Day 185

Les took the kids to Costco and then to the park after work today so I could have some girl friends over without the kids to terrorize us . . . I mean, love us . . . have I mentioned lately that I have the best husband ever?

Day 184

It's Kaitlyn's first French braid! We were getting a little bored of the pigtails look and tried something different this morning . . . and she actually stood still long enough for me to put a little braid down the center.

Day 183

After her bath, Kaitlyn sat on the couch and cuddled with all of her babies. She has really been into her baby dolls lately and she likes to carry them around the house. Les took the photo and then brought the camera into the bathroom to show me (Parker was still in the tub) and said something like: "Look Kaitlyn is showing you how to be a good mommy." I kicked him.

Day 182

We headed over to Washington Square to pick up some phone accessories and Parker insisted on pushing Kaitlyn around in her stroller. He did a pretty good job, but he had problems with turns and kept crashing her into walls.

Day 181

Summer has finally come to Portland. Les and I took the kids to the newly opened Splash Park at Hammerle. They had a great time and we used the iPhone to take some videos too.

Day 180

So while scrapbooking at Annie's house, Les called me with the sad news that Micheal Jackson had died. Both of us have always be big fans and his death really hit us. Although his personal life seemed to be a bit crazy, it's the music that I will remember.

Day 179

Here's a picture of Parker courtesy of Les' iPhone. The pictures the iPhone takes are pretty nice, but will get a little blurry if the subject is not standing really still (ie: kids). However, it's nice to have it handy for a cute moment. Like this one: Parker decided all the sudden he wanted to wear his backpack (instead of making one of us carry it for him), and he looked so cute - especially now that the backpack is not bigger than he is.

Day 178

So I took three whole days off work to do a little scrapbooking out at Annie's house in Sandy. Here are a few pages I did the first day. Even though I came home in the evening (and still had to get up early and get the kids dressed), I didn't really have to deal with my kids or chores all day so it was a nice vacation.

Day 177

Parker having a little after dinner snack of apple slices. Here's documented proof that Parker actually does eat something besides chips & fruit snacks.

Day 176

Parker made a little gift for Father's Day for Les at pre-school. Les also got breakfast in bed - biscuits and gravy.

Day 175

Umm . . . Parker? Your head goes at the other end.

Day 174

So here is a picture of my new iphone taken with Les' new iphone. They are the new 3GS and I think they are the coolest toy in the world . . . did I say "toy"? I meant "phone."

Day 173

Kaitlyn's favorite phrase in the morning is: "Where did Parker go?" This is usually because morning comes WAY too early for Parker and he is hiding somewhere under his blankets. Considering that Les and I love to sleep in any chance we can get, it shouldn't be that surprising. The question should be: "How is it that Kaitlyn is a morning person?"

Day 172

Really, what in life could be better than a new Spiderman suit and a fork-full of chocolate cake?

Day 171

Playtime with Daddy . . . one of Parker's most favorite activites . . .

Day 170

As any good future Rock Star, Kaitlyn has also been practicing her vocals to add to her recently mastered drumming and guitar skills. (If you look closely at the picture, you can see Les' & Parker's feet peeking out from the blanket behind Kaitlyn, under which they were wrestling while Kaitlyn serenaded them).

Day 169

"What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

That face! I had just told her to put away her toys because it was bed time and she glared at me so potently that I thought I saw laser beams shoot out of her eyes. I can't wait until she is a teenager!

Day 168

Job and Ian were definitely stars of the BBQ Les & I attended (we left the kids with Grandma). It was a "Job finally Graduated & Welcome Baby Ian" party. It was hard to decide which was more fun: teasing Job about taking so long to decide a career path or holding Ian. For me, it was probably holding Ian - new babies are so cuddly. It was a little odd to contemplate Job being a dad - Les & I have know Job & Jennifer since high school and it's hard to imagine them being parents. But then I realized they've probably be looking at us for the last 3 years going "Les & Kelly have kids?!?"

Day 167

Two things about this photo: the first is the rubber chicken that Parker is holding. Les brought it home from his management retreat and yes, when you squeeze it out pops (poops?) this bag of scrambled egg gooey-ness. And, yes, Parker loves it. The second thing is Parker's feet . . . Whenever we ask Parker to stand on one foot - that is what he literally does. Instead of picking up one leg flamingo style, he puts one foot on top of the other so he is standing on ONE foot. I think it's so funny that he takes is so literally - and it's also pretty funny when he tries to hop on one foot.

Day 166

We have our guest photographer again today - Parker. Although the lighting is not perfect, he at least managed to get her whole head in frame. In addition to his portraiture of Kaitlyn, he took a whole series of pictures that have been titled "Random Things in Parker's Room." My favorite had to be either "Ceiling Fixture" or "Wallpaper Which Has Been Demolished by Kaitlyn."

Day 165

Here's a photo of Les, circa about 1982. He went away on a management retreat and at the last minute called me and asked me to scan & email him a picture of him when he was young. Apparently they were playing a "Guess Who?" game with old photos. His picture was a big stumper for all the other managers - which seems odd because he still has the same blond hair . . . or so he claims.

Day 164

Do you think that 19 months is too early for video games? Just kidding. Kaitlyn just likes pressing the buttons and moving the little joysticks on the controller & the Xbox was not even turned on. However, I love that she's got one foot propped up on the table - all kicked back like a professional gamer.

Day 163

Kelly & Grayson came over after work so the kids to work off some steam. Which they did by chasing each other around and around. It was bath night for Parker & Kaitlyn, so Grayson supervised tub side while splashing in the water. After Kaitlyn was dry & dressed she crawled up into Kelly's lap for a snuggle. However, Grayson was a bit jealous so he crawled up in Kelly's lap as well. I told Kelly it was good practice for her, since she's got Baby #2 on the way in November.

Day 162

Carrie, Mindy & I went on a crazy geocaching adventure in Oregon City. After hours of wading through a sea of poison oak, scotch broom & blackberries we finally found the Pirate's Tool Chest at the base of this madrone tree. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our attempts to actually find the Pirate Treasure (stupid GPS stopped working properly). However, I am proud to say that I am the only one of us that managed to NOT get any poison oak rashes! (Sorry Mindy & Carrie)

Day 161

I love this picture of Kaitlyn. She looks so cute and sweet, wearing baby's first halter top. And she managed to smile without squinting up her entire face. She's all dressed and ready to go out for Saturday dinner with Les' family. If only she'd stay this cute and innocent forever . . .

Day 160

Most nights lately, I have found myself sleeping in this exact same position. For the longest time I couldn't sleep on my stomach because I was either pregnant or nursing. But since I've managed to go an entire year without being either of those, I finally seem to have remembered how to do it again. However, I'll usually wake up myself up because my arm (the one tucked under the pillow) has fallen asleep. It's interesting to note, that Parker, more often then not, sleeps exactly like Les - sprawled out, taking up as much space as possible and somehow managing to take all the covers, yet not actually be under them . . .

Day 159

Parker was so proud of himself. He pushed the little Ikea table over to Kaitlyn's crib and crawled in all by himself. He's done this before, of course, but this time he managed it with the gate up. Just flopped himself into the crib and then giggled about it for 5 minutes.

Day 158

It's post-jammies, pre-bedtime, "chase each other around" time (known to mothers everywhere as "wear them out before bed" time). This time they have chosen wheeled transportation, instead of just running about. I love the expression on Kaitlyn's face because she gets so excited when they play chase. She really likes it when either Les or I pick her up and chase Parker around. She just wiggles & screeches in delight.

Day 157

Happy Anniversary to me! Eight years. Did I mention that I've got the best husband in the world? Lilies & roses sent to me at work (so I could show them off to all my co-workers, 'cause that's the best part about getting flowers, right?).

A couple of things to note about the picture. You can see the digital frame on my desk - currently displayed is Parker at about 9 months just learning to crawl. And since it's Month End Week, my desk is a wee bit messy. But I like that you can see my collections spreadsheet - because that's really a part of my everyday work life.

Day 156

I mean, really, could the kids be bigger hams? Parker definitely has a love/hate relationship with the camera. It's either his giant TV smile or he is hiding his face. And, yes, I know he needs a hair cut.