I'm 5 today!

Simply put; Collin you bring joy to a new level in our home, Happy Birthday, baby boy!

p.s. you need a haircut

oh baby!

Last week we snuck away for a quick visit to Idaho. Some close friends of mine are welcoming lil' people into their lives. I wanted to surprise Andrea at her baby shower for her 1st baby. It worked! She had no idea & was thrilled to see my face at the door.

 Lil' Koenig is one lucky duck, mom is an excellent baker & dad is an amazing chef. Who wouldn't want to live in that house?

 A couple more weeks until Andrea is holding a sweet smelling newborn, can you see her necklace? Ooh, I am just so excited for her!

 Then there is my sassy friend Marcela. I call her Mafia because if you cross her, she will cut you. I found a diva to call friend & now she has a little diva of her own. Meet Paloma Evangeline, the pics just do not do her justice. In fact, I was so elated to meet this little lady, my camera was bouncing all over the place. I have the honor of being Fairy Godmother to Paloma- isn't that just the best? As close to a daughter as I think I'll get.

 Girlfriend has mad style & likes to shop already!

 She even cruised through dinner with good friends, Fawn & Marcela, at my beloved Brick29 Bistro.

My girl time tank needed a filling, February in Seattle can really rub the sparkle out of a girl. This trip reminded me that, even though we celebrate boy a lot at our house, this girl is loved.

working hard or hardly working

Matt's job requires some travel, he was training out of town last week. The boys and I got out every day afterschool. One of the requests was to go to Menchie's frozen yogurt bar.

 They each made their own special mix, filling the bowl to the brim.

 This was mine, I am a big time toppings girl. This place is great for that. Almonds, pretzels, cheesecake, cookie dough- pile it on!

 Squee!!! Look at the decor! Love it.

world's best

We headed to Beecher's Cheese in Pike's Place last weekend. They boast of the world's best Mac n' Cheese & they certainly did not disappoint. The boys & I ate ourselves right into a food coma, which is the only way you should try to navigate the Market, BTW.

jagger

He is kind of my favorite right now.

what we eat

Matt is quite smitten with this spicy Asian condiment. We call it "chi-chi sauce."

Organic Fuji, Braeburn, or Gala apples. Like 12 lbs. a week.

 Homemade tortillas, the boys know how to make these. Thank you, Grandma Ellen!

 Brussel sprouts. (disclaimer, MUST INCLUDE BACON)

 Squash soup. I continue to try to replicate Brick 29's recipe but it is a work in progress. We like ours with heaps of goat cheese.

 Green (or brown) smoothies. Watch this, you'll be convinced.

 Quiche, with gluten free crust. The boys love "man quiche," made with only meat & cheese, no veggies.

Broccoli? Nope, not really but if Collin gets hungry enough he will eat the whole stalk just like a turkey leg.

No-bake energy bites. They don't boost my energy level but they are tasty.

Flourless Chocolate Idiot Cake.

This recipe for pork carnitas is my go-to when people come over & the crockpot makes it so easy.

Just a little glance at the highly sought after dietary habits of the Archie 6. Let me know if you try any of the recipes or serve up any of the same fare at your home.

and that is the weekend

Parker is quite the history buff these days. He has a wonderful online teacher that has sparked his interest. I love eaves-dropping on their "This day in history," lessons. So today he is reading and says to me, "I am so not a fan of Communism." Collin promptly pops around the corner and enthusiastically shouts, "I'm a fan!" I am loving the mix of middle school & pre-school we've got goin on.

Aden is very quiet about schoolwork, then I will find him in tears over something. I checked in on him while he was working on math. "You doing okay there, Ade?" He nodded & smiled. I replied, "You don't need your good ole Ma for nothin'?" He nodded again & smiled. My mouth agape he said, "What? You asked."

Just some tidbits from our day that made me joy filled. I'm terrible at recording them. Either because we are too busy living or I am under the delusion that I will remember. (ya, that's gonna happen)

Also, the pics are testament to a bizarre phenom I'm experiencing. I am calling it reverse nesting. There is no baby coming so I feel the need to organize everything! I gotta do something beside mope around, I guess.

what?

You thought I was going to quit with these Instagram collages? Well, they are about the only photos being taken these days. Allow me a few more weeks of this narcissistic insanity, mmkk?

post 401

Yes indeed. 400 posts, and this post is going to be another weird one. They are not really weird so much that they are a less filtered version of me. I am trying to do more posts like that. I get great feedback from them. 
 via

So, I was feeling a bit old. I turned 30 in the fall & I am noticing subtle changes. Most aren't bad, just that I perceive them negatively. Then I went to the doctor for the first time in 5 years. Yup, bad girl I am, my last visit was 6 weeks after Mr. Collin Joseph made his grand debut. 

Funny thing about the doctor visit, it made me feel really young. All those boxes next to hypertension, diabetes, etc.?  I did not have to check a single one. The Dr. said I was the picture of health. And other than a rather dramatic (on my part) blood draw, I was on my way. Feeling young, and fit, and so very blessed. Thanks, Mom, for the stellar genetics. 

Also, I have read a lot of really great articles online lately, I am thinking I will share some with you. Like I found this one which is exactly what I was trying to say about this terrible letting go of babyhood a few posts back. She really nailed it though, beautiful writing. (and yeesh!, nine kids!)


p.s. I have no idea what is going on with the font or photos in this post...sorry.

my kid is cute

That is all.