Simpsons in Seattle

Evie started at Sunset Elementary yesterday! She was pretty excited - she woke up bright and early and rushed to get dressed and ready for school. She normally also whines when I comb her hair and try to do something with it, but she was feeling magnanimous and let me put her hair up in a pony tail. :) She was a bit scared walking into school because she couldn't remember where her classroom was so we walked her in. Once we got to her room though, her teacher (Ms Bland) was getting nametags out for everyone and the minute Evie got hers, she went inside and didn't even say goodbye! I had to stick my head in the classroom and shout out a "bye! Have a good day!" and she waved. After school, we asked how it was and she said she had a great day. She couldn't tell me anything about what she learned, what they did or any of the names of the kids in her class (including the kids sitting next to her) but I guess she still had a good day.... Hugs before they part wa...

In honor of Grammie's birthday, here's an old photo that I found in my files that made me smile.

Our little Nora turned 3 years old today!! It was a fun-filled day. It started with opening presents first thing in the morning. She was super cute because she really understood what her birthday meant and was so excited about getting gifts and being able to have cake and chocolate. After playing with her new toys and a quick lunch of Man N Cheese (her request), we spent the afternoon at the Zoo (also her request). She and Evie were kind of cranky with each other for most of the time at the zoo until the very end when we found a new-to-us playground and let them run off their energy. Then we celebrated some more at home with some cake and Chip and Dale on TV. At 3, Nora is definitely very sweet! She is so huggy and loves to interrupt mealtimes to walk over and give you a kiss anywhere she can reach you - she'll even kiss your elbow or back! She likes to call everyone "Mr" and sometimes adds a "doon doon" to it, as in "hello Mr Doon Doon!" I have no...

Daddy is a champion snuggler. Just ask these munchkins! Movie night! Reading to both girls before bed. This has been the scene pretty much every night lately...

Nothing says summer quite like Ice Cream! Our little ones luuuuuuv ice cream and popsicles and have been slurping and licking these treats up several times a week! It's so yummy! Too bad it's also so messy! Stickiness all over after her popsicle. Chocolate face I waited a long time for that to drip off her chin...

This is a bit outdated, but we visited Orcas both right before AND right after 4th of July thanks to a little vacancy irregularity during the prime days of summer. We kept ourselves busy with all sorts of activities! Bald eagle in our backyard. These birds are BIG close up. Orcas island 'garden tour' More garden touring My favorite homes were the ones with daddy seating. Evie found a baby starfish and 18 jelly fish on our beach. I bought Evie her first pack of sugar-free gum. She chewed it for awhile before stating that her mouth was tired. Monster bubbles Cooling down with toes in the sprinklers. Ferry ride to nearby San Juan island for the day. Evie posing in front of a lavender field. Ice cream treat on San Juan. Group dinner at Moran State Park before Evie and Scott spent the night in our tent. Evie + dad sunset hike while camping. South end camp site in Moran State Park View of Cascade Lake from our...

It's HOT in Seattle, and smokey, but mainly just plain ol' hot. Last weekend the girls cooled off in the back yard with the timeless sprinklers, water balloons, and of course pretend oyster meals (super north west kids). They had so much fun squealing as they gently tossed water balloons onto grammy and daddy - but rarely did they pop with such gentle throws. Fortunately for me I knew just how to make them pop when I recovered them! Oysters-a-la-king Drying off Stock pile of water balloons Dinner outside