Cherished

There are a few things that I truly look forward to . . . countdown the days for . . . anticipate . . .

Date nights with Drew, family get togethers, mini-breaks

AND

girls night!

Every 2nd Thursday my girlfriends and I get together for dinner at a different restaurant around Seattle. 

We've been doing this regularly now for over FOUR years and I don't think we'll ever run out of things to talk about

Here we are back in March 2009 out to dinner at Cafe Bizarro - one our favorites

Last month at Bizarro again. (I have to say -  I think we're all getting better with age!!)

Karen (left) - is the mom of 5 year old Alister and 1.5 year old Gus.  She is a cancer care nurse.

Sarah - is the mom of 3 year old Dylan and a critical care nurse

Darcy (right) - is the mom of 4.5 year old Lucy and 10 month old Griffin.  She is a cancer care nurse but is taking time off to at stay home with the kiddos.

It's amazing to me that I met these ladies in nursing school 10 years ago before any of us had kids.

Within the span of 5 years we added 7 humans to the planet and clocked thousands of hours in the nursing profession.

I cherish our ladies nights out and hope we continue them for a few more decades!

Happy Sunny Days

The weather has been unbelievable the last few weeks.  Mostly sunny and one day even into the 80's!!  I have decided my mood is DIRECTLY related to the amount of sun and warmth and everyone knows - when mama ain't happy, nobody's happy!

So needless to say, we have been one happy family lately!

Of course, the camera has been MIA the last few weeks (hiding in plain sight on my dresser) but I have a few shots of our pre-summer action

 Our first family bike ride was a definite success.  Jude was in the i-bert (the front seat) on my bike and Ellie was on her tag-along attached to Drew's bike.  Pretty cool to have the whole family zooming down the trail.  Of course, our destination was the brew pub for dinner and beer!

 This little man would live outside.  Both kids have literally been spending ALL day outside, except for naps and Ellie's afternoon show (she is a slave to her routine!)

Our backyard is set - slides, water table, garden, slip-n-slide, sprinkler, sidewalk chalk, tent, sandbox - enough to keep them occupied for at least 20 minutes! 

Just had to throw this photo in there.  We went to check on Ellie one night and saw that she had put every clippy she owns into her hair for her bedtime do!!  So cute!

When daddy's away . . .

The girls will play (and Jude too!)

Drew has started the, well-deserved, tradition of First Thursday Beer Drinking night with his friends.

This means Ellie, Jude and I have an evening alone.

And mommy nights mean - DANCE PARTIES!

I rely heavily on Pandora radio tuned to the Disney Princess movie station. It provides endless entertainment for kitchen dancing!

 These are happy evenings!