snow much fun!

This is what the weather was like last Saturday:


sunny brisk windy

 This is what the weather is today:

cold white snow

The kids are excited to get out and play in it, I am really wishing I went grocery shopping yesterday!

Leavenworth

I haven't been to Leavenworth Washington in about 14 years, my kids are on their mid-winter break and Jeremy, considering the homework load he has seemed like he needed a break from us, so we headed to Leavenworth for the night.  It was my mom's idea and I was very grateful for a little intervention of what might have been a very dull week for my kids.  To put it mildly, I was very excited.  I remembered Leavenworth to be great fun,  have good food, and great little shops full of needless and as it turns out worthless treasures.  I also had, for many years wanted to tour the Aplets & Cotlets factory in Cashmere, WA.  It really is the small things in life that get me excited.  Jeremy was completely baffled by my excitement to got to Leavenworth and Cashmere but he grew up in Woodinville WA and went there often and even though he speaks German he's a guy and can't possibly understand true ( or not-so true) Bavarian culture.

The ride up was very snowy and Steven's pass was a bit slippery and my mom drove like a snail but I was relieved that we were going at a very safe pace, much to the chagrin of Carter as she has heard of how magical Leavenworth is.  We dumped our stuff off at our hotel and decide right away to head to the Aplets & Cotlets factory in case the impending snow dampened our opportunity to do it the next day.  I suppose growing up in Palouse WA should have, in someway, prepared me for how darn small Cashmere was but c'mon I lived in New York City for almost 11 years, so I still more than a little surprised by how small many Washington state towns really are.  We were the only ones at the factory (beside Shirley, who was running the store) and after all these years of anticipation, wouldn't you know a piece of equipment broke and the factory was not running.  This of course was beyond hilarious to me, as I took my 3rd or 4th sample piece, I bust out in complete hysterical laughter, as did my mom.  Here we drove almost 4 hours (due to snow) to boring ol' Cashmere, telling the kids we were going to a candy factory only to have it not working and the kids were wondering were the actual candy was.  My mom and I could not stop laughing and all the while Carter kept asking "what?", "what is so funny?" which of course made us laugh even more.  Theo was mostly disappointed that the only "candy" was powder sugar covered nut and fruit nuggets. We needless to say, did not get any pictures.  I promised the kids some "real" candy when we toured Leavenworth, thus began our tour of downtown Leavenworth.  I remember going there when I was a freshman in high school and then again right after I graduated from high school. I know I loved it!  The first store we went into was a toy store, no surprise there as the Person family kind of has a thing for toy stores.  This one had a whole bunch of hand made wooden puzzles and some odd and end toys.  One of the puzzles said "Jesus" and of course that made me instantly want to like them more than I actually did because hey, I like Jesus too.  There were many signs all over that read "if you break it, you buy it", Carter read this to Theo and not more than 5 minutes later I see Theo with a basket full of puzzles.  I asked him what he was doing as I had already told both the kids that we were looking in the stores but not buying anything.  He very promptly replied that "Carter said we would buy it if were broke it, so I am going to break it so we can buy it"  How can I argue with that?  but even though I do love Jesus and anyone who makes Jesus puzzles I had no intentions of breaking any wooden puzzles nor buying any.  We left with the promise of some "real"candy.  The rest of downtown Leavenworth was a bit of a let down.  Lots of stores with hats, gloves, real mini alligator heads (not kidding) and few "German" looking things mostly made in China.  The one and only fabulous store, Kris Kringle, was all Christmas all the time but every time my kids breathed or even though of touching something my heart skipped a beat, EVERYTHING was breakable.

Here's the thing, despite being really disappointed with Leavenworth, we had a blast.  My mom and I always have a fun time no matter where we are and now that I live back in Washington the kids get to have them with us.  The best part by far was seeing the kids jump on the bed in the hotel room, snuggle in a bed together and watch far too many episodes of America's Funniest Home video's.  We left by 10:15am the next day and were home in Bellevue by 1pm, even Jeremy was surprised about how quick our trip was but the kids loved it and I am grateful that I got Aplets & Cotlets and Leavenworth out of my system, I can move on and smile knowing that all 3 times I have been there have been fun, some more than others.

weirdos

This does not look comfortable!

I would expect nothing less than falling asleep on the hot off the press new Playmobil catalog!

8

We are big into birthday parties here and I am trying to get a sense for what Carter wants to do for her 8th birthday which is April 29th  (we plan ahead!) but I saw this cake years ago and now that she is going to be 8, I can make it!

So very proud!

I got a lovely phone call from Carter's 2nd grade teacher this afternoon.  She called to tell me that once again Carter got an amazing score on her math assessment test.  She got a 99% and that was the 3rd highest score out of all the second grade kids (about 80 kids in 3 classes).  She also said that Carter has more then excelled in reading and she has had to start a new reading group for 5 kids (including Carter) in her class that are just above and beyond.  All of this makes me so very proud of her but I was most proud when Ms. Gallawa mentioned that Carter is not only very bright but she is kindhearted and a good friend.  She said that whatever Jeremy and I are doing at home, we should continue to do it, what a great compliment!  I am so very blessed with my Carter-Lillian and I always feel so great when other are touched by her too.








This is what happens...

when you ask a 3.5 year old to pick out some clothes to wear to preschool, lots and lots of stripes in every direction!

it's roast chicken Sunday (again), sure smells good in our house!

Theo has his first ever ear infection, no fun.

outakes

The people at See Kai Run were so nice and gracious and send me an e-mail with some photo's they did not use, is he cute or what?

(I think I need to get that shirt for him!)

Things I love...

in no particular order.


Stop Making Sense



Really fantastic Greek yogurt

Clinique Jet Brown mascara, the best!

The kids and  I love Automoblox, they are fun and remind Jeremy of his Boy Scout days with the pinewood derby

I wear these almost everyday, enough said.

Really. Love. Peanut butter.

Hands down one of the best books I have ever  read.

I pretty much love everything at Trader Joe's but this rice is by far the best thing there.

What is life without Chai?

I don't own this (too expensive) but I have wanted it for about 10 years and it makes me happy, they make a Washington state one too!

This list would not be complete without a picture of these people (Fleetwood Mac) the biggest Thank You ever to this group, lots and lots of happy smiles because of them!

(obviously, I love my husband and kids, it goes without saying, these are other little things I love)

Benihana

For Christmas we wanted to take my mom and her husband out for dinner as their gift and we finally got around to doing. We took them to Benihana, which is a family favorite!

even the dog likes to read!

 

So...

all the beds are made today, I got my groceries delivered thanks to Amazon Fresh by 9am, lots of errands already done  (including a very successful trip to the library) and my lovely friend Treencee from church gave me a Mary Kay makeover!  (and apparently I am good at run-on sentences) The pity party is over.

I feel a little like this...

I didn't want to get out of bed, I am wearing sweats (gasp) and no make-up, my energy and motivation seem to have disappeared, I am just having a super "feel sorry for myself" day.  I could make a huge list as to why I am down in the dumps but the truth is I just need a little pity party and then I'll be over it.  I didn't even make our bed today, which is the first time in about 15 to 16 years that I haven't. ugh!

See Theo Run!

Theo did a little one time modeling gig for See Kai Run shoes last August.  I have been anxiously awaiting the new spring/summer line to come out so I could finally see his picture, and here it is:
http://www.seekairun.com/

click on Rye Khaki or just look below!