More Seattle

Ok, this is the end.  Here's just some driftwood- can you tell I was obsessed with it?  

Mason and Braydon at the Seattle center riding the rides.  

More Seattle

Braydon and Mason throwing rocks into the water.  Dave tried to teach them how to skip rocks and they thought they were doing it.  They had a lot of fun splashing around in the water in their new boots.  
The Seattle skyline from a lookout in "Queen Anne" area.  AMAZING!  This was one clear Seattle weekend.  Look at the color of that sky!
Hanging out at the mall, they had just got their little matching boots and were waiting for the moms to be done shopping.

The Space Needle from the Seattle Center.  

Just a cool pic from the coast.  I loved all the driftwood.  

A weekend in Seattle

Mason and I had a great mom-son adventure this weekend visiting our friends Dave, Tricia, Braydon and Brooks in Seattle.  We truly enjoyed every minute- here are some highlights from the trip.

This was near the Pike Street Market- a friendly fish market operator grabbed a live crab out of the tank to show the boys.  Mason agreed to touch it, in exchange for ice cream afterwards :)
The famous Pike Street Fish Market, where they throw fish back and forth.  I didn't get a picture of them actually throwing the fish- but we saw it.  Very cool.
Just a colorful picture of the wonderful fresh produce at the market.  

Mason hanging out on the bench near the market.  

Braydon and Mason on some driftwood near Dave and Tricia's house.  This beach has a great duck pond near it, and a playgroud.  So, so fun!

The Macaroni Incident

Currently in our house we have two different eating styles.  Mason is Mr. Picky.  Sophia is Little Miss Appetite.  I made the kids Macaroni and Cheese the other night, as Matt was working late and I let Mason choose so he would EAT!  Sophia was so hilarious with the bowl and macaroni- the pictures show the story.  

Can you feel the love??

Happy Valentine's Day!  Mason and Sophia were laughing and hugging each other a few days ago.  One of the first impromptu hugs they've shared together... Just a little "warm fuzzy".  Hope everyone has a great day full of love.

Mason's Field Trip

I just can't say enough good things about Mason's preschool!  It makes ME want to go back to being 4.  This latest field trip was to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum.  Mason loved going on the bus with his friends, and exploring the museum.  On the bus ride back home, he laid his head down on my lap and said, "Mama, I'm tired."  I guess that means he had fun!

Mason working the crane at the construction site.

Turning the wheel to make the cups go up and down in the water exhibit (we spent a lot of time here)

Mason and his buddy and his teacher having a little water chat.

A hard day's work!

A visit from "Paw-paw"

This past long weekend we enjoyed a visit from my dad.  Some highlights:  Sophia learned to say grandpa which sounded more like paw-paw (maybe a new nickname?), Matt and Leonard did "dueling wi-fi laptops", Mason went on an excursion with grandpa that landed him at a motorcycle shop, and I got to go on a daddy/daughter date to see "Mad Money"  Cute show.  Thanks for the visit dad.

Mason at the auto-expo.  He insisted that we close the door because he was on his way to an adventure.  He liked the mini-van that has a table in the back to play games on.  Matt said "no way."

Dueling wi-fi laptops.  Who knew surfing the internet could be such a bonding experience?

Sophia and papa playing with the busy ball popper.  Very addictive.

Homemade chocolate chip cookies...the real reason he visits :)

Just hanging out in P.J.'s

My Girls

Gosh, you two monkeys are so cute.  

Love you girls.

Love, Daddy.

Happy 2008: "The many faces of Mason and Sophia"

We decided to ring in the new year by bringing you; "The many faces of Mason and Sophia".  We just had a quiet New Year's Eve at home.  We had a celebratory meal of yummy steak and stuffed salmon, and followed it by dancing around our living room to the hits of "The Sugarbeats"  (Mason's all-time favorite)  Then we took some pics.  Happy New Year to everyone!

A video of Sophia's favorite present:

Santa got Sophia this little pony on a last minute "whim".  Little did he know it would be her all time, absolute favorite toy of all time.  It sings this song that she loves and will only ride the pony when the song is playing.  Hope it cracks you up as much as it does us.  

Hope you had yourself a Merry little Christmas

Christmas has come and gone (well almost)  We hope all our friends and loved ones had the warmth and joy that comes along only once a year.  Here are some photos of our little family enjoying Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.  xoxoxo

Mason turns 4!

Holy cow.  Where did the time go?  Like every mother, I remember it like yesterday.  Bringing the little guy home from the hospital, just celebrating every little movement.  He makes me so proud every day, he is such a beautiful little boy; inside and out.  To celebrate we had a bowling party with his buddies.  They had a great time.  Then we celebrated as a family on his "real" birthday.  He loved every minute, especially the cupcakes!

Mason's Winter Preschool Program

We enjoyed going to our first school program for Mason.  They did so many cute songs.  "I'm a little snowman", and the "Snow-kie Pokey"  and of course the required Jingle Bells.  Mason knew all the dances and motions and did so wonderfully.  Yes, we now know why parents act so crazy with their cameras at programs like that...it's because you are just filled with pride.  So fun.  

My Six Things

Ok.  I am going to be a sport Jenny.  6 little-known things about myself.  I am having a hard time because I think some people are going to be like" oh, I knew all those things about you"  am I an open book?  Let's see...

1)  I cannot make decisions  I am constantly second guessing myself and the decisions I make.  Say I am in a store trying to decide on shampoo.  It may literally take my 8-10 minutes to deliberate, read the backs, think about my hair texture and make a choice.  It is excruciating for Matt to deal with, and I'm sure my children also.  Then, just when I think I have made a choice and am o.k. with it, I move along with my shopping trip.  Only to be back at the shampoo isle 15 minutes later to change my mind once again.  Meanwhile Mason sits in the cart saying "Mama, I wanted to see the TOYS"

2)  I am very lazy in some ways  I hate hanging up my clothes.  This is a constant battle in my bedroom.  I come home, I change an outfit and I lay those clothes on my bed for me to put away "later".  Then when I do go to bed, of course I am too exhausted to hang up said clothes and they move to the chair.  About once a week I do a big "hanging-up" party in my room.  

 

3)  I won't go to the circus, or haven't in 11 years  I've always had a soft spot for elephants; after all they are one of the only other mammals that cries.   Not to get all PETA on you, but about 10 years ago I saw this show on Animal Planet (where else?) about how they train and get the elephants to do all these amazing tricks.  Let's just say it's not nice.  It BROKE MY HEART.  I was sobbing as I watched.  I swore I would not go to another circus.  But, if one of my kids asks me one day... I may have to go.  

4)  I taught myself to sew  I never took Home Ec. (is that even how you spell it?) in high school.  I missed out on sewing the fuzzy pillow and other things I saw my friends bring home.  When I was about 28 I got a sewing machine as a gift, and have taught myself how to sew.  I have made some quite stunning items, and I think I am quite talented at it.  Who would have thunk it?

5)  I don't like orange juice  This is just silly.  Yep, I don't care for it.  Yeah, yeah it's all healthy for you.  It's made from fresh florida Oranges.  It's not for me.  I did find this one kind that I can stomach every once in awhile...it's like 1/2 orange juice or something.  Matt buys it.  

Well, there you go.  And TAG- Cassie let's hear 'em.  Six things.  Go.

The little sister

This picture just cracks me up.  Just the little sibling interaction that goes on between Mason and Sophia...We get all dressed up and try to take some cute pictures of them, and Sophia was just NOT into it.  Mason was trying to be soooo cooperative, telling Sophie to smile and be a good girl.  Really, a picture is worth 1000 words here.