Look Mom, You're Favorite!

I Got A Package

But I couldn't figure out who it was from.....

Happy "22nd" Birthday!

Best year of your life for sure!

Thought of the Day

The Flag

Marks From The Pool Fence

Liz, Sydney and Brooke love to smash their faces against the pool fence and see what the lines look like on their face.

Miniature Golf at Arroyo Seco

Tonight we made an impromptu stop at the Arroyo Seco Minature Golf course. It was the first time the girls had done this and they had so much fun! Sydney giggled the entire time we were there and nothing brings me more joy then that. 

Last Week At This Time.......I Was In Denver

Fun In Seattle

Memorial Weekend Field Trip-California Science Center

We headed down the Metro today to the California Science Center. Once there we snagged a few pictures in the Rose Garden before heading inside to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor. After the Endeavor we checked out about 1/2 of the rest of the Science Center before grabbing lunch and heading home. 

Seattle Trip Highlights

The coolest thing we did was the Underground Tour of Seattle. Other highlights include the Space Needle (kind of dumb but you have to do it), harbor cruise, Pikes Place Market, Starbucks and oh...the food. The food was great and included, Aqua, The Pink Door, Ivars and the restaurant at our hotel (Edgewater). The hotel was fantastic and overall we just had a really good time together.

Last Week At This Time.......I Was In Seattle

Remembering Star Wars

Best Latte Ever

From Yaks in Mount Shasta City. Flavor: Peanut Butter

Happy Anniversary to Ash and Laura

Tops Carne Asada Taco (Best Fast Food Ever)

Forget Sleepless......Starbucks in Seattle

The coolest Starbucks I have seen to date is the one in the top middle picture. It is in the port of Seattle area and was built out of shipping containers. Sadly, I made it no closer than this picture, maybe next time.

Back to The First Starbucks

Anniversary Dinner

16 year anniversary dinner at Aqua

Three News Headlines

First Headline: Venezuela is out of toilet paper: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/16/venezuela-toilet-paper-shortage-50m. That really has to suck, I don't even want to think about it. Really? An entire country has run out of toilet paper?

Second Headline: Handbags have more germs than toilet seats! http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/05/15/study-handbags-may-have-more-bacteria-than-a-toilet-seat/ Just one more reason not to carry a purse.

Third Headline: Bad Chinese food results in suspect fleeing accident scene. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/bad-chinese-food-excuse-678435. Thats a tough situation to be in.

Hanging Out in Parker

Headed To Parker

Thinking of Reno

Thomas Cove Plants

I can't get over how quickly all of our plants came back this season. It's gonna be out of control by the end of the summer.

02/23/13

03/10/13

 04/07/13

 05/11/13

The Picture People Princess Sandals

Last week we went to get some pictures taken and when replacing the picture in the foyer I noticed something. We have picture shoes. These sandals are rarely worn but apparently they are on the clothing list for every time we take pictures. Sydney first wore them for pictures for Halloween 2010, Brooke then wore them for Halloween 2012 and again for spring pictures 2013. These are officially getting retired.

In Case Of Emergency: Tear Scotch Tape

The Phoenix Kids Museum

When we were in Phoenix we went to the kids museum and it was really cool. The girls had fun the whole time but there two favorite things were running through the pool noodles and riding the tricycles. Good times and something they had never done before.

Happy Mothers Day!

On Saturday the moms (Me, Becca, Kim and Mom) celebrated by doing Mothers Day pedicures at Burke Williams. Sunday I had my first breakfast in bed ever (eggs, sausage and toast) and then we all challenged each other to Pac Man on the iPad. At church the girls made handprint flower pictures that I really love. After church we had a barbecue (organized by Jason) and swimming at Thomas Cove. The food was great and with 100 degree temps the swimming was perfect. After everyone went home I decided that I wanted the girls to watch the classic Wonder Woman with me. I was really excited that Sydney loved Wonder Woman and it turned into a Wonder Woman marathon! 

The Kids Club House

Micah, Sydney and Brooke made a clubhouse with outdoor pillows and beach towels. When we got back from our pedicure hey were all hanging out here and encouraging the dogs to come play with them. So cute!

The Tooth Fairy Came Tonight!

Sydney lost her first tooth today, the second one is right behind it. Unfortunately the tooth fairy can't find the tooth....I bet she hid it somewhere.

Cousin Love

This May Be An Issue For National Security

Woo Hoo, it's coming back! I swear if you never watched 24, you are missing out!

Happy Birthday, David!

It's almost over but I hope you enjoyed your birthday. We love you!

*Sushi Roku Lunch
*Frappuccino Happy Hour
*Homemade Maryland Crab Cakes
*Cool new watch

"Mom My Tummy Hurts!"

A few seconds later, vomit. All over Brooke, all over the car seat. Fortunately, I had decided to pull off I-10 at literally the last off ramp on the outskirts of Phoenix. I pulled into a parking lot and if you know me at all there would be no way I would attempt to clean this disaster. After looking at Brooke (who is crying) I decide the car seat must come out of the car. I remove Brooke, take off her clothes and she is now naked in the parking lot (still crying). I look around and pray that a Walmart (which is the only possible store that would carry a car seat in this town) is in the next parking lot. I hand Brooke (now wearing a diaper) to mom and just saw "Hold Her", I drive to the next parking lot and wouldn't you know it, we see a Walmart. :)

For at least 15 minutes I try to get the car seat out of the car. There is something about the car seat clips that make it virtually impossible for me to get it out. This is always a problem but when vomit is involved it is probably much less likely that I am going to be successful. I decide that when I purchase the new car seat I will also purchase some industrial strength scissors. So I proceed to purchase the following: Car Seat, paper towels, Antibacterial Clorox wipes, Baby wipes, a Sierra Mist, a razor blade thingy (just in case) and a pack of industrial scissors. I felt like MacGyver cutting the car seat out, a good cleaning, no vomit smell and an hour and a half later we were on our way. Longest trip home from Phoenix in quite awhile.

Sunglasses On My Head

For the last few years (actually since Sept 2010) I have been using the picture at the left as my standard picture in presentations or announcements. It also serves as the profile pic for this blog, Twitter and Linked-In-it was short lived on Facebook. I love it the most because of the sunglasses on my head, it was taken on my visit to the First Starbucks in Seattle.

Fast forward to picture number two.....Last week at the St Joe's EHR Go-Live Jane told me that I needed to meet the other Laura, otherwise known as the Laura from Dell. (There used to be so many Laura's from Dell). While meeting Laura I noticed that she had not only had sunglasses on her head she had sunglasses on her head in her official name badge picture-She's right up my alley. Note that I cut her name off of the badge pic because you never know how someone feels about having their name show up on the internet. If ya'll recall....thats how Jane got her "Jane" name. Maybe I should have called Laura from Dell, Jane from Dell.......food for thought. 

PS. Congrats on making the Jane blog and the Kim blog within the same week ;)

What EHR Looks Like

 

 

Phoenix Zoo

Last time we went to the Phoenix Zoo Sydney rode the camel and we couldn't believe she was so brave. Hard to believe it was just last January and she was 3 at the time. Now Brooke is 3, Sydney is 5 and they both loved the camel ride. We didn't make it to the kids area (I know, I know) but we had a great time today. 

 

John and Kim With Purple Bookends

 

Please Look At My Face

I used to always wear my badge on my waist. In 2006 Jane saw my badge and said "you don't want people to look at you waist you want them to look at your face". I have worn it up near my collar ever since. Tonight was a flashback, thanks Jane, one of the many gifts you have imparted me with.