Oodles of Noodles

(1/6) I made the kiddos chocolate scones for breakfast today, on their last day of break.  D loved them so much, he had three. J had a hockey game this morning. We attended the pancake breakfast afterward. After we got back, the boys played video games, and I ran errands.  When I was finally done with that, we were able to have Jamie over for some play time with the twins. We went to a Tips game tonight, which they won handily!


(1/7) Work day for Dad & me, and back to school for the boys. Sounds like everyone had a good day.  Shew!

(1/8) Work day for Dad & me, and school for the boys.  Another "Meeting Tuesday" in the books.


(1/9) Work day for Dad and day off for me. I worked in the boys' classrooms today, reading with D's class, and helping with math in J's.   After everybody got home, we had a relaxing evening together.  The twins did art, and J ran around wearing armor, and his underwear.  It's a look. 😂


(1/10) Work day for me, day off for Dad, and the boys had school. The boys had an art-filled evening. Our dining room table is now covered in projects (and glitter glue), and D is wanting to become an artist.


(1/11) Work day for me, school for the boys, and day off for Dad. C had curling tonight so I got an hour of peace in which to listen and giggle at my book.

(1/12) Sarah and I hit the gym this morning for both ZumbaStrong and our normal Zumba class. I earned that two hour coma afterward! Dad had a day of working on cars with the guys, getting a hitch on our truck so it's ready for camping season.  And I spent the second half of the day slothlike, with a nose in my book

(1/13) C spent the night at a friend's house last night, and reappeared mid-morning. I finished up a book while ambling on the treadmill, lamenting yet another Stepbet.


(1/14) Work day for Dad & me, and school for the boys. The twins had a great time this evening playing with kinetic sand. And C made a batch of slime, perfecting the recipe for this batch.


(1/15) Meeting Tuesday!  I dropped the boys off at school, and then drove to work.  I never left the building from 9am-6:30pm.  Normally I at least get out for a walk.  Nanan came over for a visit after the boys got home from school, and stayed for dinner.  She and Dad went cell phone shopping, and hopefully she has a better option now.


(1/16) Day "off" for me, and work day for Dad. I worked in the boys' classrooms and worked on support videos for work during my break between classes. I am so done hearing myself talk!

(1/17) Day off for Dad, school for the boys, and work for me today.  I spent the bulk of my day finishing up the support videos, and getting ready for our product launch.  Can we maybe fast-forward a few months now?  Eeps.


(1/18) Happy Birthday, Dad!  I had to work today, so we decided on going out tomorrow to celebrate. Dad went up to pick up the teenager for the weekend, and we all went to a Tips game this evening.  We got home super late, and we all pretty much headed to bed once we got home.

(1/19) We piled in the car today and headed to Leavenworth.  There was an ice carving festival this weekend, and we tried twice to find parking anywhere within a mile radius and weren't successful.  We continued on to Peshastin, and went to the Big Y Cafe. C ordered the trucker burger, which was as big as his head!  Coming home we stopped to play in the snow.  The kids had fun, and that's what counted. Dad and I went out to Middleton with the pupper to toast his birthday, and we returned to have cherry pie from the Snohomish Pie Co with the kids. Delish!


(1/20) Lazyish day for us.  Dad took the day off, and got to take J to his hockey game this morning. I bummed around and read my book this morning, and then caught a walk with Sarah before taking the teenager back home.  I got to meet the teen's new puppy ~ it's seriously a fluffy potato with legs.  So cute! We went to another hockey game this evening.  Second game the Tips have lost with double the shots on goal.  Sigh.


(1/21) Sarah and I hoofed it to the gym for Strong30 followed by Zumba, and then noodled our way home. I threw food at the kids and may have hidden away with my book afterward, and let the children run feral. Tonight, we took Noodle to Sam's Cat & Dogs for the qualifiers for the Small Dog Races.  Noodle won both his heats and will be racing at the Silvertips game on Saturday. It will be a riot!


(1/22) Work day for Dad and me.  My day was one big meeting, and I didn't even leave the building until it was time to go home.  Nanan came over this evening to have dinner with the kids.  She and D were playing Battleship when I got home.  I'm not sure the rules were being followed too closely, but they had fun. After she left, it was time for homework and the wind-down before bedtime.

(1/23) Work day for Dad and my day to work in the boys' classes.  I did a bunch of project prep in D's class, and helped with math groups in J's. We had a meeting at the school, which ended on a positive note. Huzzah for that!


(1/24) Another busy work day for me. I did an off-site training in Seattle, and it went so long that I just went home afterward. Color me brain fried.


(1/25) Hallelujah, it's Friday! Usually Fridays are my quiet days at work, but this one was packed, and I was busy-busy-busy all day long.  Dad had the day off, and ended up on the news this morning with Noodle at a practice race on the ice.  Super cute! He'll be racing during the intermission at tomorrow night's Tips game.

Photo credit Sam's Cats & Dogs Naturally & Q13 News Click to bigify

All I Want for Christmas

D was told the story about everyone's invisible bucket, and the things that you can do to either fill it or spill it. He has been going up to everyone and smiling ~
D: The invisible bucket story needs to go around the world!  And everything will just be love!

I told D his smile was so cute with his missing teeth ~
D: And my smile is cuter than yours because, you know, my teeth!

He also says now that he knows about invisible buckets, that he doesn't need to be on medication anymore. 💔

Dad: I'm gonna take Mom out!
D: Where?
Dad: On a date!
D: Why would you do that?!
J: Bye! Hope there's nothing scary!

Me: Why do I smell pee?
J: I didn't!!
Me: Well, why do I smell it?
J: It's probably just my sweat.
Me: No, if it's wet, it's pee.
J: It's probably just my exhaust.  Yeah, that's what it is, Mom.
Well, duh. 

Me: Do you guys want to go play at the little park?
D: It's supposed to be about winter right now!


(12/18) We had our in-house holiday fiesta at work today, and the boys had school. After I got home, we went and got our annual Santa picture ~ I love it! 

(12/19) Day off for me, and school for the boys.  I worked in both boys' classes today.  D kept telling me I could leave because he was having a good day.  Ha!


(12/20) Work day for me, and school for the kiddos. I did a bunch of Christmas shopping tonight, and think I'm finally done. Shew!  Now to wrap it all.


(12/21) Work day for me, and school for the boys today.  We made it to break, huzzah!  I wrapped for hours tonight, while Dad went out and finished his shopping. It's never-ending!


(12/22) J was super annoyed that although school is out, hockey wasn't. I get it, bud!  I got him a donut and some hot chocolate after practice, and then brought him home to play video games the proper way: in his underwear. We convinced him to get dressed again so we could go to dinner to celebrate the end of Dad being on graves! Halle-freakin-lujah!


(12/23) My goal was to get the boys and myself out the door by 11a to head to the grands' house.  It looked like we were going to get to drive right onto the ferry, but we ended up being six cars too late.  We waited for the next boat, and then got caught in bridge traffic on the other side, because it was closed for a marine opening. We finally made it to the grandparents' house, and had a late lunch. I brought along some extra sugar cookie mix, and we whipped those up.  Grandma had made fudge, which ended up being more frosting-like in consistency, so we used it as such.  With googly eyes, the cookies looked like poo emojis!  Hilarious!


(12/24) Grandma and I went to yoga this morning.  It was so beautiful to look out onto the bay as the sun came up. The ambiance was on point this morning with the Christmas tree lights and display setting the mood. I went for a walk with my audiobook later.  Such a pretty area! Dad and Uncle Jake's family all arrived this afternoon, earlier than expected, which was great!


(12/25) Merry Christmas! Grandma ran out and picked up Craig & Roxxy this morning before everyone was awake. Once we had all congregated downstairs, the kiddos opened presents from Santa and from each other, and then we sat down to breakfast. After some grub, a few of us went for a short hike out to the marina, then out to the falls, and back home.  Shannon and Mike arrived while we were out.  With the gang all there, we did a beer and chocolate pairing (amazingly tasty!), adult presents and stockings, and had a wonderful dinner together.  The aunts and uncles got "the kids" a new Nintendo, which was quickly absconded by the same uncles to play Mario Kart. I even got to play some Mario World once the tournaments were over.  Man, that takes me back!


(12/26) We headed home this morning after having a wonderful time with the fam!  S called this afternoon, and Dad went to pick her up to come and stay for a few days.


(12/27) I took down Christmas today. I will miss the lights, but it was time, and it's always nice to get the house back in order. I will probably keep my light rope up around my cubicle at work, and just change the color with the holiday.  Blue for January, red or pink for Feb, etc. It makes me happy, especially when it's so dark out.


(12/28) The twins, Nanan, and I went to a production of The Velveteen Rabbit at the Seattle Children's Theatre. Traffic and parking were a hassle today, and I missed the first bit, trying to find a spot. The play was well done ~ unfortunately the twins are not enjoying attending, so we'll be stopping at the end of this season. We got to check out the trains in the Center House afterward, and they enjoyed that, as well as the ice cream they chose as a treat for good behavior.


(12/29) We packed the kids and the sleds in the car today, and set out to find snow. It rained almost all the way to the snow park, but stopped long enough for us to get out and play.  We had a great time!  For lunch, we went to the Old Mill Cafe, and drove home through Leavenworth, one of my very favorite places.


(12/30) Early-squirrelly back to work for Dad today.  He starts at 5am now. Gah! I went for coffee with Sarah (at a much more reasonable hour), and then ran the teenager back home when I got back.  It was so good to see her! C got to go to Enchant (a really impressive light display at Safeco Field) this evening with Sarah's fam for Jordan's birthday.  It looked so cool!

(12/31) Sarah and I went for a walk this morning.  I never could warm up after that, and it got downright cold in our house.  I mucked with the furnace, but never got the house above 62°. We finally ended up calling out, and getting it serviced. Once that was done, it was nice & cozy shortly thereafter. C went to spend New Year's Eve with a friend, and the rest of us celebrated with New York, and rang in the new year at 9pm. I stayed up and kept the dogs company until the fireworks were over.  Poor pups; they hate the booms.


(1/1) Happy New Year! Sarah and I went to a Zumba party this morning. As expected, it was packed!  I'm not one for resolutions, but it's still fun to get caught up in the new year energy. Nanan came over to do a belated Christmas this evening.  She spoiled us greatly.


(1/2) Grandma & Granddad hopped on a ferry this morning, and picked C & me up for a fun day on the slopes.  C is still learning to board, so we mostly skied Daisy, but did squeeze in a few runs at the end on our own. We were a bit worried about the weather when we set out today, but it ended up being perfect!


(1/3) Back to adulting and routine for me today. I was glad for a quiet day at work while I remembered what it is that I do.

(1/4) Work day for me, and Dad had the kiddos.  C has a curling lesson this evening, and went up to spend the night with a friend.

(1/5) Sarah and I went to Zumba this morning, and Dad took J to hockey.  Dad took me out for sushi and then to a brewery to watch the game. Lovely evening!