Fall is here

Its catch up time for the blog.   I keep waiting for Michael to chime in and make some updates, but he's showing no love to our blog lately.  Its become my project.   And it gets neglected for weeks at a time, till I feel guilty and need to do some catch up.

So Fall is here.  Its wet, rainy, muddy, leaves falling kind of yucky mess all over your yard.    But I also love it.  Those first huge rainstorms and grey days, where everyone sleeps a little longer...yep, I love it.   And Pumpkin Season is here with all the fun Halloween Festivities getting into gear.  

First Day!

Maddy officially started Preschool in early September.  She has a Preschool Summer Camp which helped her ease into preschool mode.   She is going three days a week for 2.5 hours, and it gives me nice little break.   Makena and I have time together which is really nice.  And so much quieter!        

Maddy and her friend, Scarlett

I'm doing a similar Toddler program with Makena as I did with Maddy.  So one day a week during Maddy's Preschool, Makena and I go to Toddler Group.     She didn't love it the first day and spent most of it scared, whining, and crying.  But the second class she was warming up to it.   I can already see her enamoured with all the other kids her age to play with, and all the fun things to do.

Not loving it on the first day.

At the end of September, we finally did a big push for Potty Training.  We'd given it a try a couple times before with much resistance from Maddy.   So at the end of September the 'Pull-Up Fairy' paid the Potter House a visit.  While we were asleep she snuck in our house, took all the pull-up diapers away, and left a cute little package of potty stuff, princess panties, and treats for Madelyn.    Maddy's face was sheer awe and excitement. You would have thought Santa came!     It did the trick and got Maddy on the potty-training path.   Its been a few weeks and things are going well.  Not perfect, but well.  And that is all the detail I'll go into, because no one wants details on potty training.    I will say I'm hoping that Makena will want to be just like Big Sis and hopefully not be nearly as difficult as Ms. Maddy.   One can hope.....

More smiles came out on the playground.

And last but not least, my dear husband turned 39 years old.  He celebrated by having a Red-Neck Birthday Party and heading out to Monroe Evergreen Speedway for School Bus Races.  Think demolition derby with school buses, or so I'm told.   It was a guy thing, so I didn't go.   The guys all put on their best redneck gear, hit Redhook Brewery first for grub..and then off to the fun.  They raved about how much fun it was and have it planned for next year with kids!   I sent a camera with Michael, but he couldn't be bothered taking pics.   Alas, no pics of School Bus Races.  Bummer.

Michael, Christian, and Andy....doing their Redneck best.

Girlfriends

Many of you know my girlfriend, Stacy.   I met her in college and we've always stayed in touch through the years.  She's moved around from Peace Corp in Guyana, South America, back to Seattle, down to NE Arizona for a job on the Navajo Reservation.  And her latest stint - Rwanda!     She took a position with the Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda.    I have been and continue to be,  so damn excited and thrilled for this new adventure for her and her family.

At the airport.  Our flights came in 20 minutes apart, how lucky is that? 

Stacy had a conference in Minneapolis only a month after getting to Rwanda.   Barely getting over jet-lag from huge move, the girl had to get back on a plane and fly 19 hours to Minneapolis.  Completely nuts.   But the best part of this?  I met her there..and we have a quick, fabulous weekend of just girl time.    No kids, no husbands, no laundry, cleaning, screaming, whining.......just us.   Just talking, more talking, eating, drinking, laughing, spa'ing, shopping fabulous weekend.

More drinking and eating..and talking! 

I tried to soak up every last minute, as it will mostly likely be a long time before I see this girl again.   Rwanda, is not on the "last minute airfare deals".    Not only is it very expensive to get to, the air travel is crazy.   But after hearing her talk about it, I would love to go.   It sounds amazing, and not at all the media image you think of.

But back to my weekend.    Check out this pic, its a rolling beer cart thing.  I don't know even know what you call it.    All I know, is we looked up and saw this thing, being powered by people cycling....while drinking beer, pedaling all around the city.  Its like a bar on wheels, people - powered.    We didn't get on...but we should have!

One last latte before I leave for the airport.

Stacy stayed on for a week long medical conference.   And I got on a plane back to my own reality.   The following Saturday, she got back on plane and flew another 19 hours to her new home..and waiting family.  

Its so very hard to have her so damn far away, but I love her adventurous spirit and can't wait for her tales.  

Victoria

Over Labor Day Weekend, we had a mini-vacation to Victoria,BC.   We were suppose to stay for a week, but we cut it short.     Van packed, we headed north and took the ferry out of Tsawwassen.  The BCFerries are quite impressive.   Everything about the BCFerries was easier.  I just Washington State Ferries would take a hint.   The 90 minute ride over on the ferry was beautiful, and though we did many rounds on the decks, it wasn't too bad of a trip.  

We rented a house 10 minute walk from downtown Victoria, in the James Bay Neighborhood.  It was a perfect location.  All full of excitement we started our trip.  The house wasn't the most kid-friendly place to stay.  But we had high hope.  

We manage to do quite a bit, taking in the local harbor water taxi, the bug zoo,  the Saanich Fair thirty minutes north of Victoria, a Horse-Drawn Carriage ride through downtown, and much walking and exploring.    We loved Beacon Hill Park with a great petting zoo and gorgeous park area to explore.     I got some time with just Maddy and took her to the Beacon Hill Drive-In for some ice cream, per the recommendation of a friend who is from Victoria.  As you can tell by the pic, Maddy was definitely into it.   She devoured just about the entire thing of ice cream by herself.   

However, things turned quickly.  Makena started teething on 4 molars.  She was sleeping horribly in the pack n' play.  Much crying, protesting, and lots of stress to go around.  The weather was beautiful for the first couple days and progressively got worse.  Makena was protesting all naps, which only led to an over-tired cranky kid, who didn't want to sleep in that pack n' play.    But we kept at it, till Monday when she stared coming down with a cold.

As a mom, I felt like I'd spent much of the trip trying to get this kid to sleep.  By Monday mid-day, with a miserable toddler an an oncoming cold, I'd had enough.  We made a quick decision, packed like crazy people, shoved it all in the van..and ran for the Ferry.  We made a 5pm ferry and were thrilled to head home.  Makena barely slept in the car, which made for miserable car ride home.  But by late that night we were home! 

We had just had enough.  I think we have some fun memories and will definitely go back again.   And somehow we'll get Makena use to that Pack 'n Play.    Everyone says vacation with kids are not vacation.   Oh hell yeah, that is most definitely truth. 

August Part 2

A few more summer adventures.   We took a trip up to Arlington with our friends, Melissa and Molly, to visit the Outback Kangaroo Farm.   All sorts to more exotic animals from Kangaroos and Wallabies, Lemurs, Alpacas, Llamas, Emus, and an Ostrich.   Super fun and the girls loved it.  

Ice cream at the local dairy not far from our house.   Its known to have great ice cream, so as a family we made our first trek there.  Maddy got her own dish of chocolate ice cream which quickly melted in the 80* heat.    She had a few bites and said she was done and ran off playing.  I threw it away.  Moments later emotions flared when she discovered it was gone.  She  ran to the garbage can to look for it.   I ruined her day and her ice cream.  Probably a good thing, later read the dairy has been written up for pest control and other sanitary issues.   I don't think we'll be going back anytime soon.

First trip to the zoo with both girls, by myself.  Big deal and we made it.  Maddy suckered me into going by asking to go on the carousel over and over and over.  I gave in and we went to the zoo.  Sorry no pics of both the girls, its hard enough getting a picture of one child.

Maddy's first game of Hide & Go Seek.  Sh figured out what the neighbor kids were doing and joined in.  I happen to be outside and watched it all happen.   She was too cute and didn't quite get the whole game, but was definitely into the hiding part.  Hence, the fuzzy picture as she was on the move.   She loves trying to figure out how to play with the big kids.

Makena being Makena.  Loves to stand on her head.   And is just tall enough to start grabbing stuff off the table.  This is the phase/age when things really start to get lively for me.  

Melting Mom's heart with each step.

Wait, there is room for more...here let me shove my way in.

Sisters.  Lets hope they always have this many giggles with each other.

August Part 1

I am trying to play a bit of catch up on this blog.   I realized I'm a about a month behind and have thought of so many things to blog about.   I use this blog as more of a journal of the ongoings with the girls. I am not a scrap-booker and definitely not good at creating albums, this is their scrapbook.  Just online.   I recently printed out about a year and a half worth of posts into book format with Blog2Print.   It was a rather easy process and turned out great.  I'll be printing the rest of the blog in another book, and then can breathe a sigh of relief knowing I have a 'scrapbook' of sorts for the girls.    Back to the events of Summer

Lots of time at the neighbors feeding goats, picking raspberries and blackberries, and checking out the gorgeous flowers.   Makena learned to eat blackberries in the neighbors garden.  This is huge as she is just now getting onto table foods and still terribly fussy about it all.  She is walking better and more stable everyday and getting quite fast!   Huge smiles and laughs the faster she goes.    And yes, she still loves that pacifier.  And honestly, so do we.  It keeps her happy, thus were happy.    Happiness all around. 

Its pretty wonderful having a beautiful garden to enjoy behind our house.  All the enjoyment, none of the upkeep.

  Time with Memere means laughs all around.

Crazy moments with a 3 year old.  Fleece slippers, no clothes, 

pull-up, and a Easter Basket on her head.   I had to capture this.  

My little screamers in the car.  Makena recently found out how to really shout it out.  

Makes car rides really "fun" now.   Maddy has always been loud. 

Wonder where she got that trait?

Everyone should wake up this happy.

Maddy's 3rd Birthday - Part 2

Thank You Sandi, for capturing some fantastic moments on Madelyn's Birthday.   The pictures turned out wonderful.   Here is just a few that I can't resist sharing.   It was a great day, wasn't it?!

 

 

Photo Credit:  Sandi Heinrich

Cousins

Michael's Aunt Nancy and Uncle Ray came into town this week. They are taking quite the driving trip around the US, and happen to be up in our corner of the map. So to add to the party, his cousin, Rebecca and her family flew in from North Carolina for a visit. It made for quite fun week.

Rebecca and her husband Devin, have 3 boys - Mason, Aaron, and Ryan. (Forgive me if I don't have those names spelled correctly) Maddy and Makena were in heaven with the 3 boys to play with. I am not sure how the boys felt about my squealing little wild child....but I know I saw Aaron throwing a few smiles at Makena. The week was busy with trips to Seattle for thetouristy stuff, a day long trip to Mt. Rainier, family BBQs, and much more. It was fun to watch all of them together and we all thoroughly enjoyed their time here.

"Did you hear that?"

Oh my gosh, do they get any cuter than this?

They came, they saw, they hiked. Next stop, REI.

Makena giving some love to Meme.

Lily finding out that ice cream is a good thing!

Rebecca and Aaron on playing on Uncle David's PET vehicle,

part of a large project his gives time too.

We are sad to see them go. They are working on us to come out next summer for their annual beach trip to the North Carolina coast. Whereabouts? I'm not sure. I'm still stuck on the part where I get on a plane with 2 kids, ages 2 and 4...strap myself in for a 5-6 hour ride, preferably non-stop. I have a full year to get up the courage. I'll need it.