Where has the summer gone?

If you are like me and I know most can at least relate... The summer is almost over. Time for my iced "no fun" mocha's to turn into hot "no fun" mocha's and the sweaters to start emerging from their cozy Rubbermaid homes. I am always amazed at how quickly things turn in a season. It is truly spectacular when you can feel the chill in the evening air and you know it is only a matter of time until the heaters in the house get cranked up again.

We have had a spectacular and rather eventful summer. I am dusting off our Blogger account to share some highlights with everyone. Pictures to follow shortly... We have been to Wenatchee for softball and to UW to watch D$ earn his degree - Go DAWGS! My lil' sis got married to Bo in SeaTac and I had the honor and color pallet privilege of being a traffic cone... I mean Matron (old maid) of honor. My nieces Mia and Yana twins turned 1 - luau style. Craig, myself and the kids took a mini vacation to Long Beach for a couple days and shared a 300 sq ft bungalow- glad we have more space than that in our house. We've been to the zoo and have a Pearl Jam concert approaching and our friends Chris and Aly get married this weekend in Redmond.

Kellen will be two in September (in less than 1 month) and is growing like a weed. He has the most laid back personality with a shake of pepper. He has mastered the word "No" and loves to use it even for things that do not apply.

Our princess Norah will begin preschool (get me a Kleenex) in September. She is so grown up- when I ask how old she is she instantly replies I am turning 4 mommy. her favorite pair of shoes are ones that we got from a neighbor as hand-me-downs. They are red shoes like the ones Dorothy wears in the Wizard of Oz. We finally got her to wear something other than the "red shoes" as she calls them - Old Navy Flip Flops now are the shoe of choice - for now.

My job at the hospital is challenging and at times I feel there aren't enough hours in the day to get all my work done and then my reserves of energy when I come home are small and I have but three hours until we rock Kellen in the rocking chair and I sing Norah the Dixie Chicks song "lullaby" and whisper "I'll Dream about you" and hear in return "And I'll dream about you." Gosh it is something being a parent. Breathtaking in every way.

If you want my opinion...for the remainder of the month of August I intend to put the perpetual brake on life and take things slower. Take time to smell the roses... and watch the sunflowers grow.

Turning 30!

I knew it was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. I turned 30 on May 1st, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...at first. Katie and the kids treated me to a nice day at Point No Point in North Kitsap County on a very nice day (pictures to come, when we have a new computer....thats another story). Then our good friend Michelle watched Kel and Norah as Katie took me out to dinner at Mossimo near the Purdy Bridge (really good food). Had an awesome birthday party, except that it rained, and then came the bad stuff. It all started on April 30th, my first day on vacation. Decided I would grow out a goatee (both Norah and Katie like it), but then I started to find little gray hairs on my chin. Not Cool! Anyways, Katie says I should be grateful that I didn't grow out a full beard as more than likely I would have found more. This to go with my receding hairline and I am officially middle-aged. Yea!

Our little Kellen aka "Jack Jack" from the Incredibles

I wanted to share with you what we've known all along about our dear little blue eyed boy Kel. He has the best personality anyone could want from a little boy. He's sweet and charming... however if he doesn't get what he wants - look out - our little man turns into "Jack-Jack Parr of the Disney Movie "The Incredibles".

I've included this short video clip to support our theory. Enjoy!

It's been a long time...

I was sitting here looking at our blog and realized the snow has been "long" gone and the little buds of my day lilies are beginning to peek out of the ground so I needed to create a new post. Here are a few things we've been up to...

Wedding Dress Shopping with Auntie Mary

Mary is getting married on June 20th to Bo. Norah and I are in the wedding - I am her "Matron" of Honor (god makes me feel 100 years old) and Norah is her flower girl.

Norah's Big Girl
Bed

We made the transition and converted Norah's bed to a toddler bed outfitted with the Disney Princess linen. She seems to like being so grown up- for the first week or so she wouldn't get out of the bed when she awoke from nap - seems in her mind the crib bars were still up (sort of a mental block). Well today I walked in after hearing her little voice making conversation and low and behold there was Norah- tucked in the corner of her room reading- she looked petrified that I caught her out of bed- and started to make up a bunch of excuses why she wasn't taking a nap. My negotiation skills were a bit rusty so she got to stay in her room and read for a while longer and then got up and watched a movie. Way to go mom.

"Bella - Bella - Bella Dancerella"

Norah is also an up and comming ballet dancer with her buddy Nolan. I have a video of this performance - which is too funny. Here is a picture before the big dance - which speaks a thousand words...

I thought many of you would get a kick out of this one... Man how time flies.

Thats all I have for now. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of the O'Patti's!

Winter Wonderland

The girls sledding down our driveway! Doesn't Norah remind you of 'Randy' from "A Christmas Story?"

Just after this, Katie put her skiis on and tried a little downhill, I would rate our driveway as a double black diamond. She managed to not fall down. Score!

My little girl

When I turned the computer on, this picture popped on as our background. I had to share it because it completely took me off guard. It seems that my little girl is growing before my eyes (she will be 3 in March). I don't know what it is, but this picture, to me at least, captures self-assurance that I can only hope she grows up to have. It's almost as if she is hiding from the world and ready to take it on all at the same time.

Kellen's First Haircut

Kellen's 1st haircut!

He went to The Bullpen in Tumwater where Craig has gone since Middle School. In fact, Papa Mike went there too when he was a kid (and had more hair).

Thats Doug on the right about to make our little baby into a little boy.

Bye Bye blonde curls!

Nama had a hard time watching this part... Norah's expression says it all!

Dad's turn!Two Irish men and a Italian all go into a Barber shop-