5 years

My sweet man and I celebrated our five year anniversary the day before my birthday. The weekend before, we ventured out on our first segway experience. It was awesome. Besides the emotional breakdown before the tour started when they told us they overbooked the tour and we couldn't go (another couple opted for a later tour so we could go, thank goodness), it was such an incredible experience. We had perfect weather, and it was so fun to see the city we love in a different way.

On our anniversary we went out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Epulo, in Edmonds. Every single thing we ate (and we ate A LOT) was so yummy... garlic naan with olive tapenade, braised short rib, home made donuts with caramel sauce... oh my mouth is watering. It was fun to reflect on our time together these past 5 years, how we have grown and how much has changed.

I love this man truly and deeply. I couldn't have asked for a better friend to spend my life with.

the big 3-0

If anyone loves a good party, it's me. I knew I wanted my 30th to be a celebration to remember, and boy was it! The day was absolutely fantastic- how fun to have my actual birthday fall on a Saturday!

My day started off with a delicious breakfast of banana french toast. Ben was so excited to give me my birthday gifts, and after I opened them, I understood why. By far my favorite gift EVER- letters from some of the closest people to my heart. He really wanted me to enjoy and savor the words written, so he had me go to Starbucks, get a drink and read them. I was definitely a sobbing mess in the middle of the coffee shop. It was such a special gift to read such kind, thoughtful words.

After my sob fest, we drove to whole foods for some pizza for lunch (we were planning to walk, but it started pouring). In the afternoon, we went over to my sisters to get ready for the party.

It was so hard to settle on what to actually do for my party. We were planning to do a prom, but we couldn't secure a venue within our budget. I thought about doing a road rally, renting an electric boat, and then I thought of a minute to win it couples party. I am ALL about games, laughter, and people being silly, so I knew this would be perfect. The basic idea behind minute to win it is to complete a certain task within 60 seconds. If you wore a costume, you got a bonus point at the start of the game. I only got pictures of some of the teams.



There were 8 different rounds and it was so hilarious to see the competitive side of people come out. It could post a billion pictures because they are all so funny. This was a cup stacking game where you had to make a pyramid of 32 cups.

One of the best- "junk in the trunk"- shaking ping pong balls out of a tissue box tied to your back.

 Trying to knock cans off of the table with rubberbands.

Picking up cans with spaghetti/transporting the can down the table to make a pyramid.

Saved the best for last- "face the cookie"- teams had to move a cookie from their forehead to their mouth. These are the best blackmail pics EVER.

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt the next day. It was absolutely perfect. We topped off the night with Texas sheet cake. yummmm

Man.. i'm absolutely blessed. Can't wait to see what the next 30 years has in store...

7ish months

My little lady girl,

Another month spent with you is simply a gift. You are sweet to the core. One of your big grins melts away any troubles from the day and keeps me going.

I feel like this month was a big transition. You still feel like a little baby to me, but you are much more aware of what is going on around you, and want to be a part of everything! You are starting to try and lunge forward to grab things, which results in some less than graceful head plants. You can push really high on your stomach, but you aren't up on your knees yet. You sit so well and can roll all over the floor. You don't seem to have super strong stranger anxiety yet, but will occasionally cry when other people hold you and i'm standing close by. You have started responding to your name.

Pretty much anything makes you smile, but some of your favorite things are high pitched noises like when brother and I yell "fling!" as we toss things into the air. You also love to swing, play peek a boo, listen to music/participate in family band, jump in the good ol jumperoo, stand at the music table, go for walks, and shove anything that doesn't belong into your mouth,- books, mail, tissue paper, muddy cars, etc.  I never know if you're teething or just like to try and eat everything.. I'm pretty sure you just like things in your mouth. You don't really have any specific favorite toys- although you are really fond of eating train tracks, and digging through brother's cars bucket. You like the board books with texture, the stacking blocks, jumbo knob puzzles, the animal pop up toy, and sitting in a cardboard box with a bunch of balls. You like to be sang to, and you really REALLY like your bath. We put away the baby bath, and now you are sitting in the tub all by yourself. You get so excited when I turn the water on, you start bouncing on my knee. When you're in the water, you usually squeal and splash around. You love people and try so hard to get people to look at you, which isn't hard with that big grin of yours. I wear you in the bjorn when we go grocery shopping, and you kick your legs around and smile at people the whole time. Your best bud is still Harper, you get so excited and coo up a storm when she comes around.

                                                   

Your language has totally changed this month. You've started saying some consonant sounds, and make a lot of different tones with your voice. Some of my favorite talking times are right when you're done nursing. You usually bolt upright and look over at me and start cooing in the sweetest voice. I also love it when i'm wearing you in the bjorn and you'll lean your head back to look right up at me with your beautiful smile. I don't get a lot of snuggle time with you because our days are so busy, so I cherish the time I get with you when putting you to sleep at night. You don't always love to be rocked- sometimes after nursing you just want to get into your bed asap and you'll lunge away from me. On the nights you do want to rock though, I just pour out my heart to God and tell him how thankful I am that I have been given the gift of raising a little girl. You love to scratch things as a way of soothing yourself- a lot of times you scratch your lambie or the side of your pack and play. When you nurse, you always reach your arm back and either hold my hand, grab your pacy, or scratch my arm. You sleep in a sleep sack, with your pacy, and almost always on your side or stomach.

                                           

Your sleeping has gotten soooo much better this month, halleluiah.  For one week, dad took the monitor and I went to bed. He let you cry for 15-20 minutes when you got up around 11:30, and after a few nights, you just started sleeping from about 6:30 to 3:30. You sometimes get up again about 5:30 or 6, but we just put your pacy back in and you go back to sleep. You're normally up between 6:30 and 7. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you are awake because you'll roll around, but be totally silent. Your naps still are totally random. Most of the time they're still 30 minutes, sometimes they're an hour. Who knows. We just roll with it.

                                                    
The other major development this month is food. I tried 5 or 6 times to give you different purees, and every time you looked like I was feeding you something horrible. I figured you'd eat when you were ready. One day I wondered what you would do with chunks of food instead of puree. I started with banana and much to my surprise you gobbled it right up. For some reason you really don't like the texture of purees, but you do pretty well with soft chunks. You've tried mango, apple, pear, banana, broccoli, sweet potato, squash, pumpkin, corn, and plum. I've even snuck in some tiny bites of bread,  pumpkin bread, and bran muffin.. much to your delight. Your favorites are definitely banana and sweet potato. You really don't like applesauce which is so weird! I want to get you a water bottle because you love putting straws in your mouth. I know you'll love to chew on it!

                                       
So that is the latest my sweet pea. I love you dearly.

                                          

clinging on to summer

This is the first year that i'm having a hard time transitioning into fall. Fall is my favorite season ever, but for some reason I just can't get into yet! Normally i'm begging Ben to get down the Fall decorations, but instead I find myself checking the weather in hopes of more 70 degree days.

Here's what we've been up to lately as I desperately try to soak up a few more sun rays :)

We had an 80 degree day a couple weeks ago so a bunch of us moms got together for perhaps the last Edmonds beach day for a while.

Sweet Saisha Jane turned 4 years old, which is absolutely crazy! She had a princess party and Crowl Cake Creations made a come back after last year's cake disaster. 

For her present, I took her to the disney store and let her pick out any princess dress she wanted. It was by far my favorite experience with her to date. She could not believe her eyes when she walked into the store. At first, she didn't pay attention to any of the dresses, but kept wanting to touch everything in sight.. luggage sets, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. She asked me to take her picture in front of all sorts of random things. It was such a magical time. She tried on 3 dresses before deciding on Ariel. She wore her dress up plastic heels which weren't super comfortable to walk in, so I ended up renting one of those car/strollers that are at the front of the mall. After we left the store (in her dress of course), she rode through the mall in the race car with her hands stretched out like she was in a fairy tale. I will always remember that moment. 

We ventured to the Seattle Greek festival for the 7th year in a row! I seriously can't believe that the Greek festival is our longest running tradition yet, but it keeps us coming back every year!  I still remember the first time we went.. neither Jessie or I had kids (she was very pregnant with James-o). Now there are 5 kids (plus 2 more on the way!).. crazy! 

On National Talk Like a Pirate day, we ventured to krispy kreme in some pirate garb and scored an entire dozen donuts for free! We then ventured on to Carkeek Park, which quickly rose to almost the top of my favorite park list. 

The leaves are definitely changing, the weather has totally shifted. I will say, a pumpkin spiced chai is pretty delicious and my leaves candle smells pretty divine. I guess i'll get out the decorations!

A visit from Grandpa Willie

My dad and his girlfriend Julie came to visit after labor day weekend and we had a jam packed week full of life activities- James' first day of kindergarten, Saisha's birthday, Austin & Kelsey moving into a new house, etc. We were spoiled with some super tasty dinners & desserts, Ben got in his yearly round of wii bowling, and we squeezed in a trip to the zoo.

Colter  was not in the picture taking mode at the moment. 

A trip to the zoo where we saw a baby giraffe!

Green chili, one of my dad's specialities

Here's Aus & Kelsey's new house! So beautiful!

Thanks for the visit dad! 

Coeur d'alene 2013

We spent labor day weekend in Idaho at Ben's parents' lake house. It is such a perfect setting for a laid back, fun getaway. My sister's family joined us and we had an absolute blast. Mary & Greg went above and beyond to make our time there unforgettable... they had all the beds made up,dinner ready when we got into town, towels laid out, grocery shopping done, etc. We can't thank you enough Mary & Greg for being such generous hosts.. your efforts were so appreciated.

We spent Friday down at the beach and then hung out at the cabin in the afternoon. Gigi & Grandpa were good sports and joined right in for some family band fun.

Little lady didn't want to nap very long that day, so we had some quality time out on the deck.

The Heavilands joined us late Friday after trekking through a billion hours of traffic. Saturday morning we went on a bike ride on the lake trail and had a picnic lunch.

We finished off the morning with an ice cream treat. This place is seriously the best. Their single cone is seriously the size of a triple scoop. You don't have to feel guilty for eating a lot of ice cream, because after all, you asked for a single!

Saturday afternoon Ben, Greg & the Heavilands went out on the boat for some tubing and wake boarding. The kids did awesome on the tube & Ben and Mark rocked the board.

Sunday morning we went right to the beach for some kayaking, sand play, stand up paddle boarding, and more boating.

Ben is working on a 2nd career in water acrobats.

My heart about lept out of my chest when Colter went on the tube with Ben. Since when did my little man get old enough to tube?! Ben did a good job hanging on to him tight, but man oh man I was glad when that ride was over.

Who are those hotties out there you ask? What awesome form? Oh, that's just my mother in law and I rockin the tube!

We look like we're having a grand ol time, which we did have fun. However, I would like to state for the record that we about pushed Ben overboard after the ride he gave us. We requested no bumps and a straight shot to the marina. What we got was 8,000 turns trying to put us over the wake, and such high speeds that we couldn't even lift our hands to say slow down. Ok, maybe i'm exaggerating a little bit, but there was a moment I was wondering who he was trying to take out, his mom or I.. or both?

Sunday afternoon was our first annual family water fight. We are so hardcore. But seriously, it was a blast.... get it? A blast. haha

As the sun set on Sunday night, Jessie, Mark, Ben and I were able to take the boat out for a spin around the lake and go out for appetizers/desserts at a nearby restaurant. We felt so fancy so we had to take a rich girl fake instagram pic. We are still working on our faces.

There was so much to be thankful for.. time together as a big family, laughter late into the evening, dinners out on the deck, beautiful weather, good health, and a beautiful house to be together.