OK. So it's an old picture. Like, 2003-old. But tell me you didn't want to see this.

This is where Geoff works....So there.

http://news.bellinghamherald.com/stories/20050418/LocalState/240494.shtml

I saw the book. Talk about much ado about nothing. It looks like what you thought about rural areas is true: people have WAY too much time on their hands.

One thing's for sure....I guess the FBI no longer has better things to do than squeeze librarians for their records.

C is now for Cauliflower.....Craaaaaap.

Read reports today that Sesame Workshop announced that Cookie Monster, long beloved blue-haired consumer of your favorite bakery treat, will be scaling back his habit. As the obesity level of American Youth reaches record levels, the Sesame Workshop has decided that its depiction of fuzzy puppets jamming snickerdoodles down their simulated pie-holes must be one of the main causes. Sadly, this will result yet another change to Sesame Street, which over the years has morphed into a poor imitation of more successful, less stimulating childrens' programming.

Perhaps this is only Stage One in a series of changes meant to promote health foods. Stage Two could include the actual changing of Cookie Monster's name to something more attuned to the concerns (or, what should be concerns) of American Parents...something like Fuzzy the FishEater. Or perhaps Cauliflower Monster. Wait, we wouldn't want to scare the kids...make that Cauliflower Guy-With-Lots-Of-Blue-Hair-Who's-Really-Not-Scary-Really-He's-Not.

Listen, I'm all for getting kids' faces out of the nearest sack of Lay's Potato Chips as quickly as possible. But for heaven's sake, if Sesame Workshop doesn't stop soon, the slippery slope will lead to parents turning off the show. Oh, wait....they have been doing that already...

A Stop at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Yes, it's raining now. And YES, it's pretty cold. But does that stop us?

We made a short stop this past weekend down south in Mt. Vernon, home of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Some insane percentage of the tulips sold in this country are grown right here, along with daffodils and other bulby plants. We stopped at one farm and stomped around in the mud. Needless to say, a good time!

Catalina getting up-close and personal.

RUN, I say!!! RUUUUUUUN!

Harleigh took this one. She said "SQUAT, daddy, SQUAT!" I hope she meant for Dad to get into the picture.

Ever wonder where those tulips come from? Probably here!

Awfully good natured for having just lost their boots in 8 inches of mud!

Victoria BC for President's Day Weekend

What better way to pay tribute to the birthdays of perhaps our country's two most crucial presidents than to RUN SCREAMING TO CANADA! That's what the Fitzpatricks did to take advantage of the three-day weekend. Following below are some pictures from our journey, which was completely pain free! The weather was AWESOME! (and has been for about a month straight. All our usual weather is camping out in So.Cal. Better start moving up here now, folks, before all the other Californians get here and take all the cheap land!)

First stop: the Victoria Bug Zoo. A little two-room museum that you cannot help but spend at least three hours in! HUGE bugs! GIANT tarantulae! RHINOCEROS beetles! MATING, MATING, MATING!!! Here's Harleigh after an exhaustive (but fruitless) search for the Queen of a huge leaf-cutter ant colony (behind her).

Lise and Geoff and some Leaf Bugs (photo courtesy of Almost Seven-Year-Old Enterprises, Ltd.)

Catalina admiring a praying mantis up close.

My gorgeous ladies in the Inner Harbour (the BC Parliament bldg. in the background)

Just after this photo, Catalina yelled "Let's see what this baby can do!"

Was that ANOTHER bald eagle?

Homeward bound on the BC Ferries...Some really tight squeezes for some really big ships!

Contest Answer: AND THE WINNER IS.....

Well, the winner is NOBODY.

The answer to our little romantic Valentine's Day Contest: Harleigh was a bit miffed when she made these two drawings. The one on the left : "Mom, but she's dead." Note the little "x"-shaped eyes? The picture on the right: "Mom's head with my fingers wrapped around it."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! (and boy, are we in trouble....)

Contest Answer: The envelope, please.....

Alright. Since no one was really that close....no prize shall be awarded by this judge. I'll throw the trophy up in the air and let the 4 responders jostle for it.

The long awaited answer: Harleigh was in a bit of a snit when she drew these. The picture on the left, and I quote: "Mom, but she's dead." Note the "x" shaped eyes. The picture on the right according to Harleigh, is Mom again, with Harleigh's fingers wrapped around her head and neck.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! (And, boy are we in trouble.)

LAST CHANCE on the Contest!

I'll post the answer tomorrow: What has Harleigh given to Mom?

HINT: This is Harleigh we're talking about, people.....