Wesley's 2nd Birthday

Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it. ~Harold Hulbert

Perfect quote for the beginning of year #2
(although in my experience, 3 is harsher than 2)

Wesley's favorite is animals. I tried to get Preston to like these animals for years, and he never would. I love that Wesley not only plays with ones I've already bought - but now I get to buy more! We love Wesley's animal parades.

I caught Grandpa after making one of his witty Grandpa comments :)

Mrs. Party (Heidi)

Uncle John came

"Happy Birthday To Weswee"

Kindergarten SHOTS

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. ~M. Kathleen Casey

It's a good thing I go to aerobics so I could have the strength to hold this guy down for FOUR shots.

Did anyone in Sammamish hear a scream today?

No need to worry. We are just getting ready for kindergarten.

Note: this picture was taken BEFORE going to the doctor. There were no smiles to be found for a couple of days after. As my mother would say, "Those DARN shots"

Friendship Is Like Sweet Potato Souffle

If there's no chocolate in heaven, I'm not going. ~Author Unknown

Only a true friend would bring such deliciousness over the night before we start our diet.

Sweet Potato Souffle

It melts in your mouth and is so delicious.

The most perfect way to end weeks of binge eating.

Good-bye sweet food. So long Nutella.

Hello chicken, steak, vegetables & fruits.

Fruit only angers my need for chocolate. ~Jason Love

My Sweet Potato Souffle Friend

This is my Sweet Potato Souffle Friend and she means a lot to me.

I am not good at expressing things - so I will do what I do best - Use quotes.

Because she likes quotes like me.

"Yesterday brought the beginning, tomorrow brings the end, and somewhere in the middle we became the best of friends."

"The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had."

"A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked."

"I like her because she smiles at me and means it."

She has a cute smile. Sweet Crew. Very wise. Takes Tom's jokes.

She has taught me how to be a better friend. What it means to be thoughtful.

She is nice and she can stay.

One Moment In Time

For just A Brief Moment In Time this guy:

probably had the most clean bottom in the WORLD because of this:

I ask him if it stung.

He said "No"

Hooray (?)


Housework, if it is done right, can kill you. ~John SkowTime 2 July 1984-

Tom's Birthday: Seattle Duck

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad. ~Arnold H. Glasgow

Since this post is about Tom's birthday I am sure you know which part of that quote above defines the type of friends Tom needs.

Tom got a special birthday surprise to celebrate number 32!

We picked up the shivering Californians Saturday morning and decided to keep them in the Seattle cold all morning by cruising on the FABULOUS Seattle Duck Tour!

First stop - McDonalds - where we had to trade in Diet Coke for a Hot Chocolate

We had to share our gloves & down jackets


Branden started the tour with a bad attitude (no surprise).

Perfect Portrait of Seattle

Branden was not so sure about our "Captain Phlip" (like father, like son)

When the tour ended Branden did have a smile on his face, we sent Preston and the whistle home to Grandpa & Grandma Matthews, and we decided the Californians needed to spend MORE outside time in Seattle.......

Tom's Birthday: Seattle & Snoqualmie

"All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports." ~ Chief Seattle

Tom's Birthday: Sunday Feast!

Never be the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home, and never, ever be both.

~David Brown

More proof that Birthdays in the Matthews home last days.... and days :) But Tom is worth it.

His mother gave him a Birthday Feast fit for the Birthday King:

(Sorry about the picture Jocelyn - it's the only one I had of Lance at dinner)

Happy Birthday Blue Eye Boy!

The most surprising part of this whole birthday experience was the longest and most adorable email Tom sent out thanking everyone for his birthday celebrations. It made me cry and made me want to turn this family blog over to Tom to write. It's a keeper!

“Can life get any better, I submit that it cannot!” – Brian Regan