My Office

Today is a good day. It's sunny in Seattle. This is a strange phenomena this year. I have been complaining about the lack of sunlight. I never realized how much I need it until we moved here (8 years ago). But this week has made up for the crap last 8 months. Just barely. When it's sunny here. There is no other place I would rather live.

Now if I could only convince my kids to get off the computer and Wii and head outside themselves, this would be a perfect day!

Have a happy lazy Sunday!

Basketball Park

Enjoying the Washington sun and emerging from my winter cocoon. Thanks for blogging the winter away. I've enjoyed reading about your adventures while planning my own.

It's always great to find a new park. Even if it's old. I was so happy to see the sun (despite the wind chill making it almost unbearable). I'm still trying to figure out when Spring will arrive here in the Pacific Northwest. It's the end of May, we've had about 19 days of sunshine this year and we have yet to break the 70 degree mark. I think I've given it a good try, but 8 years later - this weather blows!!

49/365

Thurs, Feb 18:

We are having some b-e-a-u-ti-ful sunny weather lately. I think Washington is having the best weather in the US (besides Hawaii, of course).

Miss R, Mr N and I are taking advantage of the warm sun and heading outdoors. We were to meet some preschool friends at the park by the lake, but everyone bailed. One kid had croup, and the other friend was too excited that her brother was coming to town and didn't want to leave home. Fortunately, Miss R has Mr N to play with. We ran down by the water and watched the ducks, made some sandcastles and then played in the park. My pictures for the day were well planned, but I ended up on the phone for the whole time with one of the mom's who didn't show. I'm not rude, but I did try to end the conversation several times. I enjoyed talking to her, but I missed some great shots (since I only brought my camera phone). The best one was Mr. Northwest. He walked onto the beach and stripped down to shorts, but on some coconut oil and layed in his chair to soak up the sun. He's Mr. Northwest because despite the abundance of sun, it was only 55 degrees!! Seriously, too cold to be laying out for a tan!

Anyway, I caught my little ones holding hands and skip out of the grocery store later that day. They are too cute.

40/365

Tues, Feb 9: 

This is what beauty is when you live in the Pacific Northwest. Do you see that bright spot reflected off my car window? It's called the SUN! It is the most beautiful thing you will ever see when you live where it's overcast, misty and cold for a good part of the year. We have been blessed with an El Nino year. Which means no snow, sunny and cold days. It actually surprises me to go outside and realize it's only 35 or 40 degrees. I'm definitely enjoying this winter.

20 & 21/365

20/365

My workout log. It's 8:30 at night and I haven't done my workout yet. So, I head downstairs and turn on the Wii to complete day 9 of my 30 day challenge on Wii Active. I love this program (except the leg strap will not stay where it is supposed to). I can't tell if I'm really into working out, finally, or if the OCD in me has kicked in and I HAVE to finish the 20 workouts before the 30 days. I am pumped to someday see changes. I've resolved to only weigh in once a month. Not seeing the scale move is discouraging. But getting into this habit of exercise is encouraging.

At the end of the 30 day challenge, I'll start over with the "medium" settings. This month is "easy". I need to start somewhere! Tuesday night during the kids soccer clinic, I took it upon myself to go on a walk (it was my Wii Active rest day). I jogged to the front of the high school and found the track. I decided to try my hand at jogging. Man do I have a LONG ways to go. I was sucking air at the end of the straightaway. I walked the corner and then ran the other straightaway. Training for a 5K will be much longer than I thought. I can walk the 5K, no problem, but it will be awhile before I'm jogging it and jogging it in good time. The front of my shins STILL hurt. But, I'm on the path and come summer, maybe, the bathing suit will reemerge from it's hiding place in the closet.

21/365

I was going to make this picture one from tonight of our first "Third Thursdays" Moms night out, but I will have one for tomorrow. Today, the sun is shining. If you know anything about Washington, you know that it is overcast A LOT. The weathermen have multiple ways of saying rain.
1. chance of rain
2. mostly sunny
3. partly cloudy
4. rain at times
5. sun early, rain later
6. spotty showers
7. you get the picture (it cracks me up)
But January, has been kind to us. I'm sitting at my desk in front of a south facing window, pouring blood, paying bills and the sun made it's way across the trees into a perfectly open spot and right into my face and the house. It feels wonderful. I just had to share it with you.