"When God Gives you Moles...

...make mud puddles."

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

"...THAT Strong!"

Fiona had to participate in one of her least favorite activities today...getting a shot. Sorry folks, no amount of reasoning with this "brain" child gets her prepared or "bearable" for this event. Last year I took Drew with me to get the kid's flu shots and he basically had to sit on her to get the job done. (Nice, but true.) Whew...I tried to focus on the good magazine article in the dr's waiting room and NOT on the fact that I was going to have "crazy" kid in a moment when she realized SHE was getting a shot.

As always, Fiona had a great doctor visit. She laughed at all the right jokes, her hearing and eyesight were great, weighed in at 40 lbs (82%) and was 41.5 inches (83%) tall, but as a parent I knew the shot would be the "kicker" of the appointment. However, I didn't think it would be a literal comment.

As I braced Fiona's arms and legs within my lap, she began kicking and screaming with all her might, "NO...I don't want a shot." I grabbed her harder and the nurse tried explaining that she'd get a "Nice smelly sticker when it was all done." (Perfect. What we do for a sticker?)

And then BANG. It happened. Fiona literally kicked the nurse in her arm causing her to poke herself with the needle. Personally, I was a little in shock. Did my beautiful daughter just kick the nurse hard enough to inject herself? The nurse was a bit shocked too and looking at Fiona said, "I didn't think she was THAT strong!"

As a parent, I tried to have Fiona then apologize for kicking the nurse. (No CAN do.) Fiona was not going to apologize to the person that just stuck her with a needle. As she walked away with sticker in hand, Fiona wiped away tears explaining to me "...THAT lady made her cry." Ok...I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. I am positive Fiona is going to be the talk of the doctor/nurse lounge today and maybe even make it into a conversation at the nurse's family dinner table. "That lady"...I had to laugh because I'm sure that nurse was thinking, "THAT little girl kicked me".

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Hey you...?

Are you are reader of my blog? I often hear folks mention that they are a Little Blue Bungalow Blog reader, but who are you? I'd love to get some regular comments on my blog to know my writing and picture taking aren't being enjoyed by just my husband. (LOL)

I need to hear from you so I can continue bringing you quality chronicles of the Britten life. Take a minute next time a blog moves you to make a comment. It really makes my day. Really.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Images...Summer 2008

Secretly many of us wish Summer would last forever. What makes it so appealing...the weather, great activities, or sense of freedom from our normal routine?
As August begins to end, even I as a stay-at-home mommy can't help but feel the sense of new routines taking hold of September. Miss Fiona will be entering preschool September 2nd and "normal" activities (MOPS, story time, playdates, etc.) will resume after a summer break. I'm I ready for Summer to end...yes and no.
I'm excited for new opportunities for Fiona in preschool, but already miss her knowing she won't be here filling the house with her laughter, song, and questions. Keegan and I have lots of new routines to manage without our Miss Fiona this Fall. It will be an adjustment for everyone.
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

The Speed of Life at The Britten's

What more can I say...
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Abundance

I was literally overwhelmed yesterday as I began to pick the green beans. Truly an abundance! I filled my black bowl overfilling for a total of three times and this was only my second harvest. Yikes!

As I picked green beans, I couldn't help but think about how God's blessings are like my green beans. I'm sure you're thinking...odd, but I'll share anyway. Sometimes in my busy summer days, I ignore the green beans knowing I need to harvest, but they are still there just like God's blessings. The green beans are waiting to be picked just like God waiting for us to reap the benefits of a life full in him.

Or other times, I think there is no other possible way that I could find any more beans on the plants and then I bend down or lift other leaf to find seven more green beans staring me in the face. Sometimes I think we've all wondered where God's blessings could be, but if we realign our thinking or trust his direction underneath this change is a multitude of blessings.

Though I'm enjoying a great harvest now, there was much preparation in reaping this harvest...planting, slug killing (true, very true.), weeding, watering, etc. Sometimes when we share God's blessing with others there is more inviting an investing then we could ever image, but when that person is connected to God's blessings and love it is a sweet harvest. It is worth all the efforts of cultivating that person's faith for God's blessings to shine through their lives.

I'm thankful for the green beans in my life. God's blessings are amazing just like this harvest of green beans that I'm in the process of preparing for my family to eat in the months to come. God's blessings = Green Beans

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Muffin Tin Monday!

I was really excited to try our first "Muffin Tin Monday" today at lunch. I've been reading about this activity on several blogs especially my friend Merranda's blog, The Van Klan, and wanted to have the kid's experience an unique lunch.

The concept is really simple...fill a variety of foods in each one of the muffin tin spots, serve and enjoy. This is really a great way to introduce new foods or a variety textures and/or colors to even some of your pickiest eater. Oddly enough, I have great eaters but I wanted to introduce a fun tradition to our Monday routine. For our first "muffin tin Monday" I filled our spots with: string cheese, cherry jell-o, diced peaches, apples slices, carrots, chicken nuggets, blue corn tortillas, pita bread, humus, a straw and 2% milk.

The results were a mixed review. Fiona who is under the weather looked at the muffin tins and said, "Why did you do that Mom?". She then pushed it aside and asked to go to bed and preceded to sleep for 2 1/2 hours. I guess she was really not feeling well. (Side note...Fiona just came up to the computer screen looked at the Muffin Tin Monday pictures and said, "Hey I didn't get to eat my lunch." I pulled it out and she announced, "Yum, yummy food. Thanks for saving my lunch.) Ok. I guess it was a hit with everyone. Keegan and Alexis (whom I baby-sit part-time) looked at the array of food with excitement. Alexis told me several times that she liked the lunch today and thought it was, "Cool."

Personally, I thought it was "cool" too. I actually looked forward to putting lunch together. Thanks to all of the blogging mommies out there that continue to give me great ideas by blogging their day-to-day and creative activities.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

'Tis the Season'

Yes folks...it is already that time of year when I become a temporary "singing widow". Some of you may be wondering...a what!...yes, a "singing widow". For the past two years Drew has sung with a professional caroling group called the Dicken's Carolers. As many of you know, he is an amazing tenor and this is his chance to sing tunes, socialize, and gain extra dinero for our home. However, with these assets means a short fall in family time during some of the busiest time of the year...the holiday season

What does that mean for me? You guessed it, more "quality" time with the kids! Yeah...I can hardly contain myself. (Just kidding...real plus and minus here at times.) Beginning tonight, he will practice about 4-5 hours every Sunday night until Thanksgiving. From Thanksgiving until Christmas, he will basically just sleep here at the little blue bungalow as he'll have anywhere to 4-5 gigs a day on top of his regular job spreading the Christmas joy through song.

I really am glad that he has this amazing opportunity to share his talent and earn extra money while enjoying a bit of time away from the family. It is just getting into the mindset of a "singing widow" that is hard to take especially on one of the hottest days of the year. As he jumped in the car, he was already talking about the Christmas songs they'd work on tonight. Hum. Christmas. As I waved good-bye and stepped back into the 85 degree house, I couldn't help but wonder how my evening with the kids would transpire. Well...I better get use to another season of being a "singing widow", crack open another diet coke, and enjoy the extra time with the kids. Christmas will be here soon enough. I hope.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today marks another year for me, I'm officially thirty-three. As I woke this morning I was pleasantly surprised to see my husband laying on the couch with Fiona without work attire. I wondered what was wrong. "Hey, aren't you leaving for work?" I asked. To my delight, he replied, "No, I took the day off to spend with you! Happy Birthday!"

What a great birthday present! The coolest part is that he totally tricked me into believing it was just another work day. His alarm went off at 4:45 AM as usual so he can work out at the YMCA for an hour then head back home for his shower around 6:00AM. I heard him get up with the alarm at 4:45 AM and take a shower at his normal 6:00 AM, but he had been home the entire time...washing dishes from the cakes he made last night, wrapping presents, and picking up his clothes. What a sweet heart! When I stumbled out of bed at 6:40 AM I was planning on taking Fiona from him so he could get out the door for work. What a surprise! Thank you Drew for making me feel so special.

I enjoyed breakfast with the family and then headed out to the YMCA to catch the 8 AM water aerobics class without kids. What a treat! I worked out in bliss and then showered at the Y knowing everyone was home working on frosting my birthday cakes for tonight's celebration with some Monroe friends. So cute to watch Drew in the kitchen with the kids working on the project. My best gift every year is not to cook the entire day and pick up the kitchen. This is truly a dream come true for a stay-at-home mommy. Trust me, I don't have a problem staying away. I'm smiling just thinking about it.

Above is the pictures of my new cross trainer shoes that I bought with my birthday money from grandparents and parents. Thank you for these great shoes. I actually wore out my other shoes. I never knew you could do that...but this is also coming from the girl who didn't work out in 14 years. I've officially worked out for 11 weeks now at least 5 days a week. I've lost 22 lbs and tons of inches and gained back some confidence. I never thought I'd want or need new shoes for my birthday, but I guess I'm working on the new me. (This is also coming from the girl who asked for a pitch fork for her 14th birthday...don't ask.) I actually LOVE working out. (Did I just type that!)

Well...I better get back to the family for more birthday celebration. We are going to work in the garden...my favorite.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

The Real Reason

The real reason beaches are slowly disappearing is show in exhibit A.
(And just remember...I hate messes...you can stop laughing now.)
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Another Northwest Harvest

Some daily finds in my garden...carrots, green beans, blueberries, onions, and broccoli. We're having vegetable soup tonight! It is already simmering on the stove as we head out to the YMCA for my daily work out...a delicious surprise when we return.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Fiona's Birthday...continued

I can't resist...more pictures of the fun day.
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

'Down on the Farm'

Our family celebrated with family and friends 'down on the farm' last Sunday in honor of Fiona's 4th Birthday. That's right folks...we spent Fiona's 4th birthday on a farm outside of Woodinville, WA (about 30 minutes away). It was a fabulous time and made for some great memories for the kids and parents involved. Honestly, it was such a low-key birthday packed with lots of great activities for 4-5 year olds that I couldn't stop pinching myself that it was going so well. We had an educational coordinator teach the kids about bumble bees, the kids made bumble bee crafts to add to their raspberry baskets, meet and fed the farm goats and chickens, took a hay rack ride complete with lots of singing of all the great favorites...Bingo, Old McDonald, etc., ate cup cakes, and then picked raspberries. It was a dream come true for these little farmers. The kids were entertained and had a ball exploring the farm. It is surely a memory many of the kids won't forget...especially our little four year old Fiona.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Jetty Island Pictures Take 2

More highlights from our Jetty Island adventure...
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean