7/10: Weekend Condo: Busy RULES!, Happy Sunday L&LL!

Good Morning Afternoon LL!! (YUM! Vanessa outdid herself this morning: PRIMO!) HAPPY SUNDAY to everyone!

LL! It's is I, Vanessa, president and CEO of The Coffee Cat! Life is GOOD! Bug and Lola, Co-CEO's of Paw Prints Pizza are open, and ready for business! They are running a Weekend Special: BBQ Pizzas! Lots of kitteh treats in them pies, tuna, chicken and shrimps! All on their signature catnip crust. It is mega good. They also have a dessert berry pie, lots of whip cream to holds it all together. So.... order early, and party hearty! I have been very busy this weekend too! My special for today is a coffee infused 4 berry frappe. It is mega good, I swear! So..... Coffee time! For today, I proudly offer Vanessa's special 10 hour energy coffee, and triple shot espressos, with beans from Starbucks Pike Place Market, their original blend, AND.... for all my Mocha fans: a VENTI Quad Blueberry infused white mocha/mocha blend with white chocolate chips melted within, swirled with a raspberry puree, topped with a strawberry infused whip garnished with caramelized berry sprinkles and white chocolate curls and a caramel drizzle.......SWEET! Vanessa's bakery is all stocked for today too: baguettes and croissants and donut holes, including my signature berry jams. They too is mega goods. I made them myself!






I hope everyone has had a great week. We have been.... well, busy again! As I say every week: I just can't imagine not being on the go. It keeps us out of trouble, and makes for great times! I often think back on the weeks happenings, and wonder how in the world did we do all that! I know I write this every week, but it really was the same this past week. We have had a week of adventure, and fun, and crazy as we all deal with summer, and somewhat warmer days. And some wet days. This past week the other DGP's continued with their vacation, so I also had the boys on Tuesday in addition to my usual W-F. We have been swimming, and to parks, to rivers and creeks, and rode the ferry for a grand adventure, and visited beaches, and museums and play parks, and had adventures at home too, including a sleepover on Wednesday night. It has been a good week...




Normalcy in Three MusketeerVille The kitties are all doing well, with not too much new to report there. No one is fighting or growling or hissing, sharing of toys and those nanners abound, and life is good to be a cat. I am still working on a catio for them all, but was sidetracked this past week with so many other things, and just being busy. Lola, and the troops, are being patient, as I try and get this going for them. It was a cloudy morning here, but the sun did break through, about noon. This morning was just enough to get kitty hopes up, and then.... back to bed. They have been checking on the sun status, but finally gave up. Silly kitters! They missed when it actually did come out! Both Nicholas and William have learned that all three Musketeers here LOVE kitty treats, and have made it their duty to be sure and get them some on the mornings they are here. Bug, Lola and Vanessa now know that they will, and all line up in the kitchen waiting. It is really very cute, watching two young boys deal with three FEED ME NOMS NOW kitties. Lola continues to escape... wow on it all. It is a daily occurrence now, at least two a day on most days. We are all getting very good, once again, at making sure she doesn't. Haha, we try, we failed more often than not. Ah Lola... what will we do with you? Yes, I know.... make you a catio! Bug continues to be my laid back mellow kitty. Nothing ever seems to phase him. He is so affectionate, comes by all the time to snuggle, purr and dish but a few head butts. Days have been warmer, not always sunny, but warmer. All three kitties have spent alot of it with noses plastered to the screens of open windows. Catching outdoor sniffs and an occasional breeze no doubt. It has been a good week for Lola, Bug and Vanessa. Normalcy rules in Three MusketeerVille!


Vanessa


Bug, and his well used scratching post


Lola


Our adventures continue. It has indeed been a busy week. Weather has been cloudy in the morning, sunny in the afternoon, with temps reaching the mid 70's. Summer scheduling is in full force. Nicholas has swim lessons in the morning, with both boys going to enjoy the pool swim and swim together before lessons. It makes it a challenge to fit in other activities when they are in the pool so much but we have managed to have some great adventures! We have been to Meadowdale Play Park, road the ferry over the sound to Kingston and spent the afternoon on the beach there, The Children's Museum in Everett, and the Mesika Trail near the pool for some hiking and berry picking. Awesome stuff. The trails and hiking for them have been fun this week. They are small ones, but this week we explored areas we hadn't before, found tons of huckleberries for the eating, and just had the best time. The Ferry ride from Edmonds over to Kingston was a blast for the boys. The found all sorts of creatures that live in and on beaches, and are visible when tides are low. We will have to do that one again. The Imagine Children's Museum is a great kids place, where they can use their imaginations to create and explore all sorts of things. Fun rules there. We spent most of the afternoon on their roof, where they have the best playground equipment setup. Major good fun! We wrapped up the week with an evening swimming session for both boys at the Snohomish Aquatic Center. It has indeed been very busy, I was beat by Friday evening, and I wouldn't change any of it for the world. What a great week it was. It has been so fun! It has indeed been a good week for the boys, and their Grammie!


William and Nicholas: on the ferry!


William: Mesika Trail


Nicholas & William: Civil Engineers Hard at Work


Nicholas & William: Hard at play, Children's Museum




AWESOME WEEK in the pool!
Nicholas and William have been swimming together this week, before lessons for Nicholas, on a M-F schedule. I hope he will be able to make most of his lessons, but as it was last summer, there are once again issues with the other DGP's that they spend M-Tu with, they don't support the pool, and lessons, and won't bring them. so.... family drama! What can I say. It is is an issue, but we will do what we can, when they are with me, to keep going what Nicholas, and William, love to do. We start a new session for Nicholas this week, so we shall see what they decide to do. I so hope they will bring him, as he really dies want to be there. Nicholas and William do well together in the pool. It can get a little crazy, but really is alot of fun for all, even me. We have also been able to continue those post swim, after swim picnics sometimes going berry picking on the nearby trail when time allows. Weather has been good then, so why not? On Friday night, after the Snohomish Pool swim, the traditional burger feast is still on! Nicholas and I have been doing that for the longest time. It was awesome that William was there to join us. SWIMMING RULES!!! As always, we are grateful for our time in the pool. It has all enabled to boys to explore another aspect of growing up, one they really enjoy. It has just become the norm for us, we go each week, and just never tire of it. It proves to be such fun for both boys, and their excitement with it all has not wavered.
GO NICHOLAS! GO WILLIAM !!


Nicholas & William: Down Under!


Nicholas and William: Tandem!



For my own personal time, I continue to hike the local trails here when I can, mainly at Meadowdale and Picnic Point. It is great to have such good places to go to when time permits. I cannot be more grateful. There was no additional hiking for me this week, what with last weekend/Monday being a holiday. The rest of the week I had the boys


Picnic Point at Dawn


Have a great Weekend everyone! It is rather low-key here... I made it outside on a local hike today, to the beaches of Picnic Point, while it was still quiet, no people! The rest has been filled with some R&R time, some yard work, and some veggin' in front of the TV with Olympic Trials. Have a great week everyone!

KITTIES!! Remember: BLUE, think GREEN

 

It sounds like another fun week for you and the boys. Nice you were able to do inside and outside activities. Nice that you got a hike in this morning. I'm glad the kitties are doing well. I hope your DH is too. Sending prayers.

 

Finally I caught one of your condos on the day you post it!
Thank you for that morning coffee Vanessa!!! Auntie Ruth has had serious problems and has seriously needed your special blend!! Mannie and Elsa taught you to be the bestest barista! Wonderful kitteh pics-- look at Lola, pretending to be asleep so you will leave the door partway open LOL! Good luck with the catio- I've been saying that for years!

Sorry to hear the other grandparents don't want to bring the boys to swimming- the boys are so lucky to have you! As always, your pics of the boys are so absolutely adorable- they are growing up so quickly! You always give me the best ideas for entertaining when my grand-nieces come over in a few weeks- they can't wait to see the Aquarium and the Great Wheel! Hope your DH is still doing great and that you have a great upcoming week, despite this weird weather!

 

@carfurby - hi Carla, the week was a good one! Long, but alot of fun too. I too am grateful we have such good indoor and outdoor places. We are never at a loss on what to do. All are well here, including DH. THAX for thinking of them.

@Tiger(GA) and Ruth - haha, you are too funny. I wasn't sure I'd have time to do one this week, but somehow managed to get something posted. Good observation on Lola. I think she sometimes sleeps with one eye open so she doesn't miss any opportunities. I know on the catio.... I have been saying it for two years now. Everytime the expense involves stops me short. Maybe this year I'll be successful . I know in the other two GP's... very frustrating.
I am grateful that there are things that we do that are of interest to your grand nieces. That is so cool! Enjoy the aquarium and the wheel. I know they will love it. THX on DH. he is doing ok. Next round of DRs spots in a couple of weeks. Lol, and YES on this weather....