Zoobilee 2010

A lot of you may know that I attended my very first black tie charity event this month. It was for the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium here in Tacoma. They essentially throw a party once a year at the zoo with food and beverages (mostly alcoholic). Aside from the food and drinks, they also set up stages throughout the zoo for bands/DJs. The festivities started at 7:30pm and go until 1am. I went with a group of co-workers and had an absolutely GREAT time. I think that it was the very start of what will be a LONG tradition of attending this particular event. The girls that I went with KNOW how to party so we get along pretty well. Needless to say that most of us closed down the evening at 1am. The weather was great. Sunny in the begining and then cooled down. I was drinking and had a wrap so I didn't get cold, but some of my girlfriends did so they took off early. What was nice for the men, was that “black tie” wasn’t as black tie as one would have thought. Most of the women were in cocktail dresses but most of the men were in some form of hybrid tux/sport jacket with shorts combo. It was pretty interesting. We caught a taxi to a co-workers house and camped out there for the night. All in all it was a great night, at least what I can remember of it. I found the Jameson Whiskey tent and the night started to get fuzzy after that. I remember most parts and I’m sure my girls would have told me if I had dome anything really weird. I'm hoping that I can get Mike to go with us next year. I guess that I have a whole year to convince him…..

3 years and counting...

3 years ago today, Mike and I got married. 3 years. Seems like it's been longer than that. We have had plenty going on with us. Jack counts as a several..... Between my job and my illness, Mike's job and his injury, it's been a bumpy road but we've gotten here safe. Things are looking up. I'm feeling better than I have in a very long time. I have the energy that I used to have, also. Mike is doing better and will maybe be able to go back to work which he is very happy about.



I love Mike just as much as I ever have. He is becoming a wonderful father and I love him so much for that. I don't know what things will be like if he gets to go back to work. Jack will be at a loss without his Daddy around all the time. He freaks out if he's out of his sight now.



With the start of actual summer weather, we decided to break out the slip-n-slide that we bought Jack hoping that the weather would eventually get better. :) I wasn't sure for awhile if it would.... He had a great time with it. He didn't actually slide on it, although he did fall down once or twice. He just jumped over, and tried to drink the water spray. He also had fun jumping in the puddles on the slide part. We played outside until it was time to eat dinner. He wasn't happy about going inside, but he got over it as toddlers do. We made the most of the "first day of summer".





Today, Mike and I decided to celebrate our anniversary day with a trip to the beach. It seemed fitting since that is where we went on our honeymoon. That and the fact that it was supposed to be like 90 degrees. We both thought that a little ocean breeze wouldn't be a bad idea. Jack had a BLAST!! All he wanted to do was run in the water. I think that I followed him for like a mile. Daddy tried to help him buld a sand castle, but all Jack wanted to do was destroy anything that Mike built. There a toddler for you.... We all had a great time and all got a little sun burned. After Mike had all the sun he could, we went for a drive to see if any houses were for sale. Maybe one day we will be able to retire to the ocean. At least one can hope, right? Then, we went to an Irish pub in town (apprently they are popping up all over the place) and had a very nice early dinner. I tried Guiness for the very first and probably last time. They mixed it with a hard cider, so that made it tolerable. It wasn't too bad, but I don't think that it will be my new beer of choice. I guess that I'd fail as an Irishman..... We are now sitting at home unwinding from the day. I'm on the computer blogging and Mike is watching a little TV. I'm sure he'd be on Craigslist if he could be but I called the computer first!! :) Well I should go nurse my sunburn, and his for that matter. Here are a few pics to enjoy.
























Happy Anniversary my dear. Here's to many more......

4th of July weekend and Momma is ready for bed.....

Happy 4th of July to one and all!! I hope this post finds everyone well and that all of your appedages are accounted for.

We had a busy weekend that actually started on Thursday evening. My niece, Quinlan who we call Ninny (short for Quinnie) came to stay with us until Saturday night. She and Jack always have a blast together, even though Jack is still learning to share his things.... We did the usual play at home Thursday night, and most of Friday because we were waiting for the sun to come out. It never actually did, so we played in the overcast grayness until it started raining. Jack and Ninny both took 2 baths which I think made up for it all. My bathroom mat is soaked to prove it......

On Saturday though, we met Ron and his family to go clam digging. The weather still wasn't great, but at least we didn't get rained on. This was my first experience clamming and it was pretty fun. The kids played around in the water, and Mike was able to make quick work of his, Jack's, and Ninny's limit on clams. We are going to be eating lots of clams tonight for dinner!! Here are a few pics of our adventure clamming.



2 buddies off to the beach to find some clams.....



What are those girls doing?? Keep wondering kid, you'll never actually figure us out......



This was post rock assault by the 2 year old. He was so cute that I had to let him do it again so I could get the picture....



The kids had a blast looking for crabs and splashing in the water.






Yummmm, seaweed...



Once in a great while, the artsy side of Momma rears it's head.


As for the actual 4th of July well, Mike and I took Jack to the Freedom fair on Ruston way. He had a pretty good time. He behaved himself for the majority of the day. He finally wanted down after we had wondered up and down the road for the 2nd or 3rd time. He said 'Baby down...BABY DOWN!!!' and then told me 'Run, Momma. RUN!!' and he did. He is fast for being so short. Mike chased him a good 1/2 mile, and he was still going strong. One of the problems is that he doesn't watch where he is going. He ran right in front of a group of bicycle cops and made them all stop. Mike said they 'crashed', but no one was on the road when I looked so I don't think that qualifies as a crash.... I didn't get too many pics because he was just in the stroller part of the day and when he wasn't, I was maning the stroller. Then, my batteries died just after the fireworks started. There's irony for you. We stayed specificly for the fireworks an then the camera has the nerve to die. Couldn't have possibly been operator error, could it.... Here are pics of what I did get.

Sweet Jack at the end of a long day.


Light saber vs Daddy's head. Sweet but not so innocent Jack. This one is for everybody that thinks Jack is such an angel.....






Happy 4th of July!!

It's been an awful long time.....

Haven't updated my blog in awhile due to some overtime that I have been working. Our sister hospital went live with the computer system that we have been using for about 2 years. I volunteered to go over and help out when they finally switched over to mostly computer charting. All in all it went very well and I had a good amount of overtime to show for it.

So what have we been up to.....well not too much until more recently. Mike and I took Mike to the Zoo on one of the very few hot days at the June. We had a good time. I wanted to go to see the new snow leopard cubs, but they weren't been too social this particular day. Yep, that's them sitting up on top of their inclosure. Not much of a view....



None the less it was a good day. Jack got to play outside in the water, groom the goats, and hang over the aquarium to see all the fish (and made Momma very nervous). We didn't make it to see the polar bears this trip because someone was getting pretty grumpy without his nap..... No, I didn't mean Mike. hahaha Here are a few of the pictures that I was able to snap while he was holding semi still.












It's amazing that such small little hands hold my heart each and everyday.

Acupunture is going well....

Most of you know that since Jack was born, I have been struggling with a lot of pain, fatigue, and a mirad of other annoying things. Most recently it's been the headache that never ended, palpatations that caoused chest pain, and so much pain that I had trouble just getting around. After seeing doctors that had no explanation (sooooo annoying) and offer help that wasn't helping, Mike and I deceided that I should try acupuncture. I've seen Mike, my acupuncturist twice now and there really has been an improvement. I haven't needed my pain meds for about 3 days now and that was something I couldn't even fathom 2 weeks ago. I just finished my second appointment and I'm finally hopeful that the pain might go away completely. I still have pain but it's much less severe and widespread. I'm taking hebs that I have NO idea what they are. I'd need a trasnlator to just to pronounce the name of them. You have to take a LOT of them in one day, but it's worth it to me if I feel better. They are pretty easy to take. I can take 36 of the herbs at a time which is one dose (they look like little pelletss for a BB gun). I take them twice a day because I never can seem to take them three time a day. I took a few pictures of the session because I thought it looked pretty cool. The needles are really fine and some times I can't even feel them go in. Other times, I feel them. Mike (my acupuncturist) says thats because I havve more blocked energy there. He says that it's good when the points throb. That means it's working well...... The overall pain of the treatment is nothing compared to the pain I was in everyday of my life. I'll take acupuncture over that pain any time. I do find it humorous when he talks about my liver Qi (pronounced chee) being too over active and my yin and yang. Some times I just raise my eyebrows and shrug my sholders. He seems to know what he's doing. As long as it's working, I'll let him try to balance my Qi. Most of the needles that I have placed are in my lower legs and in my lower arms. Mike says that is because in Western medicine, you have more nerve endings from your elbow to your hand (and also your knee to you foot) than you do in your entire body. It's similar in Chinesse medicine. there are more points on my meridians (little chuckle) in the same areas. I took some pictures of my legs with the needles placed. I would take pictures of my arms but it's hard to take pictures with needles in your hands....


don't mind the cellulite....


The needles are hard to see but I do have one on my right foot. See if you can find it.

Jack is a chip off the old Momma

Apparently this is a look that I used to give my sister when I was little..... I think that I still give Mike the same look.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to one and all!! I hope that this post finds you all well. Not so in my household..... My mother's day started with Jack vomiting at 2am. Gotta love the irony. Celebrate your day with vomit and diahrrea!! Wooo hoo!! Motherhood.

I haven't posted much in recent days.... We've had a lot of doctor's appointments lately and with work, and my daily pain, I've been pretty wiped out.

Being such a nice day yesterday, Mike wanted to take the boat out on the water and test the motor. We had my niece, Quinlan with us so Mike, Jack, Quinlan and I went out on Spanaway lake and burned some gas. I think it was the happiest day that Mike has had in a long time.



Here's a few pictures from the day....











All in all it was a pretty good day. Hope that eveyone was able to enjot the sunshine like we did. :)