Just us Girls

Chad took Nick to work with him yesterday. He was 'in the field' all day and thought Nick would enjoy tagging along. So it was just Gabby and me at home all day. What a quiet day! I got to sleep in (Gabby woke up about an hour before me but she can be counted on to stay out of the water, fridge, paint, pudding, soap and other messy stuff while I'm sleeping) We spent a good portion of the day making clothes for her paper dolls, we had French Toast for lunch (her request)...

and we went for a little walk. She even 'let' me take photos of her while we walked. It was a nice day...just me and my girl.

My Birthday

My birthday was Monday (january 29) I am now 35. Nicholas made me a sweet card...

Rich and Kathy took me out to lunch. They also bought me a cute vintage cabinet (which I've had since before Christmas...it was my early birthday gift)

Here's a picture of Nick and Gabby at lunch...

My mom made me a cake and she and Jack are going to babysit so Chad and I can go to dinner...their treat!

Chad surprised me with roses, a card and an external hard drive for my computer...now I can back up all the photos I take!

Also, my camera came back from the shop!

Best Buy called around 6 pm to let me know it was in.

My weekend.

This is the closest weekend to my birthday (Jan. 29th) which makes it my birthday weekend...which means, I get to do whatever I want. Today, I wanted to go bowling! It was the kids first time and, of course, I forgot that I didn't completely charge the camera yesterday...and it died on me after only 2 photos at the bowling alley. Nick and Gabby both tried to KICK the bowling ball at least once (it must be the soccer genes from their daddy). We were at a lane with those neat bumpers on the sides for kids...so they won't throw gutter balls (although Gabby still managed to throw the ball so it jumped the bumper and ended up in the gutter...she then stepped over the line and slipped on the slippery lane and was so embarrassed she broke down in tears...poor thing!) Nick was excited on his first turn...then got frustrated and unhappy until he had a snack...then he was ready to bowl again. Gabby loved it and even got two spares! They both loved the shoes.

My first throw was a strike and I was thinking I was gonna kick some butt. Then the guy next to us started offering free advice and pointers and got me all nervous and unfocused. Chad actually beat me, which I'm embarrassed to admit (especially after all the trash talkin' I did at dinner last night) However, I DID throw a spare for him while he was in the bathroom...and he WOULD have had at LEAST one gutter ball if it weren't for the BUMPERS. So, whatever.

Chad

Chad was visiting with his Grandma Polly on the phone New Year's Eve and I overheard him telling her about the blog....and saying "she never blogs about me, though". So this one's all about Chad. At this moment, he's sprawled out on the sofa playing with his newest obsession...Soduko. It's this little electronic numbers game. He was introduced to it a few weekends ago when we spent the weekend at my sister-in-law's family cabin and another friend brought it along. I was thinking "Gee, that'll be something I can get him for his birthday." I should have known better. He went out and bought it himself last week.

Chad also loves soccer. He plays every Sunday during the Spring, Summer and Fall. This fall he broke his leg while playing and hasn't played since. He was on an indoor league for awhile too, but has taken a break from that. Did you know that indoor soccer games can START as late as 11 pm? Most nights Chad can barely drag himself around the house after work and is usually snoring away by 9 or so....but soccer has some sort of magical charm over him. Maybe if I bought a bra with soccer ball embellished cups, he'd stay up with me at night!

Chad likes snow (I don't), he likes his 72 Blazer and Suburban and other motor related stuff (and has passed the motor-head gene onto Nick...Nick could name the TYPE of cars we passed on the road before he could tell you what COLOR they were) he likes to play cards (I usually beat him, but he'll tell you otherwise) and he never comes home from the grocery store with JUST the items on the list.

Chad is a very very very very very good Daddy. I think that's what I love the most about him. He never complains when I have a meeting or a lunch or when I plan a weekend away with the twins club. He's completely competent home alone with the kids. They adore him too, of course. Gabby is especially fond of him. She is definitely a little Daddy's girl. The kids' favorite day of the week is Saturday because that's the day Daddy doesn't have to work.

Chad's usually fairly quiet but I wouldn't call him shy. Get him talking about certain things and he'll talk your ear off. (don't ask him about a geological landmark on a road trip unless you REALLY want to know ALL about it) Also, most people don't realize just how funny he is. He can be VERY funny, which I also love about him....because I love to laugh. When he does say something funny he tries to hide his little smirk and pretend like he has no idea he is being funny.

I took these photos of Chad playing around on the 4 wheeler at the farm a few weeks ago. I love them because while I was watching him play, something about the scene reminded me of when we first started dating. For a moment we were ten years younger and I had no idea he'd never get my order right at the Drive-thru and he'd always toss his dirty shirt on the dining room chair after work...I was just watching him in girly awe as he did some terribly attractive 'guy thing', and thinking how lucky I was that he was "mine".

A Little Dab'll Do ya.

We've started a little 'chore chart' for the kids. One of their daily tasks to accomplish is 'Get Dressed', which includes not only dressing themselves, but brushing their teeth and combing their hair. The first day of the chart, Nick was revved up and ready to go...he combed his hair ALL BY HIMSELF...

and used GEL.

(Nick came down with pink eye last week...so he's looking a bit tired here)

Gabby wanted a photo of HER hair too...although she didn't use gel

(just a little bit of water "to make it pretty")

A new baby cousin

Chad and I have a new niece...and Nick and Gabby have a new cousin! Angie, Travis, Jordyn and Mason welcomed their new baby, Rowan Grace, into their family in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Gabby was so excited to go see her new baby cousin in the hospital . She was thrilled to get to hold her "all by herself". Unfortunately, my new camera is ALREADY in the shop...and I forgot to bring the old one along. As we were leaving Angie and Rowan's hospital room, Gabby was telling me "I think YOU should have THREE kids too! I really really want a BABY mom!" She and Nicholas thought up baby names all the way home. Hmmmmm....

Today, we spent the day at the farm for the Farm Grandma's birthday. I got a few photos of Rowan with my old camera. I'm not too happy with the photo quality but it's all I have for now!

and here is Kathy with her birthday cake. Rich forgot to do the candle thing until AFTER he'd cut it.

My Little Artists

I love that Nick and Gabby love to paint and draw and create. It makes me happy to share my love of art with them. They are both very creative and it's so fun to see how their little minds work.

The Farm Grandma and Grampa gave us an easel for Christmas and we've been having so much fun with it! Nick and Gabby LOVE to paint! We've also used the dry erase side of the easel for drawing and playing games like tic tac toe and hangman (Gabby's just beginning to READ a bit...she and I stay up sometimes after the boys have gone to bed and play hangman)



When they paint, the floors and tables become covered with drying paintings. We can hardly walk through the kitchen without stepping on a work of art!

Since Chad and I moved our room downstairs, we've been slowly transforming the upstairs into a fun kid area. Nick and Gabby's drawings are quickly filling up the walls!

Chad and I even lugged my old work table up the stairs for the kids (whew! that was HEAVY!) They spend hours at the table, drawing and cutting and gluing (and Mommy spends quite a bit of time there too!) They love their new letter chart above the table.

We just added chalkboards to the walls too. I made them out of Nick and Gabby's old cribs! I'm going to make a magnet board too.
We still have to make curtains, touch up the green paint, re-paint the floors (that's going to take a weekend with the kids at the farm I think!!) I'll keep sharing photos as we get more accomplished!

Chad and Nicholas

I caught a few tender...and funny moments between Chad and Nicholas last night just before bedtime. Thought I'd share.

Last Year in Review

I thought I'd share a few photos and 'events' from 2006 for our year in review. For some months, it was really hard to choose just a couple...so I chose more! It was really fun looking back over the year and remembering the fun times...hope you enjoy it too!

JANUARY 2006



Gabby and Nick at the Farm

Nick in an emsemble he put together 'all by himself'!

Helping mommy with her birthday candles...at the Farm. We always have a January birthday party for Kathy and me.

FEBRUARY 2006

My lil' 50's girl, chatting on the pink phone

One of my favorite photos of Nicholas...it really shows his sweet side

Gabby sick in bed...with her kitty, Broken

Chad and Nick on their way to the Monster Truck Show...

Nick dressed for the show (I think he had earplugs in his backpack...or pack pack as he calls it)

MARCH 2006

An afternoon along the Spokane River...the kids loved tossing stones into the water

Another of Nick's ensembles

Giggly Gabby





APRIL 2006

April brought Spring!

Cupcake Girl

A wet & rainy Easter egg hunt at Riverfront Park

Breakfast in bed on Easter...yes, those are bunny pancakes!

A day on the Farm for the April birthday celebration (Chad's bday included)...Chad flew kites with the kids (that's Nick in the pink dress!)

The kids also played a bit of soccer with Grampa

Gabby drew this picture of Chad for his birthday card...I love his stubble

Spring just isn't Spring without a little MUD.

The warm weather brought the tricycle riding season with it...something about a red tricyle just seems to beckon summer!

MAY 2006

May began, of course, with May Day. The kids made their first May baskets. They left one for our neighbor, Joan.

Here they are hiding after leaving one for Aunt Beth.

May found us back at Manito Park, one of our favorite places. We love ru nning through the trees, playing tag and hide & seek, exploring the gardens, feeding the ducks, playing on the playground.

We took a mini trip with Daddy to Yakima in May. He had to work but we loved hanging out in the hotel room, shopping and visiting the local parks.

Watching the Lilac Parade with our friends, Cheyenne and Skyler

Gabby and Mommy went to cousin Jenny's bridal shower ...what a lovely day!

We all attended Jenny's wedding later in May...she was a beautiful bride.

Gabby made fast friends with cousin Eric.

Daddy, Nick and Gabby enjoy the view of the lake.

Posin' with the Impala




On Mother's Day we took a 3 hour canoe trip down the Little Spokane River with Alvin and Anne and some of their friends. The kids loved it! It may be the beginning of a new Mother's Day tradition!

Lots more tricycle ridin' in May too

JUNE 2006

Sundresses and flowers...

Bug catchin'

A morning at the Park

A summer rain storm (can y ou believe this photo was taken the same day as the park ones?)

Artfest...a day of arts and crafts, music and yummy food!
Cousin Jordyn's birthday party!

Father's Day...we spent time with Daddy, the Farm Grampa and Grampa Jack

Summer toes

Gabby learns to WINK.
Sprinkler fun at the Farm...aren't they cute little farmlettes??

Splishing and Splashing with our twin friends, Cheyenne and Skyler

A day at the Beach

We LOVE the ice cream truck!!

Summber strawberries

JULY 2006

Camping over the Fourth of July weekend

Fireworks on the river...we watched from the boat

hand in hand campers

Swimming lessons with Teacher Julianne


Cherries from the orchards at Greenbluff

Settler's Day in Deer Park! We watched the parade with the Farm Grandma and Grampa

Grandma and Nick walked in the junior parade...Nick received a silver dollar for participating!

Gabby in the races...coached by Grampa. She came in third place and won a silver dollar.

Looking for pretty rocks in the creek with the Farm Grandma

A camping trip with Gramma Elaine, Aunt Mary and Aunt Annie (Annie in the boat, flanked by Nck and Gabby)


Campin' Cuties

Camping Family (Daddy met us for a few more days of camping after all the 'girls' left)

Riding Rocky at Aunt Mary's house

A few of my favorite photos from July

Our fabulous friends, Maddie, Frannie and Jack came to visit in August...and they brought their mommy and daddy, Kristi and Howie with them! We had lots of fun together at Manito Park.
Kristi took these beautiful family photos of us.

Nick and Gabby turned FIVE on August 8th

We had a fun birthday lunch with the Farm Grandma and Grampa, Uncle Travis and cousins, Mason and Jordyn

Nick and Gabby asked to go camping for their birthday. So mommy took them to Priest Lake...JUST mommy and the kids for two nights and then Daddy met us when he could get away from work.

When we got home from camping, we had a Camping themed Birthday Party at the park.

SEPTEMBER 2006

The first day of NIck and Gabby's second year of Preschool

We got all dressed up for Noah and Breanne's wedding. Nick picked out his outfit all by himself. The wedding was fabulous.

NIck learned to ride a bike without training wheels!

Playing "haircut"...mommy took a photo and then quickly ended this game.

OCTOBER 2006

October began with the long awaited wedding of Uncle Alvin and Anne. Nick was the ring bearer and Gabby was the flower girl. It was a beautiful wedding and we all had a ton of fun.

A favorite photo of Gabby

A visit to the Pumpkin Patch at Greenbluff

Gabby and Mommy went to the Leaf Festival at the Finch Arboretum.

The siding finally came off the house in September and October! Daddy and the Farm Grampa and Gramma started painting the house with primer on a Saturday...and then Daddy broke his leg playing soccer on Sunday! Mommy threw her back out around the same time! Thankfully, Gramma and Grampa helped us out and we got the house all primed...but you'll have to wait for photos of our completely painted house! Hopefully, we'll finish Spring 2007!

NOVEMBER 2006

Trudging through the snow to find a Christmas tree...Thanksgiving weekend

Christmas jammies! Love NIck's toe in this shot...

Laughing on the couch with stuffed puppy (that's the white blur)

Sledding on the farm with the cousins!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!