Day 885

Somewhere between loading and unloading the car for our Memorial Day weekend, Fatty escaped out the front door and we haven't seen him since Friday.  Poor Fatty is fifteen years old and mostly blind, so I am hoping that he found a nice peaceful place to lie down.  Les and I got Fatty and Other the summer when we moved into the West Hall together on the PSU campus - our first pets together.  He'll be missed.

Day 884

One last tantrum-filled moring walk before heading home - each day the kids took turn throwing fits on the walks, today was Ian's turn.  We finally got things calmed down when Kaitlyn and Ian agreed to share wagon pulling duties.  Even with the toddler drama, it was nice to be outside enjoying  nice walk and good company.

Day 883

Over the course of the weekend we'd had snow, rain, sleet, hail and a little bit of sunshine.  Early in the day, I was not optimistic about taking two preschoolers to an evening outdoor concert.  But we had already bought the tickets to see the Decemberists' show in Bend and the sky was clear as we were getting ready to leave . . .  so we loaded up the kids, the wagon and lots of fleece and hoped for the best.  I was pleasantly surprised when the weather stayed dry (but cold!), the kids stayed in good moods and everyone was able to enjoy the music.

Day 882

Job and Jennifer invited us to join them in Sunriver for Memorial Day weekend.  We headed down after work on Friday and spent all day Saturday enjoying the nice weather - we even spotted a family of deer on our morning walk.  We drove into Bend for Les' birthday dinner and I couldn't resist having the kids pose on the brick wall we walked past on the way to the restaurant.

Day 881

Fatty and Other are typical cats, in that there is no place they'd rather be than sprawled out in a sunbeam.

Day 880

Parker brought this drawing home from school and when I asked him what it was he said, "It's Daddy lifting heavy things."  Of course it is, because that's what daddies do.

Day 879

Les was at a Timber's game this evening so it was just me and the kids.  After eating dinner the kids wanted to go play on the deck - Parker decided that for a surprise he would sweep the deck for me.  So I wasn't allowed out on the deck and no peaking either.  When he was done he made me walk with my eyes closed over to the door and he and Kaitlyn yelled "surprise" at me.  It was pretty awesome.

Day 878

Parker definitely goes in phases for his video game playing habits.  Currently he only wants to play Mario Brothers on the Wii - with Mommy's help.  Kaitlyn doesn't really know how to play, but she likes to think she is playing with us - thankfully no one has mentioned that she's is using an Xbox controller . . .

Day 877

For some time now, the kids have been putting their dry cereal on their peanut butter waffles. Then they fold them in half and eat them like sandwiches.  Both kids are very precise, they like the cereals to be lined up on only half the waffle, so it's easier to fold.  It's a little odd, but I am not going to complain because breakfast is the only meal we have with no arguments.

Day 876

A car coming down our hill missed the curve and ramped over a stone wall and into a parked car.  No one was badly injured, but the cars and part of the wall was totalled.  The kids liked watching all the emergency vehicles go up and down the hill and clearly Parker was just excited to be outside.

Day 875

Les had a Timbers game tonight and he managed to convince the Timber's mascot Timber Joey to stop and get his picture taken with him.

Day 874

Les had his big poker game tonight, so Miss Carrie and I took the kids down to Linn City Pub for dinner.  The weather was nice so we ate outside on the patio, which was a good thing because the kids were a bit spazzy.   (Les ended the night of poker in 7th place, maybe next year he'll make it to the Main Event).

Day 873

On this day 18 years ago, Les asked me to be his girlfriend - and I said yes.  To celebrate, Grandma came over to watch the kids and we snuck off to see a movie together.  (This is the first non-cartoon movie the two of have seen together in a long time.  I can't even remember what the last movie was . . .).  Bridesmaids was hysterical and perfect for a date night.

Day 872

This will be Parker's class next year for Kindergarten - today was the Kindergarten Roundup.  Parker, Les and I headed over to school where we got to meet the principal and Parker's teacher.  Parker was pretty excited and seemed to like his teacher. However at the last second would not get on the school bus for a ride around the block (we tried both bribery and guilt, but he wouldn't get on).  I think it was a little overwhelming for all of us!

Day 871

She was all alone in the living reading to out loud to herself . . . how could I not grab the camera?

Day 870

We still haven't gotten the deck furniture set up yet, but that's not keeping us from eating our dinner out on the deck.  Tonight, it's nachos.

Day 869

Since Bailey's birthday party last November, Parker had been asking to hold his Fifth Birthday Party at Safari Sam's.  So we invited the whole family and a few of his friends from school (only Sophia and Meg were able to come) and headed to Sherwood for some birthday fun.  The kids (and some of the adults too) ran around in the jungle gym area to start the fun, then we had pizza, cake and presents (lots of Lego's, which is what he wanted) and then everyone headed to the arcade to spend their tokens.  I think it was exactly the party that Parker was hoping for.

Day 868

To go along with Parker's alarm clock gift, he inherited Les' old video iPod (long since replaced by the iPhone).  I loaded it with Disney music, including an Imagination Movers playlist.  But his favorite song to dance around to is still A-Punk by Vampire Weekend.

Day 867

Five years ago today Les and I became parents - my God has time gone by fast.  I still can't get over the fact that Parker will be starting Kindergarten in the fall.  We had a small birthday party at home (Miss Carrie was over to help celebrate).  The one present he asked for was an clock that played music for his room - so he could know what time to get out of bed in the morning - he got.  However, I think his favorite gift may have been the set of face paints from Carrie, especially because part of the gift included her painting designs on both cheeks and the back of his hands.

Day 866

Kaitlyn loves to do art projects and constantly brings home artwork.  But this was really the first piece she brought home that really had recognizable features of a person.  It seems she's moving from her abstract phase into realism . . .

Day 865

A new sequence in our bedtime ritual of late has involved playing downstairs in mommy & daddy's bedroom.  We moved Parker's hoop down there because there are high ceilings.  Parker is getting really good at making baskets, Kaitlyn . . . not so much.  It's a toss up of whether or not the ball will go forward or behind her most of the time.  But she sure does love bouncing and flopping on the big bed.

Day 864

Frequently when I am clearing photos off Les' iPhone, I run across pictures like this.  It's the dry erase board in his office - some times he snaps pictures of it before he has to erase things, just in case he needs to reference one of his notes.  This is his everyday.

Day 863

It's official - Parker will be attending all day Kindergarten in the fall.  We got his welcome letter in the mail.  We starting talking to Parker about his new school and Kaitlyn absolutely fell apart.  She is not happy about Parker going to a different school without her - she just sobbed.  Poor thing, she's going to have to get used to Parker forging ahead of her. 

Day 862

I had a spectacular Mother's Day.  Les got up with the kids so I could sleep in.  Then I got breakfast in bed, along with presents from the kids (Les even had them "design" the wrapping paper).  I got the wonderful "Mom" print that fits nicely with my recent obsession with subway art.  Then Andy came over and cooked  a delicious dinner for me and my mom.  The day ended serenely with a bath for me, that Les complimented with chocolate peanut butter ice cream.   Pure bliss.

Day 861

It was a cold and rainy day, so it was perfect weather to teach some Girl Scout Leaders some basic outdoor camping skills.  Spring weather aside, I got to spend a wonderful day with my mom and a lovely group of women dedicated to creating a great Girls Scout experience.

Day 860

The amazing Miss Carrie came over to brighten our Friday evening and helped the kids make some delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  Then, of course, after the kids went to bed it was raspberry cider and Supernatural time.

Day 859

Now Parker is letting Kaitlyn in on the Tiny Zoo action too.

Day 858

Parker's newest obsession on the iPad - Tiny Zoo.  It's pretty cute to watch him tend to his zoo animals (However, to be honest, I must admit to a slight obsession with it as well . . .)

Day 857

I had stamp camp tonight so Les and the kids had nachos and apple slices out on the deck.  If the nice weather sticks around, we might actually get the deck furniture out this before summer.

Day 856

Whenever we get home, the first thing the kids do is take off there shoes and stow them by the coat rack. I find it absolutely adorable that Kaitlyn's got her baby's shoes there too.

Day 855

Today the kids and I headed down to Salem to help celebrate Grayson's 5th Birthday. The weather was perfect for the kids to run around both inside and out. It's hard to believe that Grayson is five already . . . because that means Parker will be five soon too!