Flanagan Clan

There are several things that I’m really excited about.

#1) Andrew comes home from Palm Springs tonight!!!

#2) Sammy is starting to roll around… it’s really cute!

#3) I actually do have a picture from the St. Patrick’s Day Party! I thought we hadn’t taken any, but I guess I was wrong!!!

#4) I had a really fun week meeting Josh and spending time with Rachel. I took them to the airport today and it was sad to see them go, but it’s exciting to know that Rachel will be back for the summer, and we might be able to talk Josh into another visit this summer as well!!!

#5) Easter is coming up soon. Easter is my second favorite holiday, and I’m going to host Easter dinner at my house this year. I have cute Easter outfits lined up for the boys, and I’m looking forward to having Patrick help me dye eggs. I hope the weather cooperates, because I want Patrick to have a little egg hunt outside… last year he didn’t quite get it, but he’s a lot smarter now, and I think he’s ready!!!

#6) I have the most beautiful tulips and daffodils in my front yard, and they make me happy!

#7) Josh bought me the coolest puzzle as a hostess gift. It’s 2,000 pieces and it’s a picture of tulip fields. It looks pretty difficult, but I love puzzles with tons of colors. I’ll probably start it the next time Andrew is on business, when I can take over the entire table… because I’m pretty sure I’ll need to use the entire table PLUS both table leaves in order to fit this puzzle!!!

#8) Sammy has outgrown his infant carseat, so I’m going to put him in Patrick’s convertible carseat and give Patrick the regular carseat we keep for the other car. It’s going to be so nice to not have to carry Sammy around in that carseat anymore… it’s HEAVY!!! Today I’m pulling the base out of the car, taking the cover off the carseat, throwing it into the wash, and packing everything away for Baby #3.

#9) Yesterday was the first day of spring. The weather has been nice, though we have had a little bit of rain here and there. I’m eager to pack away the winter clothes soon, and I’ve already been digging through my summer wardrobe and finding things I forgot I had (since last summer I was big and pregnant!!!)

#10) God has blessed me with a beautiful family, a loving husband, a wonderful house, and continues to bless us day by day, in both big and little ways.

This afternoon, Rachel and Josh left to go play mini golf and I put the boys down for a nap so I could take a little time and work on crocheting burp cloths (picture to come later, probably on sarahflanagan.com!). Sammy was being fussy so I put him in his Ocean Wonders Rockin’ Aquarium. He seemed happy at first, but after a while he started fussing again. I gave him 10 minutes, hoping that he’d settle down, but he was continuing to fuss, so I went up to see what the matter was. I’m not sure if he creeped or if he rolled, but he had made his way to the opposite side of the room from where I had left him. He’s done a little rolling, but this is definitely the farthest he has ever gotten on his own. Pretty soon I’m going to have to really make sure our house is baby safe because we’re about to have another mobile child on our hands!!!!

….that we forgot to take pictures. OOOOOPS!

Alas, these are the only pictures taken that night, from Sarah’s laptop.

Derek Whaley with Brooke Kamke in the background

Nathan and Keith Kamke

The Kamke boys really liked Sammy’s owl, so they took a bunch of pictures of it!

We really did have a great time. I made a new recipe for Guinness beef stew, and it was the best I’ve ever tasted. Thank you, America’s Test Kitchen! Patrick had a ton of fun playing with the Kamke boys, who go to our church and live a few blocks away. Sammy enjoyed all the attention that he was getting! And after the boys were in bed, the Whaleys stayed and played a game of Settlers with us, which was really fun. We’re thinking about doing game night more often. So, if you’re in the area and want to join us sometime, let us know ;o).

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I’m having 13 people over for a party tonight, so…. I have a lot to do, but I thought I’d take a little break from cooking and cleaning to share what has been going on the past few days. On Wednesday Rachel and Josh arrived, and Andrew and I picked them up from the airport. On Thursday they explored Tacoma, then later we had orange chicken, played Settlers of Catan, hung out a little bit, and then Rachel and Josh went over to Mom and Dad’s to use the hottub. On Friday Mom watched the boys so we could go to Seattle. We explored a curiousity shop, went to Pike’s Place (where we got the most delicous gelato!), had a look around UW campus, made a trip to Bellevue Square Mall and finished our trip with dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Here are some pictures from the past few days!

Sammy enjoying all the new attention!

Patrick trying on Auntie Rachel’s glasses

Rachel and Josh overlooking the Puget Sound

Pike’s Place Market

The boys like Josh!

The past few days Patrick has decided that it is fun to take off all his clothes and run around naked. What is not so fun is when he does that and he has a dirty bottom… YUCK! We need to hurry and potty train that kid ASAP!

Oh, and for all you who are wondering, we’re having a great time with Rachel and Josh. They came in late last night, and this morning I showed them around the brand new SUPER SUPER Walmart in Puyallup, and then I dropped them off at Mom’s house, where they had teriyaki and then went off on a wild adventure into the heart of Tacoma (at least, I assume that’s where they went!). Tonight we’re making orange flavored chicken and I’m going to see if Josh is up for a puzzle. If not, maybe Settlers of Catan???