San Francisco and Alcatraz (in reverse order)

An outfitted cell at Alcatraz

The 3 rows of cells in Block D

Golden Gate bridge from the island

San Fran from the island

Kat walked for miles in an dout of the cells and up and down the rows.

This was the sensory deprivation cell.

Heidi & Kat in a cell.

Kat wants decent food!

Alcatraz Island from the boat

San Fran from the boat

Kat on the swings

Kat on the tour bus

The Columbias Center (I think that's what it is)

Kat all dressed up and ready to roll

Dan and Kat- I think it may be windy

The sealions on the wharf

The six sisters up near the Haight

Kat observes history, Jill's visit, promotion

We had to wake Kat up to watch history being made on Tuesday AM.

An early version of Air Force One. l0cated at the Museum of Flight. They also have a Concorde and are hoping to get a space shuttle.

Kat and Ben. She's probably feeding her some of her breakfast.

This is what Dan's co-workers taught her tonite at Dan's promotion celebration. I guess that leaves John to teach her to give the finger.

Dan's co-workers at dinner. NOW I know why the waitress felt the need to take a second photo (this is the first).

Kat and the twins at the Science Center toddler play area

at the water works

As you might imagine, they were quite wet, despite the oilcloth bibs.

Kat at the giant chair/table.

Mer, Jill & Kat at our house.

The boys. Could they be cuter?

The boys at the flooded dogpark.

New Year's

For those of you who have been waiting for new pics with bated breath, sorry. I've been on a book bender the last few weeks. Mostly Jonathan Kellerman with some Agatha Christies and Elizabeth Georges thrown in. Trying to forget it's winter in Seattle?

For New Year's we went to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We rented a house that didn't have internet access, but did have a hot tub and allowed the boys (without additional cost). We had a lot of fun and it was very relaxing. We even had a brilliant (and cold) sunny day, which we never expected. And on Saturday we got to watch UB play on ESPN (and unfortunately lose) in their first-ever bowl game, which was fun, but could have ended better.

This is the American Camp- one of 2 National Parks on the island- the other being the English Camp- both a result of the last US/Canada border conflict- The Pig War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pig_War.

Ben doesn't even look guilty- he waited till we were distracted by a loose rottweiler with huge chains around his neck and then grabbed Kat's cheese, wrapper and all, right out of her hand. Or should I say wrestled, cause Dan said she didn't let go willingly. This resulted in much crying. Luckily we had 2 packets of saltines on board and thus bought some time.....

Out of order.... I finally put Kat's train table together (she doesn't actually have a train), without directions, as they have disappeared. She promptly climbed in the trundle drawer. And then on top of the table.

Ben and Boo at Friday Harbor's harbor. We went for a stroll while waiting for the ferry. Ben does the bulk of the baby cleanup, whether necessary or not, but Boo is looking pretty porky these days. Not sure which angle is best to get his picture from.

Now at the English Camp- this is a giant big leaf maple tree. I love how blogger skewed the order of the pics for me.

Still the English Camp

Winter in Seattle..and Kat's First Steps

Kat finally took her first steps today!! She's taken to screaming while standing on her own, she's so excited. But a few times today, we got her to walk from one of us to the other. She did great and will probably be running tomorrow..... Good thing, her physical therapy appointment of last week was cancelled when the school district was closed (though we never had snow that day). Our schools have now had 4 snow days, so far. Lucky kids who will have lots to make up for.

Kat, giving Boo the empty pop bottle. It's his (self-proclaimed) job to remove the lids from all bottles. So she hands them to him. And then tries to help him, which forces him to move all over the room to try to get away from her and her "assistance".

This is what winter should look like. Of course there are thousands of people stuck at the airport (and likely those all over the country, as winter has announced its presence with authority), the bus station, the train station. SO GLAD to not be traveling this year. Staying home and warm sounds so much more fun than sleeping in airports, etc.

Dan, Kat, Bob and the sled team.

Heidi and the team. I actually have walked both dogs in the snow, with the stroller (and Kat) by myself. It is way less fun than it appears.

Kat enjoyed the outing, she was having a great time--at least until some unnamed four-legged critter took her rice cake out of her barely-functional mittened hands. Then there was crying. That shortened the walk.

Dan had Kat and I had the boys. Though they did assist with the stroller on the uphill segments.

Ahhhh winter........ We're loving the 4WD vehicles- this dude might have liked one, too.

Our house in snow. No branches down, so far.

The boys at the dogpark in fresh snow- they have waited THREE YEARS for winter to arrive! They were so excited to be romping in the snow at long last.

Love Boo's ears.


The river at the dogpark, in snow.

This is what happens when roads/cities are shut down for a few days.....I was driving down a closed road (wasn't closed where I came in) and I encountered these two characters running down the road like they owned the place.