Pre-School 2016-2017

After we got back from NY the boys started back at our beloved preschool.  Although they were a little hesitant not to be returning to their old classroom, they were super excited to be back at school.  Here are some picture to document their first day. Here's to a wonderful year!

New York Trip: Summer 2016

Just 4 days after we came home from Seattle we turned around and left for New York. We flew on a red eye and I was nervous it was going to be crazy but in reality it was not terrible.  In the grand scheme of things, it just made the trip feel more like an adventure. Here are the highlights.

1.  Gigi having all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren home at once!
I am not sure when the last time my sister and my cousins were all together but add Brady and Brody to the mix and it was one special gathering. We got to spend tons of time at GiGi's house.  The kids were so funny and did not skip a beat.  They remember all the things they played with on previous trips at GiGi's house and they went right to them.  They love to use use her arm extender/grabber thing to pick up various items,  put on all the gloves and scarves (particularly funny on August), and get the hidden stuffed animals out from her bedroom.  We also got to play cards, play with Aunt Stacey and snuggle with some seriously cute puppies. Visits like these make it seem like less of a big deal that we live so far away because I see how many memories are cemented in the kids minds.

2. Fishing  

We got to go fishing at Auntie  Barbara's house.  The kids had never been fishing and it was super special for Tickle Grandpa to take them fishing for the first time.  He bought them rods and picked up worms and off we went to a magical stocked pond in Barbara's yard.  The kids were so excited to go fishing but I fear we have completely skewed their understanding of what fishing is.  Seconds after we cast the line into the water, a fish would nibble the worm and get caught on the hook.  The water was so clear that we could sometimes see three or more fish fighting over the same worm on the end of the hook.  It was incredible. I am so curious how they will handle the next time fishing when it takes more than 30 seconds to catch a fish!

3.  Swimming in lakes

While in NY we took advantage of the various mountain lakes and swam away some very hot days.  After our amazing fishing experience the boys were a bit confused about swimming in water where they saw so many fish swimming beneath the surface.  They thought they were going to get bitten just the ways the worms had.  After seeing how afraid the fish were of them, they became braver and swam with no worries.  One afternoon the four of us headed up to Bethel to swim and tour around the Woodstock site.  It was fun to be a tourist where I grew up and to see the area in such different eyes.  

4.  Seeing great friends

While were on on the east coast we were able to visit with some of my dearest friends and attend my 20th high school reunion.  It is amazing how these visits can really fill your bucket and make you feel so so good. We had a magical date day in NYC and ended the day with a fantastic dinner with Christine, Jerry, Danielle and Joe.  I wish this was something we could do once a month instead of once every 10 years!

5.  All the games

The boys got used to playing game after game after game this week and (Brady especially) could not get enough of the concentrated game attention.  Cards, trouble, hungry hippos.... the fun was endless and they ate it up.

6.  Fun with Auntie Ray-Ray
Auntie Ray-Ray come home to the boys as many times as she could.  They could not get enough of her silliness and funniness!

7.  Celebrating Nana's Birthday.

We were also lucky enough to be in town to celebrate Nana's birthday.  We went out to a very nice dinner and got to enjoy time together.  This summer we somehow managed to be able to celebrate both my mom and dad's birthday.  I think this is amazing. It was a wonderful and relaxing trip!

Seattle trip 2016

At the end of July we traveled to Seattle for a wedding.  We spent a fun 4 day weekend exploring the city.  Our outgoing fight was delayed so we took the opportunity to have a bottle of very overpriced wine in the airport.  I had no idea how much more enjoyable flying could be after a few glasses of wine.  Seriously, game changer. We got to the hotel late and went to bed.  When we got up the kids were so excited to explore!  Since we were up early, extra early really, we took advantage of being close to the original Starbucks and got a beverage at the original location.  Being the coffee snobs we are and having access to incredible coffee where we live, Chris and I took one sip and looked at each other and gave the collective nod that meant "Let's find better coffee".  We wondered around the Public Market and the city for the remainder of the morning.  We had some wedding festivities scheduled during lunch time so we headed back to the hotel and got ready.  After the rehearsal lunch, Chris had to go to the venue for the actual rehearsal so the boys and I ventured down to the ferris wheel and out for ice cream.  The views from the ferris wheel were amazing but I forgot how scared of heights I was and I basically became paralyzed when we were way up high. Luckily we were riding with some really nice people who offered to take our picture with their phone so I did not have to release the death grip that I had on the boys.  After the ferris wheel ride we meet back up with Chris and took the ferry over to Bainbridge Island.  We enjoyed the scenery and the walk to the cute downtown area.  I am pretty sure we ate more ice cream there too. We ferried back home, had dinner and went to sleep.  

The next day we were able to do some exploring around Seattle and visit some friends all before we had to get back to the hotel for naps and to get dressed.  The boys actually slept which was a shocker but I was thrilled figuring our evening fun would be more fun with naps.  Chris got ready and left for his groomsman duties and I stayed back and got ready with the boys.  Once we were all set, the three of us walked down to street the the Seattle Aquarium where the wedding was taking place.  If you want to get an incredible amount of attention, walk down the street all dressed up with two 4 years olds in jackets and ties.  The numerous smiles we generated should have created enough good will to tip the scales in the universe.   We sat down for the ceremony and the kids were a bit confused as to why Dad was walking down the isle with another lady.  They even asked if he was getting married again which I found hysterical.  The ceremony was quick and then we got to go inside and explore the aquarium!  This was such a cool idea, especially if you are going to drag kids to a non-family wedding where you know no one!  Being inside the aquarium without crowds was super fun.  We got to play at the tide pool area where the boys made me touch everything and they wanted to touch nothing (I had to put on my brave pants)!  We got to see a huge octopus and got to see the seals get fed.  It was interesting and we were all really excited by all that we saw. 

  

 We had one more half day of exploring to do before we got on an airplane home.  The boys wanted to make sure Chris got to experience the ferris wheel so we went back.  I sat a different direction this time and although I still wanted to escape the instant I set foot inside the little car, it was a bit better this time.   We walked up to the original Nordstroms because I could feel the mothership pulling me to visit.  We hung around, drank more coffee and then headed to the airport and on the way, we got to see Mt. Rainer poke out and grace the horizon.  It was a really fun little trip up the coast!

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