Photo a Day; Day 33: Sweet Disney Treats

Josh's co-worker Denise goes to Disneyland every year. She is always very thoughtful and brings our kids home some sort of gift. This year it was chocolate dipped Mickey Mouse shaped Rice Krispy treats. The kids devoured them with delight and took the time to write Denise a thank you note right away since sweet treats like this have been scarce around here lately.

Photo a Day; Day 32; Story Time

Q is such a good big brother. He reads stories to Addison. This one we were particularly impressed with his reading because it had a ton of words from the Alaska natives in it that were difficult to pronounce. He did a great job reading them and using different voices for the characters. Such a sweet moment shared between the two siblings.

Photo a Day: Day 31: Movie Night?

I rented Whale Tale for the kids to watch. We got popcorn and snacks and everyone got cozy. Unfortunately, the film didn't hold their interest. So much for that movie rental!

Photo a Day: Day 30: Video Game Club and Girls' Day

Q has a friend, Finn, who has started a Video Game Club. It is pretty cool. They have about five to seven boys over to play a combination of hand held and Wii video games. They work on helping each other learn the games and it is actually great social interaction. Q had an impromptu meeting this day, so Addison and I had a girls' day. We made a list of things we wanted to get done, but only got through two of them (play with playdoh and have a snack)before it was time to get Quinton. We did finish up with have hot cocoa and paint fingernails later that day, though!

Photo a Day: Day 29: Old Toys are New Again!

After clearing out so many things from the basement and saving the classic things that the kids really wanted we found that they were playing with those toys again. Q really got back into making things with Lincoln Logs again. The structures he built were classic and great. Addison rediscovered Mr. Potatohead and made a whole little family of them. Even though we felt quite wasteful as we got rid of the things we no longer used I think the lesson is very clear: less is more. Classic is best. Who better to teach us these lessons than our children?

Photo a Day: Day 28: Lost 1,000 Pounds in a Day!

After all of my years of dieting I can't believe how easy it was to lose so much weight in one day. Josh and I got really focused on our downstairs and decided it was time to clean out what we don't use. The kids have used it pretty much as a toy graveyard for years. They were great about saying we could get rid of things. I was great about burying my hoarding tendencies (yes, I even gave away some of my old board games from the seventies!) It was tough to see some things go, but it was good to have breathing room to expand for the hobbies and the things that we actually do in our lives. Josh bagged it all up and took it to the Goodwill or left it out in the driveway for people to take. We gave away the cradle, an art table, tons of toys, dishes, frames, books...so many things that made us feel lighter immediately. Our house feels like a new place. Now it is time for new carpet and a new sofa and it will be a truly transformed basement.

Photo a Day; Day 27: Power Outage Sleepover and Poker

The severe weather left several people in the area without power. Rod, Charlene and Jared lost power early Thursday and after Rod got off work they headed over for a sleepover and to warm up. The kids got built a bed out of the cushions from downstairs since their beds were going to be occupied. They were quite excited to sleep on them, although it was pretty much a disaster that ended up with Addison on the couch, then in our bed and with Q eventually on the couch and complaining of a stiff neck the next day. Charlene went to bed early because she had back pain, but the rest of us played some poker. It was good to spend a family night together even if it was because of an unfortunate event. Their power was back on the next day although Jared ended up spending the whole weekend with us.

Photo a Day: Day 26: SNOW DAY!

We woke to what some in Seattle were dubbing the Snowpocolypse, a blanket of snow on the ground about four inches deep, enough to keep us out of school and at home for a snow day. The kids could barely wait to get their winter clothes on and head out into the fluffy, white snow. For some reason they always want to clear the snow off my car, and they spent a great deal of time doing that. We built a mini-snowman which they promptly destroyed by throwing the snowballs at their dad. We tried our homemade versions of sleds (laundry baskets) to not much success, but some friendly neighbor kids let the kids borrow their sleds. We got a few good runs in on our awesome sledding hill. Addison was braver than Q and took a few more runs than he did (of course he said it was just because he was cold, not just cold, mind you, FROSTBITTEN). We spent the rest of the day by the fire and the kids were content to play video games and just look at the snow. Love having time with the family in these unexpected days off.

Photo a Day: Day 25: Dentist

We took the kids for their half yearly check up today. Everything went well, thank goodness. We got a referral to an orthodontist for Quinton for a possible retainer because his lower teeth are hitting the roof of his mouth instead of his upper teeth. We have always figured that the kids would need braces anyway, but second grade seems so young! The kiddos were excited to come home and use their new toothbrushes and practice the new techniques they learned for brushing their teeth. So glad a trip to the dentist brings (mostly) good news.

Photo a Day: Day 24: A Warm Fire

We were so excited to come home to the kiddos after our trip. It had snowed while were gone. It had been in the sixties when we were in Vegas, so we were cold when we got home. It didn't take much convincing for us to get Josh to build us a warm fire to make the house all warm and cozy. So good to be back and cuddling up as a family.

Photo a Day: Day 23: Vegas with Josh

Josh and I spent all day Sunday together running around Vegas. First we headed over to the Palms, but we were disappointed when the machines he liked to play were gone and the cafe we tried to eat at had really bad service so we left before we even got served. We then headed downtown to Main Street. We played video poker for a while and then had a great lunch at a brew pub. Even though we gambled a lot and lost it all, it was great just spending time together. After we were done downtown, we headed back to Ceasar's Palace and Josh had a cigar at Casa Fuente while we drank mojitos. I had a tangerine flavored one. We got to see Dick Butkus and Pete Rose who were signing autographs nearby. We people watched...one of my favorite things to do in Vegas. The highlight of the night was going to dinner at Il Mulino...a great Italian restaurant. Josh has bragged about the rack of lamb from there for seven years. I finally got to taste it and it was fabulous. I got gnocci. The tiramisu was also heavenly. Time alone with Josh is always my favorite way to spend free time. It was a beautiful night. We topped it off with him buying another cigar from Casa Fuente and him smoking it as we walked around the casino and did more people watching. A beautiful day.

Photo a Day: Day 22: Day with Claudia

I was so lucky to have a day of pampering and fun with my pal Claudia who used to live in Seattle but has moved to Vegas. She is now a savvy local who knew just where to go to show me a great time around the city. First I got to see her MANSION. She has a beautiful home that has a gorgeous pool and a great layout. I was so excited to see how she lives. I also got a quick glimpse of her kiddos. They have gotten so big and are so cute...just as they always were. We got a great coffee and had a manicure and a pedicure while chatting away about our lives. I loved the tapas bar we went to next...especially the pitcher of mojitos we shared while we caught up on all of the goings on of our lives. It was so sad to have her move away a few years ago, but knowing that our friendship can still remain strong across the miles was one of the best things I took away from this trip to Vegas.

Photo a Day: Day 21: Vegas Steakhouse

We flew into Vegas on Josh's birthday, January 13th, and met his friend Richard for steaks at a brand new steakhouse that had just opened in Ceasar's Palace called The Old Homestead. The steaks were delicious. None of us could finish our portions. Josh loved the tater tots I ordered. While we were there the lights mysteriously turned off, too. It was great company and great food to celebrate my favorite man on the planet.

Photo a Day: Day 20: Tinker Toy Wars

One of the best toy investments we ever made was Tinker Toys. They have provided endless hours of entertainment for the kids. Just tonight they were both building weapons, creating creatures and just making anything you can imagine out of them.

Photo a Day: Day 19: Swim Lessons

We have started the kids back at twice a week swim lessons at Southwest Community Center. Unfortunately we had to take a break because Q broke his arm last November. The kids picked right back up where they left off. I think Addison even moved up a level in her classes. Q is now completely swimming. It is great to see them comfortable in the water and loving their swim lessons. Of course the hightlight of these lessons is the hotub afterward!

Photo a Day: Day 18: Recital for Animals

Addison put on a dance recital for her stuffed animals and dolls. She got dressed in her dance clothes and played a classical piano piece. She danced, twirled and leaped across the living room all to the delight of her captive...very captive...audience.

Photo a Day: Day 17: Homework Hell

At about eight-thirty at night Q remembered a homework assignment he hadn't started and couldn't quite remember the specifics of. He got himself so worked up and upset over the assignment that he threw up. I had to call a classmate of his (of course they were already putting their son to bed and we were just in the middle of homework hell over here). As things usually do, it worked out in the end. Q remembered the assignment, wrote it well, and finished most of it in the morning bright and early. Howevever for a while we were not too thrilled with homework around our house!

Photo a Day: Day 16: Josh's Birthday

We celebrated Josh's birthday with his family this Sunday with a lasagna dinner and a brownie icecream pie. He was very excited to get money for Vegas and some premium whiskey for his gifts. We lounged around while the guys had a cigar and watched a football game. It was quality family time, as always. Good to celebrate someone we love so much.

Photo a Day: Day 15: New Haircut

Josh was amazing and surprised me with a cut, color and brow wax and tint! I was so shocked he had arranged it all and sent me on my way. The salon was a new one on 35th called Coco and Co. My stylist was Kim. It was a great experience. I then went next door to the Beauty Bar and had Lisa do a tint and shaping on my brows. I feel like a new woman!

Photo a Day: Day 14: Homework!!!

Addison LOVES homework. She gets a packet every Friday to complete over the weekend. She is always overly enthusiastic to complete each page. She screams and cheers herself on. So adorable to see this kind of excitement every week...hopefully it will last for a very long time.

Photo a Day: Day 13: On the Throne

My son reads forever on the toilet. He can finish a whole book while sitting on the throne. He is obsessed with reading and for some reason enjoys it best while sitting on the pot. Sometimes he has a ring around his bottom from sitting there so long! Crazy boy!

Photo A Day: Day 12: Never Clothed

Is it just my kids...or do everyone's kids run around with no clothes on for most of the time? My kids strip down to their underwear as soon as they can. It would be a miracle to find them both home and clothed at the same time. It doesn't matter to me, of course. I love seeing their chubby cheeks...both sets!

Photo A Day: Day 11: Wii Fit and Trampoline

The kids have been getting more active since we are encouraging fitness and activity points. We have been logging the time the kids have spent being active at home and are striving for sixty minutes a day: a committment for us all.

Photo a Day: Day 10: Back to School for Addison: Walk for Q

Addison had to go back to school a day earlier than Q and me. I got to take her to school, a very rare occasion for me, and she kissed me goodbye over and over. It was sweet to see her in her school element! The ponytails were also cute! We also started a fitness routine for the rest of us. Q and Josh went on a long walk to Westwood to get some exercise. We are trying to do sixty minutes of activity a day and trying to watch what we eat. The three of us each have a goal and we will try to reach it in fourteen weeks. Happy New Fit Year.