We ate at UNO Pizzeria and Grill for the first time yesterday—Katie loved playing with the dough. 🙂
Author Archives: Jen
Katie’s jumps and mermaid tail.
Working on his logic skills.
Owen got Gravity Maze from Gramma Jean (for Christmas, maybe?—how can I not remember?) and we actually finally pulled it out tonight. He was really quite good at it…while it was easy. 🙂 When he finally got stumped on card #8 (still in the easy section) he got a little grouchy and we had to put it away. But, I was still very impressed at how well he did.
And…Patchwork Pizza is born!
We really need a name for the pizza where we use miscellaneous leftovers from the fridge. I like garbage pizza but that doesn’t really have a good connotation. It’s not technically leftover pizza so I don’t like leftovers pizza. Kitchen sink pizza isn’t much better than garbage and doesn’t roll off the tongue. (I actually recall having a very similar conversation a few years ago and can’t remember what was decided.)
So I posted on Facebook asking for suggestions…and boy did people come through!!
So Patchwork Pizza it is! 🙂
FYI tonight’s toppings were:
- Kids: butter/garlic salt, homemade mac and cheese, fresh mozzarella, and Italian blend shredded cheese
- Adult: homemade bacon-y 1000 Island, leftover grilled hamburger, chopped green onions and bacon, and fresh mozzarella
Us 11 Years Ago
Charlie is SO patient with her.
Family Fun Night at National Harbor!
We took the kids to National Harbor tonight to ride the Capital Wheel. Neither one was too excited at the thought—they were both scared. And honestly, neither Tom nor I were that excited, either, as neither of us loves heights. But onward and upward, right?!
Here are some pics I found online since I didn’t get good close-up pics:
First, we tried to get a family selfie with the wheel in the background. Between Katie being a stink and me not able to get us all in the photo, the first few attempts were unsuccessful. I’m posting the outtakes so you can see it takes multiple shots to get something postable. 🙂
Then Tom took over photo duty (his arms are longer!) and it still took a few tries.
The best we got!
Looking up as we were waiting in line.
Katie was NOT thrilled.
Owen wasn’t, either, but he was being brave. 🙂 (Truth be told, I was feeling VERY iffy on the first go-round—any little swing of the cabin was disconcerting. I stayed calm, of course, but it wasn’t anything I wanted to ever do again.)
And then after the first rotation, everyone was perfectly happy! And I’d gotten more comfortable as well, so all was well. I still don’t need to do it again, though!
Then it was off to dinner. I chose McCormick & Schmicks and…yeah. Let’s just say the one appetizer we ordered (of two) that we actually received was delicious, but overall the whole experience was just bad—completely unlike past experiences at other locations.
But then it was off to the “beach” — a smallish area with sand and a huge sculpture to play on. It’s called The Awakening and is both cool and creepy. These next two are not my photos.
The night was topped off with ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s. 🙂
A Kiss & Ride Special Flower
Yes, this woman parks RIGHT HERE every day in the Kiss & Ride without pulling forward and it makes me insane. Apparently her special little flower couldn’t find her if she pulled forward three car lengths?! A friend said she apparently does this ALL the time and everyone is annoyed with her. People like this is why I say I hate people.
Guard Duty & Happy Sun Dog
Yellow mohawk for Spirit Day!
Baseball without rain for once!
As a friend commented, What is this shiny bright ball of light in the sky? It’s blinding! Seriously. It’s been raining just about every day for almost a month. So this was a perfect evening for a game!
Pay attention for a Katie surprise in the middle of this video. 🙂
What should we call this pizza?
When we just use whatever leftovers are in the fridge? Leftovers pizza sounds too much like leftover pizza. Tom suggested Garbage Pizza but that seems a little…drastic (and Owen didn’t like it)? Fridge Pizza also seems a little boring.
Tonight was Italian meatloaf, cheddar cheese, and BBQ Sauce pizza.
And Katie wanted to help so we let her “paint” the sauce.
You never know what you’re going to see on a hike.
Box Tops Helper
Mama/Katie hike
Yeah, it didn’t go quite as well as the earlier daddy/daughter hike. Big surprise.
Oh, it started off well enough. She was excited to be walking with me. Happy as could be.
Except the whining about being tired started a mere 15 minutes in. 🙁 And she was walking so slow and being so pokey it became not fun for either of us. Because of course there was also the whining every five minutes or so about how tired her legs were or asking when we were going to be home. I asked her if she did this with daddy. No, she said. So then why are you whining with me, I asked. No response.
So this might have been the first and last walk we take alone together.
Katie’s Grass
When I picked her up from school today they told me she had grass in her backpack. Oooh-kay, I thought, why would they let her bring home grass?! So I asked her about it on the drive home… and then it hit me. They had been growing grass in their classroom…so it was finally coming home!
“I want Maggie to lay with me!”
I made Owen rest on the couch after taking Katie to school and he had to have Maggie lay with him. Good thing it’s not a problem to convince her. 🙂
Hedgehogs & Ladybugs
OMG I cannot stand the cuteness. I bought this dress from a friend and I just love it—and I didn’t realize until JUST now that it also has LADYBUGS on it!! And the ladybug is riding the hedgehog. It kills me.
A five-star tote!
Dammit. I liked my whole recent Le Tote box. But I don’t need all of it. Hell, what am I saying?? I don’t need ANY of it LOL.
I more than like but not quite love the dress. Great length, good color, nice feel, not my favorite neckline (as a general rule I choose V-necks) but I can branch out, and it’s easily changeable with accessories. It’s a bit expensive at $64 but unfortunately isn’t available anywhere else online so no cheaper option.
I like the pants. They are a bit more current (hip?) than anything I own—they have pleather-type panels on the front (better seen in the stock photo)! My fashion-guru friend says these are a definite yes, plus says they’re a steal at $29. I’m still debating but leaning towards keeping them.
The tunic isn’t exactly my style but it’s super comfy and my friend really likes this one, too. I’m not convinced, though, since it is a bit big, a tad short (for just leggings for me), and a bit more than I’d want to spend ($30). I’m wearing it today to see how it works in real-life but I’m leaning towards returning it and then keeping my eye open for a more suitable tunic (since apparently these are totally IN now).
Necklace 1 is very similar to the silver one I already bought for $19 and I don’t like the shiny as much—even at $22. So I like it but it’s going back.
I LOVE necklace 2. And it’s a known famous brand so Google told me it was cheaper direct from the company so it’s already on its way! (And it looks much better in person than in this photo!)
If they discounted for buying a whole box, I might have just taken it all…but they only give you credit for another month and this is my last month…so that was a no. But it was good to end my experience with Le Tote on a high note (though it does make it harder to cancel—I just have to remember my other boxes that weren’t as successful)!
Time traveling.
I have an app (Timehop) that shows me pictures from years ago, so every day I get to time travel. Some days are boring but some days have good options for a Then & Now (with recent photos I still have on my phone that match angles or hairstyles). Today was the latter. (Also, sometimes I share them on Facebook if it’s a perfect comparison; sometimes I don’t.)
She outgrew her baby fat.
One sickie, one shadow.
We learned Owen has strep so he was resting on the couch…with his shadow.
Running, shadows, and hanging like a monkey.
While waiting for Owen to finish his after school program, Katie wanted to run.
And she liked our shadows.
And hanging like a monkey.
My favorite hiking section.
It looks, feels, and smells like Michigan forests…
Chalk!
She loves to sit in the middle of the road.
She’s very good about getting out of the way if cars are coming…and pointing out birds. 🙂
The pictures we all have.
And edited for public posting:
Kidisms 26
Grandma arrived and picked Katie up to hug her.
Gramma: I’m going to squeeze you until you fart.
Katie [obviously] didn’t fart.
Katie: Grandma, you couldn’t fart me!
Grauntie Marge wears a wig, but didn’t have it on yet first thing in the morning. After she put it on:
Katie: You have your big hair on!
Demonstrating his newly-learned martial arts moves to Uncle Rob via Skype:
Owen, pointing to Katie: Katie, be my assistant.
She eagerly got up and threw some punches and blocked some punches.
Katie: Do your feet kicks!
We were shopping at Nordstrom Rack and Katie was checking out the mannequins, lifting up the dresses—and she saw that there weren’t actual legs (they were just metal rods).
Katie: Mama! The mannequin has leg poles!
Katie: Mama, why are you wearing a belt?
Me: Because my pants are too big and the belt keeps them from falling down.
Katie: You could just wear comfy pants!
We were all in the car and Katie was trying to describe what she just saw flying.
Me: A bird.
Katie: No. It was white.
Me: A bird.
Katie: No. It had feathers.
Me: A bird.
Katie: No.
Owen: A goose.
Me: A goose is a bird.
Owen: A waterproof bird!
I laughed so hard over that that I actually cried. 🙂
Owen was reading Wimpy Kid.
Owen: “It was an 80 picture of Uncle Charlie.”
Me: What? Let me see.
He shows me—its “8 X 10.”
Owen: 8 times 10 is 80.
❤️ this kid.
What a sweet, sugary face.
I’m blown away by 847 likes!
Not only did Naturally Slim post my recent photo and weight loss update on Instagram, I just discovered they posted it simultaneously on Facebook as well…and it currently has 847 likes! I’m just blown away!
Daddy/daughter hike!
She had to make it through the whole 2.2 mile walk with daddy—WITHOUT being carried at all—in order to be able to do the walk with me. And she did it!!! I was so proud of her!!
Stopping to watch the waving grass fields.
Cheers!
The house has been cleaned, dinner has been prepped, we have a specially-mixed cocktail in hand, and we’re 29 minutes away from our Saturday Night Dinner!
