Annika's latest cuteness

This morning, Annika woke up and wandered into our bedroom. Fortunately, our alarm clock had gone off just a minute before, so at least we were already awake. As Annika snuggled with us, Eric asked her what she dreamed about. She said that she dreamed about the ocean and that Eric was "scooper driving" (scuba diving) to catch an octopus.

Fishing

Recently, Annika has enjoyed pretending that she's fishing. Lots of household items have become her fishing poles: chop sticks, salad spoons, my eye liner, etc. Eric, being the clever guy that he is, decided to take Annika's play one step further. He cut out construction paper fish and then put paper clips where their mouths would be. He then created a pole and line and "hook" using a chop stick, yarn, and refrigerator magnet. The goal was to use the magnet to catch the fish while Annika is in her laundry basket boat. See??? I told you that he's a clever guy!!! The game was a hit!

(Keep an eye out for Conor's cameo in the video!)

Doppelhanger

I've coined a new word: Doppelhanger. It is when two people arrive at the same event wearing the same outfit.

Cousin Fun

On Saturday, I packed up our kids and headed across 520 to spend the afternoon with my brother's family ... minus my brother, who was in Vegas partying down at his friend's bachelor party weekend.

Staci (my sister-in-law) and I decided a little "cousin camp" was in order for the day. I brought our blow-up pool and some bubble wands - both were a hit, as was the wind-up fish that our nephew Ian had in a bowl of water. Ian and Annika had a great time in the wading pool (once we poured in enough warm water so they didn't feel like they were freezing to death), climbing on the Big Toy, and running around on the lawn. In fact, the kids played themselves to the point of exhaustion!

Growing children = last-minute shopping outing for sandals en route to cousin camp
(PS: Our kids LOVE the driving carts!)



Conor watching Ian and his wind-up fish



Conor getting in on the action


Annika wasn't going to be left out!

Kat and Auntie (aka me)

Ian and Annika in the pool (yes, the wind-up fish is still involved!)

Conor after crying himself to sleep on our way home

Planters

Last weekend, the kids and I got creative. Well, they got creative. I just facilitated. We went to the local hardware store and picked up some terra cotta planters. Annika picked out some purple plants for the new planters.

When we got home, I pulled out the craft kit, put newspaper all over our laundry room floor (mind you, that didn't stop painted footprints from winding up on the floor, but it did help a bit), and let the kids go to town painting their planters. After they were done, I took the planters outside and sprayed them with clear coat, so the paint could withstand our famous Seattle rain.

The next day, Annika and I donned our garden gloves and planted the pretty purple plants (like the alliteration??) that Annika picked out. Our deck looks much prettier now!

Thanks, Sara, for the great craft idea!!

Annika's planter


Conor's planter

One of the best days EVER

11 years ago from yesterday (June 1, 2000), I started a new job. Little did I know that I would also start my life. That's the day I met my amazingly wonderful husband. (OK, he wasn't my husband yet ... but I snared him soon enough!)

What amazes me year after year is how well get get along and how well we fit. We share a sense of humor that makes most people shake their heads and walk away mystified. When he brings logic, I bring emotion. When I bring chaos, he brings calm. We just work well. We are forever finishing each other's sentences and know what the other is about to say. Our partnership is right ... simply put. Eric is the peanut butter to my jelly - the yin to my yang - the Gilbert to my Sullivan.

Little did I know those many years ago that when I walked through the doors at my new job, I would not only start on a lifelong career path, but I would also meet the man of the dreams. My future husband. The father of my future children. The man I would rely on, I would support, and I would grow old with. The man whose love keeps me grounded and gives my heart wings all at the same time.

Annika's owie ear

Two nights ago, Annika woke up with an owie ear. Not just some owie ear that we told her to shake it off and go back to sleep, but a really, really, really owie ear. We tried Tylenol. We tried decongestant. We tried warm compresses. We tried pleading with her ear to feel better and let all of us sleep. No such luck. I finally got her to fall into a fitful sleep somewhere in the neighborhood of 3:30 AM. It kills me to hear my babies cry because they don't feel well (compared to when they're just being drama queens or throwing a fit about not getting their way ... who? our kids? NEVER!) Let me just say, though, that 1.5 hours of sleep simply isn't enough.

I took Annika to the doctor, who diagnosed her with a "raging ear infection." She gave us a 'script for antibiotics and sent us on our merry way.

Apparently, my incredibly sleep-deprived brain (who also didn't go to pharmacology school and doesn't know all of the drug facts down to the Nth degree) mistakenly told the doctor (Note: Not our regular pediatrician) that Annika could take amoxicillan when she, in fact, can't because of her augmentin allergy. I should have said that she can take Azithromycin. Apparently, the doctor gave the pharmacist an earful when she called asking if it is OK to switch the type of antibiotic to one that won't make Annika puke her guts out. The doctor said, "Her mother specifically said that amoxicillan was fine." Well PAR-DON ME for getting my antibiotics screwed up and not knowing that augmentin and amoxicillan are basically the same drug. I have a degree in ENGLISH not CHEMISTRY ... and did I mention the sleep deprivation???

But I digress...

We FORTUNATELY, got the right meds (aka Azithromycin) and Annika slept through the night last night... a much needed occurance by all of us! She is still a bit out of sorts, but we expect that to improve as the antibiotics have a chance to really kick into gear.

PS: I have created a note in my iPhone that reminds me of what medications Annika can not take ... best to have that handy in case the question ever comes up again. :)

Our sweet girl enjoying a snack this weekend, aka before the ear infection took over...