We've been travelin'.

Hadley and I took a trip to meet her newest bestie...all the way in Utah.

And the flu bug caught a ride home with us.

We'll be blogging soon.

School day.

So I signed Hadley up for a toddler group that the Woodinville Recreation center puts on (you have no idea how huge this is for me...well some of you probably do). It's every Tuesday morning, with a teacher, named Ms. Betsey, who leads the 'students' in story time, music, arts-n-crafts, and playtime. It's hilarious! And it's only $27 for 8 weeks...I call it the poor man's Gymboree.

She gets so excited for her 'tool' (as she calls it).

Kids and backpacks, makes me smile.

We gather up all our most sacred belongings and head out the door.

This is my absolute favorite part of the class. They all hang on to this little leash and walk to 'gym'. Hadley is all business when she holds onto her colored circle. I seriously die watching this.

And her second favorite part, circling up, singing the 'good bye' song and ending the morning with a sticker.

I mean seriously...

...it's no wonder these two own my entire heart.

Rappers delight.

" Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?"

Dinner date.

We watched the kiddos while Val ran to the shortest meeting ever the other night. It was a blast and made dinner a hoot. Hadley would copy EVERYTHING Lauren did and ate the most dinner I've seen her it in all her 22 months. Good example Lauren! Benny got a little scared with all the yelling (happy yelling) and tom foolery...isn't that the sweetest little cry face. And Ryan must have been spying on Hads and I this last week because he learned the 'peace' sign too. The kids were perfect for us and total wrecks when their mom came to get them. Why are kids like this?

Such a hypocrite.

Probably not much of a surprise to find out I'm a bit of a hypocrite. And here's why...the other day I was talking to gal pal Joc Brown, photographer extraordinaire, and I was complaining about how good her pics were and how awful mine are. She kept trying to keep my feelings in mind and was oh so very nice while lying to me and saying my pics weren't that bad. Then I said 'well at least my pictures aren't always of me taking them from above my child or with a big flash in her face. I hate that. So I got that going for me.' Then I looked through my camera at my most recent pictures and here's what I found...

Me standing above Hads looking down at her.

A big bright flash in her face.

When will I ever learn to keep my big ole' mouth shut.

Peace out.

So I'm trying to teach her to throw up the peace sign...I know, I know, maybe teaching her colors or numbers would be more beneficial, but I'd rather her be cool than smart. Anyhow, it's not working, it just looks like she's flashing the loser sign...which is kind of funny too. And of course a few spins for good luck.

Obsessed.

She is crazy obsessed with her 'wa-wa' or in layman's terms...chapstick. She walks around the house all day long ask for wa-wa and if she only has one she wants two, and so on, and so on. I'm waiting for her to eventually choke on one of those little caps or go to the hospital for chapstick toxicity (because more is swallowed than actually applied). Either way, it's going to be lose-lose situation for her. Wish her luck.

Stay put.

Her new trick is to run right at me everytime I try to take a picture. And thus, picture taking has become very difficult...but a lot more fun.

5 years...say what?!

Seems insane that Ryan and I have been married for five years. Seems even more insane that we've been together for 8 years. And crazy insane that I've been in love with him for 12 years. I remember it like it was yesterday...

We were both 18 years old (actually you were 17...yikes), had just graduated from high school and both on our way to Mexico with 8 (or so) of our closest friends (what were our parents thinking sending 18 year old kids to Mexico with no adult supervision!). One night, as fate would have it, you tapped me on the shoulder in the pool, and struck up a conversation...I have no idea what we talked about, but we talked for what seemed like hours. The next morning I saw Heather (formerly) Harstein and asked her about you. She got the biggest smile on her face, and said, "Oh My God, Meg...you will love Ryan Prentice. Like I can seriously see you guys being together forever." And boy was she right...it does seem like I have loved you forever.

I loved you when we hung out everyday that summer and Jamie and I were sure you were using 'us' for my pool. I loved you when you invited me over to your folks house and I was so nervous I spilled the salad. I loved you when we just 'cold-turkey' stopped talking because we both knew we were going to separate colleges, and had some wild oats to sow (and sow you did!). I loved you when I had my girlfriend, Jenn, prank call your mom to get your college address, only to have your mom say, 'oh, Ryan's right here', and us to hang up. I loved you when you would invite us to CWU and then ask us when we were leaving the next day. I loved you when I would vouch to never talk to you again on the drive back to Pullman. I loved you when you came to WSU and stayed with Joc and I only to ditch us for your friends (and I'm pretty sure other girls). I loved you when I would always ask 'what's up with us' and you would quickly change the subject. I loved you when we'd see eachother on our breaks and hang out everyday. I loved you when you gave me butterflies everytime I would see a message from you in my 'in box'. I loved you when you invited me to your graduation party and I put on like 20 different outfits so I would look 'so hot' and about 30 minutes into the shindig I was introduced to your girlfriend (could you have not told me about her in one of our 50,000 emails). I loved you when you ditched her that night and hung out with Sarah and I. I loved you when we were 'just friends' for a very long time (boy did that ever drive your sister crazy). I loved you when we were in 'luv' and would giggle on the phone for hours. I loved you when you were all sweaty and asked me to marry you. I loved you when I pulled out a typed, 10pt font, single spaced, sheet of notebook paper to read you my vows, and you pulled out two yellow sticky notes. I loved you when I said 'I do'. And more than anything I love that you were worth the chase.

Side note: I have no idea where the CD's are of our wedding pictures...so please forgive this shotty little montage. And if any of you stole our CD's please return them, no questions asked. Where the hell are they?!

Hadley free.

Since this blog is always about that kid, thought I'd share a fun little story about our happiest New Year. So, New Years Eve Ryan brought Hadley up to my folks at the cabin, while I was at work, so we could have a baby-free night. All was well, Hads was stoked to boss my parents around for the night and we were stoked to get our drink on without the inevitable two year old who seems to always sleep late when we don't want her to (lately it's been 8:30, doesn't she know I've got things to do) and gets up early when we feel as if we could die (those rare, rare nights we hit the sack after 2am...and she's chirping for juice at 6am). So thought we'd avoid all that, and send her away. And boy did it work in our favor. New Years Day we leisurely woke up at 9:30am after a night of shenanigans, and couldn't wait to pick up our babe. Thought we'd check the pass report before we headed over...and low and behold the pass was CLOSED. WHAT?!?! It was closed indefinitely for avalanche danger. And not only Snoqualmie Pass was closed, Steven's and Blewett Pass were closed too. This has only happened like one other time and it was a lot of years ago, so what were the chances. At first my heart was broken, but then my brain quickly figured out what this meant...FREEDOM. The freedom to not rush home for a nap in the middle of the day, the freedom to run ten thousand different errands if need be, the freedom to not watch my mouth (I swear a lot), the freedom to relax, the freedom to not answer 'what's that' and 'where's ____?' every five minutes, the freedom to not have to give someone time-outs for throwing their sippy cup (or anything for that matter) for the millionth time, the freedom to pee in privacy, the freedom to SHOP without rushing, getting sweaty, and stuffing high calorie, loaded with sugar, food in a toddlers face so I can just go to one more store, the freedom to really just do whatever the hell we wanted. And boy did we live it up! We went to breakfast with nearest, dearest friends, went to Alderwood Mall, Bellevue Square, and University Village, went to lunch, went to dinner, and capped the night off with a movie. But don't worry we fained utter remorse and sadness to my poor folks who were snowed in and without power...and playing hours and hours of 'house', 'hide and seek', and 'chase' with our darling bastard (only saying that because she was parent less, not because I think she is one) child.
Happy New Year to Us!

Songs of '08.

Okay kids, I have a fun little game for you all. A friend of mine at work introduced me to this idea, as she has been doing it for years. She makes a CD every December of songs that she loved/meant something to her/blah, blah in that particular year. And I think it's a GRAND idea. I am a sucker for mixed CD's and love when I throw an old one in the CD player and think 'why the hell would I have ever liked that song' (usually it's some gansta rap). I'm also someone who remembers all the feels, smells, and what-nots that old songs bring with them. For example, I will never again be able to listen to Ben Harper: 'Another Lonely Day' without thinking of Joc and a thousand road trips to Ellensburg from WSU in her teeny tiny Suzuki, belting it out at the top of our lungs and talking about our broken hearts. Picking up what I'm putting down? Now get to it and share with me your 2008 mixed tape (because really...who's doesn't love a mixed tape?).

Here are the rules:

-The songs do not have to be released in the particular year that you are making the CD...rather they are songs that have been discovered or rediscovered and have been particular meaningful or enjoyable or worth listening to that year for some reason.

-no repeats from year to year (this prevents the CD from being an all-time favorites album).

-you can include as many songs by one artist as you want.

-songs are limited to those that fit on a standard 80 minute CD.

MEG'S 2008 MIXED TAPE

(in no particular order)

1. Shut and let me go-The Ting Tings

2. Angel-Jack Johnson

3. New Soul-Yael Naim

4. I kissed a girl-Katy Perry

5. Forever-Chris Brown

6. Love Song-Sara Bareilles

7. White Moth-Xavier Rudd

8. You are the best thing-Ray LaMontagne

9. Be OK-Ingrid Michaelson

10. Shattered (turn the car around)-O.A.R

11. Disturbia-Rhianna

12. Shake it-Metro Station

13. Mercy-Duffy

14. Feels Good Inc.-Gorillaz

15. What's been going on-Amos Lee

16. Womanizer-Britney Spears

17. American Boy-Estelle featuring Kanye West

18. Anyone else but you-Moldy Peaches

*Amos is at the top for a little inspiration...and if he can't inspire you...well then, you're weird.

A pick and a peck.

At least she looks like a jock.

Although she cries when she falls, hates skiing, can't kick a ball or jump to save her life, and runs like a duck...she certainly looks like a little athlete, don't you think? I'll hold my breath.

New year, old news.

Bring it 2009, we're ready for ya!

Some handsome boys.

Christmas day...HOORAY!

You have no idea the pure, insane, joy and excitement that was running through me as I woke up to a true winter wonderland. Bananas I tell you.

Hadley stoked about her new train set.

Her right-hand man helping her open her gifts.

And we couldn't leave out Nana, she's pretty savvy at the present thing too.

She was a maniac woman.

The Christmas Crew. I am such a stickler for traditions and I love that Ryan's fam comes to our house every Christmas morning.

Maniac #2.

All her new loot.

Then off to Gigi's (Grandma Shirley's) where she received the cutest pair of slippers ever. I'm a such a sucker for kids in big ridiculous slippers and rainboots.

And playing with her babies. Look at those way tired, 'i've had too much Christmas' eyes. Rest up kiddo, because we're heading to the cabin to start up allover again tomorrow. That's right, Two Christmas'...I've died and gone to heaven.

What I loved about Christmas at the cabin...

...the pure joy of my mom watching these two girls be all about christmas.

...the Koks came by too and this made Hadley run around like a wild woman and do a couple spins.

...she totally gets that stockings are the best part and wanted everything 'on' and 'out' immediately.

...she couldn't have been more excited for her new kitchen from Z & B, and got right to work.

...she rocked the snow gear.

...there was a ridiculous amount of snow, maybe even more than Spokane;).

...my mom risked her life so we could have fun. Here she is a bazillion feet in the air placing targets on the trees so our marshmallow shooters would have something to hit.

...Uncle Pat came over dressed like Santa.

...she endlessly entertains, cooks, cleans up, and never complains.

...we played beer pong.

...and got a little tipsy.

...she's the happiest little girl.

...Madeline loved to ski, just like I knew she would.

...and Hadley hated it, just like I knew she would.

...they are pure fun.

...sled races.

...snowshoeing everyday.

...Hadley trusting her Dada even after he almost killed her sledding last year.

...Lauren hated the snow as much as Hadley.

...views like this.

...his endless patience to 'play house' ALL week long.

It really is a magical place to be at Christmas time and is no wonder why I loved every single moment. Until next year...