Well we have been busy enjoying the sunshine. I have been very busy at work, which I like. I am selling alot and I hope that we can keep busy thru the summer. We went to the zoo the other day to see the new penguin exhibit. You all know that Henry is the worlds biggest penguin fan. He has been anticipating this trip for nearly 9 months now. He was so excited that he took his stuffed penguin to show him. It was pretty neat. The penguins are desert penguins from Peru. The volunteer that was educating people was also from Peru. They live on the shore near Nazca. They build their nests in the guano that piles up 1-2 foot thick. (It used to be several hundred feet thick but Guano harvesting in the late 1800's reduced it down to the level it's at today)
Any how the exhibit has thick plexi-glass windows that let you watch them underwater. They had one window that was a inwardly dished and you could sit "in" it and be surrounded by water.
It was very cool. Me and Henry sat there for probably 45 minutes, watching the penguins. But wait!... Where was Fern? Behind us chatting on the phone, with Laura (our friend, Ferns hero)
Afterwards we went out for pizza (Lyn had a coupon! the only way we eat out.) On our way back to the Trooper we saw this sign. "Henry Nelson Real Estate" Then we went by this neat park and gardens in the Wallingford area. It ended up being a late night but was lots of fun.
Yesterday Henry and I spent the day finishing the chicken coop, then we went on a bike ride along the Sammamish River Trail. We biked 7 miles! Everyone always says that Henry looks like a young Lance Armstrong, Now he bikes like one too.
Tonight we are going to set up the tent so that we can "camp" in the backyard, since tomorrow is Memorial day and I don't have to go to work. Instead we will be going to the Folk Life festival in downtown. (really just a bunch of hippies--yay!)
Oh and we need to paint the chicken coop too. That should be fun!

Family Update 7:35pm

As I am typing this (well just before) Henry lost his first tooth. He now has a cute little gap on his lower teeth. Hurray for Henry!!!
Now the Tooth Faerie will have to pay a visit...

Spring is here...maybe!

OK, the sun has come out of hiding and we have tried to make the most of it. The past couple days we went to the park, the Seattle Center, the UW arboretum and yesterday went on a walk, Caleb and Henry went on a bike ride, danced in the rain, etc. (This beautiful tree is at the arboretum--very cool picture by Caleb.)
Henry is really not one for posing for pictures--every time I try to take his picture he usually turns around, runs away, or covers his face, so this was a lucky shot! (In contrast to Fern...every time the camera is out she flashes her smile and poses...)
Fern and Caleb running away from the International Fountain before the water started back again. Henry wasn't too excited with the tradition of touching the silver on the fountain in between songs/waterdisplays--he was content to sit and watch the people getting wet.
Two little kids sitting still in the midst of lots of flowers and things to explore? We were lucky to have them both looking at the camera at the same moment!
We went on an exploring drive down a dirt road near the Wild Horse Monument on the Columbia River. Turns out that it just takes you up to the top. The view was cool, but the drive was a little tippy for my taste. (I am constantly worried of the truck falling off the side of the mountain and rolling down...I'm told that it takes a lot more to overturn a vehicle...but try to explain that to my gut...)
My little helpers... I like having a garden and starting my seeds, but I think I'm learning patience more from letting the kids help in the process than from waiting for seeds to sprout...

Grandma Nelson, Fern and cousin Carli snuggling on the back porch

I'm hoping for more sunshine and beautiful springtime weather this week. I find that I am so much more productive and happy after experiencing the warmth of the sun. Yesterday I organized/cleaned out my bathroom, vacuumed the whole house, did laundry and folded and put it away, organized the computer desk, cleaned all the dishes and put them away, took care of the paper party in the kitchen (bills, coupons, to-do lists that congregate),.....and felt great.

Off to read books with Henry. (I've been trying to do this while he is watching/commenting on lava movies on youtube on the other side of the screen..needless to say, I'm not doing so well on the multi-tasking as well as managing the conflict of not being as attentive as I need to be & feeling guilt for not doing either thing well...so that's it for today!)