Weekend Pics

We got to go outside this weekend and enjoy the cold, but dry weather. We went to the park.


Addy threw rocks in the water and sticks over the side of the trail.



She enjoyed being outside again.


We stopped for a quick slide . . . and ended up with a wet bottom. But it was worth it.


Our friends came to play. This is Addy anxiously awaiting Rhema's arrival. (Check out the alligator on her rear and the braids.)


It was fun to eat breakfast and hang out.


Have a great week!

Visit

Grammy and Plumbly came for a great visit this last weekend. We had such a great time. Of course, we had to have a "party" since they were here and that means cupcakes.


Addy sure had a blast visiting with Plumbly and Grammy. She showed them all kinds of fun things, played all kinds of games and enjoyed a football party on Sunday for the Arizona game.


How lucky is this girl to get to color-color with both Grammy and Grandma!


Thanks for the great visit and fun football party everyone. Poor Addy is now sick and trying to recover from too much fun.

It is really true!

I bet some of you thought I was making up the armpit thing in my last post . . .


Nope. It is true.

Silly Addy

I was asked to post an update about Addy - what she's up to and saying at this point. So here it goes . . .

Addy is now scared of the dark, she got new scooby doo and buzz lightyear night lights to help. But she is quick to tell us "Don't be scared, okay?" and hold our hand.

Talking on the phone is a big thrill for Little. As soon as we answer the phone its "whose tat?" She also loves to video chat with Grammy and Plumbly. She adores playing with them and telling them what she is up to. Here she is doing video chat on the laptop.


She talks all the time, no really, I mean all the time. She talks about everything, sings everything - there is not a quiet moment in our house. I am constantly amazed when we see shy children because they are quiet. Even when she goes somewhere new she just keeps talking. (I'd appreciate it if you'd keep you snide remarks you are all thinking right now to yourselves. Yeah, I know exactly what you are thinking.) :)

Addy counts to 20 - why 20, I have no idea, we worked on 1-5 and the next thing I know she's counting to 20. Addy loves to write her name -which looks a lot like a squiggle but she assures me that is her name.

My favorite Addy saying right now is "Little bit, not much". She says it about a lot of things and it is adorable.

Little is going through a tough period with temper tantrums. She loves to scream. It is exhausting sometimes.

Addy has her monkey, Ya-ya, that she sleeps with every night and when we change her into her jammies each night she rubs Ya-ya's tail in her armpit. She sometimes will even prevent me from zipping her jammies so that she can stick Ya-ya's tail in one last time to rub her armpit. So, either she'll grow out of it, or she'll be Mary Catherine Gallegher.

Addy loves to dress up. Check out her outfit below, thanks Tyson!


And finally I had to share this picture for our friend Niki - whom Addy thinks is Mickey?!? I don't know why, but she can't seem to say Niki. Niki will know why I am dedicating this picture to her. Look at those adorable pudgy feet. :)


Finally Addy wouldn't survive without her two favorite games in the whole world, Chase Addy and Hide and Seek. The girl lives for this . . . I play these a lot so if anyone needs to brush up on their skills feel free to stop by or give me a call. I am an expert.

See ya all later!

Honored

I took a moment to go back and look at my blog - I don't post a lot about my job or where I work. In fact the only thing I could find about it was the dodge ball games. Tonight I am going to post about my work. I love my job, and as most of you know it is important to me and I am proud of where I work. I work for the Washington State Department of Transportation. And in the last 5 days I have had the opportunity to watch how we handle an emergency - from the inside!

I had the opportunity to serve in the emergency operations center for a night shift and a day shift over the last 3 days. I did all kinds of things, answered public calls in the middle of the night, write up briefing information, update databases with closure information, and attempt to help in any way I could. It was tiring, but fun to be in the center of so much excitement and action.

But most of all it humbled me to see all the hundreds of people that worked night and day to help the traveling public and citizens in need. From radio operators to support staff to maintenance workers in the danger areas to executives - I was impressed with everyone's passion and dedication to serving the public. Many people sacrificed to help others - and will continue to do so - and it reaffirms my passion for being a public servant.

Here are just a couple shots for anyone that hasn't been watching the news:


For anyone interested in more shots of the activity across the state check out our flicker page here. We had roads give out, mud slides, avalaches, trees and wires down, washouts, flooding . . . at one point every mountain pass and major North/South route in Western Washington were closed.

As a second generation WSDOT employee I wanted to share the amazing efforts by the Department. I want to say thanks to all those maintenance staff out there in the cold and dangerous weather - you are amazing. And Ihope that the next time you run across someone from WSDOT, especially someone from maintenance, you'll remember this post and say thanks!

Resolutions & 2008 Highlights

I, unlike most people, love New Years because it is time to set my resolutions. I thrive on it, own it and try really hard to live it. And what better way then post it - public humiliation is a powerful motivator! :) (Besides Courtney called me out, so I might as well make it official.)

December 31st arrived and the year of the baker officially ended. I feel successful with last years resolution. I am so much more comfortable in the kitchen and baking now! And I think I had some success with my baking activities. I mean this is the girl that 4 years ago embarassed herself in the grocery store by asking a clerk, "so do you have something like Corn Flakes?" and he said, "you mean Cornflakes?" and I said, "well I guess whatever you call them." We stood there for 2 minutes going back and forth, while he looked at me like I was crazy. I didn't actually realize that was the name of a cereal, I thought it was just a term. Now I actually use cake flour, unbleached flour and I know what a zester is for. :)

January 1st launched my new resolution - probably my most terrifying to date - YEAR OF THE GARDENER. Wish me much luck in the coming months. This won't come easy or naturally. :) My parents started me off well with some books and watering supplies - and of course, the bath salts I'll be needing for tired muscles. Love it.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress - or lack there of - I haven't actually done anything yet. Well, I did take the gardening books out of the box and stack them nicely on the table. Step 1 is complete. Only 567 steps left to go.

2008 was a great year filled with a lot of highlights, here are just a couple:

Spending time with family and friends - whether big trips or parties or just hanging out - this is always a highlight for us!

Disney World - of course. I am a disney fanatic after all. Walking in the first day with Addy was magical. Seeing Taylor's face when the princesses came out at Fantasmic was tear worthy. And getting to spend time with so much of our family - Priceless!


Kickin it old school with a killer George Michael concert with Ann and Carrie and later in the year meeting up with Tina (one of my oldest friends) to watch So You Think You Can Dance. Both great - I forgot how much I love concerts.



Watching old heavy metal videos on youtube. (Another opportunity to post a picture of Nikki Sixx.)
Addy - talking, dancing, yelling, and all her funny phrases and antics. Couldn't ask for more!

Looking forward to an interesting and adventurous 2009. Can't wait to see what is next.