Day 91/365 ~ 2012 Part 2

While the kids are away...
Mom & Dad go out and play!!!
NW 23rd Pottery Barn.
Then dinner in the Pearl District at Piazza Italia.  (Locals ~ It's SO good, but make a reservation!)
We walked around the pearl district and just enjoyed being together a little bit before we went to eat....





The restaurant is small, and very casual, but the food is authentic and they are always full!  (At least when I've been there).  We ended the evening watching "The Hunger Games."  A wonderful day!

Day 91/365 ~ 2012

Ready to go to Grammie & Grandpas for a FOUR NIGHT stay!
What are Mom & Dad going to do?!?!
Everyone in the family is excited about this trip! :)

Day 90/35 ~ 2012

Happy Spring Break!!!
We took the kids out for frozen yogurt to celebrate the start of Spring Break.
This is a fun place where you get to fill your own cup and add the toppings yourself.
A fun way to kick off the week.

Day 88/365 ~ 2012

Crafting on the floor.
Every day you can find a child here on the floor with the craft bin out.  (Most often, Matthew).
It is usually littered with markers and scraps of paper and kids.
It's both annoying (this is the walkway to the kitchen) and makes me happy (love seeing them being creative) all that the same time.

Day 87/365 ~ 2012

Spring has sprung!  The plants are starting to bloom!  I took the Bug outside to see the flowers emerging from their rest and she had fun exploring the yard looking for new growth.



My happy girl.



And my 4 year old, who when she gets upset will stop off.
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Day 86/365 ~ 2012

Andrew lost another tooth!
3 in a row are missing ~ giving him that great toothless smile.
Andrew is such a cute & lovable age right now.

Day 85/365~2012

Love how Katie is admiring Michelle. :)

A delicious french toast & fritata brunch at Mike & Michelle's house for my birthday!
Oreo, Vanilla, Red Velvet & "Princess" cupcakes.
An afternoon matinee with Michelle (The Hunger Games!)
A great conclusion to my month long birthday celebration.  :)

Day 84/365 ~ 2012

(Photos taken on 3/25)

The sunshine beckoned the bug out for a stroll.



I think "Sparkle Chandelier"  (her stuffed pony) enjoyed her ride.

Day 83/365 ~ 2012

We were so happy to host Shannon & Ryan's family to celebrate Ryan's great new job.
We hope this is a wonderful new chapter in their life.
Daube Provencal, french bread and green salad for dinner.
We enjoyed visiting while the kids ate pizza, put on jammies and watched "Hop."
At least for a little while.  Then the costumes came out and the fun began.

Day 82/365 ~2012

While the calendar says it's officially spring, the weather certainly isn't acting like it.
This was the view from my bedroom window the morning of the 3rd day of spring.

Day 81/465 ~ 2012

It's a little hard to see in this photo, but the Bug got her hair cut today and our stylist then put it in a heart braid. 
She was thrilled.
Thrilled.
She went to bed with it in.
Woe to me when it has to come out.
It isn't going to be pretty!

Day 80/365 ~ 2012

After being sent to time out in his room, things were awfully quiet.
I peeked in to find Andrew had fallen asleep and took nearly a 2 hour nap.
Sweet sleepy boy.

Day 79/365 ~ 2012

(This photo was actually taken on 3/18).

A mission to take a photo with our friend's "Flat Stanley" (a second grade social studies project from North Carolina) took us to Captain William Clark Park where Lewis & Clark camped along the bank of the Columbia River in April of 1806.



Despite the gloomy cloud cover & rain, the kids still had a fun time.
We're all itching for the sun to come out and have some outdoor adventures!

Day 78/365 ~ 2012

Matthew completed his communion training!
After asking for a year to take communion we signed him up for the class.
He was so excited to take communion for the first time and proudly wore his cross to school on Monday.
We are very proud of you, Matthew and excited to watch your own journey as you grow in your faith.
May God Bless you & keep you, precious boy!

Day 77/365 ~ 2012

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



Our St. Paddy's Day...

A Shamrock trail, green toilet water, an unsuccessful leprechaun trap, Leprechaun mischief (they read our Easter books!), gold coins, Lucky Charms, green milk, Leprechaun masks, "Find the Leprechaun" ~ game made up by the boys, corned beef & cabbage, Green Velvet cupcakes.



A very happy day!

Day 76/365 ~ 2012

Some spontaneous fun at "The Green Park" with the Bug.
Black Mary Janes & a wand clutched in a sweet little hand make my heart happy.

Day 75/365 ~ 2012

I found these sweet words written by Matthew on a notepad of mine when he was in Kindergarten.
I don't know what prompted him to write them, but I taped the paper to the wall and it's been there for two years. 
I recently put them in this little frame.
One of my favorite things.

Day 74/365 ~ 2012

Matthew's "Leprechaun Trap."
He was SO excited about this project and with the exception of some help on his trap mechanism from Dan, he did it all himself.
Out of Legos, of course.
When the treasure chest is lifted, the trap door opens.
He is anxiously awaiting to find out if a mischievous Leprechaun will fall for his trap! :)

Day 73/365 ~ 2012

Classic Matthew & Andrew.
Andrew lounging on the stairs while Matthew helps him with his shoes.
(Getting ready to go play in the snow today).
Matthew takes care of Andrew in a lot of different ways.
But Andrew keeps Matthew in stitches....



A common dinner scene.
This photo was from this evening.
After the boys are sent upstairs to get ready for bed hysterical laughter erupts in a matter of minutes.
If told to clean the play room....again, hysterical laughter.
Lots of laughter,  very little productivity.

Our problems could be worse.

Day 72/365 ~ 2012

These two look so much alike!
When Kaitlin was born she looked JUST like Andrew.  As an infant she looked less like him, but right now they look a lot alike again.
They're personalities are less alike, but complement each other nicely.
(I think Andrew's personality complements most anyone ~ we lucked out to have him as our middle child, he creates such harmony in our family.)



Kaitlin adores her big brother.
The feeling is mutual.
Sweet siblings, indeed.

Day 71/365 ~ 2012

Birthday fun with Shannon!
Lunch at "The Rock."
"The Help" on DVD.
Working on Project Life scrapbook for me, cutting birthday banners, for her.



Lots & lots (& lots!) of talking.
Time like this is rare & cherished these days and something I really miss. 
A huge treat to have a long, relaxing day with one of my very dearest friends.
(A BIG thank you to Dan & Ryan who made it possible!!!!)

Day 70/365 ~ 2012

Friends since we were 12, Julie & I always look forward to our birthday dates.
Breakfast at La Provence & 5 hours of uninterrupted conversation.
A wonderful treat!

Day 69/365 ~ 2012

"What Holiday is it, Mama?"
"It's just a regular day today, honey."
"I know, it's St. Patrick's Day!! I'll wear my green dress!"
"No, you can wear green next week, today you need to choose a sweatsuit."

Here is how she presented herself for the day.....



We are now in daily clothing negotiations.
Here was our compromise for the day.....



The dress came off (she was NOT happy about that).
Mama's choice:  The shirt and flowers for her hair, and no dress.
Kaitlin's choice:  Bracelets, necklace, clip, socks, shoes, and sweat suit were her choice.   The sunglasses stayed as well, they just weren't photographed.

Day 68/365 ~ 2012

We headed to the park after school to soak up some of the delicious sunshine that we were treated to.
We enjoyed every second as rain returns this weekend, but it gives us hope of sunny days to come!
(Kaitlin's sticker is from her well check ~ so thankful for healthy kids!)

Day 67/365 ~ 2012

Hannah and Matthew don't have much time together anymore since they are both in school all day, so we had Hannah over for a play date.
They decorated sugar cookies (just sprinkling pre-packaged pillsbury sugar cookies) ~ a little treat we first did when Hannah came to visit as a little 3 year old. They still love to do this!



Earlier in the day Katie and I had a little fun in the sunshine.
Me, snapping photos.
Her, picking "flowers." (Weeds). :)

Day 66/365 ~ 2012

"Doughnuts with Dad" day at pre-school ~ a big, big day.
Kaitlin's guess at Dan's age:  "58"
Thing she likes to do best with Daddy:  "Tickles!"
Kaitlin was SO excited for this special day & had trouble when Daddy had to leave....
lots of tears.
She wore her tie that Daddy made her until bedtime.

Day 65/365 ~ 2012

An artist I am not.  But I disguised myself with a paper bag to be the "Mystery Reader" today in Matthew's class.
You should have seen the kids' faces!  So funny!
After several minutes I heard Matthew quietly say, "It's my Mom."How could he tell? 
He recognized the bag I was carrying & my ring. :)
Matthew's favorite poems from Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends" were my choice. 
Silly voices & all.  (I did the reading after I removed the bag).
I should have removed prior to sitting down ~ I nearly missed the chair.  It just added to the humor.  :)
I asked Matthew if I embarrassed him.   He said no. 
I wish I could always remember the little smile on his face.
I find the less seriously I take myself, the more fun I have with the kids.
It was a really fun afternoon.

Day 64/365 ~ 2012

I often lay out Kaitlin's clothes the night before school or church.
I didn't notice until after I put her clothes out that she had already beat me to it....



Love it. 
She chose her favorite dress, a pair of tights, and of course her accessories. 
She is always well accessorized these days. :)

Day 63/365 ~ 2012

Matthew tested for his yellow belt today!
He did great!
Pictured with Master Yun who owns/runs the school.
His goal is for his students to "not get a Gold Medal in the Olympics, but get a Gold Medal in life."
This has been a great program for the boys.

Day 62/365 ~ 2012

Andrew:  "Mama, Why is the fire hydrant for sale?"

:)