News & Pictures

First the news...

I am no longer unemployed! I got a job working for the Univeristy of Washington housing. I work in the office here at our apartment and I host events and programs in the housing community. Plus, I get to bring Jackson to work with me. It's going to be really, really fun! I've wanted the job since we moved in last summer, but this was the first opening they've had. I'm excited about being a little busier and being able to help out with all of the crazy dental school costs. I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

Now on to the cute pictures...

His thinking face

This is the "oh, hi" face. I don't know why he's sticking his belly out like that.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

This weekend we discovered a new park here in Seattle. Carkeek Park is probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Gorgeous thick forest surrounding a big grass field and awesome playground, plus a great beach on the Puget Sound. We had a blast.

That evening we got Jackson's new swimming pool out and invited some of the neighbors to join us. It was a great weekend.

Today Tyler is back to work. He has 6 finals in the next 3 days (he's already had 3, so that's a total of 9 finals this quarter... wow!) and then his first year of dental school is over. I can hardly believe it. Then we are going to have a nice quiet weekend in Seattle celebrating the completion of our first year, and next week we are off to Idaho for some camping, boating, dirtbiking, and playing with grandparents. We are also going to celebrate my grandparent's 50th anniversary with a big party in Salt Lake. Yay!

Memorial Day in Seattle

We had a very rainy holiday weekend, which means we did a lot of indoor relaxing. It was a great weekend anyway.

Jackson being lazy after sleeping in way later than he should. I'm still trying to figure out how to get him to smile without pointing to it when I ask him to smile for a picture.

Getting all bundled up for running in the rain at Green Lake Park. This weekend we learned that all 3 of us actually really like jogging in the rain. Jackson especially likes riding on the slippery wet slides after our workout. He goes super fast and has this terrified, yet joyful look on his face.

Stretching for the workout. I love when Jackson tries to do stretching or workouts with us. He's so cute doing his little imitations of our moves.

Fabulous Oven Fries

I don't post recipes very often, but this one is too good not to share. It's pretty basic, but I've been looking for a good french fry recipe for a while, and this one is REALLY good. We've been having burgers and fries way too often because of these. I've made a few minor changes to the original recipe. I hope you enjoy. Robin's Fabulous Oven Fries 3 T. Vegetable Oil (or canola, but don't use olive oil) Salt & Pepper (or steak seasoning) Cajun seasoning 4-8 Whole Potatoes (we use red potatoes because they are our favorite and they cook up really well with this recipe) 1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. 2. Slice potatoes into french fries. Soak them in a bowl of water for 10 minutes. 3. Prepare a baking sheet by covering it with a piece of aluminum foil and then pouring 2 T. vegetable oil and spreading it over the entire pan. (this first piece of a aluminum foil is optional. It just makes clean up easier, but I always fold the sides of the foil up to prevent the oil from draining down onto the pan below the foil and away from the potatoes) 4. After potatoe slices are done soaking drain them and pat them dry. Stir in remaining 1 T. oil and salt/pepper/steak seasoning/cajun seasoning. 5. Spread potatoes on pan in a single layer and add additional seasonings if needed. 6. Cover fries with another sheet of aluminum foil and bake at 475 for 10 minutes. 7. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. 8. Flip fries and rotate pan. Bake for an additional 10-20 minutes until fries are golden crispy. 9. Serve with ketchup, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce. My personal favorite is a mixture of ketchup/mayo/cajun seasoning.

Confession

Confession: Sometimes I let Jackson watch TV just so I can get good snuggles. He snuggles with me when we read books, which is a much more wholesome activity, but I have to keep my arms somewhat free so I can turn the pages. But when we watch a movie together, I can get my arms completely tangled around him and bury my face in his yummy-smelling hair. It's one of the best feelings on earth. I miss the days when I didn't have to trick Jackson into snuggling with me.

Funny Faces and Finger Pokes

In the past few weeks we have enjoyed a sunny day at the zoo and a rainy day at the aquarium. We're lucky to have friends to play with while Tyler's head is buried in the books for finals.

I love Jackson's face in this one. He's smiling like he honestly believes he can pull the pole out of the ground.

I love his face in this one even more. I don't even know how to assign a caption to this one. It's just too good.

We also had to visit the doctor again this week to have Jackson's iron level tested. The guy who did the blood drawing struggled a little, despite how well-behaved Jackson was (which never happens at the doctor's office. It was a miracle). I won't call the guy any mean names because Jackson is a word-sponge right now. And I'll spare you the gory details, but let's just say that we left with 2 poked fingers, and Jackson's arm was covered in blood.

Anyway, at the end of the ordeal they let Jackson choose a prize from the toy box. I tried to encourage him to pick one of the bouncy balls or rubber frogs, but this was all he wanted. He insisted, and Daddy wasn't there so I smiled and allowed it. He was so pround of his little yellow bracelet.

Golf

Have I mentioned there is a golf driving range across the street from our apartment? $3 bucket of balls, you have to love that. It's been great for the sunny evenings we've been having. I wish golf wasn't such an expensive sport (aside from the cheap driving ranges). Tyler really loves golf, and he's good at it too.

Jackson running to the driving range. He runs everywhere these days. I think he is officially faster than me.

Jackson had a lot of fun once he figured out that he is not allowed to grab the golf balls that people we don't know are in the process of putting with, which happened twice. He made the putt (with a little help)

Minivans can be cool

I will start off by admitting that back in high school, I was one of those people that vowed to never own a minivan because they were so lame. But then Jackson was born and I started thinking about how convenient it would be, and all the cool features, and not having to bend over to put him in a car seat. I decided I wanted one. I probably need a few more kids (an some form of income), but someday I'm going to get a minivan.

And I have to say that I love the new Toyota Sienna marketing campaign. It's so clever. I think it speaks perfectly to all those people who won't get a minivan because they aren't cool. It's clearly mocking that image, but for some reason it works. Anyway, this music video is really funny. There are a lot of subtle little jokes in it. Thanks, Lara, for sending it to me!

Why I Love Thursdays

Thursdays are Tyler's easy day in school, and some lucky weeks he doesn't have class at all. So Thursdays we either spend the day relaxing at home while he studies, or if we have the energy, we have a Seattle adventure. This week it was the latter. We had a big brunch at home and then headed into downtown Seattle.

First, we visited the Columbia Center, which is the tallest building in the state of Washington. It is way taller than the Space Needle and costs only $3-$5 to go to the top, as opposed to $17 for the Space Needle.

We put Jackson up by the window and he looked down and actually got scared. That's why he's crying here.

The Columbia Center replica on display in the viewing area

The garden area in front of the Columbia Center. I love springtime. So pretty.

The view up to the top of Columbia Center (79 stories tall)

The downtown library is the coolest library I have ever seen. (I didn't take this picture. I just found it online to show you how amazing the building is.)

Jackson put on a puppet show for us at the library.

It's a good thing Thursdays are so fun for us, because Fridays always seem to go wrong.

Finally

The day has finally arrived. I have been waiting 21 months for this, which may or may not be pathetic... I'm not sure. But today, for the first time ever, Jackson said "Mommy, I love you."

Oh yeah...

Easter was fun this year. Dying Easter eggs is one of my favorite traditions, but it just didn't seem like a good idea with Jackson, so instead we decorated egg shaped cookies. Yummy.

Jackson got all kinds of fun stuff from us and from grandparents. And he was just hilarious hunting for eggs. He would do this cute little celebration dance everytime he found one.

Our Weekend

This was our weekend... Yep... that about sums it up. A pathetic waste of time? Maybe. Incredibly fun? Absolutely!

Playing "Srums"

Tyler's birthday present arrived today (a month early... I know).

Guitar Hero World Tour

(Walmart.com $71 for the whole band kit + game... awesome deal!)

All day long Jackson keeps asking me if he can play the "srums". The really amazing thing is that Jackson can actually play the game, because on the beginner level it doesn't tell you specific notes. You can hit any note you want as long as its on beat. So if he's drumming fast enough, he actually hits a lot of the beats. This video is great because of all the dancing around at the beginning, but also because before he really starts playing he does a little countdown for himself, "Two... Go!"

Disappointment

Do you want to see what true disappointment looks like? This is Jackson after I told him that it was raining (again!) and we probably wouldn't be able to play outside today.

The devastation when he looked out the window and saw it for himself.