Eight and Twelve

For a special birthday morning treat, I took the kids over to the parking garage by the library and we rode up and down in the glass elevator.



Andy was just thrilled. Kate thought it was great fun too. It goes up four floors, so it's a long enough ride to be interesting.



After lunch we went to the zoo for a while--it was raining a bit but not bad--and rode the carousel, which was awesome as well. Then we came home and had cake and presents.



Andy got more K'nex. Doug spent a large part of the evening putting the ferris wheel together. It's big! Andy at this point definitely can't do it all himself, but he'll probably want to try.



It turns out Playmobil Vikings are just the right size for the ferris wheel.

Eight and twelve are both a big deal. Kate will be going into the Young Women's organization at church, and Andy is old enough to get baptized. (We've decided to hold off on that, for a bit. I think he would have a hard time understanding what's going on.) It's a little hard to believe the years have gone so quickly. Parenting these two is certainly an adventure.

Been better....

I turned forty-five today.  It's hasn't been the best birthday--not that I'm (on principle) opposed to turning forty-five, but I've been sick all week, and it hit Kate pretty hard Thursday night, too.   We've been doing a lot of resting and recuperating.  (Kate was quite impressed that I was willing to spoon-feed her ice chips.  She seems to be on the upswing now.)

I was planning to go out for some kimchi jjigae, but that'll have to wait. My family called and sang to me, most fabulously, and when I was outside early this morning I heard an owl, so that was cool.



I got myself some paint for my birthday. I'm looking forward to playing with these, once I'm feeling a little better. (Soon!) And Doug got me a solid-state hard drive, which should help my computer run better.

My sister Barb is expecting her fourth child, who apparently decided not to share my birthday, but should be along any day now! We are excited!

I've been spending the past couple of days checking out Airbnb sites in Korea, and looking at maps and imagining itineraries.  We have a plan.  September 2017, with both kids.  It'll be a crazy adventure.  

Birthday cake(s) for Doug

On a lazy, rainy Saturday, where we're all feeling a bit stunned from our late night at the opera, Doug decided that what he wanted to do for his birthday was go to the Indian buffet in Lakewood for lunch. We used to go there quite frequently, but had been neglecting it since discovering East India Grill in Federal Way. This one is quite a bit closer, though, which is a definite plus, and we found that, though the selection is a little smaller, the food is just as tasty. (I was particularly enjoying the pakoras.) Afterwards we stopped by the German bakery and Doug picked out some cake. Three pieces.



(I had a very long and stupefying nap after that big lunch!  Opera-ing is hard work!)

Happy birthday Doug!

Seven and Eleven

Another year!  The kids' birthday fell on a Sunday this year, so we got to take birthday pics in their church clothes.



Andy picked out a plastic slinky from the Primary birthday box. He keeps trying to make letters with it. I've untangled it twice.



Cory was ready to pose too.



Kate is looking older to me, all of a sudden. (To which she says, "I am older!")



Cake = slab of panettone. (Seasonally appropriate!)



Andy was so cute when he realized it was his turn to blow out his candles.



I did some wrapping paper stamping the day before. (The strawberries are also a present!)



Kawaii Polymer Clay Creations Some of the techniques are rather advanced, but there's some cute stuff that she'll be able to use, too.



We got Andy this magnetic poetry set. He hasn't done a lot with it yet, but Kate and I have been having some fun.



The next day we went up to East India Grill for lunch (Kate's choice--she eats more here than anywhere else!)



Yummy yummy yummy!



And, since we now have a seven-year-old and an eleven-year-old, we couldn't pass up the chance for a cultural reference. We stopped at 7-eleven on the way home and got slurpees.



Happy birthday kids!

In which Doug hits half a century.

This guy is fifty today! (This is rather unfathomable... fifty?  Really?)  Still as cute as ever. 




Doug's big present is still on the way (clearly I should have ordered it sooner...) but I did have something for him. I got ahold of family and friends ahead of time and got people to contribute to a "50 things we love about Doug" card/book.



Andy got to add his own personal touch.



Helen Chick contributed a poem. (Clever!)



A gelli print for the back cover.



Doug and Kate enjoy checking out everyone's comments (while Andy hides under a blanket).  Doug is awesome and funny and smart and dependable and resourceful... so many things.  In fifty years he's developed some unusual talents and interests.  (And he makes fabulous homemade pasta!  Score!)

We had a nice little birthday observance at home. Andy's been sick all week with a cough, fever, and ear infection (ugh!) but he's finally starting to feel better, and we had a gorgeous sunny day. (I started some tomato seeds!) We are planning to continue our celebration with a trip to East India Grill on Monday.

Happy birthday Doug!  

Six and Ten

How quickly they grow! Doug and I have been saying to each other for a while now, "Can you believe Kate's going to be ten?" Well, the day is upon us and we still can't quite believe it. Double digits!



We didn't have panettone this year, but Doug found something called a Mayorca that we stuck some candles in.



And Andy is six!  (This is also somewhat hard to fathom.) He was so cute trying to blow out his candles.



Present time!



Grumpy cat!



We got Andy a few books.



Minion gloves! (I saw these at Target and thought they were cute.)



Kate puts together her Lego Mixel while Grumpy Cat supervises.



Andy, in dire need of a haircut.



Reading with Dad.



Wiz Wuz!



In the afternoon we went downtown to the Tacoma Children's Museum. Here we are waiting to ride the Link.



Andy loves the little train! (He was reading the advisory panel--"Cover drinks! Hold handrail! No smoking!")



At the museum, Kate found a dragon friend right away.



Water is always fun!



Andy makes glowing letters.



We went to El Sabor for dinner, and then stopped by Baskin Robbins, where a nice gentleman offered to take a picture of all of us.



Here's another blast from the past--Betsey found this picture of my tenth birthday. (I believe that's a squirrel cake.)

Happy birthday, kids!