Spending another day in the bathroom trying to potty train my 2 year old. What has my life become?! (I wouldn't trade it for anything though!)

Ate waaaaaay too much! Now I'm going to be dragging until it's time to clock out. There's that excitement again!

Getting my dinner packed, clothes changed and kids loaded in the car so I can go to work tonight. Can't contain all of my excitement!

Testing text to blog and facebook.

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I have officially started potty training Sydney! It's going to be a long, messy week!

K.C. turns 40

Oh what a week! I was very lazy in taking pictures it seems.

K.C. was surprised by most of our guests that showed up. Quinn spilled the beans Friday that Grandma was coming. K.C. figured if she came then Grandma Martens would probably come too. But he was very surprised to see Aunt Dana with them! They rolled in Saturday evening and were beat! LeEtta wasn't feeling well so laid down for a little bit. We didn't see her for the rest of the night - poor thing!

Sunday brought more surprise guests. Our step niece, Malerie, came with her daughter Chanal and boyfriend Luis. I had to go to work so they all just hung out for the day and rested from their long drives.

Monday we were off to Snoqualmie Falls. Aunt Dana is so afraid of heights so I was happy that she got sort of close to the railing for a picture. Luis was taking video so didn't get in the picture.

After a stop for lunch we headed to Lake Wilderness Park so the kids could play. I had to go to work that night and Grandma Martens had a hair appointment so we cut the day short. Luis cooked dinner for everyone and even made me my own vegetarian dish!

Tuesday started off bad. K.C. and I took Caesar in to be put down first thing. He couldn't get himself up anymore and was sounding as though he was in pain. It was a very tough morning for us. We had the girls tell him goodbye and said that he was going up to heaven to play ball with the grandpa's and Grandma Genthe that were up there (because they were bored). Quinn took it pretty hard and still asks about him. Very tough. I snapped this picture before we took him in.

Caesar Valentine
08/30/97 ~ 06/09/09

After we got ourselves composed, we headed downtown to ride the ducks! I highly recommend it! SO much fun and very informative! Here's the whole gang:

Sydney threw a little fit on the ride at one point (while we were in the water) so the Captain gave her one of his hats to wear. I just love how this picture turned out:

Quinn couldn't let the opportunity to wear a hat pass her by so the captain gave her a hat to wear too. She had everyone laughing with her laugh. Silly kid!

After the ducks we hopped on the monorail and walked down to the market and piers. That's always fun for us and we always see new things each time we go there. We called it a day after that and headed home for some yummy leftovers!

Wednesday was K.C.'s actual birthday so we headed downtown again to see the Space Needle. That's something I never want to do but am always glad after I've done it. Aunt Dana did great up there and even went out on the deck! She took this picture of us:

Next stop was the Pacific Science Center. We only got to a couple of the exhibits so we'll definitely have to go back one of these days. Quinn still talks about the dinosaurs but the butterflies were my favorite.

K.C. wanted to eat at Salty's for dinner so that is where the Schwartz's (Joel, Doris, Peyton and Conner) surprised him. Joel is probably his oldest friend and, pre-kids, we did everything with them. So, it was great that they were able to come out and bring their kids and surprise him on his birthday.

He even got a free piece of cake for dessert!

The kids hit it off! Peyton and Quinn were inseparable, when Conner didn't have the girls running after him that is!

We were in Des Moines and it is just beautiful there! That was my first time in that area and I definitely want to go back and explore some more!

Thursday was the day the family all had to leave so we got in our last visits with them. We took the afternoon off and rested up and then met up with the Schwartz's at the Point Defiance Zoo Friday morning. Again, this was mine and Sydney's first trip there. K.C. and Quinn went last year when Syd and I were in Cheyenne for Kayli's graduation. Beautiful! These are my favorite animal shots:

This guy was just fun to watch swim upside down until he provided a little too much entertainment by getting really close to the glass and pooping in front of all of us! Gross!

This monkey wasn't going to wake up for nothing! Too cute.

Looks like he's sticking his tongue out at me!

This fish has buck teeth! Kind of cool and creepy all at the same time!

I love this picture because Syd was throwing a fit because K.C. took her stick to try to get a bird on it for her. I snapped the picture right as she turned around and realized there was a bird on her stick.

After the zoo we headed back downtown to do the Tillicum Village cruise. This was our first time on a boat out here and it did not disappoint! The ride was great, the food was great, the show was pretty good (it held the girls' attention so that's always a thumbs up in my book!) and the ride back was awesome.

Here's a picture of the group (minus me) before we boarded. They took a group photo but forgot to put them out for us so we didn't get one.

Here's one of K.C. and the girls on Blake Island (where Tillicum Village is) in front of a totum pole.

I think this is up there with one of my all time favorite pictures of the week! The sunset was gorgeous and, believe me when I say this, the picture does not do it justice! Just awesome!

Saturday was the finale to the big birthday week of fun and surprises. I did an open house and it turned out to be a bust! Our friends Donevan, Cindy, Jack and Ben came.

Joel, Doris, Peyton and Conner came (of course). Our friends John, Lori, Alex and Melia stopped by real quick on their way to dinner but I wasn't thinking and didn't get a picture of them.

I was a little disappointed that we didn't have more friends and co-workers stop by but, a lot of people were out of town and one was even at a funeral. K.C. said that everyone he wanted to see was there and he was happy with the turn out so I'm glad about that. But man do we have a lot of fruit, veggies and cupcakes to eat!

Here's a last shot of K.C. and Joel with their kids. (Just for the record, Quinn dressed herself!)

Boy how times have changed!

Sydney rounded out the week by finger painting with her poop this afternoon. Blinds, carpets, walls, herself. I thought she was sleeping. ~sigh~

Happy 40th Birthday K.C.! Hope you had as much fun as I did! Love you!