283/365 - Pleasant Surprise

I was talking to a co-worker yesterday, sitting at her "guest chair" in her office, when I glanced over and was surprised to see Hello Kitty smiling at me. Immediately, I had to smile back.

I have fond memories of Hello Kitty from my childhood, years before she became popular in the US. I remember buying some Hello Kitty puffy stickers during our trip to Taiwan when I was in 3rd grade. I treasured those stickers for years because they were so different (and Hello Kitty is just SO cute).

Hello Kitty still makes me smile (Erica thinks I have a weird obsession with her). I hope she brings a smile to you today.



[And Hello Kitty isn't simply imprinted on the eraser - she is formed through the entire eraser - how cool is that!]

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280/365 - Trying New Things

A couple of "new things" Brian tried out today:

1. "Marshmallow Launcher Bow and Arrow Toy / Weapon":

Just the other day, Scott noticed this contraption in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. We both had a good laugh, noting that Brian would "have fun" with such a toy.

Funny that our neighbor's boy would have one! Brian took right to it, getting the marshmallows to shoot out.

2. The neighbor's new play structure - tree house fort:

Notice that he still has that shortbow with him.

Lots of fun this beautiful fall afternoon with friends!

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236/365 - Garage Sale Rainbow

Weird title, I know. It's just that the rainbow appeared as we were setting up for tomorrow's neighborhood garage sale.


Hopefully, that means we'll have a good crowd tomorrow - a crowd to pick through all of this stuff:


Even the beloved kitchen set that the kids have outgrown (sniff):


I'm always so sentimental setting up for garage sales. But I'm always so happy at the end of it, when everything is gone.

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154/365 - Punch Out

Nintendo continues its strategy to suck in the older generation of gamers with remakes of its games from the original Nintendo console days. Donkey Kong, Mario Kart, just to name a few. Their most recent remake - PunchOut, which was released on May 17, arrived at our house Friday afternoon and has been in play all weekend long.

Scott hasn't been able to knock the crown off King Hippo's Head, but he keeps trying:


I remember Scott playing the original Nintendo version. It really hasn't changed much (from my vantage point - Scott would probably disagree), but it brings back memories of those past years.

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140/365 - More Legos! And a Birthday

Today is Scott's 42nd birthday, but as he has requested that we "not make a big deal about it", I only took one picture and it came out terrible (major back focus problem).
So instead, I present the alternative - Brian, again, piecing together his new Bionicle lego man. Or ship. Or both. All I know is this one is a big Bionicle (read - more $'s), with sections that move up and down, in and out.

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