Photo a Day: Day 66: Little Chefs

Q and A have a cookbook for kids and they have been very into making creations from the book. They look so cute in their aprons! The dish of the evening was turkey and cheese stack snacks. They layered turkey and cheese and put toothpicks in it for a late night snack. Such adorable little kitchen helpers.

Photo a Day: Day 65: Kathy's Visit

Kathy rode the train up on Friday afternoon and stayed with us until Sunday. We went out to dinner with Mark Dyce on Friday night in Pike's Place Market. We did some shopping on Saturday and then spent time with Theresa that night. On Sunday we did a marathon Goodwill day going to several Goodwills on the way down to taking her home. We found a few bargains, but mostly just had a great time catching up with each other. I love the times we are able to spend together in person since we live so far apart. They are times that I cherish.

Photo a Day: Day 64: Baby Travis Visits

Troy-Skott and JR brought Travis over to meet Kathy and Theresa. It was so good to see his sweet little face. He is walking now, even though he is afraid to walk on the hardwood floors. I love seeing Troy-Skott and JR be such amazing dads. Travis is one lucky baby to be lavished with so much love. I can't believe he has been in our lives for almost a year now!

Photo a Day: Day 63: Show and Tell and Playdate

Addison was very excited when Show and Tell was the letter Q. She turned to me and said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" From that moment on we knew she HAD to take Q for her show and tell that week. It was a perfect time since he was off on mid-winter break. Q stayed out in the hall and Addison ran out into the hall to get him when it was her turn. She hugged him and cuddled him so hard he thought she was trying to kill him. The students all gave Q a high five and chased him around the room. After school we had a small playdate at our house with Kaylee and Benjamin. It was a great day for Addison to shine. She loved showing off her toys. It was very cute when she and Kaylee put makeup on all by themselves. A great day.

Photo a Day: Day 62: Playdate with Brendan

Quinton has a playdate every other week with Brendan at his house during the school year. It was our turn to host Brendan during mid-winter break. The boys (along with the tag along little sister) were mostly obsessed with playing video games. They did go outside for a while to play some basketball, football and sword fight, but as always it returned to video games. They had a great time even if the screen time was a bit high for my liking.

Photo a Day: Day 61: Josh's New Haircut!

Josh had been growing his hair out and it was quite long when he decided he would get it cut. He went to a new salon and got a hip new style for himself. I think he looks super cute and sexy with his new cut. I love the look and think it is the best style he has had since I have known him for these past thirteen years. Looking good!

Photo a Day: Day 60: Day at Home

Even though we went to the orthodontist, picked Jared up and had an eye appointment, it was good to just have a day at home during mid-winter break where we could just enjoy each other's company. Time flies so fast with errands and playdates that the casual times we get to spend together are even more precious to us.

Photo a Day: Day 59: Making Lasagna

One of my favorite things that Josh makes is lasagna. It takes a long time to make it as well as he does, and the kids loved helping him out, if you call helping eating noodles and cheese. The dinner that night was to die for...he is the best cook! I love being spoiled by his culinary talents.

Photo a Day: Day 58: Mexican Food!

Josh and Quinton love our local Mexican restaurant. We hadn't gone there in many months, so we treated the kids to a dinner out. It was the best food ever. The kids, Josh and I rated the experience a 10! The churros and icecream at the end helped our rating system go off the charts.

Photo a Day: Day 57: Babysitter!

Josh and I took the first morning of my mid-winter break to have lunch together and run some errands, so we got a babysitter for the kids. When Anne arrived it was as if she was a rock star. They hugged her and couldn't wait to play games with her. We never have to feel guilty about leaving our kids with a babysitter because they think it is the best thing in the world!

Photo of the Day: Day 56: Chess

Quinton checked out a book from the library about chess recently. He has become interested in the game again, so Josh played with him. Q likes to create new chess games and rules so he can win. He is so logical and smart I can see him being a great chess player like Josh one day...that is if he will play by the rules!

Photo a Day: Day 55: Slip Slidin' Away

For some reason the game of the night was to see how far the kids could slide into the room. Originality and style also played into the slides as they tried to one up each other on their creative moves. Josh and I sat on the couch watching the show. They entertain us every night with their antics.

Photo a Day: Day 54: Bath Time!

Addison loves to take baths. She especially likes it when she gets the chance to take one alone so she can spread out and have the whole tub to herself. Since taking swim lessons she has been great about putting her head under water, too. She smells so good when she comes out of the bathtub...I love to cuddle her so she can warm up.

Photo a Day: Day 53: Valentine's Day

How lucky are we to have grandparents that live near us? Rod and Charlene took the kids overnight so we could spend Valentine's Day together without the kiddos. We went out to dinner early in the evening to Maharaja for some Indian food. Then we got desserts to take home from Bakery Noveau. We then spent a romantic night at home enjoying each other's company in the quiet house. The desserts were definitely decadent, but having time to ourselves was the most delicious part of the night.

Photo a Day: Day 52: Cuddle Time

Addison called me into the TV room to say she had the perfect picture for my photo a day. She and Q were neatly cuddled into each other's arms. It is so sweet and we are so blessed that our kids get along so well. They truly do love each other and love being around each other...it doesn't get better than that.

Photo a Day: Day 51: Old Friends

The sleepover with Casey and Josie reminds me of how precious old friends really are. We have known those girls their whole lives and it is amazing to watch them grow into the incredible young people they are today. Even though they may not see each other that often, Casey, Josie, Quinton and Addison get along like the best of friends.

Photo a Day: Day 50: Sleepover!

We had Casey and Josie over for a sleepover on Saturday night. Dana spent the night with us, too. It was fun to hear the kids who have known each other since they were born reconnect and get along so well. They played school. They played good cat and bad cat. They played outside. They played the piano. Of course the first to fall asleep was Addison. Q and Josie say they stayed up past midnight...Q even said it was after one when he fell asleep. They all slept through the night. A great time to reconnect with old friends.

Photo a Day: Day 49: Computer Games

Quinton has really learned how to navigate the computer at school, and he wanted to play a few games that he learned about from their school website. He loves to play the games and Addison is content just to watch him play...she even does that when he plays his video games. It amazes me how easily the kids take to technology and can figure things out at such a young age with really no one teaching them.

Photo a Day: Day 48: Monster Box

So it was time to have one of Mr. Beal's famous FAMILY homework projects: a monster box to hold Q's Valentines. We covered a box with red paper and Q made teeth for the box. We painted some egg cartons for eyes and glued a few pipe cleaners to it and VIOLA...a monster was born! Josh and I still do the bulk of the work on these projects, but it is fun to see the end product!

Photo a Day: Day 47 : Lego Night

Addison fell asleep early this night, so Q had some time to himself to play with his Legos. He made a Super Starship and was very proud of his creation. He paraded it around to show Josh and me proudly. Such a cute and creative little guy.

Photo a Day: Day 46: Moon Sand

When Q and Josh headed out to piano lessons, Addison was sad because she wanted to do something special. She wanted to play with play-doh or even MOONSAND! I decided to head downstairs with her so she could play with the annoying stuff that we hardly let them have. When Q got home you would have thought it was a holiday he was so excited to see the moonsand! They played with it together for a while and it was good to see that the simple toys are still some of the best ones for their imagination.

Photo a Day: Day 45: Flower Girl

My friend at work, Amber, was kind enough to surprise me with flowers. When I brought them home, Addison was so excited. She wanted to smell them, see them, play with them. Addison, you are as beautiful as these flowers...so full of life and wonder. You make each day full of color and possibility.

Photo a Day: Day 44: Superbowl Sunday

We spent Superbowl Sunday at Rod and Charlene's house. Jared was forced to wear a Jolly Old Elf shirt because he had lost the bet the week before to Josh when the Giants beat the 49'ers. Jared was anything but Jolly and kept saying the same thing over and over regarding some call that had been made against the 49'ers in the week before. He was definitely a sore loser and no fun to watch the Superbowl with this year. We all placed bets on who would get the score at the end of the quarters and Charlene was the big winner. Of course the kids came home with money anyway from Papa again. We had great food...tortilla soup, chicken wings, meatballs, candy, cupcakes, salmon...a great celebration for an American pastime...let's just hope that next year Jared is a bit more JOLLY.

Photo a Day: Day 43: Uncle Gordon

We went to Uncle Gordon's memorial service at Adna High School. It was a sad day, but was also great to see how many people also loved him. DeeDe said it best in her slide show when she called him a local legend. He was a great man who took his time with each and every person to make them feel like they were the only person on the planet. He will be greatly missed.

Photo a Day: Day 42: Basilico Restaurant

Josh and I got away from it all and went to a charming restaurant in downtown Olympia called Basilico. We loved the quaint atmosphere. The dishes were to die for! Josh made me pick the wine...so I asked for help from the wine steward. It was a great night with the best company ever. We loved the specialty dish called Pappardelle al Cinghiale which is an egg pasta with Italian wild boar. It was delicious.

Photo a Day: Day 41: Cat House for Leo

The kids were so excited to take the box from a delivery we got and make a cat house for Leo. They took tape and taped paper to the sides of the box for him to scratch at because they noticed he was interested in it. They hoped if they made him this house that he wouldn't claw our furniture anymore. They went and got him food and water to put in the house, too. Leo really liked it. He kept going inside of it, as he does with most new things, but the kids were quite proud of themselves for creating a new place for Leo to play.

Photo a Day: Day 40: Addison's Concert

Addison had a Spring concert at Our Lady of Guadalupe. The kids sang Singing in the Rain so they wore their raincoats and rainboots. Addison was very cute in the front row singing her heart out, although I don't think many of the kids knew the words. Quinton's advice to her before the concert was to just follow what the other kids were saying...she said she already did that! A very sweet concert for a very sweet little girl.

Photo a Day: Day 39: Being Served

After dinner, Q and A served Josh and I another complete meal. They had tea with sugar, sweets, healthy and unhealthy snacks, main dishes...just every kind of food you could think of ready for us to eat. It was very nice to be served a meal and be waited on hand and foot by the cutest waiter and waitress in history.

Photo a Day: Day 38: Lazy Evening

We spent a lazy evening doing what we love to do best: Q was playing his DSI while Addison got to watch Dungeons and Dragons. Sometimes nights with nothing to do but the simple pleasures are the best way to start a week. Happy Monday!

Photo a Day: Day 37: Royal Rumble

We went to Rod and Charlene's house to watch the Royal Rumble. Thirty wrestlers come out and wrestle until only one is left in the ring. Each of us got to draw numbers to see which wrestlers we would bet on and the big winner of the night was Josh with Charlene and Rod coming in second and third. Of course the kids always seem to end up with the most money because Papa always gives them his winnings. It was a good time to spend with family and enjoy some good food and harmless wagering to make it a bit more fun.

Photo a Day: Day 36: Q's Piano Recital

Kathy's mom's funeral took place this day, but I rushed up to make it in time to see Q's piano recital. It was pretty exciting that it was held at Chief Sealth this time. Q got to practice in the piano lab at the school beforehand. Then he got to play his pieces on the stage in the theatre. He played four pieces and did a wonderful job. He kept his poise throughout the whole performance and was a real little gentleman. So cute and so talented!

Photo a Day: Day 35: DSI in Bed

Q wakes up very early in the morning to play his DSI. He is quite good at the games and I guess I should say that I think he is a bit obsessed. It is tough for him to find time to play during the week with homework and such, so he often will wake up when he hears my alarm in the morning. He will then get up and get some good DSI time in while he snuggles down in his bed.

Photo a Day: Day 34: Running Laps

Our house makes a perfect place to run laps because we have the circle in the middle where the kids seem to find themselves jumping and dancing about in circles. This night Q and A were running laps around the house to see who was fastest. Q is still faster than Addison, but she is really catching up with him and it won't be long until he finds that she will take the lead!