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.

Warm days

Here in Washington we've had a very slow starting Spring.  Every week we'll have one or two decent days, then back to cold and rainy.   Two weekends ago I took Dade to the Beach, which turned into less relaxing and more wrestling him away from other peoples things.  First it was a shovel (even though I brought one with us), then a ball, then another ball, then a stroller.   He also at one point wanted to run into the water.    Next time we'll go on a less crowded day.   But that does explain why the only pictures I really got were when we first got there and he was content to sit and dig with his own shovel. 



The next weekend Michael went with us to a park where Dade loves to swing, and again play in the sand. I really don't understand why playground sand seems so much dirtier than beach sand.

The weather is very tricky.  Right now it's looks really nice outside, but it's still jacket weather with the cold wind.   We might go out to play later.

a good mother

"Everybody know that a good mother gives her children a feeling of trust and stability.  She is their earth.  She is the one they can count on for the things that matter most of all.  She is their food and their bed and the extra blanket when it grows cold in the night; she is their warmth and their health and their shelter, she is the one they want to be near when they cry.  She is the only person n the whole world or in a whole lifetime who can be these things to her children.  There is no substitute for her.  Somehow even her clothes feel different to her children's hands from anybody else's clothes.  Only to touch her skirt or her collar or her sleeve makes a troubled child feel better.  And often when a child wants her this is all a mother has time to give.  She is always moving.  She has so many things to do.  She can't sit down in a chair and talk nonsense right in the middle of a busy day.  Sometimes a child has a great urge to talk what its mother calls nonsense.  Sometimes even a child's worry about death and about the beginning and the end of the universe seems like nonsense to the busy mother when she knows by taking one quick animal sniff of him that there is nothing wrong with him."

The above is a quote from The Little Locksmith by Katharine Butler Hathaway.    If you ever get the chance I would suggest picking up this book.  It's an autobiography of a very insightful woman.   

the benefits of blog surfing

(you can click on the article to make it bigger)

I was following random links from my friend's blog the other day and found a really cool post that I wanted to share.   I thought it was really cool and wanted to share it.  Sometimes I can't figure out why I'm so tired at the end of the day,  when I can look around and not see anything tangible accomplished.   This is why.