Photo contest at work...

Every three months at work we have a photo contest at work. I finally got another photo posted, it's been about three years since my last one went up. It's not really the quality of the photo as what the photo is. I hadn't submitted one in over two years, got tired of my photos not being picked. Silly, but you can't get one put up if you don't submit, so I did. Ironically this is a cellphone shot we took the first Saturday in January of the "Intel effect" near our Ronler Acres campus. It hadn't snowed, but the frozen temps along with the water vapor in the air from the air handlers creates quite the "frozen" look.

100th day of first grade...

Mrs. O'Brien's first graders on their 100th day of school.

Charlotte connecting 50 red and 50 blue dots.

Five facts...

I was reading a friends blog today and I liked that she listed 5 totally random facts folks might not know about her and her sister (that she was flying back east to see).  Thought it would be fun for Victor and I to do...

Kathy facts:

1. I seriously dislike the taste/texture of watermelon.  I will NOT eat it!
2. Victor & I met on eHarmony, although most people reading the blog probably know that....
3. I'm the oldest of two kids.  My brother is 21-months younger than me, but we were only 1 year apart in school...he probably should have been held back, his birthday is Nov. 1st.
4. My first W2 job as working at McDonald's and did that all through high school.
5. I'm actually terrified to speak in front of people...I did everything I could and succeeded
   at not taking speech in high school or collage.  In retro-spec, probably not the best plan!

Victor facts:

1. Worked for Cirque for 5 years.
2. He had his first job, a paper route, at the age of 8.  Been working every since.
3. He loves being creative.
4. No job he's ever had has been satisfying. While he's had jobs he loved, like Cirque, they have never completely made him happy.
5. He loves putting together our family tree.  He wants Charlotte to understand what where her family is from and how amazing they are.

Charlotte facts (Victor & Kathy came up with):

1. She's named after her maternal great-grandmothers..Charlotte Dietrich (Paula's mom) and Frances Smith (Linda's mom).
2. When we found out she was a girl, we KNEW Charlotte was the first name and we call her "pud" whenever we email or text each other.
3. She cannot go by a mirror or window without smiling at herself.
4. Victor sees so much of Kathy in her. Her ability to make friends and put a smile on their faces. She hugs her friends everytime she sees them.
5. She is a very creative little girl. We hope she keeps it all of her life.
   

Downton Abbey...

I was a little late in the game on this one. I do love PBS, but I didn't start watching it until I saw Season 1 on Netflix and then purchased Season 2 on DVD. I was hooked!

UPDATED 2.23.13 and an apology to Aunt Jan...SORRY, I thought the entire country knows what happens already in season 3...I took it out so mom/dad don't see what I wrote either....

This cartoon surfaced on Facebook the following day and I thought it was a GREAT fundraising idea for PBS!

Grand Club challenge 2013...

Last year it switched from $1,000 Club to the Grand Club.  This year those that raise $1,000 or more will receive a Grand Club polo.   The kids sizes are kelly green and Charlotte received her polo yesterday.  I showed her the video she made when she was just 3 years old and we decided to make this video tonight...We will not stop until we find a CURE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOunzXTiOtM&feature=youtu.be

Ten on Tuesday...

My birthday & Victors are 5 days apart. Victor and I spent the entire day together doing fun stuff...Breakfast out, Craft Warehouse, IKEA, pedicures/manicures and then dinner with my folks. Victor's birthday HE spent the entire doing what he wanted to do, since I didn't have the day off. Marilyn spent the night Sunday night and the girls had a BLAST together. I took them to Out Of This World Pizza and roller skating...I'm still warn out. Trying to get back to blogging daily....we will see how that goes.

Victor and I getting pedicures on my birthday.

Victor's birthday cupcake!

Charlie's Valetines for her classmates.

Year of the Snake - probably my one and only crocheted snake.

Monogrammed friendship bracelet Charlie made for Marilyn.

6" scrabble tile letters I made from Craft Warehouse.

C & M playing dress-up.

M & C at the park.

M & C Monday morning after sleeping for 10+ hours.

Mom, Dad and I on my birthday!

Victor turns to turn 44...

All I ever wanted was a nice guy who could make me laugh....I got that and then some! Happy birthday to my dear hubby Victor! He makes me laugh and then some!

And then I was 44...

Can't even believe I'm gonna be 44 in less than three hours....time flies when you are having fun!

This is my hospital photo...I still make that face occasionally.

As I think about turning 44, I realize my folks were only 24 when they had me and I was 20 years old when they each hit 44...I have a six year old and wonder HOW they managed to have two of us before they were each 26 years old...amazing...life was so much simpler back then.

I'm truly blessed and thankful for everyone in my life.  My life is so far from perfect, but it's PERFECT for me!  I have the best husband, kiddo, parents, family, friends...so grateful for every single day...they are all gifts and no matter how crazy/cruddy things get, I'm thankful!

44, watch out, I've got big plans for you!!!

Ortho...

Had our follow-up post visit with the orthodontist. She had more x-rays and we have a plan. 
Fortunately her under bite will be easier to fix, but will still take 7-8 months of modified wiring, which will also fix the one permanent molar cross-bite she has. 

It was a very good visit and we have a happy patient on our hands!

Intel and Hawkey...

Intel's GPTW (Great Place To Work) originally had a huge party planned on Saturday, Feb. 2nd. Due to some unforeseen scheduling issues, the big party was scrapped, but there were still over 2,000 hockey and 1,000 Blazer tickets given out. Tim & Rachel had won Blazer tickets, but you only got two and we were gonna be babysitting M & M. When the note went out that they still had too many tickets, I got a couple more for the kiddos to go with us to the hockey game.

Turns out poor Maddy got sick, so we took Matthew and their neighbor Kaitlyn. We met up with Mark and Mary and had a great time!

My friend Tiffany was the Intel singer who got to sing the National Anthem and she nailed it! GPTW members got to wear bunny suits, dance and ride the Zamboni during the first break!

THANK YOU Intel/GPTW!!

Snow shoeing at White River...

Friday we decided to head up to Mt. Hood to do some snow shoeing and "sledding"...I was a bit worried that we weren't gonna see sunshine, until we FINALLY broke through the fog in Sandy and ta-da! Couldn't have picked a nicer day. Charlotte didn't have school, so I had scheduled the day off so we could get up there without a bunch of crowds.

The hills we were gonna sled down were a bit on the icy side, so Charlotte decided to "bum slide" vs. sled and she got it nailed down to a science!

Perfect day, all around and she loved finally show shoeing!