Day 59/365

Katie pauses before leaving for swim lessons to catch a snowflake on her tongue.
With style.

Day 58/365

Cheating. this photo was from yesterday.
I love it too much to not have it in our scrapbook. :)

Andrew was invited to his first birthday party that was just for him!
He was SO excited and has been counting down the days.
He had a great time ~ I was so happy for him.
One of those small but oh, so special things in life.

PS. I believe there are few things cuter in life than a little boy in a superhero shirt.
Melt my heart.

Day 57/365

Dinner at Lapellah to celebrate my birthday.

A wonderful treat to have time alone with Dan.

So thankful that Shannon & Ryan watched the kids so we could go....

They had a fantastic time. 

A group of "Best friends"~ these kids are all so special to me.

Band Hero came out as we were arriving after dinner and lots of fun/laughs followed. 

Dan on the drums and Ryan on the mic ~ quite the duo.  :)

Day 56/365

(I actually took this photo of Matthew on my birthday. But it's really hard for me to get as many photos of Matthew because he's at school during the day...so I wanted to put this one in our book).

Home for a "Snow Day." Having the kids home without a schedule on my birthday felt like a gift in itself.
The kids had a great time playing in the snow.
We were treated to the good stuff ~ Dry and fluffy flakes ~ not like our usual "Slushfall."

Day 55/365

Making a wish....

Celebrating 37 years with a quiet, relaxing day at home with my family.

Day 54/365

Passively catching snowflakes on his tongue wasn't on the agenda for Andrew who took them on with the ol' "One - Two"  during an afternoon snow fall.  My brave boy gave those snowflakes a good fight.  :)

Day 53/365

Dinner and a movie with my sister in law & friend, Michelle.
I am SO lucky to have Michelle as my sister in law.

Thai food, great company, and "The King's Speech."

A treat of a night, all the way around! 

Day 52/365

A very rare treat ~ Happy Meals!
For dinner!
With Chocolate milk!
Dan was working late.
A stop off on the way home from swim lessons made for 3 happy little kids.
Well, two happy boys and one unhappy little girl who has a really mean mommy who made her take a photo before she could get her fairy out.
So sad.
:)

Day 51/365

Does my nose always look this big and I just don't realize it?
If so, please lie to me and say it's the shadow.  Yikes!

Did you know that your nose never stops growing?

Some unfortunate news for a girl who comes from a line of unfortunate noses.  :)

Enough about the nose.  

I had a wonderful lunch with my dear friend Julie.  We've been friends for 24 years!

That makes me feel old!

Out for a birthday lunch together ~ time we both look forward to and cherish very much.

Girlfriend time is treasured time for me.

This day it was a 4 hour lunch at Claim Jumper.  

(We did have mercy on the server and spent a long time chatting in my car). :)

Day 50/365

Heading out to the park.

Dan selected Katie's outfit (down to the bow) and did her hair.

She requested a pony tail. I thought he did a great job ~ those tiny bands aren't easy!

I love to watch their sweet relationship grow.

Day 49/365

Matthew helps to make pizzas for family movie night.

Home made caramel corn and a viewing of Tarzan to follow.

I was lucky to get to sit snuggled next to Matthew under a blanket.

A very fun night.

Day 48/365

The (dreaded) Car Cart at Fred Meyer.

"Can we PLEASE?"

"Not today, honey."

And then I paused.

They're already a tight fit.

Not for too much longer will I have two little ones that can fit into the car cart.

"Okay, everyone pile in!"

"YAY!!!"

And Mommy got her work out at the grocery store. :)

I have to say, the sight of the two of them in the cart made my heart happy.

Day 47/365

"What is that, Mama?"

Kaitlin's first question this morning when she saw the snow falling outside.

We seized the moment ~ as snow is a fleeting thing here.

Andrew and Katie spent time playing outside in the snow.
Andrew made this great snow man. 
Complete with carrot nose and chocolate chip eyes and smile.

Mama enjoyed a quiet house -- amazing!!!!

I could get used to this.... :)

Then inside to warm fingers and noses with some hot cocoa.

Day 46/365

No picture of the day today. I have had a stomach bug and didn't take one.

So here is Valentine's Day, take 2.

3 sweet little Valentines.

1 lucky, happy Mama.

Day 45/365

My 3 little Valentines.

Red Velvet cupcakes for an after school treat.
Oregano shrimp for dinner, peanut butter chocolate tart.
Small gifts.
Sweet cards.
A very happy day.

Day 44/365

We tried.
We failed.
We'll try again soon.
Potty training has never been easy in our house.
It doesn't look like #3 will be any different.
Kaitlin - 1. Mommy & Daddy - 0.

Day 43/365

Matthew addresses his Valentine's in anticipation of Valentine's Day on Monday!
I used to love selecting valentine's from the store as a child. Matthew chose "Lego Racer" sticker puzzle Valentines. He carefully addressed them...making a box next to each child's name, then putting a check mark when he finished it. Putting the Valentine on his "finished" stack, then straightening the pile. So Matthew. This process went much faster this year!

Day 42/365

Helped out with the Foxes today.
Hanging artwork.
Matthew's is the sunflower with the red background middle row, far left.  I'm going to frame it and hang it on the wall when it comes home.
Matthew also read his "Writer's Workshop" book with me.  "All about Matthew."  I came home to an email from his teacher saying how "impressed" she and another teacher (who has Matthew for "Walk to Read") have been with how well Matthew treats/handles a boy with a "unique" personality in the class ~ who was recently moved to sit next to Matthew.
Those are the kinds of comments that make my heart proud.  (I wanted to reply and say, "It's because Matthew is used to living with "unique" personalities! Ha!) :)

Day 41/365

Andrew came in from playing outside. 

My back was turned as I was chatting on the phone. 

I turned around to see him curled up in a little ball on the sofa, fast asleep.

I think there are few things sweeter in life than a sleeping child.

I just can't keep myself from kissing those cheeks.

Day 40/365

Kaitlin sees to it that our windows are properly decorated for Valentine's Day.

My little helper.

"I help with you" is one of the things I often hear from her.

I hope she always stays my helper.

Day 39/365

Andrew was my companion on a long trip south to pick up a piece for Kaitln's bed ~ and various other not-so-exciting places for a 5 year old.
He was so good!  I enjoyed holding his hand and sharing some one on one time with him.  Even if the tasks we were doing weren't thrilling, it was nice just being with him.
I rewarded him with a cookie, and we were on such a roll we ended the day with a much needed hair cut.  Where he sat so STILL!  My little boy is growing up.

Day 38/365

Cheating a bit.

This photo wasn't taken today, but I want it in our family scrapbook, so I'm including it today.

This was after all, how it all began three years ago.

Dan. And me. And our baby. 

And now she is three.

Day 37/365

Our baby turned THREE today!
 We celebrated with an afternoon at The Children's Museum and dinner at Red Robin. 
Followed by Cake, ice cream and presents at home.

Can you see her three little fingers on her left hand? :)

I think her big bow makes her look like a birthday present.

She has most definitely been a precious gift to us.

Happy birthday Bugaboo!

Day 36/365

Kaitlin admires her birthday corsage given to her by her Daddy.
She LOVES the corsages he gives her and will continue to wear them after the flowers are dried up and fallen off.

Her third birthday "Princess" party was today.

It was a happy afternoon celebrating our little girl with close friends and family.

Day 35/365

I'm cheating.

This photo was actually taken on Saturday.

But it represents what I did on Friday ~ decorated Kaitlin's princess party cake! One of my favorite cakes so far.

Neopolitan cake: Strawberry, chocolate, and white layers with dark chocolate frosting ~ it was a hit!

Day 34/365

Oh the fun a girl can have with ribbon and a glue gun!

Sweet wands that I found for $1 at JoAnn's.

I embellished them with flowers and ribbons to match Katie's party.

Day 33/365

Grammie offered to come and lend a hand for a couple of days.

I gratefully accepted!

She left today...we're looking forward to seeing her and Grandpa this weekend for Kaitlin's party!

In this photo I can see where Dan and Kaitlin got their smiles. :)

Day 32/365

A LONG day of running errands for me.

10 stops. 9:30am - 7pm.

Thank goodness for Grammie who kept the kids!

Couldn't have done it without her.

Lists and coupons are my companion.

Notice the glitter on the tablecloth, upper right?

EVERYTHING is covered in glitter in our house. :)