Powder Room, Before...

So, I'm getting ansy. We've been in our house two and a half years and I'm ready for something new! So we decided to hire a friend to put in a new sink, faucet and granite counter top. We had left over granite from our kitchen remodel last year and one piece was the perfect size for our powder bath! Before it had butter yellow paint on the walls, royal blue tile on the counter top, wood back splash and a blue and white light switch plate. I started by painting the room a rich, milk chocolate color, which I just love so much! Our friend is scheduled to come finish the job tomorrow, so come back to see finished job photos!

Dad's Obession Is Taking Over...

Todd is teaching and paying Sydney to make his flies for fly fishing. He pays a whopping twenty five cents! She'll get a raise when she gets better at it!

Even Bry is involved with putting new line on the fly reel... Todd has a big fishing trip planned to Canada coming up next month and is gearing up for it.

Softball Season Has Started

Taylor waiting in center field and trying to catch a fly ball... her coach kept moving her all around center field and the ball would always get hit to the place she was before he moved her, she was a bit frustrated with him for that.

At this level of play the pitchers aren't very good at all and most everyone would walk to base if they didn't strike out trying for balls that were not strikes... here she is getting ready to walk to Home plate. We have a lot of first time players on the team this year and we lost by a million points, but they were just happy to be able to play and all had great attitudes. It was a wonderful practice game for them, now they will know what to expect next time! Taylor has played two years before and was happy to just be playing again.

On fire!

Friday evening Todd came home early and we took the boat to Beaver lake. They had recently stocked this lake and there were a lot of people fishing it. We had fun and it was a beautiful sunny evening, then the clouds rolled in and it started raining as we were taking the boat out of the water. Taylor caught two fish and she and Todd both had a few on that didn't stay on the hook... Taylor is starting to trash talk her father about how good of a fly-fisher-woman she is!

Todd's New Baby

Having a three car garage doesn't have the same meaning as it did before I had one! Todd bought a fishing boat this past week and the kids and I had the job of cleaning out one of the garage bays for the boat. It fits, but is a little sideways so we could get in the house door. I used to think three car garage meant so much room! But, when you have too much stuff, it fills up quickly! I am willing to do the work to be able to park my car in the garage so I don't get wet unloading stuff, whether it be children or groceries!

Back to the boat! Todd is one happy camper! We finally took the boat out on Saturday to Desire Lake in Renton. Who knew that Renton had so many little lakes and so close by?! Our maiden voyage was far from ideal. With three loud mouthed children telling their father how to unload a boat in shallow water was almost too much for the three quiet fishermen sitting on the dock! It is quite shocking to hear how much noise reflects off the water. I was shushing my kids the whole time! We made it to the middle of the lake and Bryant proceeds to tell us he has to "pee and pooh". Great! We told him he had to hold it. Todd is not praying in this photo, well maybe he is, but he is tying a fly onto his fly rod, Taylor is watching for fish and Sydney stole my magazine!

Bryant was sooooo bored! All he did was walk around the boat reaching over the side to touch the water! I thought for sure he'd go overboard. I must remember to put some towels in the boat next time out, just in case...

Todd finally took Bryant and I back to the dock so Bry could pee. Then they headed back out and we stayed in the truck. The kid was bouncing off the walls! Every time he eats and it doesn't matter what, healthy or not, he suddenly has enormous amounts of energy! Before we got to land, Taylor caught the first fish. Isn't he gorgeous? She makes her dad get the fish from the water, but then will happily hold it for a photo! Crazy girl! She caught two for the day and Todd got zero. We were expecting so much more as they had recently stocked the lake with 6,000 fish. What a beautiful, windy day and a happy daughter.

I want to ski...

Today we headed back up to Stevens Pass to ski/snowboard. It was such a beautiful day! We had light snow, heavy snow, fog and plenty of sunshine! I think we all got some sun on our faces. Funny thing is...I didn't even think of using sunscreen. When it is so cold all the time, that is the last thing I think of. OOPS! After our last trip to the mountain in February, Bryant was so bummed he didn't get to ski, so this time we put him in a lesson. Taylor did two lessons and Sydney did one lesson (didn't see them all day) and then skiied with Dad for the afternoon! Bryant did awesome! It was so cute to see him race down the little hill they call the Magic Carpet. He couldn't turn or slow down, so he would just rip down the little hill as fast as he could and smiling all the way! I had an "Aha" moment today while watching him speed race...my baby is now five and is becoming more independent of me and wants to be able to do what everyone else is doing and can now! The sad thing about today is that I forgot to take my camera... I was planning on skiing and so therefore didn't even think about taking photos. I decided not to last minute when we were putting Bry in class, I was a bit nervous he wouldn't behave. I was so mad that I had forgotten it! I always have my camera with me, darn! I did take some on my phone, but I don't know how to get them to my computer! So this is a photo of Bryant from February on the mountain. Great day! I asked the kids if they wanted to give up Christmas for season lift passes next year... they were undecided for now.

We now have a five year old!

These gifts are from our family on his actual birthday, which was Monday of this week! This year it was all Star Wars/Clone Wars, that is all he wanted! Although he did see a golf putting hole while we were at Target and wanted it for his birthday... I went back later and got it for him. It is definitely an outside toy! I've noticed that when I use the action setting on my camera, the photos turn out a little more grainy...does anyone know why? Is it because the flash is only going off on the first shot? Hmmmm...

While we were in Portland last weekend, Nana had to have a birthday party for Bry... it was more Star Wars/Clone Wars! He was a very happy little boy!

Bryant requested Dad's Pasta for his birthday dinner, so we had it on Monday, and Brownies with ice cream, which we had twice. Once in Portland and then on his real birthday, lucky boy!