclay Shelton Dance Centre in Edmonds. When she is at rehearsal... Austin and I go for walks in Edmonds.		Bob, Austin, and I went to the pumpkin patch in Snohomish.
Then, we had some pumpkin carving fun with Amanda and Austin.		Halloween was fun at the Rice house. I decorated our front walk and doorstep for the trick-or-treaters. check out the kids costumes. We had some fun visitors too.

Sensational September

This month we sent the kids back to school, Amanda to 8th grade and Austin to 5th. Then we helped Miss Laura West celebrate her 30th birthday. Amanda and I went to see a friend in the play, "The Wizard of Oz." That was a lot of fun and Amanda enjoyed being in the audience, since she is usual on stage. I got some time in the garden and spruced up the yard now that fall has set in. And, of course, the kitties were captured doing what they do best... being cute & sleeping. Austin and I get to explore Edmonds three times a week now that Amanda is back at Barclay Shelton Dance Centre.

Trip to Seaside, Oregon

This summer we ventured out of Washington to the land of Seaside, OR. The weather was a little rainy at first but turned to beautiful sun. We had fun visiting the sea lions at the aquarium, walking in the rain on Broadway, checked out the shops, rode the carousel, and played miniature golf. We ran into Rob Thompson (my cousin and Bob's friend from school). Small world, eh? The next day we had a sunny day and walked the Prom and played at the beach. The last day I got up early and took a very zenful walk on the beach!!

Joe Cocker & Steve Miller concert at the Gorge in George!

Bob and I took a little trip to the Gorge Amphitheater in George Washington to see Joe Cocker and Steve Miller in concert! You never really realize how many hits these guys have until you go to one of their concerts. JOE COCKER AND STEVE MILLER are both 64; Cocker hasn't had a Top 40 pop single since 1989, Miller since 1982. But these two bandleaders put on a most excellent show with all of their hits in tow!! Enjoy the pix and vidz from the show!!

Joyous July!!!

We start with the 4th of July festivities in Edmonds. Then, we celebrated Jasmine's 24th birthday on July 10, went to the Stevie Wonder Concert on July 11, and then spent the weekend of the 13th & 14th at the Mill Creek Festival where Amanda and Bob performed a 45-minute version of "The Great Penelope." Then it was more concert fun at Ringo Starr on July 19 and James Taylor on July 22, which were both at the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville. I hosted Bingo this month at my house on the 25th and captured some fun clips of the after-hour fun. We topped the month off with our annual camping trip to Kalaloch. Even though we were really busy... we still found time to hang out in the back yard and enjoy our kitties!! Enjoy the photos.

Camping at Kalaloch in July!!

We went on our annual camping trip to Kalaloch on July 27 - 29. The weather was nice but we were rained out the last day. We woke up the last day to pouring rain and packed up as fast as we could. Enjoy the photos:

Marvelous May

We kicked off May with the fabulously wonderful production of "The Great Penelope." The show spanned two nights and we celebrated at Gianni's after both shows with family and friends.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with my kids and Kitties. I also made a special Mother's Day tribute for my mommy. I also got to see my high school buddy, Daisy, who I hadn't seen in years.

On May 15, Amanda and her Middle School Choir participated in the Regional Choir Festival. Schools from all over participate and get rated on their performances. Amanda's group scored very high... Woo hoo!!

We finally got a sunny day so we decided to go down to Edmonds Beach and take in the sites and sound... as in Puget Sound. The next day it was up early for the Eisenhower Choir Booster Club
Car Wash Fundraiser where we had 90 degree weather. Then we tried to cool off in the back yard with a new toy that didn't look as cool as it did on the box.

I decided to take advantage of the rare warm weather we were having, so I spent 8 hours in the front gardens - weeding, raking, cutting, trimming... whew! It was all worth it in the end. And be sure to check out the amazing shrinking Austin!

We had so much going on in May, Bob and I never really got to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary, which was May 1. But we are making up for it this summer with three amazing summer concerts: Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Ringo Starr & his All-star Band. So don't feel too bad for us. :-)

The Great Penelope Production!!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to see Amanda & Bob in the fabulous production of “The Great Penelope.” They both had such a wonderful time and
Amanda did a knock-out job playing the role of Penelope (woman of destiny).

For those of you who were unable to make it to the play, we have ordered the DVD. If you would like to see it, let us know and we’ll send you a copy.

In the meantime, take a look at the online photo/video gallery I have created. So find some quiet time and grab a cup of tea and enjoy a journey through the adventures of creating “The Great Penelope!!” Click the photo above or HERE now to begin!!

You’ll find everything from the photo shoot to the live production itself…and everything in between such as the Show-A-Thon at Everett Mall and some of the rehearsals.

Below are some select video clips from all the action:

• The "Great Penelope" in lights!!
• Waltzing Parents Introduced by Penelope (rehearsal)
• Take out the papers and the trash (Bob singing and dancing)
• The chair dance (rehearsal)
• The fight scene (rehearsal)
• She’s the devil in disguise (Amanda singing and dancing)
• Funky dance break with our Super Hero
• Homework help from some dead historical guys
• The Asparagus Dance (check out Bob's moves)
• Time to Disco (Bob really cuts a rug in this one)
• Check out these moves
• The Blues in the Night (part one)
• The Blues in the Night (part two)
• Tears of the vegetables
• It is I, Captain Vegetable
• My name is Andy and I love candy
• Miss Asparagus
• This is the dawning of the age of Asparagus
• Let the sunshine in
• Some final advice from Penelope
• Advice part two
• With love, The Great Penelope
• Finale Dance (part one)
• Finale Dance (part two)
• Finale Dance (part three)
• Finale Dance (part four)
• A bow from Bob
• A bow from Amanda
• The curtain closes

Fabulous February (2008)

Well - lots of fun was had in February (as usual). Amanda and some fellow dancers performed at Austin's school for their High School Musical fun night. Of course there was Valentine's Day. Let's not forget some birthday fun. I celebrated with my friend Claudia and then of course... we celebrated with our girl, Amanda. Be sure to check out her birthday photo album. And of course, Austin got all the boyz out on the basketball court. Enjoy the very fun video footage I captured of that! Speaking of basketball, be sure to check out the highlights from Austin's February basketball games.

Fabulous February (2008)

Click the image on the left to see all our February Follies in action!

The Bobcat in our back yard

Third times a charm... i finally caught this beautiful creature on one of it's frequent strolls through our back yard. Read about my story on KOMO News.... http://www.komonews.com/younews/31108294.html

We made it on the front page of the Enterprise newspaper!!

'This is Thriller ...'
Applause dancers help bust world record

By Alexis Bacharach Mill Creek Enterprise editor

Olivia Pace's jaw dropped at the thought that children, her own age 25 years ago, sat glued to their televisions awaiting the world premier of Michael Jackson's landmark "Thriller" video on MTV... Read Entire Article HERE.