Happy 6th Fairy Birthday

Last week was little S's 6th birthday, and actually the 6th fairy princess birthday party she has had.  Each year we wonder if this will be the year she will want something besides a fairy princess theme (we wonder the same with Halloween, and nope, this year she will be a fairy princess again.)  No boys have ever been allowed (besides her brother and dad, who attended but did not care to join in the fairy fun) although most of her real friends are boys.  She is our little girl who has grown up in a tutu, loves ballet, and anything fancy, though she plays rough with the boys (usually with a sticky face and her filthy tutu on.)  She had a fun time at her kindermusik party, fluttering about with all the other little fairies in her kindergarten class.
She has grown so much this past year in her responsibility and emotional awareness.  She knows what's going on, gets her things done, and helps her older sister and younger brother follow through on their responsibilities.  She's reading, riding a bike, playing the piano and making art masterpieces in her free time. All her cutest misspeaks have disappeared (well occasionally there's still one or two.)  She is just growing up so gracefully and beautifully, but just so fast.  It's not looking like she'll ever lose those rosy cheeks, we're hoping anyway.  And we fit in one more fairy birthday (and Halloween.)  I'm sad this may be it, then all my sweet little tutu-wearing fairies will be gone.  Happy birthday our sweet fairy princess!

One of my favorites: she's 3 here

Three years later

 

                   

September in Seattle...

We've been keeping busy in September, moving as fast as our bumbling legs and forgetful minds can take us.  It doesn't show much promise of slowing down as the holidays approach, but we are actually enjoying the bustle the school year has brought.  Today is a day off from school and we're all content to just stay home and catch up on idle time (which I pride myself into thinking we have more than most, due to my limiting activities with the kids) but there's just nothing like time when there is not much expected of you.  We cherish it.  The rest of the days since school started have been filled with soccer, tap/ballet, lots of overtime required of the toothfairy, little bits of home spa activities (with two girls, I have an excuse!) and a wacky, crazy spirit week at school.  I only captured pictures of western day (where the girls' toothlessness added to the hillbilly look of the costumes) and crazy hair day, and then pictures did not seem to happen for the remaining days, we were probably running late. 

Teacher conferences for the girls were last week and they are both doing fantastic with academics (setting aside Big S's mental block to all things math), but reading is way above grade level, and both teachers commented on their great behavior and kindness to others (of this I am most proud.)  There has already been some playground drama, trying to figure out which girlfriends are still friends this year, but it has been worked out, and the sisters even see and get to play together at recess some days.  Little brother is going to a nursery class while I attend MOPS on Thursdays, which he loves (we call it "school" so he can feel big like his sisters).  He's potty trained and sleeping in a big boy "Lightening McQueen" bed, and my sense of having a little baby in the house is fading fast. :(  I'm also teaching Big S's sunday school class leading up to her first communion this year!  And she is enjoying girl scouts and Little S will be an Adventure Princess this year with V, looking forward to her daddy time. 

We are still very much enjoying the Seattle area.  The fall colors are starting to show, and it is hard to explain how exhilarating the cool fall weather is.  N and I get nice long walks in each day to and from school dropping off the girls, and go exploring for slugs and point out all the pretty fall leaves.  My social calendar is too full, but I'm enjoying it and love all I have to look forward to soon.  I am having a mother's night out with my neighbor tonight at a wine bar, and next weekend I am spending a long weekend away in Lake Chelan with neighborhood ladies to enjoy a 6 hour limo wine tour, a 5k breast cancer walk, and lots of relaxation to be had in a house on the lake!  I scheduled V a massage after a long weekend of childcare, God bless him.  I'm not sure why I don't think I need one weekly, but I want to encourage this behavior.  Plus V is working very hard at work lately, although he still loves it, it is the most demanding job he has ever had.  It is hard for him to turn his brain off (and blast his phone constantly receiving msgs!) but he'll get better at managing that as he starts to feel more comfortable (not in his work load being less, but in knowing it will always be there calling him, and eventually he will have to shut it off and have a little fun.  I know this because numerous MS spouses have told me this is how it goes the first couple of years.  Lucky for him, I'm willing to wait it out.)

Here are pics of our September...

Big S Mighty Angels U8 soccer



she's a great goalie!

me and Big S relaxing (little S took pic)

crazy hair day (including N's wake up do)

western (hillbilly) day

trains, trains, and more trains!

toothfairy visiting weekly around here

Lightening McQueen!

Back to School

We have been searching for the best beaches around this summer. There are so many places to visit and things to see in the summertime, that we just can't see them all. We haven't even visited the best places yet (several beaches in OR are supposed to be beautiful - hope to get to those next year.) The school year has begun and I just can't believe how the summer used to feel like an eternity when I was young, and now it is over and I felt like I was scrambling to fit in another few things while preparing for school clothes and supply lists. Oh how I miss school uniforms. Big S's soccer pictures are today, and we had to buy soccer cleats since she has grown two shoe sizes since last fall. I have to remind myself that the girls really do LOVE school and this is little S's Kindergarten year, and we are so EXCITED about it. While it is too quiet for me to have both girls away all day, this year N and I get to do more fun things together without the time-limiting schedule we had last year together, since the girls will have the same schedule at the same school. Still... we will miss sleeping late and all the freedom the summer time allows... and especially the beach trips.

 

South Beach, Discovery Park, Seattle

We went on a 4 mile roundtrip hike through the south bluffs of Discovery Park, about 30 mins from our house near the port in Seattle. It was a gorgeous 80 degree day, and once we walked through the beautiful scenery, we arrived at South Beach with a lighthouse, sandy beaches and views of the Olympic mountains and Mt. Ranier (huge white mtn). The water is very clear (and pretty chilly!) but that doesn't stop my kids from dousing themselves. We saw crabs, clams, seagulls, and a large heron. Several cruise ships also went by blowing their horns as they set sail out of the port nearby. We played for several hours and ate lunch on the beach, then headed back. I understand why it would be useful to have wet/dry hiking shoes around here, since we wore hiking shoes on the hike portion, then brought flip flops for the beach, which was not really practical for all the rocky terrain once you get on the beach. The light, cool breeze kept us from getting hot all day, and we all slept very well last night!

Happy 40th Birthday Vic!

Vic had a happy 40th birthday this weekend. Our nephew James came into town from Dallas and the kids got to spend some time with their oldest cousin. We took him all around Seattle, got a fresh fish from the market, had some friends over for some ribs and karaoke, and had a picnic at Snoqualmie Falls. The first pic below is from "Daddy and Donuts" day near the last day of school.