Thursday, July 31, 2008

Mommy's Helper


My Fiona is turning four this weekend! She has been so excited all week as I think through the party, etc. Yesterday morning she rushed out of her bedroom decked out in her chef outfit and exclaimed, "Mom...I want to help you make the cupcakes for my party!" Now how in the world can I resist a smile like that. (Tricky...I know.) She definitely will help me make the cupcakes for her party this weekend.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Camping Picture Highlights

Camping in the Northwest...pictures worth a thousand words...memories worth more!
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Blue Berry Pickin'

12 lbs and 6 ozs of pure heaven picked in one hour for a whooping $1.25/lb.
Need I say more.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean



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Irish Picnic Sack Race

Who can resist a bunch of Irish lads in a sack race? In true Britten style, we PACKED it in this weekend. We enjoyed Trail Fest, a birthday party in which Drew and I performed as Willy Wonka and Oompa Loompa, camping in the back yard, church service, a picnic put on by the Seattle Irish Heritage society, and to top it off an outdoor concert of the Chieftans. WOW! (I'm tired just typing it all.)

I guess I know why Fiona, Keegan and I took a nap Monday afternoon. More pictures to come...

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

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Friday, July 18, 2008

Fiona "ism's" and Comments

















Fiona: "Mom, can I have some more bikini bread?" (suppose to be "zucchini")



Fiona: "Yeah! Hot rain. I'm so excited!" (aka: a hot shower...interesting explanation for a Seattle girl!)



Fiona: "Wow mom! You look fancy." (I was wearing a sports bra to go workout at the YMCA...I never knew I looked "fancy" when I worked out.)


Fiona: "Dad will be home soon Keegan. He is at work so he can make lots of money 'cause the blue house costs lots of money." (They understand at such an early age.)


Fiona: "...remember that day?" (A comment she always says after she explains an activity the family may have enjoyed awhile back.)


Fiona: "Can I watch a show?" (Never asks for TV...I guess she is so turned of by our two fuzzy channels as well.)

Fiona: "When I grow up...I'm going to play soccer and have a big butt." (My personal favorite.)

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Proof

Blogging community,

So...you see the pictures of my husband, Drew, building, constructing, fixing windows, etc. and you may think where is she...what is Katie Jean doing? (Not to be confused with 'Where is Waldo?') Well, I am the official "behind the scenes girl" of all Britten project unless it involves anything green (plants). I am sorta like the "Tool Time Girl", but more of the the unglamorous, unnoticed, detail work girl of work projects. (OK...you can laugh now.)

Typical jobs including: cleaning job sites, picking up tools dropped, painting/staining, mindless labor jobs (aka moving bricks), getting food and or drinks for work party and/or watching kids so Drew can do the major work.


So here I am...in all my glory with my good friend, Fiona. My proof. Maybe someday Fiona will be a "behind the scenes girl" too. But for now she has her heart set on being a doctor on Mondays and a garbage collector the rest of the week. Gee, I just wanted to be a race car driver at her age.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Lessons from Kids

Kids are smart. They don't always work in the way we expect or want them to, but they still for the most part remain efficient. (Whether we like their way or not!) Take exhibit A...pictures of the kids picking raspberries.

Sunday we were out working in the yard on our deck (yeah...the steps are in!) and the kids acted hungry, but instead of asking for a snack they headed over to the raspberry bush. Of course, I started to yell at Fiona when I looked over to see her laying down on the job. (What mom wouldn't? You don't want their clothes to get dirty. Right?) Anyway as I shuffled over to the bush I realized she was being efficient in her own way. Avoiding getting poked by the bush and actually being able to see the berries, she was picking them to her heart content. Brilliant! Now, why didn't I think of that. Thanks to Fiona the entire family has a new skill in picking raspberries.

I thank God for my kids who teach me new things everyday. It doesn't always look pretty or make sense immediately, but sometime it just works to look at a task through the eyes of a child. And wonders of wonders...I was sitting in my lawn chair the next day picking berries. It was beautiful! I could see the best berries, my legs were resting, and my arms weren't getting ripped up from the bush. Sometimes it pays to "lay down" on the job.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Harvest Time




Harvest time here at the Britten house. Romaine lettuce, sweet peas, raspberries, cilantro, and strawberries have been coming in from the back yard garden to our dinner plate quite heavily the past several weeks. Yeah for summer foods. Sometimes that night's dinner is picked 10 minutes before being served! Incredible...and, of course, all of my harvest is done with my great helpers, Drew, Fiona and Keegan. (Actually...1/3 of what we pick seems to disappear before it hits the table. Hum? )


I love being able to support my family's food from our back yard, but most of all I love gardening. Nothing relaxes me more than digging in the dirt, dead heading flowers, straightening a flower bed. It is pure therapy. I hope you are enjoying some of your own harvests or taking advantage of your local farmer's markets in your own area. Nothing beats fresh garden fruits and vegetables.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

4th of July Yankee Doodle Dash

Our 4th of July started with a bang (literally) as our family hit the streets of Everett, WA running after the gun sounded to begin the Yankee Doodle Dash. After working out for over a month now, I decided it was time to stretch myself and enter our family in a race...not a 10K, 5K, but a one mile family fun run. We had a great time...kids in a borrowed double stroller...Drew and Katie Jean running side by side and plenty of cheering folks along the side of the streets. The last two blocks we let Fiona out of the stroller to run. It was amazing...she picked up a huge stride...big smile...and in the words of Forest Gump, "I was running". Drew and I could hardly keep up. Fiona ran to the finish screaming "I won, I won the game." It was a classic and a reminder of why I'm getting in shape again. I don't want to miss a moment of my kids precious lives. Moments like this.

After fourteen years of absence of any regular fitness routine, it was a milestone for my general fitness and good to know that I wasn't huffing and puffing the entire way. I was pleased with my efforts even though I wasn't able to run constantly the entire time, I reminded myself I have to start somewhere. We all do sometimes the start is just a bit harder. My main goal for entering the healthy realm again has been for my kids as well as my self esteem. Our kids are active and they are gifted athletically. Ten years from now, I refuse to be the mom on the sidelines severely overweight, sipping a Slurpee with an expanding bottom. Sadly enough, I think I was heading that way, but I know I've turned the corner. Twelve pounds gone, several inches lost, and clothes starting to fit better...I know I'm on the right track.

Working out is hard, but it is also fun. I'm in control of my own body and it is a lot more fun then the enjoyment I get from a good piece of cake and sitting on the sidelines watching my family. Don't get me wrong...we are an active family, but I was never doing constant personal aerobic workouts for my heart health and toning my muscles under my three rolls of fat...make that two rolls of fat now. :) I'm thankful for my workout buddies...Rachel, Crystal, and Angie...thanks for the talks and keeping me coming to the YMCA. I've got a long ways to go, but at least I'm getting there and I have the T-shirt to prove it. I ran in the Yankee Doodle Dash 2008 and that is more than I can say for the past fourteen years.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

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Like Father Like Son

Check out the look on the faces of the two men in my life. Unbelievable. Why men get excited about power tools...I'll never know.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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Friday, July 4, 2008

When Little Kids Pray


I couldn't resist snapping this picture of our kids with some of their best friends (Drew, Caden and Danner) at a dinner party last weekend. As they gathered at their own little table they stopped to bless the food. It was a precious moment. A reminder to us, the parents, that they truly learn from example and each skill we teach them is something they will carry with them for a life-time. May God continue to bless each one of these special children.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Priceless
















Pool...$7
Box of 10 Orange Push-Up Pops...$2.99
Making a fun summer memory....Priceless

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
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