I Looked In The Kitchen And What Did I See?

Preston doing dishes, could it really be?

YES!

He is finally s t a r t i n g to help out around the house.

I'm seeing a small light at the end of my messy house tunnel.

I Looked On The Roof And What Did I See?

Our stinking cat Lily being as annoying as can be!

This drives the whole family CRAZY

Wesley's face says it all. Lily loves to go on the roof. We have no idea how she gets up and she cannot get down by herself. So we take turns letting her through the upstairs window.

Most days we come home to this scene:

Lily thinks she is adventurous, but when it comes down to it she is a little scardy cat.

Maybe a little like myself.

MMMEEEEOOOOWWW

The reason cats climb is so that they can look down on almost every other animal - it's also the reason they hate birds. ~K.C. Buffington

Brotherly Love

There's no other love like the love for a brother.
There's no other love like the love from a brother. ~Astrid Alauda

February Sunshine In Seattle

"It was one of those days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens"

When it sunshines in Seattle in February, everyone comes out to celebrate and enjoy the sunshine. I believe there is no other place on earth that expresses thankfulness for the sun.

There just were so many cute pictures to capture our 3 hour bliss in the park

Sticker Bush Owie

This little guy adores the outdoors. We need to get him a backyard with a fence so he can roam with nature.

A Whole Lotta Snot Going On Here

"When dad is sick no one cares, when mom is sick EVERYONE cares." ~ My Dad (John Hansen)

Sickness swept through our house. Well I shouldn't say swept, because that would mean it came and went quickly. It stayed for 2 weeks inflicting all but Tom.

Meals came from dear friends, family came to clean and take care of boys, doctors at urgent care were quick and nice (they even called when Preston left his Miles) and Medicine companies made a fortune from us this week.

Made me realize how many people love and care about me and my family.

Thank you.

Tanner Bug

I have to do a little Tanner blurb. This little guy always has a "Oh Crap!" look when he hangs out with his cousins. I guess our family can be a little overwhelming. He'll not only get used to it, he'll be joining in the strangness soon!

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

Bath Pictures

I love bath pictures.

It's probably the lighting.

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ~John Shirley

The Day Is Saint Valentine's

Love - a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker.

A romantic in the family (Tim) filled our Valentine's with lots of surprises and fun.
He is a guy who thinks of everyone.

Marc and Megan flew to Seattle as a big surprise! How lucky for them they got to spend Valentine's together.

Went to Benihana's for dinner

Then we watched "The Dark Knight" at the IMAX - very intense!

Happy Valentine's to the people in my love whom I love & adore!
(especially my snuggle bunny)

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~Author Unknown

No We Don't

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Cleaning Up"

"Who's coming over?"

"No one. Sometimes we just clean up to have a clean house"

"No we don't"

Pretty much all the honest truth telling in the world is done by children. ~Oliver Wendell

Crash Boom Bang!

At 4:00 in the morning there was a loud crash. I shook Tom, "There are burglers in our house"

I picked up the heavy duty flashlight and bravely ran out of the bedroom downstairs.

The dining room table fell. Three gallons of water on the floor. Our fish "Mater" lying helpless on the carpet.

The fish lived. The new shop vac Tom got for Christmas worked. The dining room table gone. And no one stole anything from the house - except for 3 hours of my precious sleep.

Two Words Every Mother Loves To Hear

No Cavities!!

Smile - sunshine is good for your teeth. ~Author Unknown

So far we have experienced little tooth fairy miracles of no cavities.

All I gotta say is Hip Hip Hooray!

All By Ourselves

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin

These 2 little guys are adorable and cute.... but mom and dad needed some time away together - no plans, no schedules, no baths, no bedtimes.

Fortunately for Tom and I we have a nice "getaway" up in Bellingham.

Look at this beautiful Washington moss. This bridge was build in 1931 as a government work project. My thoughts when I saw this bridge was about the full circle of times.... and yet as time has past from then to now beautiful moss grew. (I'm not sure exactly what this is supposed to mean!)
I snuck a good picture of Tom!

Thanks to grandpas, grandmas, uncles & aunts!

Trained By Lu

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful. ~Ninon de L'Enclos

My mom met us today to watch the master haircutter - Lu to see how he does it. She studied his technique ;)

I just can't pay $40 for haircuts when my husband doesn't have a job.

And thanks to my mom - i didn't have to pay for this one.

It was a Happy Valentine's presents - and what a wonderful present for Valentine's to see my two handsome boys.

Love is in the air!

Next haircut pictures will be just as handsome because my mom watched the pro and I know she can do it!