Parks and Picnics

Our weekend (Friday & Saturday, at least) consisted of the following...

Pool

Park

Picnic

Photos(as in, I took family photos for my sister's family -- click here to see the sneak peek)

Beach/Park

Picnic

Naps for tired babies

(and a little cat nap for tired Uncle Taylor :)

Planting seeds in the garden for not as tired toddlers

Bike Riding

Chatting away for two sisters

Papusas

more Park

etc.

We spent the whole day today with my sister, Kaitlin, and her very cute family, who came up to visit from Tacoma. We did pictures and then just relaxed and played the rest of the day, it was fabulous!

Here are just a few pics from Gasworks Park, where the kids got some practice in with the frisbee

(we kicked the soccer ball around too, for good measure)

We ended our fun day with throwing rocks in Lake Union and then celebrating little Alexandra's first birthday with some Cold Stone Creamery-goodness. I just love days like this!

Hope ya'll had a great weekend, too.

Sleepover!

Last week, Sawyer and Aspen went to their first sleepover with friends, and I got to tag along.

To be quite honest, it was my first sleepover in a very loooong time, and I was super excited, too!

We all had a great time!

While the boys were off chasing each other around and being dinosaurs or dragons...the girls were very proudly sitting on the porch and eating their drippy popsicles for dessert.

I can't get over their faces.

Such cutie-pa-tuties!

It's so fun that they are getting old enough to really play together. We know they were friends up in heaven.

I am so thankful for good friends. That my kids have such great people in their life. And, I LOVE that their friends' mom is one of my best friends, too! We both whipped out the camera (both happen to be photographers) and we were sitting their shooting away and I was laughing because most people would think we are just silly girls...but we were just enjoying every minute. It's so nice when you are kindred spirits, soul sisters.

Thanks goes out to Allegra, Max, and Ruby for showing us a great time - for playing, eating, tubby time,late late night girl talk, sleeping in, and a yummy brunch. We might just have to do it again sometime soon! And extra thanks, to my very best friend, Jacob, for letting us steal away for a night.

Good times! Good friends!

Running Through Fields of Flowers

Saturday, I have to admit, started out a little bit "gray". We were originally going to go to the zoo with my sister and her sweet little family, but it didn't work out due to illness. And then we found out Jacob had to work all day Saturday to meet a big project deadline coming up next week. Oh yeah, and we forgot it was our turn to clean our church building - so getting out of the house took longer than anticipated. I was a little grumpy I was feeling sad that all of our plans seemed to fall through and also that Jacob, who works so hard for our family, had to go spend another Saturday at work. Instead, I should be grateful he has such a good job - but, everything else aside, I was just bummed.

I decided I wanted to go have fun even if it was just going to be me and the kids so I decided to take a little road trip up north to see the last day of the Tulip Festival. Last year, they had topped off the flowers by the time we made it to the festival. This year, however, they had a late bloom so the fields were all in full bloom! It was a little bit cloudy when we got there but the sun came out and we ended up staying 3 whole perfect hours out in the fields of Tulips!

The kids had a BLAST (as did I).

Sawyer ran up and down rows of Tulips (I tried to keep him on the path...) and Aspen wanted to walk even though she tripped through half of the trenches and the uneven ground (good thing our BOB stroller has shocks, I tell ya!) And I pretty much just struggled to keep them both within arms reach while juggling the stroller and my big ole' camera. I so badly wanted a "perfect" picture of my two children in the fields of flowers...but it just wasn't happening! Especially with Aspen, who just wanted to walk walk walk or grab onto my legs or hand to steady herself as we went along.

At one point, Sawyer decided he would hold her hand and walk along with her. How darling is that?

We found a little spot right across the path by the field, sort of wild grass/weeds and we laid down our picnic blanket. I didn't even care about naps at this point - the kids were having a great time and I figured they would sleep in the car on the way home. They love having picnics, so they were really excited. I never really asked anyone if it was okay to have a picnic and didn't even really think about it until we were the only ones in there, with an awesome view, eating out pb&j's in front of hundreds of people and millions of Tulips. No one seemed to mind. If anything - we became another sight to see! Sawyer and Aspen would get up and dance around and eat and passers-by would gush "oh my goodness, they are soooo cute!"

I agree.

I love this image below. These 3 cute teenage girls kept trying to get all these different pictures with fun poses of themselves in the flowers. We had fun watching them. And their little point and shoot just wasn't quite fast enough to get them in the air...so what did I do (could I even help myself?) I offered to take some of the three of them. They were very happy about it!

...and then...there were bubbles!

We also brought the bubbles the kids got for Easter.

Can you say heaven?

I mean, honestly, a picnic amongst the Tulips, sunshine, relaxing with absolutely nothing rushing us, and bubbles.

Okay, this is random but Sawyer hadn't used the potty since 10:30 that morning...and when I took him to the honey bucket he was like "gross no way!" (can you blame him?) so he held it all the way until 4pm when we made a pit stop on the way home. I think it's safe to say the kid has good bladder control! (thank goodness - I was wondering if I was going to have to sneakily take him out in the fields somewhere if he couldn't hold it any longer...)

These last few of Aspen made up for her not wanting to sit by the Tulips for a photograph. Tulips or Weeds? Well, it was really the bubbles and her brother that got her grinning...

and I just love these sweet photos of my girl.

Perhaps next year Daddy will be able to join us and we can finally get the "perfect" picture amongst the flowers - with all of us. Then again - what is perfect anyway?

Our day was!

It ended even more perfectly -

We had a date night out.

So, even if some days start off a little gray - isn't it nice to know they can turn to sunshine and end up being perfectly bright?

I hope you all had a sunny weekend, too! Here's to a new week!

Silhouettes

I am still working on finishing up the kids' shared room. I know, I posted about how I was just about done with Aspen's corner, and then she decided to start trying to boost herself up and climb out of the crib. So...away with the bumper. That shook up my plans a little bit...but anyway, I'm working away and almost done. I recently purchased this cute little print and I have an old frame from ikea with 3 5x7 spots, so I thought I would put the print in the center and then I made silhouettes of the kids for each side. I actually made the silhouettes a while back - I used Aspen's on her birthday party invitation and on her cupcake toppers (which I think turned out to be rather adorable :) While I was at it, I did one of Sawyer, too. (Aspen is about 10 months in hers, Sawyer is just over 2).They turned out fun! So I just sent in an order to my lab and am printing them as photos on linen paper - we'll see how they turn out!

I was thinking it would be fun to do a silhouette each year for the kids (until they don't want me to anymore). I have plans on making them each a special book for when they reach a certain age (I made Sawyer a first year book, and vow to make Aspen's before we have any more children...but just can't keep up with doing one for each year - I do a family album anyway...) so it would be fun to line up their silhouettes from baby to say, 10 years or so. Don't you think?

Anyway...if you want to give your hand a try at doing a silhouette I found several tutorials on line that are quite simple.

If you have access to Photoshop and are fairly comfortable using the tools, try this one. (This is the tutorial I used)

If you don't have Photoshop or are not super comfortable with using the tools required, try this simple method.

Fun stuff! I can hardly wait to see how my finished product will look hanging in their room! I'll be sure to include it in the "tour" when I've finished!

*update: customer service called me from the lab to say that even at a high res. the images were looking a bit pixelated around the edges - I am not exactly sure why...but Jacob was able to "smooth" them out by redrawing them in Illustrator last night. I am going to submit them again and hope they come out perfect ;)

Good Morning!

Our morning is off to a great start...

you might say, it's "rollin" along just fine.

How about yours?

ps - a heartfelt thanks to all of you who showed understanding and support relating to my last post. I had a couple of people approach me directly and it is good to know, amidst our challenges, we do have friends for support and understanding! And we can handle our individual challenges, one patient day at a time :)

Little Miss Hollywood

This morning, the sun came out

(do I hear a HOORAY!?!)

you know your kids are true Seattleites when...

your son says, "Mommy, look, the sun is out! Hooray!"

(we say HOORAY every time we see the sun)

and then, he says "Oh! It's BRIGHT!"

so, luckily, we have shades. these are sister's first shades...

she was having a bit of trouble getting them on...

good thing she has a big bro to show her the ropes of shade-wearing.

this last one just kills me

maybe this one is the answer to the image I should print
huge huge huge on a gallery wrapped canvas?

just sayin'.

oh

and Happy Saint Patrick's Day, too.

(i hope you're wearing some green)

*after naps we are celebrating the day by going hunting for Leprachauns and maybe even some gold!

Two Little Monkeys...

Jumping on the bed!

(well, make that four if you count their sock monkey friends, too)

(maybe someday, we will have four little monkeys of our own!)

(but not anytime soon, for reals :)

(Sawyer flashback: just about a year ago...wow, a lot happens in a year!)

My two little monkeys have had "the cold that never ends" for several weeks now. Just when I think it's getting better...more drippy noses and coughs ensue. So, we've made a habit of taking an "aromatherapy" bath after nap time to soothe a bit of the stuffy noses and sore throats. Usually, after the bath, we end up jumping on pillows and beds and running naked down the hall. (yes, all of us, ha ha ha, you think I'm kidding don't you?)

Anyways, kind of random. But ya gotta find some way to have fun even if you get your nose wiped or sucked out a few thousand times per day.

I know this is going around - so to anyone else who has the cold that never seems to end - here's to better, healthy (and can I add warmer?) days ahead! We are ready for Spring!

ps-I am in love with Aspen's curls.

pss- and her cute little bum!

Lunchtime today...

Excuse the messy faces, please - but during lunch today we were having so much fun playing peek-a-boo, I didn't take the time to clean off their faces before snapping a few to remember the moment.Oh, and yes, she now rips off her bib (wonder who taught her that?) so I think my next little stitchery project will be some new bibs with SNAPS (the current ones have velcro...)!

It just kills me when Aspen puts one chubby little hand up by her eye - or ear - and thinks she's hiding from us. SO FUN! I love that they like to play this game together. Love it, actually!

The small and beautiful moments amidst what sometimes seems like the daily mundane, yes...those are the best :)

ps-if you look really closely in the second image, you can barely see the tip of Aspen's first tooth!

I Like Days Like These (...and Aspen is 9 months old!)

Today was Beautiful.

It was sunny.

It was warm.

It was a perfect day to spend all morning at the park,

by the beach,

bare feet and all.

It was the perfect day to...

gnaw on rocks

:)

(the best teething toy, ever, if you ask Aspen)

or, perhaps, just watch Sawyer

he likes rocks, too.

Skipping rocks (or trying to, anyway)

*I kid you not, my kids would be happy to get rocks for Christmas!

Yes, I like days like these.

*and*

Aspen turned 9 months old over the weekend!

She now says "Mama" and means it.

She signs "all done" after meals.

She loves to stand up, all the time.

She loves to giggle - especially at Sawyer.

She can make car noises, and girly squeals, too.

She can stick out her tongue, "neener neener" style.

She doesn't have any teeth...yet.

I honestly can't believe that when Sawyer was her age, I got pregnant with her. Yikes. I am understanding now why many people have the first two close together and then space the next one out a little. She's still a baby. And growing up way to fast. Strangely, people always ask me if they're twins. (Don't they notice one walks and talks and the other doesn't?) I want to soak up all of her baby-ness before we have another. I am loving our two babes and want to just breathe for a moment and enjoy them for a season. I'm sure we'll be gettin' that swagga' wagon soon enough. But for now, we'll keep on car dancin' in our beat up old Civic :)

Swingin' into Fall: 8 months old!

Has another month already passed us by? I swear every month I pose the same question: how does the time fly by so quickly?

The answer surely must be: when you're having FUN!

Fun we are having...but I still can never get over how fast time seems to be slipping through the hourglass these days. Does anyone else feel like it goes faster the older you get? I sure do. And according to wonderful people beyond me in years - it just keeps getting faster. Yikes!

I remember being a kid, when a day seemed like forever. I miss that. All the more reason, though, to be with my kids and love them and play with them and cherish them each day. I feel so blessed to be able to "stay at home" with them. Staying at home often means...walks to the park, playing at the beach, outings to the zoo, etc...lots of fun!

So on one of our walks to the park by our home this week, I snapped a few of Aspen (something I try to do each month the first year, if you haven't notice already :)

Dearest Aspen,

As you rounded the corner to 8 months, all of a sudden you just don't look like quite such a "baby" anymore. Well, of course you are a baby (and, just like your brother, you will always be my baby!), but you know - not quite like such a very young baby. Maybe it's the hair clip? Of course, I only put it in for pictures, because it's too small and you would surely eat it if you got your cute little chubster fingers on it.

I am thoroughly enjoying you being my baby.

A few things about you this month:

LOVE sucking on things and putting things in your mouth.

(there have got to be some teeth in there somewhere, anxious to erupt...but I'm not complaining - no teeth means no biting while nursing, ha ha!)

You have abandoned your army crawl for speed crawling.

You also decided you like to stand up. Any chance you get, you are pulling yourself up to stand. Please not yet! I just know I will blink twice and wish you a Merry Christmas and you'll be walking and we'll be serving you Birthday cake. Please wait to walk, just a bit longer? Pretty please?

You had your very first diaper rash. Poor girly. Poor little bum. Not sure if it was from changing the detergent I was your cloth diapers in, or from trying broccoli for the first time. Either way, diaper rash is the pits for cute girls like you!

You tried your first "real" solid food - finger food (oh, besides those puff things) - cute up banana. Yeah, having teeth will help with the table foods, but you sure enjoyed gumming the banana. Yummy stuff. This week I'm going to see how you like avocado. I have enjoyed making your baby food. And you seem to love all of it! You make the cutest little sounds, like it tastes just divine :)

Speaking of noises - you can be very noisy! I swear you are trying to imitate your brother - you have this cute gruff little voice and you try to make the car noises he does. You also make some really girly noises, which are quite delightful.

Overall, my sweet darling, you are delightful! We couldn't have imagined a happier girl. Or a cuter one, for that matter!

Doesn't she look SO BIG in the swing? Must be those 'jeggins. Yup. I can't believe I got a chubby infant a pair of skin tight jeans/leggins, but that I did. She has gotten many compliments - I mean, COME ON, peeps, they show off her curvy, sexy thighs so well!

Anyway...in case you think all I do is focus (pun intended) on my daughter - don't worry, her brother is always close at hand. He has discovered a way to "fly" on the swings.

Just call him SUPER SAWYER

and you'll get this big grin.

LOVE THIS BOY!!!

Yes, F-U-N. That is how time flies!