Sticker Face

This is what you get when you combine a big sister and a two-year-old. The yellow sticker on his forehead reads, "I did it!" which in this case is not necessarily accurate.
I am glad it was stickers and not markers.

Kennedy's Cookie Exchange

For her birthday party this year, Kennedy wanted to celebrate with a cookie exchange. It was her first party with just her girlfriends. She wanted to decorate her own giant cookie that was eaten in place of a b-day cake. She did a great job. Shortly after Ken took the boys to his parents' house, the girls began to arrive.
Many of them wore their aprons and each girl was given a chef hat to wear.

A photo was taken of each girl with their chef hat to place into the cookbooks they created.

They decorated cookies. It was so fun to hear them talk among themselves and ask so sweetly for the various frosting colors. So many "please-may-I's, please-pass-the's, and thank yous and your welcomes."

The girls lined up to exchange the cookies. Each one brought three dozen and left with a nice variety.

They also played some games such as Hide the Cookie, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chip (similar to Duck Duck Goose), and Spill the Cookie Jar (much like Fruit Basket Upset). Sorry, no photos. I was a bit distracted.

This was the most calm, peaceful, sweet birthday that we had ever hosted. The girls were all so delightful.

The Zipping Toddler

Some of you might have wondered after the last post, if a pregnant mom can do it, why didn't the two-year-old have a turn? Well, Mikey had been busy stompin' in the puddles on the first night. He was wet and cold so we took him in to warm up and have a snack.

Last night he got his turn though. You can tell from the footage that he loved it!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

ZIP-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

My ultra cool husband has been doing a lot of research on zip lines. He has read literature, watched videos, and talked with those who have gone before him in this endeavor. Finally it came time to purchase the equipment, install the line, and wait.........for the harnesses to arrive in the mail.

They showed up on our doorstep yesterday and it was all the children could to wait......for Daddy to come home so they could FINALLY try it out.

The zip line spans about 120 feet from tree to tree, so we have about 110 feet to zip.

Kennedy was the first to try it out. She didn't get to go as far as the others because the tether wasn't yet shortened. She had a blast anyway!

Safety first! The cable holds up to 1400 lbs of weight and the kids and adult harnesses hold up to 300 lbs. I will tell you that even a pregnant woman can safely zip on it. Sorry no photos of that adventure!

How Sweet it is to be Eight Years Old!

Today our little girl turned eight years old. Where did the time go? I remember old ladies telling me to cherish every second of her youth, while she was just a baby. I recall politely nodding, but thinking to myself, "She'll never grow up. She will be my baby forever."

(Here she is only moments after birth...eight years ago)

But somehow we made it to this point. She isn't a baby anymore. She is a big girl, with big dreams and a big heart.

Today we had a beautiful time celebrating the lovely young lady that she has become.

First, she was greeted with a big banner that hung over the kitchen entrance that read, "Is it great to be eight?"

Then we sent her on a scavenger hunt around the house to find clues that finally lead to her purple tub full of gifts.

Here she is with her new monkey watch and bedroom accessories.

She chose to have her favorite breakfast; Over Night French Toast.

Next on the agenda was a trip to R.E.I. to climb the Pinnacle. It was her idea. Last night she asked about it so we made reservations.

Jackson and Daddy did it too. Dad was fun to watch as he scaled the structure like Spider Man. He was up to the very top and back down again in a matter of minutes.

For lunch Kennedy chose to take the Monorail to West Lake Center. The kiddos all thought that was a great idea and enjoyed "riding the train."

She picked sushi and bubble tea for lunch.

Next we walked to Pike Place Market. It was windy but the children were troopers.

Our sweet little birthday girl ...

Dad treated the kiddos to a couple dozen mini donuts. That made the windy walk worth it.


The day was finished off with her choice of orange chicken and rice for dinner, followed by angel food cake with "whoop" cream and strawberries.


We tucked her in under her new bedding. She is sleeping now. I just checked on her and again, I marvel at how big she is and how eight years has passed by so quickly. As I fast-forward eight more years, it is hard to imagine her driving a car and attending high school. But I now know how quickly it passes by. I am taking the advice of the the little old ladies to heart and will truly try to cherish every second of her youth.

March Comes in Like a Lion...

We recently had another fun snowfall. It didn't last long, but it was enough to get the kiddos outside to play in the fluffy flakes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

My dear husband had a birthday earlier this month. We celebrated with Scandinavian Breakfast for dinner followed by angel food cake covered with "whoop" cream and strawberries.The kiddos helped paint his birthday banner that was hanging up in the morning, ready to greet him.
The February/March birthdays were celebrated with the extended family. Funny that we had planned a BBQ on a snowy day. Ken and Nathan tried to catch as many flakes as possible on their tongues and noses.

Kennedy was excited to get a bulletin board for both her and her little sister to put in their new room. Easy to tell whose is whose.

Uncle Dando was pounded upon by the three/four-year-olds. Can you tell who won?

When I Grow Up I Want to be a Police Officer

They get to do a lot of fun stuff!

Here is the most recent Port of Seattle recruitment video.

Jackson Lost His First Pearly White!

Q:

How many teeth have you lost so far?

A:

One. This is my first.

Q:

How did it happen?

A:

All I did was wiggle it outside. It just wiggled so much that I came in the house and used a piece of tissue paper to pull it out.

Q:

Did it hurt?

A:

No.

Q:

What are you going to do with it?

A:

Put it in a glass of water.

Q:

Why?

A:

So that the tooth fairy will come.

Q:

What will she do with it?

A:

She will put it in the sky and turn it into a star.

Q:

Anything else?

A:

She will leave me a dime.

Q:

A dime? Is that all?

A:

Yeah.