Michelle and Mannie (GA)
Member Since 2009
HEY EVERYBODY!! Look! Spring is coming!
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!
Bug, Co-CEO of Paw Prints Pizza
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! I just can't imagine not being on the go. It keeps us out of trouble! I often think back on the weeks happenings, and wonder how in the world did we do all that! 
It was the same this past week. We just seem to pick up and go each day, no questions asked, not by me or the boys, or the people I interact with on a daily basis. I am grateful for all those that help us on a dailt basis, including my local barista! It cracks me up when I walk n tat door and my order is already in the works. Life is very good!
Swimming continues to be an integral part of my life, and the boys. I am grateful for this time, as it has become such a bonding experience for all of us. I can ask either of them at any given moment if they want to go and swim and they always come back with a yes.
Nicholas is still saying no to lessons, but I am trying a different approach to getting him involved with swim clases. When we go they are wrapping up lesson time at the pool so we sit and watch some of what they do, and talk about whet he sees. This seems to have cut the ice some. I don;t think he is afraid of class, I just think he rally likes things the way they are, and why change it. Kids can be such creatures of habit: shake up the routine and they can be unhappy campers. So... we will keep plugging away at swim class, and hope fully get him enrolled by summer. Things will change alot then with pool availability within each Rec Center, as they get so busy with summer swim leagues and tons of swim classes, that the bigger pools become inaccessible unless you have a class. I know he will not be happy if he cannot swim in the big pool. It happens every summer.... I will hope we can get his resolved by then. If not, we may have to really adjust when we go, so that he can do what is called Rec Swims, when the pool is opened to everyone. Well, lots to think about. William continues to love going. He too is so excited when he realizes he is headed off to the pool. He does all kinds of tings there, doesn't mind being under water, loves the slides and the water cannon and geysers. So we continue to go, alternating pools between the Lynnwood Aquatic Center, and the Snohomish Aquatic Center. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful Aquatic facilities here too. I know it wrote this last week, but it is so true, in that it is so nice to see the evolution of pools that cater to families, with beach play areas, and large water slides, as well as the competitive side of swimming. Nicholas continues to amaze me at every turn. He loves to lap swim, underwater, and does his version of that when the opportunity is there. He likes to swim the lazy river unassisted too, and made a couple of laps on that on his own. His all time fave thing? The big Blue Slide at the Snohomish Pool, and right after that: the Lazy River. He has discovered what fun that can be when navigating it all in an inner tube. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Night were our swim days this week.
William and Nicholas: pools RULE!
The boys and I continue to be very busy. Our weather has dictated alot of what we do, and even with that we still have great times. We have come up with a great list of indoor places, and this week we used them when we needed too, when the weather was questionable, which was every day I had them. Darn rains!
Wednesday Afternoon we did get a very short break in all that wet, and made it to a local playground at Meadowdale Park. I was grateful for that. They got to be boys for a whole hour, walking the local rails and using all the playground equipment there, including a fun zip line geared for kids. We visited the Imagine Childrens Museum on Thursday, and the Seattle Aquarium on Friday. Weather still was an issue for both days, so indoors for us. The Childrens Museum is one of their fave places to go. They do an excellent job of ahving interactive play areas that the boys really like. It is a given that the aquarium is a go to place for sure. We could go every week and they would never tire of it. Sometimes we do! Friday the focus for them was on anemones, for both boys. Nicholas spent alot of time there just talking with anyone that would give him an ear.
That was fun to watch. It is kinda cool to see how much he really knows about the critters he is observing.
Nicholas & William: Hiking Buddies!
As busy as these boys are, and me included, we still try and find time for family, and just being at home, enjoying each others company. We were able to visit with their Grammie Connie after Nicholas's swim on Wednesday. I am so glad she is back in the lineup for care for the boys. The Friday Night Burger Feast for Nicholas, after his swim session at the Snohomish pool, will be always on the highlight list. He looks forward to this every week, starts asking about it on Wednesday when he first sees me. I took alot of random photos this week. Some of William and puddle time, some of William after a hard days swim session, some of Nicholas's and his new love of Jelly, sans PB, sandwiches. I enjoy these, as they are indicative of how happy these boys are. They just appreciate all that lies before them, love to explore, love too to just hang out with family. One of my highlights is my bi-weekly breakfast with my son Anthony. We go to the same restaurant each time, order pretty much the same food. The time spent cannot be beat. Such a relaxing and fun way to stay in touch.
Like last week, Nicholas had this past week wanted to take pictures. I have never refused him, instead give him my camera and let him go for it. Nick's Pics RULE! He was into the aquarium critters this week, and his Grammie Connie's home. I love seeing things from a child's perspective. I think he did a great job. Just like last week it was fun to listen to him in the back seat of my car, as we traveled, and he picked out things to take photos of. I kept hearing "Got it! Great Shot! I really like this one!" and my personal fave: "slow down Grammie! I need to take a picture!" so of course I did. I heard that several times this week. I find these road trips with the boys to be fun, whether or not Nicholas is taking pictures. The entertainment from that back seat is something else, never ever a dull moment!
For my own personal time, I have been hiking the local trails here when I can. I hope in the near future to have a day to visit the mountains and get in at east one snow hike before winter's end. Paws crossed. LOL, wrote that last week, the week before and still haven't been able to make it. I had hoped to go Tuesday, but had things at home I had to take care of... the weatehr was AWFUL... maybe this week! I've been to Meadowdale shore and woods on Tuesday, Picnic Point Beach on Sunday, and a local pool trail, Mesika Trail, on Monday. It is such a nice alternative to mountain hiking, and will do, along with some other local lowland hikes, until the higher elevation stuff opens in the spring.
a wet, cool, and full of solitude morning at Meadowdale Beach
Normalcy in MusketeerVille
Hoe cool to be able to day that. Elsa is dong well. She is eating better since I have been trying to get more food in here get some weight back on her, it is a slow process, but seems to be working, I think too that she really likes the individual attention. She is bored with this wet weather. Today she sat at the slider door, tested the outside a few times, reluctantly came back in and then sat and complained. I can't say that I blame her. 
It is NASTY out there today. 
Bug is doing great! He is such a love bug, and so reminds me of Mannie. They do/did so many things the same. I have a fleece blanket that I use in the evening when I am unwinding on my sofa, watching TV, reading, etc. He just loves that thing, and as soon as I have it out, he is on top of it, making biscuit after biscuit. And the purrs! I love that time. Lola is, well... Lola. She is still my early morning lap warmer as I work on the computer. She never misses, curls up, purrs the morning away. I love that time when she is "normal" 
and the rest of the day? still chasing her tail , still walking my high off the ground railing, 
, still riding my frig door , still ripping up and left out paper 
, still pounding any glass type surfaces 
, still eating and ripping up my plants 
. Lola is... well, Lola. She really is, in all seriousness, a joy to care for. She makes life fun. Elsa grounds it in reality. Bug adds that element of comfort and reassurance. For this week: a for sure on that normalcy in MusketeerVille.
And for fun: an old video of Nicholas and Mannie. just cuz I have it. And one of Lola, from Christmas last year. It so sums up what makes Lola Lola.
Lola's Tree
Nicholas, Mannie and the Nanners
Have a great Caturday everyone! Today has been catchup day here. Shopping and laundry done, some medicare issues to resolve for DH, and just being a little lazy. I hope to get out for a walk after I post this, for some fresh, though wet, air, and to exercise the legs some. It has been a day of intense rain since the start of the day. I wonder if it will even break today...
KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN
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!Bug, Co-CEO of Paw Prints Pizza
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! I just can't imagine not being on the go. It keeps us out of trouble! I often think back on the weeks happenings, and wonder how in the world did we do all that! It was the same this past week. We just seem to pick up and go each day, no questions asked, not by me or the boys, or the people I interact with on a daily basis. I am grateful for all those that help us on a dailt basis, including my local barista! It cracks me up when I walk n tat door and my order is already in the works. Life is very good! Swimming continues to be an integral part of my life, and the boys. I am grateful for this time, as it has become such a bonding experience for all of us. I can ask either of them at any given moment if they want to go and swim and they always come back with a yes.
Nicholas is still saying no to lessons, but I am trying a different approach to getting him involved with swim clases. When we go they are wrapping up lesson time at the pool so we sit and watch some of what they do, and talk about whet he sees. This seems to have cut the ice some. I don;t think he is afraid of class, I just think he rally likes things the way they are, and why change it. Kids can be such creatures of habit: shake up the routine and they can be unhappy campers. So... we will keep plugging away at swim class, and hope fully get him enrolled by summer. Things will change alot then with pool availability within each Rec Center, as they get so busy with summer swim leagues and tons of swim classes, that the bigger pools become inaccessible unless you have a class. I know he will not be happy if he cannot swim in the big pool. It happens every summer.... I will hope we can get his resolved by then. If not, we may have to really adjust when we go, so that he can do what is called Rec Swims, when the pool is opened to everyone. Well, lots to think about. William continues to love going. He too is so excited when he realizes he is headed off to the pool. He does all kinds of tings there, doesn't mind being under water, loves the slides and the water cannon and geysers. So we continue to go, alternating pools between the Lynnwood Aquatic Center, and the Snohomish Aquatic Center. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful Aquatic facilities here too. I know it wrote this last week, but it is so true, in that it is so nice to see the evolution of pools that cater to families, with beach play areas, and large water slides, as well as the competitive side of swimming. Nicholas continues to amaze me at every turn. He loves to lap swim, underwater, and does his version of that when the opportunity is there. He likes to swim the lazy river unassisted too, and made a couple of laps on that on his own. His all time fave thing? The big Blue Slide at the Snohomish Pool, and right after that: the Lazy River. He has discovered what fun that can be when navigating it all in an inner tube. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Night were our swim days this week. William and Nicholas: pools RULE!
The boys and I continue to be very busy. Our weather has dictated alot of what we do, and even with that we still have great times. We have come up with a great list of indoor places, and this week we used them when we needed too, when the weather was questionable, which was every day I had them. Darn rains!
Wednesday Afternoon we did get a very short break in all that wet, and made it to a local playground at Meadowdale Park. I was grateful for that. They got to be boys for a whole hour, walking the local rails and using all the playground equipment there, including a fun zip line geared for kids. We visited the Imagine Childrens Museum on Thursday, and the Seattle Aquarium on Friday. Weather still was an issue for both days, so indoors for us. The Childrens Museum is one of their fave places to go. They do an excellent job of ahving interactive play areas that the boys really like. It is a given that the aquarium is a go to place for sure. We could go every week and they would never tire of it. Sometimes we do! Friday the focus for them was on anemones, for both boys. Nicholas spent alot of time there just talking with anyone that would give him an ear.
That was fun to watch. It is kinda cool to see how much he really knows about the critters he is observing. Nicholas & William: Hiking Buddies!
As busy as these boys are, and me included, we still try and find time for family, and just being at home, enjoying each others company. We were able to visit with their Grammie Connie after Nicholas's swim on Wednesday. I am so glad she is back in the lineup for care for the boys. The Friday Night Burger Feast for Nicholas, after his swim session at the Snohomish pool, will be always on the highlight list. He looks forward to this every week, starts asking about it on Wednesday when he first sees me. I took alot of random photos this week. Some of William and puddle time, some of William after a hard days swim session, some of Nicholas's and his new love of Jelly, sans PB, sandwiches. I enjoy these, as they are indicative of how happy these boys are. They just appreciate all that lies before them, love to explore, love too to just hang out with family. One of my highlights is my bi-weekly breakfast with my son Anthony. We go to the same restaurant each time, order pretty much the same food. The time spent cannot be beat. Such a relaxing and fun way to stay in touch.
Like last week, Nicholas had this past week wanted to take pictures. I have never refused him, instead give him my camera and let him go for it. Nick's Pics RULE!
He was into the aquarium critters this week, and his Grammie Connie's home. I love seeing things from a child's perspective. I think he did a great job. Just like last week it was fun to listen to him in the back seat of my car, as we traveled, and he picked out things to take photos of. I kept hearing "Got it! Great Shot! I really like this one!" and my personal fave: "slow down Grammie! I need to take a picture!" so of course I did. I heard that several times this week. I find these road trips with the boys to be fun, whether or not Nicholas is taking pictures. The entertainment from that back seat is something else, never ever a dull moment! For my own personal time, I have been hiking the local trails here when I can. I hope in the near future to have a day to visit the mountains and get in at east one snow hike before winter's end. Paws crossed. LOL, wrote that last week, the week before and still haven't been able to make it. I had hoped to go Tuesday, but had things at home I had to take care of... the weatehr was AWFUL... maybe this week! I've been to Meadowdale shore and woods on Tuesday, Picnic Point Beach on Sunday, and a local pool trail, Mesika Trail, on Monday. It is such a nice alternative to mountain hiking, and will do, along with some other local lowland hikes, until the higher elevation stuff opens in the spring.
a wet, cool, and full of solitude morning at Meadowdale Beach
Normalcy in MusketeerVille
Hoe cool to be able to day that. Elsa is dong well. She is eating better since I have been trying to get more food in here get some weight back on her, it is a slow process, but seems to be working, I think too that she really likes the individual attention. She is bored with this wet weather. Today she sat at the slider door, tested the outside a few times, reluctantly came back in and then sat and complained. I can't say that I blame her. It is NASTY out there today. Bug is doing great! He is such a love bug, and so reminds me of Mannie. They do/did so many things the same. I have a fleece blanket that I use in the evening when I am unwinding on my sofa, watching TV, reading, etc. He just loves that thing, and as soon as I have it out, he is on top of it, making biscuit after biscuit. And the purrs! I love that time. Lola is, well... Lola. She is still my early morning lap warmer as I work on the computer. She never misses, curls up, purrs the morning away. I love that time when she is "normal" and the rest of the day? still chasing her tail , still walking my high off the ground railing, , still riding my frig door , still ripping up and left out paper , still pounding any glass type surfaces , still eating and ripping up my plants . Lola is... well, Lola. She really is, in all seriousness, a joy to care for. She makes life fun. Elsa grounds it in reality. Bug adds that element of comfort and reassurance. For this week: a for sure on that normalcy in MusketeerVille. And for fun: an old video of Nicholas and Mannie. just cuz I have it. And one of Lola, from Christmas last year. It so sums up what makes Lola Lola.
Have a great Caturday everyone! Today has been catchup day here. Shopping and laundry done, some medicare issues to resolve for DH, and just being a little lazy. I hope to get out for a walk after I post this, for some fresh, though wet, air, and to exercise the legs some. It has been a day of intense rain since the start of the day. I wonder if it will even break today...
KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN
