Woohoo! Finally a Harry Potter trailer!

It's just a teaser but who cares! (My geekiness is going to show here). The kid they got to play young Voldemort is Ralph Fiennes nephew. He looks exactly like I thought young Tom Riddle should look like. And that kid has got creepy down!

In case you haven't seen it.... the trailer.

I will update soon. I promise!

Three glorious weeks of summer and I've been....

stuck inside.

You would think I could update my blog every once in a while. Nope. Can't be bothered. It makes me sad to think longily of the days when someone in my house is not sick.

It started with pink eye.
And then Gabe got pneumonia.
And then I was sick with some fever/chills/sore throat thing for DAYS.

We are doing much better. Getting ready to head out here in a few days to go to Boise for a family reunion. Should be fun! (Hopefully)

So much to say and so little energy to say it with!

In the last few weeks:

My sister has gotten married. (Congrats, Sarah!)
I went to my HS reunion.
Girls Weekend Out with 25 friends at an awesome cabin in Eastern WA.

I haven't uploaded pics from the reunion and haven't gotten pics from my sister yet.

My sisters wedding was nice. She's so young though (20)! I really wasn't that much older when I got married at 21. But I still look back and go... I WAS SO YOUNG!

The high school reunion was fun! It was at McMenamins Kenedy School in Portland. I caught up with some friends, took some rather hilarious pictures in a photo booth, and marveled how things really didn't change much in the last ten years. I was still the sober "drunk" girl. I just know how to have fun.

GWO- I could write novels about how awesome/fun/amazing my friends are. I love them SO much and am so excited that I got to spend time with them. My MOF's can do anything. I am lucky, so very lucky to have them in my life and I hope that we will all grow old together and keep on having our GWO's.

My friend Lara came in a day early so we had a good start to our GWO on Wednesday. Thursday we went to the Cabin. Friday we hung out in Seattle. Saturday we had a Super Saturday full of crafty classes and of course playing games. Sunday we came home. I can't wait for next years! (Hopefully I won't be as much of a nerd then)

Some Pics from GWO.

I'll try and not be jealous...

1. James is leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles.
2. It's raining and cold here.
3. He gets to see some old friends.
4. Beaches.
5. Good cheap Mexican food.
6. He'll be warm. Even if it rains, it will be warm.
7. Have I mentioned that it will be sunny?
8. It's just not fair.

(Although 2 out of 3 days he'll be in training... but still.)

What do you get with 3 balls of string and 60+ hours of work?

You get this: (The dress, people, not the baby...)

The Trip, Part 3

Saturday we decided to wake up early so that we could drive into DC and do some touristy stuff. We made really good time and got to DC around 10:20 in the morning. After a few stressful minutes of trying to find a parking spot we got out and started walking the memorials. We didn't have a lot of time so our main focus was to see as much as we could in three hours. We saw a LOT! It's Memorial Day weekend so it got pretty busy. There were people everywhere. It was awesome. All these people there remembering the price of freedom. There were times it simply took my breath away.

The White House


WWII Memorial


Lincoln Memorial


Washington Memorial


"The Flaming Sword of Justice" aka a WWI Memorial. I named it so because that's what it looks like.


Memorial day brings out the biker vets and their families. I don't know if you can see them well in this picture but here are thousands of bikes parked on the mall. There were biker vets everywhere, it was so awesome! They all wear these vest with patches on them on what war, if they were POW/MIA, their units, and how many years they had done the trip to DC for Memorial day.


Oh, and here is General. Look closely, the guy on the right is wearing his toy dog in a sling. The dog is wearing goggles. His name is General. That dog got his picture taken more than Lincoln himself I'm sure.


My favorite memorial was the Korean War Memorial.


Jefferson Memorial. It's not on the mall directly, we had to drive a few blocks to get to it, but luckily parking there is good. It's incredible how big these structures are. So much time and labor were put into them.


And yes, there are more pics of James than me. He's just more photogenic. Well, I'm going to wrap up here. There are a ton more pictures. It was a really great trip. The weather was SO nice, not too hot and just right warm. Oh, and did you know that North Carolina SMELLS good!! Such a nice change after living in smoggy LA and moldy Seattle!

The Trip, Part 2

Thursday we drove from DC to Durham. The drive was very pretty. Virginia is beautiful. North Carolina is the same. There are trees everywhere. It was very disconcerting in Durham and surrounds. Everything is hidden by a green belt. It was hard to navigate at first, but we soon figured it out. I cheaped out at the car rental place and decided not to get the GPS. Silly idea. We ended up buying a map and had a few interesting side tours while looking for apartments.

We stayed with a friends parents in Durham. They have a beautiful house in the country of North Durham. They were incredible and generous. Oh, and they had deer running through their community. How cool is that?!?

Friday was spent looking at more apartments. (And yarn stores, we hit up Hillsborough and Fiber Loft) We figured out that N. Durham wasn't exactly where we wanted to be and focused more on SW Durham near Chapel Hill since that is where James would be working. We found some good apartments and we have an idea of where we would move if the transfer did go through.

Friday night I met up with some knitting friend that I met on Ravelry. We had a good time. One of the ladies is opening her own yarn shop (Fiber Loft). I got to go in and I bought some really cool hand spun and dyed yarn.



After we hung out at the shop we went out for dinner and some sightseeing. We ended up at Duke Gardens... gorgeous and while we were on Duke campus we went to see the Chapel.

The Gardens


The Chapel





All in all Friday was a very pleasant day and we could see ourselves living in that area. All though I have realized that living in the Northwest has spoiled me with all the yummy yarn stores here.

The Trip, Part 1

On Wednesday we left our kids in the hands of the very capable grandparents and we flew to DC. The flight was long and boring. I knit, James read. I know, exciting. Anyways we got to DC and my friend Tami picked us up. She so rocks! She let us stay at her house for the night. We were getting settled in and funny story... I cut my hand on a tiny piece of glass. It hurt like no one's business. I went into the bathroom to run it under some cold water. And then I started feeling woozy. I called to James and the next thing I knew James was holding me on the bathroom floor trying to wake me. Yes, I was felled by a tiny piece of glass! Want to see the big bad owie that made me faint? Here it is!



Awesome, huh. I feel like a complete moron. I mean, who passes out at this type of stuff? Oh yeah, me.

Here I am with my friend Tami. I thinks she's totally awesome. She's a really good friend and I'm glad that I got to know her better.

Pleased as Punch!

So, little known (or widely known, depending on how you know me) fact is that as much as I am at the yarn store I really don't knit at all. I mostly crochet. And since I have professed rather vigorously that I DO NOT KNIT... here is where I get to eat my words.

I finished this today. Yes, FINISHED. As in actually knit something and didn't take it apart after a few rows. You see, I prefer to crochet. It's faster and if you make a mistake it's not nearly as hard to fix it as it is if you were knitting. That being said, I just love how knit items turn out. They just look more "finished" and not so "homemade" looking. I've always said that I don't have the patience to knit. I guess I must have learned some somewhere.

Here it is, a purple fingerless glove to wear to Gabe's T-Ball games.

A Surefire Way to Get FAT!

So, while hanging out on Ravelry one day I came across a little known thing called Cakewaffles. Mmmmm..... cake.



To make Cakewaffles is very easy. Mix up a box of cake mix exactly as it says on the back of the box. Turn on your waffle iron. Next you put some batter in the waffle iron and cook it for the same amount of time as a regular waffle. Serve warm topped with your favorite toppings. I specifically love Devils Food Cake with Whipped Cream and Strawberries. I've also heard that the Yellow Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream is also very good.

I know you all want to try them.

It's not the Aquarium of the Pacific.

But beggers can't be choosers when you need something to do with your kids.

The Seattle Aquarium is actually not that bad. We got there late in the afternoon. We saw them feed the octopus. All the mammals were out playing. The girl and the boy loved it. We should have bought a family pass though.

Here we are in the bubble. The boy thought this was awesome. The girl didn't want to leave. I must admit that I love to sit in these types of places and just hang out. I needed a break! We window shopped on Queen Anne. Had lunch at the 5 Spot. Hit up the Trader Joes for snacks when we got to the Aquarium. Went to the park. By the time we actually made it to the aquarium I was beat!

The boy riding on a whale.

This seal was HUGE!

Nobody puts Baby in the corner. Except Baby herself...

Kerney Park

James and I discovered this park yesterday while on a foray in Queen Anne. It's a smallish park set on the side of the hill overlooking the majestic Seattle downtown. It's a great view and I can only imagine how beautiful it is on an actually sunny day. The view is very famous. It's the one all those "hollywood" types use for stock footage of the city. Here is a good example as modeled by my extremely cute children.



At this park is a little play area that while looking down on it you think... "oh, my children will like that". But what you don't know is that they have a few pieces of equipment that are the FUNNEST things you have ever been on.

Example #1, #2 and #3 the "teacups". Fun little things you sit in and they spin you around and around. No pushing required. Perfect for my lazy self. All of us tried it. I didn't get a pic of James doing it, I was too busy spinning!


Oh, here is a pic of James spinning. Yes, this is a very cool little park.


More gratuious pics while at the park.

An unknown obsession... ok, well my husband knows about it.

I admit it. I love any and all things Harry Potter. In fact right now I'm brainstorming my Tonks costume for the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Yes, I realize that it doesn't come out until November. I'm seriously considering doing one of those paper chain countdowns in the House colors. I'm THAT excited.


I listen to PotterCast, and SnapeCast and everyonce in a while MuggleCast. I read fanfics. I love finding HP artwork and actually think about purchasing some. (Insert blush). But where oh where do you hang a paiting of the Trio? (For you Muggles that would be Harry, Ron and Hermoine). And how to not get teased unmercifully about it from your IRL (in real life) friends?

My MIL and I frequently have HP Movie Marathons. Complete with a HP feast... Unicorn Hair, Gryffin Bites, Butterbeer. So yummy! Ok, so I'm a nerd.

The newest HP obsession is books on CD. I now can crochet my HP inspired fingerless gloves while listening to Jim Dale's lovely english accent. Oh, how I'm a sucker for accents! Must be why I love the magical ENGLISH world of Harry Potter.

Oh, and for fun I dug up this photo from when a few friends and I stood in line for Half Blood Prince (in a SMITHS!!!) ... my friend Lara as Bellatrix Lestrange...

Four Play

I've been tagged! I feel so special!!!

Four places I go to over and over: Jo-Anne's, Renessaince Yarns, Top Foods and Target and yes, they are for the most part within ten blocks of my house. I have this theory....

Four people who email me regularly: Christine, AFA (American Floral Association), My good friend Erika and of course a lot of monthly newsletters from all the establishments I like to pretend I shop at.

Four places I like to eat: ArchaThai, Il Riconsito, Panera Bread and Chipotle. And yes, also all within a mile radius of my house. You see, I have this theory...

Four places I would like to be right now: Visiting my friend Erika and her new baby in Vegas, Hanging out with Kelli A. in Santa Monica, Yarnia in Portland and I really would like to be somewhere warm and tropical right now!

Four TV Shows I watch all the time: Ugly Betty, Samantha Who, New Amsterdam, How I Met Your Mother

Four people I think will respond: Misty, April, dang it but Tia already tagged me. So uh.... Stacy and Kelly.

My kid plays T-Ball!!!

It really is a surreal thing. I grew up in a very artsy house. My dad was in drama, my mom was in choir. I did the whole band/choir/drama thing. My three sisters have done one or all of the same as well. No real sports in there. Ok, there was a summer or two when we were on the Parks Swim Team. But most of my growing up was in rehearsals.

My husband however was a jock. He played football in high school. His parents are really into sports. His siblings did sports. You could say most of his growing up was spent on a field (or a court... whatever).

Here's Gabe in the line-up at his first game. I was so upset. We got his schedule on Tuesday and his first game was on Thursday. And wouldn't you know it, but I had a big Scentsy party at the same time so I missed it!

James got some video footage. For going to film school his camera work is complete crap. I'm starting to wonder if he was awake during that class. To give him credit he was trying to coach Gabe.

T-ball is VERY funny and entertaining. The kids really have no clue what going on, so there is a LOT of shouting from parents and coaches. "Run to first. No not THAT way".

My favorite footage of the game: Gabe is running the bases and the ball comes near him. He stops, backtracks, picks up the ball and throws it to first. We've since had the discussion that he really doesn't need to help the other team while he's running bases.

He's loving t-ball and so are we. Well, I could do with some warmer weather, but this is Washington. I don't think warmer weather exists here.

As Said By Carmen

Carmen: Onica, you know everything!
Me: Not quite, but close. ;-)
Carmen: Well Angie does.
Me: Angie?
Carmen: Yeah, Angie Wenger. She knows everything!

Well, there you go.

A little of this... a little of that.

Saturday was quite possibly one of the most beautiful days I have seen in a LONG time. Seattle is absolutely gorgeous when it's 81 degrees outside and not a cloud in the sky. Gabe was so excited to wear SHORTS and a T-SHIRT. But wouldn't you know it, we are back in the 40's/50's. I guess good things don't last forever.

Gabe and his shorts. Notice the white legs and the shoes/socks that don't match his outfit. Hey, he's 5 and dresses himself.


Aidyn's jelly shoes. I love jelly shoes. LOVE them.


My loving kids. They really do this a lot. It makes me so incredibly happy how much they love each other.

Quite possibly THE BEST blog post I have ever read

Us Vs. Them aka LDS vs. FLDS

http://thegabblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/just-for-record.html

Seriously. The Best.

Read it, pass it on, leave her a comment, add her to your favorites.

Is it wrong???

To hope my kids sleep in just a bit longer?

To save up money for trips/fun things/moving I have started watching Carmen (6) before and after school (and on her days off as well). I also watch another set of girls Sylvie (2) and Macey(18 months).

Today is the first day with all of them. Carmen is on spring break. Sylvie is new the area and I've had Macey before.

Yes folks, that is 5 kids in a two bedroom 800 sq. foot apartment. And yes, wouldn't you know it, it's raining outside. I think it will be a playdoh day today.

So, it's 8am. Carmen's been here since 6 but she went back to sleep. Macey and Sylvie got here at 7. They are playing. My kids are still sleeping. Oh please, let them sleep just a TAD longer.

My (not so new) New Years Resolution

Yes, I realize that it is April and that New Years was 4 months ago. But what can I say? I've been busy! I would try and update you all, but it would take forever seeing as how the last time I blogged was well over a year and a half ago.

So, about me now. I need a list.

1. I'm a SAHM (yippee!) although I do watch some kids part time here and there. Mostly before and after school stuff.
2. G is 5 and will be going into kindergarten this fall. He's starting to read VERY simple words. Oh, and he's playing t-ball.
3. A is 18 months and she is, well she's a pistol that's for sure.
4. James is still working at Trader Joes. He's now in management.
5. We are seriously considering the idea of moving to North Carolina this fall.
6. I'm obsessed with Crocheting (and sometimes knitting).

A recent finished project...

It's pretty. I love it. A nice harlequin stitch made into a cute scarf. For my fiber loving friends it's made out of Cascade 220. If I was smart I would have made it longer and felted it. Oh well, live and learn. It's still cute though.

Some recent pics of us and the kids...

Lumberjack G


Miss And I