Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Jan - April 2024 Including Spring Break

Status Quo
It's truly been just living life here at the Kennedy household.
Mid-February Kathryn got quite sick.  Missed a lot of school and fortunately had mid-winter break to recuperate. She likely had mono, however we never formally tested her because the result would not change the treatment. And, she is highly opposed to blood tests.  Once recovered she quickly got back to her usual routines.

Both kids are doing great in high school
Ryan does not have his drivers license yet. . . .  not sure why he is dragging his feet on taking the driving test, but when he's ready he'll do it.  It's springtime - his lawn care service with Cooper is keeping him busy. 
My work is perfect.  It's lovely to be so content at a job.  It checks all the boxes of what my family needs financially, emotionally etc.  Very lucky to have landed at SCH. 

Hilda & Hawkins . . . . . they keep us on our toes.  Or awake all night if they decide night time is playtime.  The picture with Hawkins on his back under a cabinet - The stool next to him was put there to prevent him from opening the cabinet and getting in the garbage.  We now have child locks on there again (after they were removed years ago when the kids were old enough).  Hilda is always watching.  Anytime I sit on the couch, no matter where she is, she will hear it and join me to play a round of fetch.  Even if I try to sneak quietly, she always knows.  




Hawkins trying to swipe a leftover piece of pizza

This view never gets old.  For both the kitties and the scenery. 


Just a cool picture of a tree with rocks tucked in to the grooves.
Carleek Park

                                                    

Early April brought a little new-ness in to our home.  We've upgraded with a new couch.  We had used furniture in the living room since 2017.  It's so nice to have a piece of furniture that is very functional and comfortable. Has charging ports on one end, the chaise opens up for storage.  It also pulls out to the size of a double bed.  Coincidentally we got a new TV 2 weeks earlier.  The old TV was also used when it was installed in 2010.  It had been broken for a year but I waited to replace for a variety of reasons.  Both the TV and couch have made for a quite comfy room. 


Hilda approves
She's also been caught digging her claws in to the side to use it as a scratching post.  Fortunately she listens well and I think with our consistent "NO!" she'll learn it's not ok. 

Spring Break 2024
I thought a lot about what we should do for this school break.
 I took the week off from work as well.
About a month prior to the break I sat down with the kids to get their input on what they would like to do.  Neither had strong feelings (except both would love to travel to Atlanta to see Kerri - hopefully soon) about what we should do.  I proposed a night in Leavenworth to ride the Alpine Coaster, eat at the Icicle Brewery again.  We went in 2021 - prime Covid precautions in place.  Enjoyed it then and wanted to go back.  Picked a hotel with a free breakfast and then headed home.  The Alpine Coaster was fun and worth the trip.  Pictured are the kids in their carts - riders can choose how fast or slow they go.







Stopped at this diner on the way home.  While we waited for our food, the server brought us this pancake saying it was made by mistake.  She wanted us to enjoy it instead of throwing it away.  I don't know if it was because it was free or what - but all three of us said it was one of the best pancakes we've eaten!



On the way home from Leavenworth we stopped at Bobbi Ann's home to leave a baby gift for Ruby. Pictured are the cousins as we were out for a walk.  Coincidence that I caught them in order of height.  I 100% love this picture.  After the divorce I was separated from this side of the family for obvious reasons.  Learning that Ruby was pregnant I wanted to give her a gift and let her know that she is welcome to call/text me anytime if she has baby questions.  She's fairly young (22) and I want her to have a resource if needed.  
It's been wonderful to reconnect with Bobbi Ann as well.
3rd stop on our Spring Break was tickets to a Kraken Game.  It was the big money outting for us - tickets are crazy expensive.  Ryan wanted to be there early, one of the first go get in. 
 Pictured is their spot in the line to get in.  😁
We had so much fun.  It was my second NHL game (last one in 1989, St. Louis Blues when I lived in Illinois!) first game for the kids.  The Kraken lost, but we all enjoyed the experience. 

Last stop for Spring Break was a Mariner's Game, the day after the Kraken game.
M's won, we had fun seats down the 3rd base line.  
We did a few other activities.... a gourmet coffee shop, frozen yogurt for dinner one night etc. Successful spring break and week away from work.


That sums up the past few months.  Summer will soon be here.  Ryan will continue to take care of lawns.  Kathryn has two volleyball camps.  I have a trip with friends to the San Juan Islands to swim (my first vacation without kids, although the trip to Halifax was almost like vacation even though it was for work!) Seaside will follow my trip to the San Juan Islands.  I will blink - Ryan will be a junior & Kathryn a sophomore in high school. I'm a lucky mama 💜


Monday, December 25, 2023

November & December

My goal to achieve for this blog post was to capture some pictures of Ryan.
Success!
But first a few others:
An absolutely glorious day for a November swim. I will always remember this swim because the water temperature was still warm enough to stay in for 50 minutes.  Was it dumb to stay in that long in November?  Probably.  But remarkably I was not cold (aka hypothermic) after the swim.  
The picture underwater with the fish was taken by my friend who was swimming next to me. 
 It looks unreal.  It felt unreal and it truly was that pretty.  🐟




Here he is!  Driving my car.  We still have not ventured out much with him behind the wheel.  He is near complete with drivers training and will likely have his license in Jan 2024.  🚙


Mira and Kathryn out shopping - festive style!



Korryn and I out for a walk

Lauren Daigle concert, attended with Kathryn.  It was an amazing show and fun night out 


Snoopy is popular with this generation!

Ryan wrestling.  He's still enjoys being on the team

A win!


Annual holiday baking. 
 Kathryn, Michael, Kelsey and Jade 


Kathryn dressed up for the winter ball at school.  Las Vegas theme.  Mira helped pick her dress


Dog sitting Ollie 🐾


Christmas morning cinnamon rolls were fabulous this year 😋


Christmas eve at Mom and Dad's.  
Ryan and Michael did not coordinate outfits : )  
Seahawks did get the win! 🏈

🎄  Christmas morning with my teens - two human, two feline.  🎄



They had a lil' catnip 😸



 

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Fall

 High School 📚

Volleyball 🏐

Driver's Ed  🚙

Halifax, Nova Scotia 🛫

High School for both Ryan and Kathryn started just after Labor Day.  Kathryn tried out for the Ingraham Volleyball team two weeks prior to the start of school.  She went in with the attitude she was going to show the coaches that she was committed and would make the best effort with every play.  It paid off. She was one of 4 (I think) freshman to make the JV team.  She played nearly every game as a starter and was starting server most times.  Along with volleyball came friends and eased the first day jitters in a new much larger school.  I would say her transition to high school was a success and she is thriving.

Ryan is a sophomore this year.  I look at my camera roll and find zero pictures of him.  First day of school picture?  Nope.  He had left with his friend before I had a chance to even say good-bye!  Driver's Ed picture?  Nope. Picture at one of the many Mariner's games he attended?  Nope.  There is no lack of love for this guy, but he's hard to pin down for a photograph.  School is going well. He will start the wrestling team next week (a first for him) and is working toward the mandatory driving hours required before getting his license.  Most of which he is doing with his Dad.  I found I am a horrible passenger with Ryan behind the wheel. 

The only first day of school picture I got & it's not what I'd intended, but it's the only photo approved by Kathryn.
When we learned she made JV!


Her team!

September 30th was my travel day to Halifax.  It was such a fun trip from start to finish.  Halifax is beautiful.  The conference was great. The next conference in 2 years is in Scotland.  I can't let myself think I'll be able to go again, but I will dream BIG about the notion.
Mt Rainier on my flight out of Seattle







Everyone said "try poutine!"  I did.  Now that I have, I never have to try it again. It was good, but did not leave the desire to try again


Halifax Citadel
Public Gardens
Foot ferry to a small town called Dartmouth
My view flying back in to Seattle


Kathryn enjoyed her first Homecoming dance. 

And one last one of Kathryn with her friend Sydney, doing what teens do 🤣



Lastly, we celebrated one year with these two 🐾
One of them, Hilda I believe - was given the opportunity to reach the blind strings for the window that can be seen in the photo.  Totally my fault for leaving bins close enough to the window so she could reach the strings.  She chewed through 3 of the 4 strings, rendering it useless.  Fortunately there is a local place that can repair vs replace.  Cost of $110 vs about $1000 to replace.  Hawkins has also been a little sneaky.  Taking half a stick of butter off the counter (found in Ryan's room) with many kitty nibbles.  Pulling items out of the sink if it smells of something appealing.  Jumping on the counter when there is food out (he's especially good at doing it when we're not looking).  We have pocket doors at both entrances to the kitchen.  If dinner is on the counter, the doors have to be closed.
Shenanigans aside, they are lovely and a part of our family 💙



Goal for December 2023: get pictures of Ryan 😊