Photo a Day: Day 99: Painting

Addison was excited to paint a butterfly for her new babysitter Annabelle. She took great care to make the painting pretty for her. She loves to be creative and has a fairly long attention span for a four year old. Of course she got paint everywhere and headed straight into the bath afterward. A perfect Saturday morning project!

Photo a Day: Day 98: Titanic Project

Another one of Mr. Beal's famous FAMILY projects was the Titanic Project. Q was given the name of an actual passenger on the Titanic to research and write a monologue about. Q's person was Father Robert James Bateman, a minister from Florida who lost his life on the Titanic. We made a three foot doll cut out of him and wrote a monologue of his life that Q is memorizing. As always it was Josh and I who did most of the work, but Q was proud of the results.

Photo a Day: Day 97: Heater Girl

I think Addison inheirted my cold gene. She loves to cuddle up in front of the heater every chance she gets. She curls up into a little ball and just lets the warm heat rush out over her. If you don't know where she is be sure to check near the heater vents and you will be sure to find her!

Photo a Day: Day 96: Army Men

Q and A always create new games to play together. This night they had two armies set up to battle each other. Somehow Q's side always seems to have the advantage, but Addison doesn't seem to mind. We are very blessed to have two kids who love each other so much and treat each other so well when they play together.

Photo a Day: Day 95: Little Doggie

Addison pretended to be a little puppy this night. She had a bowl full of puppy food (pretzels) and a little bowl of water with a tinker toy straw that she was drinking and eating out of. We threw her little Scooby snacks and she would chase them all over the house and eat them. It is so fun to have this little girl entertain us every night with her imaginative play...there is never a dull moment with her around.

Photo a Day: Day 94: Brushing Teeth

Addison is the best about brushing her teeth. She always rushes into the bathroom to do it as soon as we suggest it. She has such a delightful spirit that makes it a joy to parent her. When we ask her to help us or do something she is quick to comply. Her quick smile is even brighter because of her ever clean teeth!

Photo a Day: Day 93: Dolly Walk

Addison wanted to take her Cinderella doll on a walk in the same stroller Daddy takes her on a walk with. She pushed the dolly around the house like a proud little Mommy. She is such a darling little girl, and I love the moments where she plays so sweet and innocent.

Photo a Day: Day 92: Saturday Walk

Josh and the kids took one of their long walks in our neighborhood Saturday morning. They walked up to Gatewood Elementary School and played on the playground for quite a while. The kids love taking long walks with their dad and even though Josh still pushes Addison in the stroller it is great exercise for all of them.

Photo a Day: Day 91: Daddy's Shoulders

Josh came home early from work this day. Quinton was away at a playdate, so Addy loved getting all of Daddy's attention. She kept wanting Daddy to tickle her over and over. He chased her around the house and she roared with laughter. They ended their playtime with her on her Daddy's shoulders. Her grin says it all.

Photo a Day: Day 90: DSI

Addison is obsessed with watching her brother play his DSI. She loves cuddling up next to him and see how he manuevers his way through the game. Even though she has her own DSI she seems to get more pleasure out of watching him play his. Go figure!

Photo a Day: Day 89: Candyland!

Addison loves to play family games. Her favorite choice of the moment is Candyland. This night she kept winning and nothing could make her happier than kicking her mom and dad's butt in the game. She gets very excited at the end when she wins and pretends to eat up all the candy. Such a sweet little girl!

Photo a Day: Day 88: Wrestling with Dad!

Since Q and A could walk and perhaps even before, they have both been obsessed with wrestling their dad. It always takes place on the bed. They weigh in, give themselves wrestler names and announce themselves. This night Josh's name was Buttsniff. The love jumping on him, attacking him, and creating new moves. The sounds of laughter during these wrestling matches echo through the house. This is the kids' all time favorite activity in the world and the smiles on their faces say it all.

Photo a Day: Day 87: Irish Brussel Sprout

Quinton came home on the Monday after St. Patrick's Day bearing a brussel sprout that had magical powers. It was the only thing left behind in his leprechaun trap. The person who eats the brussel sprout would receive the powers of Gaelic. Q was anxious to eat his, so we cooked it immediately and he devoured it. He said it was delicious! We now have a new vegetable to eat at our house. Thanks Mr. Leprechaun!

Photo a Day: Day 86: Zayne's Birthday Party.

Addison went to school with Zayne last year at OLG in the Pre-School class. This year they are in different classes, but Zayne still invited her to his birthday party. It was a pretty long drive to Issaquah to Kidz Bounce, a bouncy house place that specializes in birthday parties. Addy loved seeing Connor, Emily and Zayne again. She was in heaven bouncing around and following her friends from last year around. A great celebration.

Photo a Day: Day 85: Lukas and St. Patrick's Day!

We spent the beginning of St. Patrick's Day watching Hannah's baby Lukas for about two hours. He was so sweet and Addison was great with him. He is a really sweet baby. Then we went to see Dr. Seuss' The Lorax at the movie theatre. The kids loved the popcorn and candy as well as the movie. Of course all of us were decked out in green so that no one would pinch us!

Photo a Day: Day 84: Smoothies!

Addison and Grandma made the best strawberry, blueberry and banana smoothies for us to enjoy. They used some frozen bananas and fresh berries to create their creation. Of course even though we didn't help, Quinton and I drank them as well. A healthy, yummy treat!

Photo a Day: Day 83: Clean Girl!

Addison loves her baths! She also loves being the star of Photo of the Day! So when she looked so adorable in the tub I couldn't help but snap a photo (which she readily posed for!) of her looking adorable in the tub. She loves to let the water out and slip and slide back and forth on the bottom of the slick tub. At least one of my kids likes to be clean!

Photo a Day: Day 82: Gambling!

Mom and Dad came up the night before Josh and Dad left for Reno. After having our St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef and cabbage early, Quinton created a gambling game like roulette to prepare Papa and Daddy for Reno. We would spin the wheel and whoever the tinker toy would point at would be the winner. It was a very creative game for him to come up with and we all enjoyed playing it!

Photo a Day: Day 81: Healthy Treat!

We are working once again on having only healthy snacks in the house. The kids love strawberries with sugar sprinkled on them. We have started sprinkling them with Splenda instead, and they don't seem to notice the difference. Of course nothing is sweeter than these two faces!

Photo a Day:Day 80: Baby Highchair

When Addison was little Josh used to lift her in the air and say, "Baby in the high chair!" Addy eventually said it herself as he would lift her. It is amazing to me that even at four and a half he can still lift her the same way into the air for baby in the highchair. A sweet memory!

Photo a Day: Day 79: Lounging by the Fire

Another part of project romance was spreading blankets and pillows in front of the fire. Josh and I loved lounging on them Saturday night, but the kids loved it as well the next day. It is the warmest, coziest place in the house...on a blanket in front of the fire.

Photo a Day: Day 78: Candes!

Josh and I got to spend Saturday night alone while the kids went to their grandparents' house. When I returned home from a party I saw the house had been turned into a romantic paradise with candles everywhere and a fire ready to make. The kids had helped Josh get the candles out and Addison was especially excited to help out with project romance. It was a beautiful night.

Photo a Day: Day 77: Dancing Q

Q has loved to break dance since he was a little guy. This night he was busting a few new moves to keep us entertained. He also wore the right clothes to convey the breakdancer image. He loved showing us his style, and we love everything about him.

Photo a Day: Day 76: Baking Brownies

In a rare fit of junkfood relaxation, Daddy decided that he would bake brownies with the kids. Quinton really had no interest in the baking process (the eating part was another story!), but Addison was a trouper as usual and helped Josh bake them from start to finish even cracking eggs for him. The brownies were delicious! Watching Josh and Addison together was even more sweet.

Photo a Day: Day 75: Retainer

Quinton got to pick up his retainer today. I couldn't believe that he was old enough to be on the road to braces. He grinned to proudly show off his new smile. The first night with it in he woke up in the middle of the night because he had lost it somewhere in his bed. Ever since then we have had nothing but smooth sailing with the retainer.

Photo a Day: Day 74: Beautiful Face

Addison always wants to be the center of attention, especially for photo of the day! As I grabbed my camera to photograph some daily happening she once again stood in front of the camera to give me one of her beautiful smiles. I thought there was no better photo of the day! Addison, your smile brings me joy. Your endless energy and wild spirit astound and amaze me. I adore every little thing about you.

Photo a Day: Day 73: Daddy's Feet

When my dad used to come home from work I would rush to him and jump on his feet. He would then walk with me on his leg. When I saw Addison doing the same, I ran to grab my camera. She loves her Daddy so much. The highlight of her day is seeing him walk through the door.

Photo a Day: Day 72: TV Time

Screen time overload! So it was one of those Sundays where the kids wanted to watch TV...so I let them! It was a sleepy Sunday full of screen time. I am surprised the kids even looked my way when I went to take their photo. Not one of my best parenting days, but I remember liking the lull of the television on those weekend days...so I gave in and let them have more than their fair share of television.

Photo a Day: Day 71: Lincoln Park Adventure

We are still trying to get more exercise in our lives. It seems that the only time we can really get long walks in is on the weekend. This weekend we took a family walk to Lincoln Park to get some exercise but to spend time together as well. The kid wanted to play on the playground a bit, but had the most fun just walking and exploring the park with us. Q was forever in search of the perfect walking stick. I am sure it was me who slowed everyone down to a snail's pace for the walk, but I must admit it was a beautiful day to be outside with the most important people in my life. Looking out over the water reminds me of how lucky we are to live here so close to the water and in such a beautiful city.