All Caught Up...Maybe

So that brings me to today...but first - yesterday we took Jadyn to see a movie in the theatre - Nims' Island...it was good, she loves going to the movie...and today is one of those super pretty days...I decided to get a few shots of Jadyn being silly playing...Enjoy. Hopefully I won't have so long between post...Notice Jadyn is rockin her inner Deb - the side pony - classic....

Where did April Go?

So now we are officially in May, I guess it is safe to tell you about all the many things we did in April...

In my life as a recreator I am responsible for the Day Camp programs and we have a Spring Break day camp. That was the first full week of April this year, so needless to say I have had a big chunk o' super-busy time. It just gets busier (worse) from here though...but in between all the work and all the rain, and well - all the snow (because it did snow here in April - so bizarre) we did make time to play...of course. The new ride needed to be unleashed on Washington!

We finally made the trek to visit my sister & bro-in-law at their home in Bellevue. We have been there before, but not when there was stuff in it! Rebecca made some deliciously spicy Chipolte Chicken Cashew number - and I discovered the only kind of rice that I am willing to eat - I guess that is a lie I do eat rice occasionally - but not by choice - this rice was actually tasty. It was so good. Aaron was nice enough to set up the camping tent in the living room so Jadyn could play camping or crocodile or whatever game she created from that vivid imagination of hers. And then we went up Cougar Mountain for a look at the ginormous houses and the beautiful sunset and a panoramic view of the Seattle area...it was very very lovely...

The Saturday after my spring break camp - it was absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous outside - it got up to 85 - so we all went on a picnic...windows down - music playing - picnic overlooking the water - it was fabulous. We went out to the sound to eat and bask in the beautiful rays of sunshine...I got some pictures of the event but not many...see how pretty it was...the next Saturday was when we got the snow - so crazy. After our picnic, Jadyn I just cruised around town, just driving. Went to the car wash and just had a fantastically lazy Saturday - I didn't even clean the house - lazy!

Then I went out of town for a conference the next week. I didn't take any pictures, but it is worth noting that there was a Sonic there (I may have indulged in three - yes 3 Route 44 Diet Dr Peppers - it was divine)...and we did stop in Portland on the way to go shoe shopping at DSW - tax free...wheee!!! I missed Jadyn and she missed me, but my family took good care of her. I was ready to come home and get some Jadyn kisses that is fo' sho'...the Saturday following my return we had another picnic at the park because it was once again - GORGEOUS!!!! But kind of chilly. We went to the park and had KFC and Jadyn played on the playground, she loves the slide - and having Jennifer swing her...before we left we got a couple shots of her, she has moved into 'posing' for pictures...and occasionally I get some really hilarious shots. This one isn't one of the funny ones, I need to get one of the pictures that Jenn took where she is hugging a tree - we are nature lovers here in the Northwest, afterall...plus in that picture you can see her cute dress...my girl LOVES dresses...she would wear one everyday, but we compromise and she wears them all weekend...I guess that about sums up April. Well except for the story about accidentally puncturing my foot with a fork, going to urgent care, getting a booster of tetanus, and soaking my foot three times a day (how else would I be able to find the time to write these informative posts...) but I will keep that story to myself...

The Beat Goes On...

The beat goes on...Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain...so here I am to continue the update of our lives over the past few months. I have woefully neglected this site and I am doing my best to catch up right now...I know people are truly invested in our lives and want to stay current...hehe.

So one BIG thing that happened in our world, is the purchase of a new vehicle...it was a long time coming, that is fo' sho'. I appreciate all the cars that I have driven over the years...but this one is by far my favorite...one very un-exciting part of a new car is the car payment, but she's worth it...

I know it may sound silly, but I feel happier, more excited, more joyous since the purchase. It is nice to feel free. I know I could load up the car and go ANYWHERE and there is such excitement in that. Granted I don't know if I could afford the gas to go anywhere, but knowing I can make it there, and in comfort is a blessing....and as silly as it may seem - my soul delighteth...

So you may be asking yourself, so what kind of car did you get already...I will include a picture and you can guess. Before making your guess you may need to consider the following: my car buying criteria...four doors (car seats are a pain when you have to get inside the car to buckle up), automatic (I think unless you are driving a sports car - standards are unnecessary and frustrating and tiring - and make it hard to talk on your cell phone - ya feel me?! I know that I should go blue tooth, but frankly, those people look silly and they really do look like they are talking to themselves, and I look crazy enough in the car as it is - you know with the dancing, so....), and an auxiliary jack (or even a tape deck) so I could play my ipod (I know it is a seemingly silly requirement - but I dig tha tunes - ya know?) in the car and bring back one of my favorite activities - car dancing! Yessssss.....

So here is a picture...I need a name I am having a hard time deciding...maybe Razzbaria...I know we have Bluebaria already...something royalty related like - Princess Sangria...where is all my creativity???? OK, yeah tha picture...

Notice how I have the sun gleaming on my new ride...I am not a big car washer, you wouldn't believe how many times this baby has been washed...and we are not allowed to eat in the car. Jadyn loves it, and is now ready for me to buy a red house...she points them out as we are driving - all the other red cars and all the red houses...she is so cute!

Yep Another Post

So March was full of Madness...and I am not even finished yet. I really dig college basketball and every year I dutifully enter my one or two brackets in the office pool...and every year I lose, well not this year baby! I rocked my group bracket this year. Yep that's right first place & since I like to brag - third place. Out of 81 entries...won myself $560. Here is the link if you want to check it out...

http://msquared.mayhem.sportsline.com/opm/standings

I think this is enough catching up for today...I will update through the end of March tomorrow. Idol is on...did I mention it is Neil Diamond night?! Awesome!

The Next Day - Easter

I need to think of funnier or at least more griping titles for my blogs...it is hard when you are playing catch-up though.

So the Day after the Easter Egg Dash...that would be Easter Morning, and boy did the bunny treat her good this year...at this point in her life she was still in the phase of "I refuse to take this picture thing seriously." I took like one million shots. And she was really trying not to look in the camera and smile...frustrating...

I try not to get too much candy, as one - it's not good for you and two - she doesn't really like it...except whoppers, she loves whoppers. So she got a swimming suit and a cover-up from Costco (have I mentioned my love for that store) cause she love swimming...she saw that dropped her nightgown and put on the bathing suit...the movie Annie - which she loves...um stamps, a dress, let's see oh a giant coloring book (also from Costco) and on and on...maybe she is spoiled...maybe...

One where she is actually looking & smiling at the camera...

Rocking the Bathing Suit & Smiling...almost at the camera!

So then it was off to church with the fam...after I tried to get some pictures in her Dress, but again - she was resistant to the demands of my photography but I did get some super cute, well in a mother's opinion, shots of my bug...

Smiling - check, looking at the camera - check, tongue out - double check...killing me!

She makes some really funny faces sometimes...

Can I just say I loved her hair...Cut little ringlets.

Again with the Drama...that face is priceless!

I have to tell a story about that balloon...she got it for her birthday and LOVED it...not only was it a princess balloon, but it also sung happy birthday. Two fabulous things in one balloon, how could she not love it?! There were occasions in fact, that we had to take the balloon with us when we left the house...it was such a treat stuffing that ginormous balloon in the front seat with me...well the Sunday came when we were celebrating Jennifer's birthday (also Easter Sunday) and Jadyn wanted to bring something for Jennifer, so she gave her her Singing Princess Ginormous Birthday Balloon (read: annoying). Although we all found the balloon all kinds of annoying that was one of her favorite things, and she loved it. And she wanted to show how much she loved Jenn, by giving that balloon to her. She was so happy that she got to share with Jenn, I am sure she figured Jenn would love the balloon as much as she did. She is such a good kid.

Jadyn Loving the Monkey!

She made that monkey at Build-a-Bear on one of our visits to UT. She loves that little guy. One day recently she discovered and undid the stitching in the back and took the hearts out...we happened to put two in there, and she gave one to me and kept one for herself. But now the monkey is broken ('him's broken, mama.') and 'him don't have a heart.' And no I don't correct her grammer, not yet - it's too cute...

It's Almost Embarassing...

Jadyn & Michelle

Wow...it has been a long, long time. Sometimes life just get's super busy and you stop for a second and look around and realize summer is over and the rain is beating down again. No we haven't moved that far ahead, but sometimes it feels like it. I will post a couple of updates today...let me go back to March....

As many of you may know, I am a professional recreator, and yes it is as fun as it sounds, but it is also a lot of work. I am in charge of our city's Easter Egg Event, and besides celebrating Jadyn's Birthday (Jenn & Liz's also) I also get to plan, coordinate, and 'make the magic happen' for about 1,000 eagar children the Saturday before Easter. It is a blast, but as Easter was March 23, I had to get my butt and gear early this year. I had a little bit of trauma at the event, in regard to a Thank You note I sent, but you can't make everyone happy, I just figured no one would complain about a Thank You note - I was wrong, but that is another story...In addition to all the smiling children of Tumwater from 0-10, of course Jadyn was apart of the magical day.

Jadyn at Easter Egg Dash 2007

I have to share with you how how she picked up the eggs last year, before I share this year's experience. We divide the age groups into 0-3, 4-6 & 7-10. We spread the 9,000 eggs (3,000 for each age group) out in these huge sections on a soccer field. The 0-3 age group can have a parent go with them, the other groups are on their own. When the cannon fires it is a mad dash to scoop up as many eggs as you can. So last year since I was working, Jenn came and escorted Jadyn through the Pandamonium. Isn't it always funny how the child of the person in charge is somehow neglected? Well Jadyn came, but she was without a basket to put all her treasure in, so she had to make do with a plastic bag. My poor neglected child. Anyway, the cannon fired and they kids were off, the 0-3 age is not a mad dash but you do want to get as many eggs as possible...not Jadyn, she took her time. She gingerly, and I do mean gingerly bent down and picked up her eggs with only the fingertips of her index finger and thumb. If there was a piece of grass on the egg (and they are in a big FIELD so you can imagine there was some grass) she refused to put it in her bag until the grass and rain was no longer on the egg....I mean come on, it is WA how many eggs were dry...that would be NONE...it took forever. I am going to try to find that video, because it was hilarious! Anyway, all the eggs were eventually scooped up and it was time to see what prizes she got, I have some really nice prizes in those eggs, and she managed, even with her careful handling to pick up about 15 eggs....and as I was watching them open and dump the prizes in her plastic sack...I kept saying "please win the Red Robin certificate..." over and over...it was a $40 gift certificate so of course I wanted that...then Jenn pulls out one of our prize vouchers and turns it over...Red Robin...she found the Red Robin certificate...Awesome! Her method for picking up Easter Eggs will never be laughed at again...my baby brought home a sweet prize...so I thought we were on point for this year...um...yeah...that would be a negatory ghost rider....

Jadyn REFUSED to go pick up any eggs, not one, I was trying to coax her, the parents all around us will trying to coax her...in fact what she did was run out with her basket (that's right she had one this year. I learn from my mistakes...) and drop the basket and run back to Mom & Michelle. In fact her little basket was just chillin out there on the field, the parents that were staying back even picked up eggs to throw them in her basket. If they hadn't have done that she would have scored no eggs. Sometimes she is so silly...but at least I have some pictures, even if she didn't take home any fabulous prizes...

Getting ready to dash (or not) with Mom & Michelle...

Pictures and Links...

Sometimes it is hard to get her to smile for the camera (she likes to be silly), but when she does...b.e.a. - utiful...the horse was one of her Birthday presents...Kya braided her up!Aren't oversized sunglasses the thing right now, Jadyn is so fashion forward...especially with the sequin and heart, pink and purple - hair accessory. She has two of them, because she loves them so much...this is the very most recent picture, unless I take one now....hold on a second, just kidding!
Here are three video's of her throughout her birthday. I need to do some editing, but a mother loves even the boring stuff, not that any of these are boring...I think all you have to do is hover and click. Happy viewing, of the Happy Birthday!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7621835579812975673



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7432865305458253511



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-364744589674802949