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Here are some pictures, finally, from John's family visit last week! In no particular order......

Here are the kids at the Experience Music Project.

I didn't go, so can't really talk about the picture.

Here're me and Ben, right before the cruise.

And this is an historic moment....the day I became a Mariner's fan!

Katia in profile. I like this shot. oh...and the Space Needle.

The kids on one of the bronze animals they loved so much.

We saw more of these at the zoo than real animals, so I don't really blame them.

Mike and Kaia. Not sure where, I wasn't there. But aren't they so sweet together!

All the kids on their last day here.
Me and John, embarrassing the kids. Well, Katia at least, and she wasn't so embarrassed she couldn't take our picture.
Ben, discovering grass! He's pretty fond of it.
At the zoo. If you look between me and Katia, you can see a hippo butt. Bronze animals and animal butts. that was the zoo.

Saying Goodbye

Soon....soon now there will be pictures once more....'cause you know what's sexy?! My man sitting at the table fixin' my laptop! Actually, it is now all fixed, he's just cleaning off the thousands of things Toshiba put on there that I don't want. Seriously, there's a shitload of programs on there that I really don't want, need, or will use. Last time it took him an HOUR to clean it off! Wacked out computer company. Anyway, after he gets done, I will post several pictures from the last few days.

John and his kids left a bit ago. It was a really awesome visit! Here are a few (of many!!) moments that stand out for me:

• Seeing the sea lions on the harbor cruise
• John's enthusiasm for the Gum Wall
• Getting lost while following John in downtown Seattle
• "RAUUUUUUUUUL!!!"
• Animal butts at the zoo....more and more and more animal butts
• Walking along the waterfront with John and all the kids, just spending time
• The iron-liquid at the Science Center
• Making....dinner with Mike while John took all 4 kids to dinner

Mostly, it was just fun to hang out with good friends. To discover new places in Seattle to go, and share the experience.

Let the Monitering Begin!

Ben is sleeping in his crib!!!!!!! He was really tired, and was in dire need of a nap, so I figured once he was asleep he'd sleep pretty hard, so this was the best time to try it. I tried before, but putting him on his back, and that didn't work at all. He startled himself awake about every 15 seconds. Right now he's on his stomach, and sleeping so well! He can easily roll onto his stomach himself, and sleeps on his stomach on me all the time, so I'm not really worried about it anymore. And I am so happy he's in there!! I figure I'll put him in there at least once a day for his nap, if I can, for a few weeks before I try him in there at night, so he's very used to it. I plan to go in as soon as he wakes up, so the whole experience isn't scary for him.

It's so nice to have him sleeping on his own! I can get things done! I made a shortbread cake, which both John and Mike really like. It's in the oven now, and soon I will start the frosting. The cake is a recipe from one of my cookbooks that I made with white spelt flour, and it tastes exactly like shortbread. The frosting is my tried and true Most Delicious Chocolate Frosting In The World recipe, which I will post one of these days.

I am kind of wanting a nap, too, but the cake is baking, and I don't think he'll sleep long enough for me to get in a good one after it's done. He'll take another nap around 4 or 5, depending on when he wakes up from this one, so if Mike and John and the kids aren't back yet, I may sleep with him then.

Hmm...speaking of them getting back, I have no idea what to do for dinner. I think John is planning on taking the kids to McDonald's so Mike and I can have an in-home date, so I think I am only cooking for the two of us, but I should make sure first.

Day Three - A Whole Lotta Fun...and something to mark off my 101 list

I should have my computer back soon, so will be able to post lots of pictures from the last few days......

Yesterday we went to the Pacific Science Center. It was very cool. There were all sorts of hands-on things for the kids -and u -to do, from testing hand eye co-ordination to looking at all sorts of items under a microscope, to making a huge bubble wall. I didn't get as many pictures from this trip, since most of it was better enjoyed while we were there, and less photo ops.

After we got back, John and I got ready and left for the Mariner's game. They played the Angels, and, of course, kicked their asses! I had planned on enjoying myself, if only because I was there with a huge fan, and figured I'd get into the energy of it all....but I surprised myself by how much I actually got into the game. From yelling "RAUUUUUUUUUUUL!!!" to sitting on the edge of my seat when bases were loaded, to whispering "drop, drop, drop!" and willing the ball to NOT be a home run for the Angels, or "go! go! go!" when it looked like a possible homer for the Mariners, to jumping up and screaming when they won (in the top of the ninth, yeah, I can talk the talk now, thankyouverymuch!), I didn't have a bored moment the entire time. I will now know, when people speak of "Felix Hernandez" that they mean the starting pitcher for the Mariners, and I can tell you what a triple is, and the difference between a strike and a ball (I had a fuzzy idea before, but now I can occasionally see what John is talking about when he praises Raul ("RAUUUUUUUUUUL!") for his good eye. I ate a Shishkaberry, and drank a Mike's, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thank you, John, and I am looking forward to our next game!

Today, however, I bowed out of the festivities. The group, this time including Mike, went to the aquarium and the Sci Fi Museum, but I am enjoying some quiet time at home with Ben. My feet hurt, and my cough is worse. I think a day at home is good for Ben too. I am a bit surprised at my energy today, I am getting a lot done. I think it's because of how active I've been in the last few days, which makes me realize how little exercise I normally get. I am going to make a real effort to plan more walks, maybe asking Natasha if she wants to join me on weekly outings.

Ben is fighting a nap, so I must go.

Day Two: Yeah....Tomorrow should be fun.

Today we went to the Seattle Zoo. Though I realize it's not zoo season I have to say I was not impressed. A lot of exhibits were closed, or empty. Many of the animals we saw would only presenting their butts to us. Yes, it was a bit cold, and it's only April.

Kaia summed it up well "This doesn't seem like a zoo. 'Cause there's not many animals."

John and I had fun complaining about not having fun, thereby having fun. The kids were mildly less well behaved than yesterday, but not horrible. We made sandwiches, so the only things we had to spend money on were parking and renting the wagon, which Kaia barely used.

I think mostly I am just tired. It was a lot of walking, and my feet hurt. I did have fun hanging out with John and the kids again though.

Tomorrow, it's the Pacific Science Center! AND......



The Mariner's game!

correction.....

whoops. I MEANT we missed Andrea and Michael. I'm so used to following "Andrea and" with "John" and I was so damn tired yesterday. But I very much missed my husband. I'm glad he gets to go with us Saturday to the Sci Fi Museum and the Aquarium!

Today we are going to the zoo, and possibly renting a wagon. Kaia's ankle still hurts, and is a bit swollen. I can't tell how bad it is, cause she walks differently according to how much she's thinking about it, and who's watching.

Well, I am off to make coffee. It is very much needed.

Day One: A Resounding Success

We had a marvelous day today! John and his two, and me and my two, went to Pike Place Market and took an Argosy Harbor cruise. I'd show pictures, but my computer is on the fritz, but I will post them when I can. On the cruise, we saw sea lions! They were resting themselves on a...thing...in the water.

All four kids were awesome, with extremely little, if any, whining....in fact, I can't really remember any! We got nuts at the nut shop (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and pistachios), fish and chips at Ivar's, mini donuts, and the kids each got a flower. I found Ben a sun hat and a union suit (I justify that purchase in two ways. one, he needed them, and two, I am supporting a local artist(they were hand painted(but washable))) (hee hee. gotta love the parentheses within parentheses within parentheses)

We were out from about noon to about 5 o'clock. We missed Andrea and John, but overall, it was an awesome day.

Tomorrow, the zoo! (I hope Kaia's ankle gets better. She sprained it at the park they went to after the Market. I don't know where they got the energy!)