Michelle and Mannie (GA)
Member Since 2009
Good Morning LL!! 
(Ahhhhhh.... elixir! Thanks Elsa), and Happy Catmint Caturday!
LL! It's is I, Elsa, KBP, president and CEO of Coffee Cat! Life is GOOD! GUESS WHAT! Paw Prints Pizza is open and ready for business! They are running a Caturday Catnip special today, in honor of Catmint Caturday - lots of nip in those pies!
They have even used their signature nip cheese. 
Best order early! OOOOOOOOO! They have perfected their NY Style hot dog pies. MAJOR YUM!!!! Try one, you'll see! Just order the Mannie and Stu Special! so. well. anyways. Coffee time! 
For today, I proudly offer Elsa's special 10 hour energy coffee, and Double shot espressos, with beans from deep within the mountain slopes of Africa, AND.... for all my Mocha fans: a venti quad peppermint white chocolate mocha, with peppermint infused whip, garnished with peppermint candy chips and white chocolate shavings... It is my bean's fave, and a Caturday tradition! SWEET! OH! No worries, a dollop of peppermint and vanilla and chocolate and caramel swirl ice cream, on top of a dollop of fudge, sprinkled with peppermint chips and a chocolate caramel drizzle.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....... mega good!
I hope everyone had a great week.
The days with the boys have been good ones! We have been very busy, that part of life has not changed. Will it ever? ;-) NOPE!! 
I am so glad it hasn't!We have been swimming, hiking trails, visiting beaches, and children's museums. The weather improved alot by the time the boys were with me, so we did as much outdoor time as we could. The boys were both feeling great again 
so off we went. It has been awesome to be busy again. I enjoy the mornings here with the boys, before we head on out for the days adventure. They are together times, fun times, whether it is over a few raspberries, or the sharing of a blanket while Mickey Mouse does his thing on TV. Life is good! 
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Night were our only swimming day this past week. We are back to our regular swimming schedule YAY!!! Nicholas has really missed the pool! Nicholas continues to be our energizer fishie. That I think will never change, he just has so much fun with it all. He continues to LOVE the new pool we started going to a last summer, in Snohomish. I was so grateful that they are open, no closures set for them. It really is a wonderful experience, and he can do alot of the things he likes there: like the slides, the lazy river, and deep water jumping and diving. The big high in the sky tube water slide is now his favorite thing to do, and it is our main focus when we go to this pool. OMG! 
. Now that is all he wants to do when he goes there. I do have to admit: it is FUN! The guards there continue to let him do that slide on his own, something that has made him very happy. It ha been good to be back at our regular pool. Nicholas and William were both happy to have that reopen last week. Monday was our joint swim day. Both boys really played well together there. Nicholas was patient with William, let him catch up, waited when he had to, so that they could do things together, like the slides. Wow, that was just so cool to see. William has missed the pool too. He has missed a lot of swim days due to holiday schedules, pool closures etc. It was great to get him back to being able to go twice a week. We all just love pool days, and are grateful that we have the pools and the time to be able to do this. GO NICK! GO WILLIAM! 
Nicholas still looks forward to our after swim Friday Night Burger Feast
I know I write this each week, but that is just so fun: burgers and fries, just him and me, with lots of fun stories. He was so happy to see that burger and fries combo show up, just like always. Somehow I think that is part of the magic of Friday night swims: that he gets burgers etc after his swim. :razz: He still makes a point of making sure I have packed it all, and asked when I met him in the morning. GREAT TIME! LOVE Friday nights. Last night, well every Friday night, Nicholas told me it was his favorite night of the week, that this day was the best day ever. Me too little man, me too!
and..... still no hiking for me this week! Bummer! Weather has played a huge role. We have had heavy rains, rivers are at flood stage, avalanche warnings are in all the mountains on the days I have available, so... I've stayed put. But the time with the boys was a great offset, and we did make it out as much as we could, so I remain content. :razz: I can during post hike season do the local trails here several times over, and make a decent distance hike out of it all. The local trails here just never disappoints. Life continues to be good. The nasty weatyher cleared some by Tuesday, but scheduling conflicts just didn't allow for time on a trail.... Well, soon I hope!
Monday was a busy one here. HAHA, seems all days here are busy ones... 
Monday was our normal, and it is SO GOOD to be back to normal, Monday, with a joint swim day for Nicholas and William, with the other DGP's too. It is wonderful to have our pools reopen this week, and get back to swimming. Nicholas and William were so happy to be back in their home pool. Both boys played extremely well together. Nicholas was very patient and waited for William to catch up so they could do an activity together. William is getting much more steady on his feet in the water, which enables him to do more with his brother. YAY! They went on the slides together, played in the big pool together. So so cool! Nicholas ability to stay under water has increased, darn amazing. I hope you enjoy the photos, as there are so may of the two of them together. I LOVED that aspect of yesterday in the pool. We stayed for 2.5 hours yesterday, a long time for William. He was SO TIRED by sessions end. I bet he slept well that afternoon.My usual Monday trip to Seattle was canceled, as the friend I meet had to stay home since her daughter was sick,. Bummer on both counts. I decided that since the weather was great that some out and about time was needed. The pool area has a very nice short one mile trail that runs parallel to it, the Mesika Trail, so I walked that for a bit, before heading on down to Picnic Point for an afternoon walk on the beach. By that time the sun was shining, the skies were a vivid blue, and the weather was warm at 51. What a great afternoon on the beach. The tide was also out so I was able to walk a good 4.5 miles. It was a really nice day.
Tuesday was great for me. I met an old friend I haven't seen in close to 10 years. A lot of catching up to do. Sure as fun. Since I was in Seattle to meet up with her I decided to pay the Pike Place market for a visit before I went home. I love that place. All sorts of things to see, lots at and even buy. We have alot of local merchants that maintain booths/stalls there. and the seafood markets within are awesome. What a great time spent there.
Wednesday, after Nicholas's swim time, we all went to hike the local trail by the pool: The Mesika Trail, the same one I did on my own on Monday. it is a short trail, but the boys really enjoy it.There is a small creek that runs through the center, always a plus to have that. In spring the bushes are loaded with all sorts of berries. We spent alot of time Wednesday reminiscing about how good those berries are, and we can't wait for spring to come, and the first crop of salmonberries appear. The trail is a good one for the boys, being only a mile. A prefect distance for them. Nicholas had DR's appt that afternoon for his 4YR checkup. He passed with flying colors. He did really well. considering he got 4 shots, and didn't cry for any of them. wow, impressive! Kudos to you Nicholas!
Thursday was a school day for Nicholas, and swim day for William, while Nicholas is in school. Nick was so excited to be going, he really loves school. William and I had just finished our swim session when my cell phone rang. Seems it was the school. Nicholas wasn't feeling well, running a low grade temp.
It seems all those vaccinations from the day before had taken their toll. poor Kid! SO off w went to pick him up. We spent the rest of the day at home, chillin ' on the sofa. William napped, as he was so tired after swimming. Nicholas and I read volcano books. He LOVES volcanoes. By the time I dropped them off at the end of the day he was remarkably better. nice that the the effect of the shots was short lived
Friday was pout free day, in that there were no school of pool obligations for the day. Although we had decent temps, and the sun was coming, the morning was still a little cold, so I thought we'd try a new children's museum that we visited last week: The Imagine Children's Museum, in Everett. Plans were to stay in, then outdoors for the afternoon. That museum was incredible! both boys loved it, and neither of them wanted to go home. They have the most creative interactive water play areas, a great tree-house, etc etc etc, as well an a really great outdoor playground equipment set up on the roof. LOVED the roof set up. The fog was still with us at that time, noon, but we played up there anyways. Imagine children's Museum in Everett ROCKS! Wow, that was impressive, and will now be in our regular lineup of places to go when the weather is awful. Both boys just loved the place. After much discussion, we went to Junaita Beach Park for the afternoon. Predictions were for sun and 55, which ended up being the case. There is a creek that runs along the edge of the park area, for all intents and purposes it is just like being out on a river. Sure it's urban, but the boys just see a river, and were so happy to be on one. They did all the things they would do in the wilderness on a river, had the best of times. We fed the ducks, played on the beach, wow, nice time! I had to laugh the ducks were out in force, dozen and dozens of them,. They say the boys coming and flocked to see if they would feed them. Well, duh.... Sure was a great day!
Normalcy in MusketeerVille!
The kitties are doing well, and are adjusting to life without Christmas, Christmas trees and shiny decorations. What will Lola do without it.... I continue to fear for my house plants, once again. 
. Bug is doing well too. He has been quite the social kitty over the holidays, spending alot of time with whomever was over for visits, and continues to do so. He had his annual recheck with his cardo vet, to evaluate a reported heart murmur when we adopted him, a week ago on Tuesday. He did very well! It was great to hear that his murmur continues to be a soft, low level one, centered around a leaky tricuspid valve. all chambers and walls are of normal size, with normal blood flow in through the other valves. and (!!) No evidence of heart disease. YaHOO! So.... we do not have to go back for a year and a half. AWESOME! Elsa is doing well too. I have been trying a new way to feed her, as she is a grazer, and I have felt for some time that the others are eating what she is leaving to snack on later. Anytime I see her in the kitchen she gets a spoonful of food, an amount I know she will eat in one sitting. This continues to go well! Keep on truckin' Elsa! Things are looking good for out kitties. Normalcy in MusketeerVille!
Have a great Caturday everyone. I am off to meet with Erin and Jason and the boys. We are off to to go the pacific science center, for a model RR show. We went last year. The show was great, boys loved it, so we thought we'd try again this year. YAY!!! I hope for some outdoor time later today if the rains Will stop.... Tonight my youngest son's band has a show in Seattle, so off I go for that.
KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN
(Ahhhhhh.... elixir! Thanks Elsa), and Happy Catmint Caturday!LL! It's is I, Elsa, KBP, president and CEO of Coffee Cat! Life is GOOD! GUESS WHAT! Paw Prints Pizza is open and ready for business! They are running a Caturday Catnip special today, in honor of Catmint Caturday - lots of nip in those pies!
They have even used their signature nip cheese. Best order early! OOOOOOOOO! They have perfected their NY Style hot dog pies. MAJOR YUM!!!! Try one, you'll see! Just order the Mannie and Stu Special! so. well. anyways. Coffee time! For today, I proudly offer Elsa's special 10 hour energy coffee, and Double shot espressos, with beans from deep within the mountain slopes of Africa, AND.... for all my Mocha fans: a venti quad peppermint white chocolate mocha, with peppermint infused whip, garnished with peppermint candy chips and white chocolate shavings... It is my bean's fave, and a Caturday tradition! SWEET! OH! No worries, a dollop of peppermint and vanilla and chocolate and caramel swirl ice cream, on top of a dollop of fudge, sprinkled with peppermint chips and a chocolate caramel drizzle.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....... mega good! I hope everyone had a great week.
The days with the boys have been good ones! We have been very busy, that part of life has not changed. Will it ever? ;-) NOPE!! I am so glad it hasn't!We have been swimming, hiking trails, visiting beaches, and children's museums. The weather improved alot by the time the boys were with me, so we did as much outdoor time as we could. The boys were both feeling great again so off we went. It has been awesome to be busy again. I enjoy the mornings here with the boys, before we head on out for the days adventure. They are together times, fun times, whether it is over a few raspberries, or the sharing of a blanket while Mickey Mouse does his thing on TV. Life is good! Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Night were our only swimming day this past week. We are back to our regular swimming schedule YAY!!!
Nicholas has really missed the pool! Nicholas continues to be our energizer fishie. That I think will never change, he just has so much fun with it all. He continues to LOVE the new pool we started going to a last summer, in Snohomish. I was so grateful that they are open, no closures set for them. It really is a wonderful experience, and he can do alot of the things he likes there: like the slides, the lazy river, and deep water jumping and diving. The big high in the sky tube water slide is now his favorite thing to do, and it is our main focus when we go to this pool. OMG! . Now that is all he wants to do when he goes there. I do have to admit: it is FUN! The guards there continue to let him do that slide on his own, something that has made him very happy. It ha been good to be back at our regular pool. Nicholas and William were both happy to have that reopen last week. Monday was our joint swim day. Both boys really played well together there. Nicholas was patient with William, let him catch up, waited when he had to, so that they could do things together, like the slides. Wow, that was just so cool to see. William has missed the pool too. He has missed a lot of swim days due to holiday schedules, pool closures etc. It was great to get him back to being able to go twice a week. We all just love pool days, and are grateful that we have the pools and the time to be able to do this. GO NICK! GO WILLIAM! Nicholas still looks forward to our after swim Friday Night Burger Feast
I know I write this each week, but that is just so fun: burgers and fries, just him and me, with lots of fun stories. He was so happy to see that burger and fries combo show up, just like always. Somehow I think that is part of the magic of Friday night swims: that he gets burgers etc after his swim. :razz: He still makes a point of making sure I have packed it all, and asked when I met him in the morning. GREAT TIME! LOVE Friday nights. Last night, well every Friday night, Nicholas told me it was his favorite night of the week, that this day was the best day ever. Me too little man, me too! and..... still no hiking for me this week! Bummer! Weather has played a huge role. We have had heavy rains, rivers are at flood stage, avalanche warnings are in all the mountains on the days I have available, so... I've stayed put. But the time with the boys was a great offset, and we did make it out as much as we could, so I remain content. :razz: I can during post hike season do the local trails here several times over, and make a decent distance hike out of it all. The local trails here just never disappoints. Life continues to be good. The nasty weatyher cleared some by Tuesday, but scheduling conflicts just didn't allow for time on a trail.... Well, soon I hope!
Monday was a busy one here.
HAHA, seems all days here are busy ones... Monday was our normal, and it is SO GOOD to be back to normal, Monday, with a joint swim day for Nicholas and William, with the other DGP's too. It is wonderful to have our pools reopen this week, and get back to swimming. Nicholas and William were so happy to be back in their home pool. Both boys played extremely well together. Nicholas was very patient and waited for William to catch up so they could do an activity together. William is getting much more steady on his feet in the water, which enables him to do more with his brother. YAY! They went on the slides together, played in the big pool together. So so cool! Nicholas ability to stay under water has increased, darn amazing. I hope you enjoy the photos, as there are so may of the two of them together. I LOVED that aspect of yesterday in the pool. We stayed for 2.5 hours yesterday, a long time for William. He was SO TIRED by sessions end. I bet he slept well that afternoon.My usual Monday trip to Seattle was canceled, as the friend I meet had to stay home since her daughter was sick,. Bummer on both counts. I decided that since the weather was great that some out and about time was needed. The pool area has a very nice short one mile trail that runs parallel to it, the Mesika Trail, so I walked that for a bit, before heading on down to Picnic Point for an afternoon walk on the beach. By that time the sun was shining, the skies were a vivid blue, and the weather was warm at 51. What a great afternoon on the beach. The tide was also out so I was able to walk a good 4.5 miles. It was a really nice day.Tuesday was great for me. I met an old friend I haven't seen in close to 10 years. A lot of catching up to do.
Sure as fun. Since I was in Seattle to meet up with her I decided to pay the Pike Place market for a visit before I went home. I love that place. All sorts of things to see, lots at and even buy. We have alot of local merchants that maintain booths/stalls there. and the seafood markets within are awesome. What a great time spent there.Wednesday, after Nicholas's swim time, we all went to hike the local trail by the pool: The Mesika Trail, the same one I did on my own on Monday. it is a short trail, but the boys really enjoy it.There is a small creek that runs through the center, always a plus to have that. In spring the bushes are loaded with all sorts of berries. We spent alot of time Wednesday reminiscing about how good those berries are, and we can't wait for spring to come, and the first crop of salmonberries appear. The trail is a good one for the boys, being only a mile. A prefect distance for them. Nicholas had DR's appt that afternoon for his 4YR checkup. He passed with flying colors. He did really well. considering he got 4 shots, and didn't cry for any of them. wow, impressive! Kudos to you Nicholas!
Thursday was a school day for Nicholas, and swim day for William, while Nicholas is in school. Nick was so excited to be going, he really loves school. William and I had just finished our swim session when my cell phone rang. Seems it was the school. Nicholas wasn't feeling well, running a low grade temp.
It seems all those vaccinations from the day before had taken their toll. poor Kid! SO off w went to pick him up. We spent the rest of the day at home, chillin ' on the sofa. William napped, as he was so tired after swimming. Nicholas and I read volcano books. He LOVES volcanoes. By the time I dropped them off at the end of the day he was remarkably better. nice that the the effect of the shots was short livedFriday was pout free day, in that there were no school of pool obligations for the day.
Although we had decent temps, and the sun was coming, the morning was still a little cold, so I thought we'd try a new children's museum that we visited last week: The Imagine Children's Museum, in Everett. Plans were to stay in, then outdoors for the afternoon. That museum was incredible! both boys loved it, and neither of them wanted to go home. They have the most creative interactive water play areas, a great tree-house, etc etc etc, as well an a really great outdoor playground equipment set up on the roof. LOVED the roof set up. The fog was still with us at that time, noon, but we played up there anyways. Imagine children's Museum in Everett ROCKS! Wow, that was impressive, and will now be in our regular lineup of places to go when the weather is awful. Both boys just loved the place. After much discussion, we went to Junaita Beach Park for the afternoon. Predictions were for sun and 55, which ended up being the case. There is a creek that runs along the edge of the park area, for all intents and purposes it is just like being out on a river. Sure it's urban, but the boys just see a river, and were so happy to be on one. They did all the things they would do in the wilderness on a river, had the best of times. We fed the ducks, played on the beach, wow, nice time! I had to laugh the ducks were out in force, dozen and dozens of them,. They say the boys coming and flocked to see if they would feed them. Well, duh.... Sure was a great day! Normalcy in MusketeerVille!
The kitties are doing well, and are adjusting to life without Christmas, Christmas trees and shiny decorations. What will Lola do without it.... I continue to fear for my house plants, once again. . Bug is doing well too. He has been quite the social kitty over the holidays, spending alot of time with whomever was over for visits, and continues to do so. He had his annual recheck with his cardo vet, to evaluate a reported heart murmur when we adopted him, a week ago on Tuesday. He did very well! It was great to hear that his murmur continues to be a soft, low level one, centered around a leaky tricuspid valve. all chambers and walls are of normal size, with normal blood flow in through the other valves. and (!!) No evidence of heart disease. YaHOO! So.... we do not have to go back for a year and a half. AWESOME! Elsa is doing well too. I have been trying a new way to feed her, as she is a grazer, and I have felt for some time that the others are eating what she is leaving to snack on later. Anytime I see her in the kitchen she gets a spoonful of food, an amount I know she will eat in one sitting. This continues to go well! Keep on truckin' Elsa! Things are looking good for out kitties. Normalcy in MusketeerVille! Have a great Caturday everyone. I am off to meet with Erin and Jason and the boys. We are off to to go the pacific science center, for a model RR show. We went last year. The show was great, boys loved it, so we thought we'd try again this year. YAY!!! I hope for some outdoor time later today if the rains Will stop.... Tonight my youngest son's band has a show in Seattle, so off I go for that.
KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN
