Hot Diggity Dog

So, I am now starting the rethink the Year of the Gardener. Anyone ever had a new puppy? It had obviously been too long for me. I forgot about the digging, tearing out plants, knocking over pots. I may have to tone down on the gardening this year and concentrate on keeping my yard in one piece.

Pots in the middle of the yard and on the back door step. Present for Mommy.


And on closer inspection this isn't just a one time drag it out in the yard. Biscuit has been enjoying this pot a little too much. (Medicinal purposes . . . yum, right.)


But she sure is a cutie. When she is done running she drops wherever she is . . . and is always modest.


Stay tuned . . .

Into the Wild

It was time to see some animals today. Addy was so ready.


Check out the serious zoo-ready face. And yes, that is a Monchichi she is holding (oh so soft and cuddly).


We were greeted up close and personal by this lovely fellow. (I did not zoom to get this picture. Scott was actually standing in front of Addy the peacock was so close.)


Tigers and elephants . . . Addy liked them all. But her favorite animals she saw were the reindeer (thanks to her favorite Christmas song, which she made me sing in front of about 20 people at the reindeer viewing area) and the beluga whale.

And then there was this moment . . . yes, that is a snow lynx taking a stroll in front of the dippin' dots stand.


Addy did great - enjoyed all the exhibits and got over her fears very quickly.

Now, I don't want to brag, but I think Addy is a pretty smart cookie. We got to the sharks and when we tried to get her to check them out in the viewing area this is what happened.

If there was any doubt in the world that this was my girl . . .


That is daddy up against the shark aquarium wall trying to get Addy to look. Click on the picture and check out her face!

Nasty sharks. Yuck. Allison would be so proud of you Addy.

Weeks of Easter

Happy Easter All!

Hope you had a great holiday. We've been working up to Easter for a few weeks now. It started with making egg decorations and putting them on the tree.


(This was previously the Valentine's Day tree - it is even starting to bloom.)

Grandma came over and helped us decorate the house.


We dyed eggs - barely. After a particularly frustrating day at work I had some (a lot) of wine before attempting to dye eggs. I barely made it through without a disaster. But it was sure fun!


The Pelton's came over for some Easter fun!

We joined Wyatt and his parents for the Tumwater Easter Egg Hunt. The kids scored with candy and it was great to hang out with Jodi and Collin.

Ready rain or shine:



We did great! Good job!

Pay off, look at that happy candy face!


And on Easter we had a wonderful family brunch.



Wait a second I am sensing a theme here . . . wine, champagne . . . draw your own conclusions. :) (Weren't the berries in the glasses a nice touch?)

Addy and Daddy checking out the princess stickers that Grammy and Plumbly sent.

Year of the Gardener #1

I am going to try to label my specific posts related to my resolution for this year - year of the gardener (YOTG). We finally got a break from the cold, rain, snow, etc. And I kicked off the YOTG with a bang . . . actually a groan when the weekend was done.




We did shearing, trimming, cutting, pruning, tearing, pulling and all other very physical things you have to do to get the yard in shape. Wow, wishing I was in shape - it was brutal. But, the foundation is ready to do much more fun things in the weeks and months ahead.

Addy was a trooper all weekend and made mud puddles to jump in and broke in her new boots.


After a year of my secret garden being a habitat for stray bunnies (all have left now) and overgrown climbing roses and wisteria, we got it all cut back. And look who was waiting for me! I heart gargoyles. Meet Frank and Floyd.



Aren't they so Buffy? Do you see a theme here? Oh, and by the way, since at least one person wants to hear more about Buffy, (Brandy - I knew we were meant to be sisters!) Entertainment Weekly just published their top heroes of all time and Buffy Summers was number 8 on the list out of like 25. And, on the reader poll she was number 3! Woot!

Okay, YOTG tip number 1 - believe all the terrible things you hear about wisteria and climbing roses. Heed the warnings and really ask yourself are they worth the trouble? I say perhaps, if you are diligent with your pruning and managing.

Butterfly bushes are a noxious weed - it is true!! I really believe it now. Don't get one. Ever. Seriously.

Spring Pictures

Its been more then a year since we got real photos done - and now seemed like a good time. I forgot how hard it is . . . getting ready, not getting dirty, waiting (because they are never on time). But we did it and I am very, very happy to have the photos.

Of course, I would love it even more if Tara was taking them. Since we don't have Tara we have Walmart.

15 years

I am really not so in love with a TV show that I am writing about it. Well, not really. Although, now that I say that . . . I'd write about Buffy. I sure miss Buffy. ALOT. I do have all the seasons on DVD, but its not the same.

Wait a second . . . I am really off subject now. :)

Back to the beginning. Last night I tuned it to watch the final episode of ER. Not because I am a loyal fan, I don't think I've watched it for 10 years or more. Mostly, I tuned in and watched it with Scott because it is sentimental. The year it started was our first year in college. We met in college - our freshman year - and right in the beginning one of our fun dates was a trip to the TV lounge with a group of friends for ER every Thursday night at 10pm. That was 15 years ago!! As the closing scene came on, Scott and I reflected on all the differences between then and now. Two houses and a piece of property (we are land barons for goodness sakes, who would have thought it!), Addison, 6 pets, 6 cars, and so many other changes. Who could have imagined? It was an amazing moment.

Side note: it would have been an even more amazing moment if George (Clooney) had been on the last episode.

Nonetheless, it has been an amazing 15 years, from a freshman dorm TV room that smelled a little scary to today (our house smelled nice last night).

Love you honey!

P.S. Anyone want to read a post about Buffy . . . I'm just saying that I could write a little something. :)

P.P.S. Mardi - we thought about you last night. Hard to remember those days huh? Ravishingly pale ankles, George Michael's Tonight in the evening and Garth Brooks in the morning.

Happy B-DAY

You can't beat a pizza party and chocolate cake. We celebrated my Dad's birthday today. Addy had a great time helping open presents and blowing out the candles.

Happy Birthday Dad! We Love You!

Not so typical

Sometimes I am amazed at my friends. I didn't grow up like them. I wasn't your average every day girl.

I hated New Kids on the Block - in fact I once tore a poster off my friend's wall and burned it.

I didn't watch 90210. Sleepless in Seattle made me want to throw up.

I made fun of kids that liked Debbie Gibson and Tiffany.

I was sort of a rebel locked in a typical, nice-girl persona. I expressed my anti-social, rebel tendencies in a couple of ways. Listening to really loud, anti-establishment music and wrestling. (All the while getting good grades and staying out of trouble, no wonder my parents were willing to allow these rather bizarre behaviors.)

My Mom found this old collage I made back in 6th grade. Too funny.



I know at least a couple of my friends (Trisha, Charissa) can appreciate some of this. I mean check out Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake! I still have my t-shirt of Brutus too. This was back when it was the WWF and "to be the best, you have to beat the best".