March 10 on 10

Addi's breakfast

Farmer Boy (Symantha has been telling us how to "break the oxen", could be useful information someday)

Transportation week at preschool

 

Recess before the storm hit

Lunch date

Kitchen planning meeting

Waiting at Canopy World

Grandma's handmade slippers for little feet

Letter announcing Hailey is on the "Wall of Excellence"

Showers, followed by homework

Alone

I am very rarely alone. I am usually good with this, because I have never been the kind of person who really likes to be alone. I love noise and busyness and people and so on. But the prospect of joining Derek on this business trip to Arizona, where he would be working all day and I would be totally on my own, sounded pretty great. What would I do with only myself to worry about all day long? Go on an adventure, of course, and mix in a little relaxation along the way. I threw my camera over my shoulder and headed out.

The mornings were started perfectly with coffee, breakfast, my book and the sunshine. I tried not to feel like a big nerd taking pictures of random things while I was all by myself, so I got pretty tricky at pulling my camera out and taking a quick shot without even looking through the camera. But who wouldn't want this lovely sight documented (don't answer that)?

Then on to mountain climbing. Ok, maybe not a mountain but some sort of steep, rocky peak. Gave me a good work out and more chances to snap photos.

The views at the top were so great, and I found my own little rock to sit on and bask in the sun for a while.

Then I headed to the Beach park. This was about the time that I started talking to myself. I had no one else to talk to, and I just started doing it without even thinking about it. There was usually no one around to hear my random musings, and I learned to keep them in check.

I was still blissfully happy, as you can imagine. 

After some more exploring, I headed back to the hotel for a little poolside reading. Now it really wasn't warm enough to be in my bathing suit at this point (it averaged around 70 by about noon), so I don't want to deceive you with this picture. I had capris on, but it was perfect to sit and read in the sunshine. Have I mentioned the sunshine yet? 

The bummer part of this beautiful day was hunting for thai food, which I was so excited for, and then discovering it was not good. Worst thai food I had ever had - blech. I made up for it with some ice cream on my way home. This was a great time for shopping through the little town. I loved that everything was perfectly in walking distance.

The next day, I masqueraded as an ASU college student and went on campus. I totally fit in. Well, maybe not totally. I kind of felt like everyone knew I was an imposter, but I'm pretty sure that was just my imagination. I'm hoping, at least. I think I would have loved going to college there, you know, in the SUNSHINE.

And I continued to walk all over town and back. I did a lot of exploring, call me your local Tempe expert. Here I am out and about, finding more tricky ways of taking pictures of myself. The trick was always making sure I was totally by myself so as not to look like an idiot. Not sure I succeeded in that. I think I might have made fun of the person taking a picture of themselves in the door reflection.

 

By the time Derek was done with work, I was good and ready for some company. This was one of my favorite meals, at a place called House of Tricks, which is outside on this nice patio.

We did have all day Sunday together and each evening, so I wasn't alone all the time. It was just so foreign to have 8 hours to myself! It was a nice change of pace, and I appreciated it for a couple of days. Such a great blend of time together and time to myself.

From snow to sun

Last week was cold and snowy. I was stuck on my mountain for most of the week and going a little stir-crazy. There were some fun times playing in the snow, like these pics show, but it was REALLY cold so these outside times never lasted long.

And after the beautiful, snowy days came the slushy, yucky days. 

Which was perfect timing for Derek and I to head off to Arizona for some of this. 

Derek had work in Tempe for a couple of days, so we left Sunday morning and got back Tuesday evening. The sun made me giddy, and I couldn't have picked a better time to get to go. I spent almost every waking minute outside, and I'm not kidding, it was like an obsession.

More on my adventures later, but for now I'll just say that I love warm places. And it was very hard to come home to gloomy, gray Washington. Especially when the forecast looks like rain forever. Sigh.

However, on another note, we are very thankful for the family we have here that allowed us (me, really!) to head off for a couple of days. They are the main reason we won't be moving to anywhere warm and sunny, and I think it's a pretty good trade off :). And getting to love on our girls made home a little less gloomy. Let's just hope Spring and nicer weather comes soon. I am ready.

Valentine festivities

A few of our fun Valentine celebrations....

Mom, Megan, and lifetime friends Kathy and her daughter, Taryn at Maggianos in Bellevue last week. Mom completely spoiled us with Victoria secret gifts and an amazing FEAST (and I do mean that I broke some sort of record by how much food I put away.) Super great time catching up and laughing with these girls. 

Addison had her first valentine party at preschool. I love that I get to be her preschool teacher and see all this cute stuff first hand. She was passing out her Dora valentines here.

Hailey was much too busy wearing her postman valentine vest and passing out valentines for me to get a good picture in her kindergarten class. She was so adorable. I got a picture of my two big girls later on.

Nana surprised the girls - she took Hailey and me to lunch after her party and then was able to be at Symantha's party. Her and Hailey were storekeepers at Symantha's party. They had a shop set up this year to practice counting back change, as part of their party. It made it very easy for the party mom (me!).

 Symantha is down in the middle of this picture, giving someone change.

 And here was her whole class, the silly face pose. I have another regular pic too, but I think this one is hilarious.

Such a fun holiday.

Valentine Getaway

Derek and I were able to getaway to Leavenworth this weekend with our good friends, Chad and Holly. My face was actually sore from laughing at certain points - these two are a crack up. The whole little trip was the perfect blend of relaxation, good food, and great conversation.

Here was the "little" cabin we stayed in.

And Leavenworth was great, however I was a little bitter that it was still Christmas there instead of Valentine's Day. Lights and Christmas decorations everywhere! This was one of the only little pieces of evidence that it was February.

But the scenery is still as beautiful as ever.

And the boys LOVED the shops. So many jokes about trinkets, hats, figurines, stuffed animals, etc. This picture cracks me up. No, they weren't making fun of it at all:)

We had a cozy dinner at this little restaurant called The Alley Cafe on Saturday night. Cutest restaurant and super delicious food.

Other weekend highlights include:

Car sing-alongs, playing cards, afternoon nap, rocky road ice cream, reading, and most importantly

total grown-up time where we only worried about ourselves. That is so appreciated now and then.

Thanks for a great weekend, Boyds!

Ten on Ten: February

You know the drill, on the tenth of the month, a picture every hour, for ten hours.

Beautiful cold morning

Doing hair

Valentine's theme at preschool

Hello Mr. Sun

 Recess

Too much temptation

Prepared for the first party

Flowers everywhere (except my house:))

Bookworm at the library

Love this