Day 152/365 ~ 2012

I chaperoned the "If you Give a Mouse A Cookie" ~ Portland's Children's theater production field trip with Andrew's kindergarten class today.  The kids had a great time!  I was so happy to get to go, but honestly was trying so hard not to fall asleep sitting in the dim theater!  :)  I'm wiped out!

Day 151/365~2012

Matthew pitched during his Little League game this evening!
We're not ready for the major leagues, but some kids were able to hit off of him which was great!
(Our league allows 3 pitches from the kids and then the coaches pitch)
I was really proud of him for trying!

Day 150/365 ~ 2012

First Day of Pre School

Last Day of Pre School

Things you know at 4:
All your letters
Numbers 1-8 (you missed 9 & 10 on your evaluation)
All of your colors
All of your shapes
You can count 1 to 30.



Words your teacher used to describe you (on your "developmental review")
(The "developmental review" is not a big deal...we do not attend an intense pre-school, the focus is really just on socializing the children, teaching them their fundamentals, fun themes and that God loves them).   Your teacher wrote a paragraph about you.  I pulled the descriptive words out and these were some of the words she used to describe you....

"Bright"
"Self-confident"
"Very outgoing"
"Very creative"
"Sensitive"

It was fun to read what someone else had to say about you that spends time with you regularly outside of our family, without us around. 



Your little self portrait.
Love that you gave yourself a bow.



Performing during the evening program. I'm not sure why you pointed at Gracie, but I love this photo of the 2 of you. You act just like sisters. You love one another so much and squabble too!



You & Gracie after your evening program posing with your self portraits.
And your first year of pre-school is over. It went so fast and you grew so much.
I'm really proud of you, Katiebug!!

Day 149/365 ~ 2012

Happy Memorial Day!!!

Day 148/365 ~ 2012

Matthew is 9!!





His last year as a "single digit."  Sigh.



I'd like to stick my toe out and trip the passage of time.  I could sit right here and enjoy my Matthew ~ who is not quite a little boy and not quite a teenager either ~ for quite some time.  He is nine years worth of sweetness, with just a touch of "I know everything because I'm 9".

Nana left in the morning after gift opening.



Matthew definitely looks like a "tweener" with his new ipod. Preloaded with music ranging from the Muppets, to Vacation Bible School songs, to some classic rock of Dan's selection.



We always do a family activity to celebrate birthdays (the friend party is next weekend) ~ Mathew's choice: Miniature golf!  (Love Kaitlin's frowny face!) :)






Brandi joined us for dinner at Red Robin and then cupcakes (Matthew's choice: Oreo!) at home for dessert!




Happy Birthday, Matthew!!!
You are such a joy & we love you soooo much!!!

Day 147/365 ~ 2012

All dressed up and somewhere to go!!



Mike's Rock Star 40th Birthday Bash!



It's not often that I have an occasion wear my Grandmother's earrings. I think this is only the second time. Dan snapped a close up.



First stop, dinner at Lapellah!  Michelle looked beautiful with her "rocker" eye shadow and "Farrah" hair.  :)



Our dear friend, Brandi flew in from Idaho Falls for the occasion. It was so great to see her! 




We piled into a Hummer Limo for the rest of the adventure!



Cheers!



The limo was something else!


The limo ride was definitely a big highlight for the night ~ really fun!


We went to Kell's Irish Pub and then on to the Wonder Ballroom/Secret Society where Mike and some of the crew went to the show, and the rest of us listened to a Johnny Cash Tribute Band (that was actually really good!)



It was definitely a special night out  & such an adventure!  I was really happy to be there to celebrate Mike's milestone birthday.  Happy Birthday, Mike!!!

Day 146/365 ~ 2012

Mike turned 40!
It doesn't seem possible, as we remember Mom turning 40! A significant milestone required some special fun to celebrate. With the big bash planned for the following night, our family gathered to celebrate over dinner. All in black to mourn the passing of Mike's youth. :) That is, all except Mike who didn't know we'd be all in black. :)







Steak, Wicked shrimp, salad & baked potatoes followed by Snickerdoodle Cake for dessert!  It was a nice to be gathered together.



Happy Birthday!!



Mike's new kicks. This is very Mike at 40.

Day 145/365 ~ 2012

Arrrgh!
 "Captain Gracie" with her sword tucked under her arm played "Pirates" with Katie & Andrew at the bus stop.
It was Shannon's birthday so we kept Grace so that she could enjoy some time to herself.
Happy Birthday, friend!!

Day 144/365 ~ 2012

No cavities!!

And no dreading the dentist at our house! With a sweet staff, video games, a play area and a treasure wagon, the dentist is met with excitement. The Bug got her chipped front teeth filed down and looks much more refined. :)



I snapped this photo while saying, "Andrew don't put that on your face, it has germs on it!" :)  It was funny though, and so very Andrew.

Day 143/365 ~ 2012

(For those who couldn't find me in the last photo ~ and you weren't alone if you couldn't ~  I'm peeking out from behind the pillar on the far left). :)




Walking upstairs with my phone in my hand I snapped this of the bug sitting quietly & playing with her Leap pad one afternoon in the living room.

Day 142/365 ~ 2012

Where's Kathy? Can you find me? :)
My calendar is filled to the brim with little things like this...decorating for "Fun Day" for the pre-school.
Summertime cannot arrive fast enough for me!  I'm ready for some white space in my calendar!

Day 141/365 ~ 2012

Because we sadly won't be home for the Memorial ceremony this year, we went to Dad's grave to leave flowers from his garden.
As I was taking photos of the flowers Kaitlin bent down and hugged & kissed his headstone.
I know she has no memory of him, and yet I was so touched to see this from her...recognition that he was someone special and important in her life even though he was with her for such a short time.  

Day 140/365 ~ 2012

After a day of helping Mom get caught up on some things around the house (the big job was moving out red lava rock in her front flower bed and replacing it with grey rock), Dan and I celebrated our Anniversary with dinner at the Hanford House ~ where we had our reception 14 years earlier. It was fun to go back & reminisce. We ended the evening at the movie "The 5 year engagement." A very fun night out with my love!

Day 139/365 ~ 2012

Shannon kindly took the kids for me while I was at the dentist.  (It'll be so nice next year to finally have a small window to make an appointment without having to burden a friend with childcare!)  She snapped this darling photo of 3 friends at the bus stop. 
Love it.

Day 138/365 ~ 2012

My friend Rachel has helped organize the year end meal for the Young Lives group (an outreach for teen moms) for the last few years.
I had fun serving with the ladies, and gentleman.  (Who by the way is married to the lady to his left and is one of the cutest couples I've encountered! So in love!)

Day 136/365 ~ 2012

My Matthew.
We very quickly took some photos for his 9th birthday (11 days away!) before his Little League game tonight.
He was such a cooperative, willing subject.
Dan nearly teared up when he looked at them...Matthew is growing up so quickly.
9 is half way to 18, and well, we just can't go there.

Nine words about Matthew at Nine.
1. Loving
2. Determined
3. Smart
4. Loyal
5. Curious
6. LEGOS!
7. Thumb
8. Talkative
9. Crafty

Day 135/365 2012

A $1.99 plastic "army guy" hat made Andrew a very happy camper today while running errands.
The addition of his cork gun made by grandpa ensured we were all well protected for the rest of the day.

Day 134/365 ~ 2012

I had a wonderful mother's day.
Breakfast in bed.
Lunch at "Beaches" ~ sitting outside in the sunshine!
A walk by the river.
A nap & Harry Potter with the boys.
Dan grilled a delicious dinner ~ pork chops, spinach salad, grilled zucchini & squash.
A variety of treats for dessert.




I was touched to see a message sporting Andrew's best penmanship.  His enthusiastic "a"s give his handwriting away.  :)  His writing is improving!



So much to be thankful for.