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-

Doin the Puyallup

A couple of different looks from our trip to the Fair. (L-R, Top to Bottom) Norah and Craig getting ready to ride. Kellen had too much fun. Norah Milking a cow. Norah and Craig on the Carousel.

The many characters of Kellen

It has been some time since we have posted, so here are some pre-hallowen pics of Kellen

Zoo with the Rinkels

We had a fun day at the zoo with the Rinkels.


This Lemar was licking the glass right next to Norah.


Okay- for additional pictures please visit the Rinkels Blog.
LOL! What can I say we were busy & taking pictures, well that was Heidi's job.
(I seriously came away with 3 pictures from that entire day!)

You know what they say about Vegas...

First of all- A HUGE thank you to our dear friends for helping us take this trip (minus the kids) Rinkels - that means you! We owe ya BIG!

Before the flight to Vegas (yes it was dark on the plane)

On the way home from Vegas

Bottom line: What happens in Vegas stays in vegas!

I love cat food!

This is Kellen... A cute, blue eyed, 11 month old -

But notice his mouth- could it be? No- say it isn't so...

Cat food! Yikes!

It seems Gerber is just not doing it for our little man anymore.









We are seriously thinking about starting a post of all the things Kellen has eaten - It may grow as long and complex as little Percy's on the Rinkels blog.

It was just a routine call for BFD Station 1-B shift. I had no idea the lasting effects that could follow my career forever. A simple aid call really...nothing more. Just a trip to the downtown Hampton Inn. We were hoping to make it back to finish watching the MLB All-Star game. But sadly, fate would be against us.

After sending the patient with the ambulance, the four of us got into that elevator, our lives would never be the same. The doors closed, then a jerking sensation. The door opened only a few inches....and that was it. We were stuck. I could say that in this precious time, we reflected on our lives. but no! there was no time for that. EMS Capt. Plyler immediatly began chiseling in the wall the passing minutes, FF Junkin trying to figure out who was going to be the first person "sacrificed", FF Patti, noticing that Junkin was eyeing him, implementing his plans to tunnel out of the elevator using little more than spoons. Capt. Golnik, with 38 years on the department realizing the gravity of the situation, trying to maintain composure while calling E-3 to help us out. Did those things really happen? No. But unlike other professions who may have panicked, like cops, we simply took a picture. And now face the daunting task of feeding E-3 Cold Stone ice cream for their heroics in rescuing us.

Here goes nothing...

Okay, so I begged Craig to dump myspace and become a blogger (is that even a term?) - So I need to post something to make him feel the LoVe.

Tonight I am going to go off on a tangent. Why---because I can I guess. I think being a mom is the hardest job to do in the entire world. Take tonight for instance, my lovely daughter nicknamed "the devil wears carters" decided to draw an imaginary line in the carpet and challenge me for the fourth time this evening. I swear I wanted to pull every last one of my chin hairs out (yes you do get those as a result of motherhood). I told her to go to time out and gave my meanest face and the pointy finger I use to remind her where time out it located. You know what she did? She looked me square in the face and said "love you mommy... dont cry." Well needless to say I started crying and she started pretending to cry which made me laugh and then we sat and hugged on the floor by the time out spot. Oh the hormones in our future... Look out.

Hmmm - okay blogging is kind of fun. I will be back for more.

Happy Father's Day

I was very fortunate this Father's Day! This is my first Father's Day with both Norah and Kellen and to celebrate, they got me a customed carved bear with a personalized fire helmet, axe and flashlight. It stands about 2 feet tall, and is placed in our flower bed near our front side-walk. For those who have been to our house, this carving was done at the carving shop along Hwy 3 in Allyn. They did a great job! You will have to stop by to truly appreciate the craftmanship. Thank you Norah and Kellen (and Katie too!:)

This is a little late, but Craig wants to brag about his softball team's 2nd place finish at the Olympia Firefighters 39th Annual Softball Tournament. In the Championship Game, we lost by 1 run in extra innings to a team of "firefighters" from Mukilteo (who were actually a bunch of ringers who had bad attitudes...but that is a different story)

Picture is our team photo after winning the 2nd place trophy.

OK Already

After being hounded, abused, and verbally assaulted by Heidi Rinkel, we are blogging. This post is mostly to appease certain "people" who refer to us (or me I should say) as "fake" bloggers (or perhaps "floggers"?) So I am going to add a really funny picture of Kellen and his favorite puppy named Harley. Harley is only 14 months old and just loves Kellen. Harley lives with our friends The McGanney's. I should mention that Harley is not your typical "puppy." He is a Great Dane, already weighs about 150lbs, and when he stands on his hind legs, stands about 6'0 tall. But these two get along famously.