Happy Birthday

So the last post I was complaining about no camera, I forgot about our old camera that was stuck in the back of the closet. It's almost impossible to take a good picture with this camera. Someday I would really love to have a well functioning camera.

Anyway, we used this camera to document Dade turning two. As I said before it was a very low key day.Dade really loves his train set!

And of course birthday balloons are fun to wrestle with.

And here we all are with the remains of Dade's cake.

I bought a little personal sized cake from Central Market. We cut it in half so Michael and I could share, and so Dade wouldn't have a tummy ache. It was really yummy.

Yeah for birthdays. Maybe next year we'll have a party. Dade will actually know what's happening and will care more.

Dade has changed so much this year. He's learned so much more about how to get around in the world since his last birthday. He has definitely improved on his climbing skills for one. He has also become very adept at letting us know what he wants, even though he doesn't talk yet.

He loves to run and spin and play outside. I love to make him smile and laugh. It's so much fun to have him in our family.

You'd think with it being so long since I've posted we have so many fun pictures from the Summer...well guess again.

Here is one of the last pictures from our little camera before I dropped it into the Puget Sound in June.

This is Dade helping my good friend Ely dig out a geoduck to check out. I didn't get any pictures of the gigantic clam like creature, but if you want to see one just google. (it's pronounced gooey duck - go figure)
This Summer has been pretty busy. I work three days a week and only see michael after 9:30 at night, unless it's Sunday. Sunday is the only day we have off together. There have been lots of visits to the park, the pool, and the beach. But even after all that time outside only got a very nice farmers tan on my arms. I hope that the warm weather isn't over for the year. It's been raining and chilled all week. Such is Seattle I guess.
Last weekend Michael flew to Alabama to see his lovely oldest niece get married. He had a great time with family, but really didn't like the humidity. I chose not to go with him because then Dade would have gone too. It would have been really nice to see Michael's family, but not so nice to travel with an almost 2 year old. Especially since his terrible twos are here in full force.
It's almost funny how mad he gets about the weirdest things. The other day I started whistling and he yelled and fell on the ground until I stopped. I guess he doesn't have an appreciation for my tunes. But on the other end he is growing so fast, and learning new things all the time. On Sunday in nursery we sang "roll your hands" a couple of times, and all day today he has been doing the action. I started singing the song every time he started rolling his hands and he just loves it. He'll laugh and then fall on the ground. hmm, I think he just likes falling down.
The next trip planned is me flying to KS to see my best friend get married Sept 25th. I'm so excited to see my parents and KS family. I wasn't sure if I would be able to go, but my boss gave me a very nice bonus this week for holding down the fort. The rest of the girls from work (all 8 of them) went to Vegas for the work trip. They left Wednesday morning, and so I worked alone Wed and today. I was invited, but since I don't gamble or drink I figured I'd be more of a downer then anything. There is only so much time you can spend by the pool and read before you get bored.
DADE TURNS TWO TOMORROW! I can't believe it's been two years since our baby Dade joined our family. Last year we did a big party, and this year we have nothing planned. We were thinking about having people over on Sunday for cupcakes, but sick kids brought that plan up short. It's okay though, We'll just buy a couple of fancy cupcakes and get a balloon for him. That should be good. He does have a couple of presents to open, hopefully he likes his gifts.

When you have little kids the days are long and the years are short.

Who know where we'll be this time next year, but hopefully by then Dade will be talking instead of yelling.

spinning is so fun

Dade invents new games all the time.   Sometimes they are not the best, such as climbing on chairs, but his newest invention was just too funny.   Sorry the camera was shaking so badly, I was laughing too hard.( no toddlers were harmed in the making of this film)

Memorial Day Weekend

We had lots of fun this past weekend, even though Michael had to work for most of it. 

On Saturday night our friends came and stayed here while we went to see Star Trek for our anniversary date.   We both really liked the movie, and I'd recommend it to anyone -trekkie or not.

Then on Sunday after church we went to Richmond beach to enjoy some sun.  Dade didn't have as much fun as I would have hoped.  It might have been because he is always grumpy when he takes a short nap after church, but I think it bugged him the the water was so close to us at high tide.  Usually at the beach he'll go stand by the water a couple of times, but it's too loud and unpredictable.   Mostly he sat on my lap and covered my legs with sand.   and later he let me return the favor.

He was very interested by how the sand felt in between his toes. By the way, did you notice anything different in that picture. We'll for one thing it's me with Dade, and for another it's me with really short hair. That picture doesn't do my hair cut much justice, but I'm really enjoying having short hair again. Michael got a pretty good picture of Dade's curls. and of Dade letting us know that it was time to pack up
He decided to wear Daddy's sun glasses on the way home. Such a cool dude.
Monday Michael worked all day at Guitar Center, and I worked all day cleaning the house. I decided not to go anywhere since it was so busy everywhere. Then yesterday I had a really fun day with my friend Ely. We went to the aquarium where Dade proceeded to ignore all of the fish and even the larger sea mammals. oh well. It was fun for us at least.
Michael and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary on Monday. It's hard to believe that it's already been three years, but then again Dade is almost two.

a walk in the woods

I heard about a fun short walk through the woods that is just a little ways from our house.  A couple of weekends ago we decided to try it out.   It took awhile to find the trail head, and so Dade wasn't as excited until he found a giant stick to drag around.


doesn't Dade make a cute hiker?

The woods were very peaceful and we were having a fun calm walk...until

Dade discovered the stream. He was mostly content to put his stick in the water, but I had to keep my hand on him so he wouldn't step in himself. Last smiles!!

birthday fun

Last year I almost forgot about my birthday, but this year I was reminded often by coworkers, friends, and family.

Last Wednesday I arrived at work to find my desk covered in streamers, balloons, and presents.

My new coworkers weren't too sure what I would like for my birthday, but they did a great job with cute frames, reed scent diffusers, and comfortable PJ bottoms.  

Then on Sunday Michael made a yummy breakfast, I got a big chocolate bar at church (since it was mothers day as well), and then we went to my sister Sarah's house for dinner and cake.  She made me Shepherd's Pie just like mom used to make.  Then a delicious carrot cake for dessert.  

She also gave me Twighlight the movie, and a cool book of patterns for little crochet patterns.

It was really nice to have everything drawn out over the week.   

Now I'm going to get a haircut with birthday money.  Hopefully my stylist and I can figure out a good really short style to try.   A coworker is taking a head shot of everyone on Monday for the website, if that picture turns out I'll post a link.

I had lots of fun at work today!

We have weekly chores that rotate, and this week mine was washing the windows.  I decided to be brave and washed the outside windows too since my boss bought that windex outdoor scrubber.  (It's awesome by the way if anyone has big windows)  I did a good job I think even though I almost fell down on top of a car, and was chased around by a bee.   Then later we had the door open since it's so nice today and a yellow jacket snuck in.  I tried to be the brave one, and since it landed by one of the lights on the ceiling I tried to catch it.  It fell in the cup that I was using, that I then dropped because it startled me.    We closed all of the blinds so he couldn't see the windows, and turned off the lights and he went outside.   

A very eventful day since I'm allergic to bees.