Sicky Kenzie :(

Poor little Kenzie is so sick. It just breaks our heart. Her throat is so sore and she cries every time she coughs. She is trying to be a trooper for us, though, and right now we are having a little reprieve, as she is hopped up on Motrin and about to get some ice cream. Which gives me a minute to transcribe our conversation from 5 minutes ago, while she was eating her dinner of Lipton Cup o' Noodles:

Kenzie: "Did you make me a special dinner?"

Dad: "Yes Kenzie. You are special!"

Kenzie: "Thank you... I said thank you 'cause you said a nice thing to me"

Dad: "awww. You are a nice girl!"

Kenzie: "But sometimes I make bad choices."

Later, after taking the below photo... "I smiled, but I didn't say cheese, 'cause my throat is hoarse"

Fall has... fallen!

Kind of like spring has sprung, but without all the pathetic optimism

The epic summer of 2009 is long gone, and we certainly didn't get an indian summer, but hey beggars can't be choosers. We actually are enjoying the turning of the season, and the kids are happy to get a chance to wear their rain boots, walk in the mud, and use their spiderman and hello kitty umbrellas.

At any rate, it's definitely comfort season, which suits us just fine. I'm happy for the chance to wear sweats at night and request hearty meals like chicken pot pie, chicken and "ducklings" (as the kids call them) and pot roast. Jackson enjoys living room football. Kenzie likes wearing her cozy pj's and "doctoring" us. Steph is pleased that I've greenlighted a new thicker down comforter for our bed. The whole family has enjoyed a new game called "earthquake" where the kids stand on our backs and try to balance while we shimmy and shake. It's fun for the kids and a cheap massage for the grown ups. Everyone wins.

The kids have been extremely happy and pleasant little people recently. Kenzie is smack dab in the middle of that 3 year old phase of unintentional comedy with practically every thing she says. Yesterday she gave Steph and me Hello Kitty stamps and told me mine wasn't as good "because you have too much hair on you". Tonight after brushing teeth she said "I'm not going to be all whiny and nasty and crying and be sassy."

Both kids are super excited for Halloween this year, with Mackenzie dressing up as Snow White and Jackson donning Clone Trooper gear. Separate blog entry to come on that front.

The recent activities of note are: Husky game with Jackson (blowout loss to the hated Ducks); fall walk with Kenzie; Kenzie and Steph going to "velview square" (Bellevue Square) for lunch and climbing on the boats; pumpkin patch in the rain, followed by a trip to safeway to buy real pumpkins instead of the rotten pumpkin patch pumpkins.... and loads of living room dancing.

Morning walk on the trails with Mackenzie, wearing pink pj's, pink boots, and pink Yankees hat

Jackson, decked out in his Jake Locker jersey, on the bus heading to the Huskies game!

Jackson's favorite part of game day, playing catch in "The Zone", on the Huskies' practice field

Huskies band, before the blowout

All smiles with their boots and 'brellas at the rotten pumpkin patch!

Super dad decorated with lights for Halloween

Story time with Grandma Marsha

Star Wars in Concert

Last week we surprised Jackson with news that I was taking him to "Star Wars in Concert" with his friend Eli, and Eli's dad Zach. Jackson basically freaked out, as Star Wars and hanging out with Eli are two of his favorite things in the world. Even though he didn't know what Star Wars in Concert is, he instinctively knew it was going to be awesome.

While we did the Star Wars concert, Steph and Mackenzie had a girls night out, with a trip to the Paint Away store for some fun with art. I don't have pictures, but I'm told Kenzie opted to paint a moose... all pink of course! Steph had to work hard to convince her to even paint eyes, a nose and mouth, as Kenzie thought a solid pink moose was just perfect.

A quick explanation of the star wars event: a live orchestra performance of the music of Star Wars, in an arena with a 3 story LCD screen, playing various vignettes from the different Star Wars movies. The actor who voiced C3PO in the movies narrates throughout the performance, and weaves through the storyline of the six Star Wars movies as the orchestra brilliantly delivers the majestic anthems from the movies. Jackson drew a lot of laughter from those sitting near us when he yelled "FINALLY!!!" when Darth Vader made his first appearance in the fourth or fifth video vignette.

On the concourse of the arena, movie props and costumes, were on display, while the famous heroes and infamous villains roamed through the crowds.

It was a magical night for the kids and dads alike. The music was amazing, the videos were a lot of fun, and the kids had a blast sharing this fun experience!

Jackson and Daddy with a couple of shady characters

Eli and Jackson with a storm trooper

E&J looking at a kid in a Bobo Fet costume

the kids checking out the original Han Solo frozen in carbon relief

Yoda... one of the "good guys". Jackson constantly asked if every character was good or bad

Jackson and Eli with one of the sand people and a Storm Trooper that needs to make a trip to the dry cleaners

Silly Star Wars faces!

Last week I was Mr Momming it, with Steph out of town on a girl trip. Mr Mom weekends typically entail watching football, playing board games, and not a whole lot else. A perfect weekend!

All smiles after church!And finally, a picture from Mackenzie's recent school field trip to the pumpkin patch last Tuesday

Early fall update

And, we are back and internetting after a reasonable break!


Lots going on this past month! The kids are now going to the same school, with Mackenzie in "threes" on Tuesday and Thursdays and Jackson in "Pre-K" Monday through Friday. We are having so much fun hearing of their adventures at school, learning of the new friends they are making, and witnessing an daily dose of new skills they are learning.

Kenzie loves her art projects, and Jackson loves playing with a bunch of new friends at recess, as well as taking pride at his burgeoning writing skills.

They have also mixed in some adventures outside of school, including going to the Puyallup Fair with their Grandma and Grandpa, while we redecorated Mackenzie's room, including building her "big girl bed!"

fun times on the boats at the fair

petting a baby goat...

riding the carousel with Grandpa

First night in the big girl bed!! (Jackson wanted to climb in with Kenzie for songs)

And I finally took Jackson to a Yankees game, something he has been begging for. Included was his first adventure in the centerfield kids zone at Safeco Field.

Finally, we spent the past weekend in Las Vegas for our good friends' 10 year anniversary renewing of vows. We had a very fun time, and their creative ideas made for quite the show. Included was a wedding ceremony at the Little White Chapel, with Elvis officiating! We all dressed up in our finest 60s and 70s attire and celebrated the night away with them!

Group dinner the first night at Tao restaurant at The Venetian. So good!!

The ladies in their outfits the second night before heading to the wedding.

Steph and I all dolled up and ready to hit the town!
Paparazzi moments...

Minimalist update

Sorry for the long gap between posts... life has continued despite the lack of evidence on this blog!!

This month we were excited to have my parents return from Korea and have enjoyed catching up and sharing with them the whims and follies of family life with two munchkins.

We spent another week remodeling Kenzie's room into a veritable ballerina cocoon. She loves it, and Steph did some gorgeous work, and her love really shines in her product!

We have also been busy with the kids starting school, doing all sorts of projects, and generally adjusting to new schedules.

Lastly, this weekend we (Steph and I) are off to Vegas for some fun on our own, while the kids stay with their Grandpa and Grandma Clark.

So... that all said, look forward to a catch up post next week, complete with pictures from the Puyallup Fair, Mariners-Yankees game, Kenzie's new room, some school pictures, and perhaps even a Vegas picture or two:)

Cooper

Sunday Night Art

Good.....

Great.....

MASTERPIECE!!!!!.....

Camping!!!

This week I took Thursday and Friday off and we embarked on our first ever family camping trip. We told the kids about our plans a week ahead of time, just to make sure they had a chance to build up the anticipation the way only a 3 and 5 year old can.

It being our first time, we opted for a very family friendly, close by camping spot, opting for something a little short on the rugged factor, but scoring high marks for convenience. We chose Denny Creek campground, near Snoqualmie Pass.

The quick description: a little jewel of a campground actually tucked in between east and west bound I-90, an unusual location for a campground to say the least. I joked with Steph that were going to be camping on the median of the interstate. However, it actually was the perfect atmosphere for us. We set up our camp adjacent to a beautiful little creek, in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. I-90 splits near the pass, separated by a rougly 1/2 mile swath of old growth forest. The best part of the campground was that it was walking distance from a couple of trails that were perfect for kids to hike, ending at Franklin Falls, a gorgeous waterfall where the kids spent 20 minutes throwing rocks into the splash zone as waterfall mist sprayed their faces.

This trip was the perfect way to spend a couple days off. We had countless "freeze time" moments, where the kids just melted us with little things they said and did, their gleeful laughs and smiles, the new things they discovered (orange mushrooms! trail markers! synged marshmellows! tent stakes!), and the unsolicited appreciation they showed us for creating such a fun experience for them. We can't wait to go camping again next summer!

Favorite moments:
- Kids throwing rocks into the creek and the waterfall
- Sleeping in the tent (Jackson's favorite)
- Roasting marshmellows (Kenzie's favorite)
- Steph's awesome camping breakfast (pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, hot chocolate, and coffee)
- Our family hike, 1 mile up to Franklin Falls on the old wagon trail through old growth forest, returning via the Franklin Falls trail along the creek back to camp

Favorite quotes:
"I'm really good at hiking" - Mackenzie
"You're the fire guy!!" - Mackenzie to me
"Next time let's go camping for 80 days" - Jackson

Drinking grape Kool-Aid after setting up campThrowing rocks into Denny CreekOutdoor enthusiast, Jr.Outdoor enthusiast, Sr.Camp
Jackson roasting his first marshmellow Kenzie enjoying a spectacular camp breakfast

Hiking with Smoke-dog

Crazy orange mushrooms

All smiles on our hike

Franklin Falls