San Fran

At the end of April I flew to San Fran to visit my brother Dan and his wife Meg and their 3 kids!! Avery was just born and Nolan JUST turned 3 (after she was born) and Theo is 18 months. WHOA is right! I was desperate to get to meet Avery and see Theo and Nolan and spend some one on one time with just them and my mom was gracious enough to come stay with my kids so I could go there. It takes a serious village.

I arrived on a Thursday and Meg and I got to walk around and eat delicious things and I got to hold this perfect child. We picked the boys up at daycare around 5 and then the party started! 

Theo eating and chilling. 

early mornings with the boys - Nolan chowing Banana Bread.

lots of fun walking with these 2. 

Friday, Meg and I got to check out new areas and we walked a ton! 

Meg is a superstar mom and it was great to spend a few days together (my brother Dan had a conference so that is the main reason I was there to help her).

she is honestly the best baby. such a sweet girl! 

we went to this awesome market (I actually bought a dinner bell shown behind Theo). Theo didn't want to leave so decided to just plop down. 

Meg and her boys.

sweet nolan 

yes I got this delicious thing at the market. it was sent directly from heaven and it kept me full until 7:30pm! 

With a trip to Fairyland after the market we nailed it with the driving nap on the way home.

Meanwhile in Spokane: the kids were playing soccer!

and getting candy!

and piling on Nana.

I was double swinging like a master.

claire making the sugaryiest slushy ever.

more cuddling avery.

What a weekend. It was great spending time with just the boys. I loved getting to know them and having the cuddles with Avery. I definitely was reminded of those baby/toddler years. They are HARD work! Can't wait to see this crew in July! 

Spring Break week 2017

the oaks has a late Spring Break so we had a free week starting from Good Friday through the following weekend. 

We did some video games - with many of Charlie's new games. 

 lots and lots of reading! if we put an effort into going to the library then I can guarantee 1-3 hours of quiet! 

play dough on the deck! 

pre soccer game shenanigans. 

 NEW CUTS!! Love the new hair cuts on the girls. It was definitely time! 

Celebrated Easter with our low key egg hunt! 

During the week break we took each kid out for a special dinner with just mom and dad. We figured they would be chatting up a storm and just love the attention and in fact  it was almost the opposite. They were quiet, well behaved and basically bored with us. So on the plus side - Bill and I had 3 dates that week! 

Claire chose Republic Pi and got a hot chocolate! 

Kids read so well that we stopped at the Scoop for a treat.

We celebrated Bill's 35th Birthday! 

Ellie chose to go to Luna. After each dinner the kids were basically racing home to get to see their siblings. 

had some warm days to bust out new rompers.

brought the kids to manito and they played and played so well!

Charlie chose to go to Vina's a Pho restaurant. It was great timing because I had gotten really sick and was fevering and coughing like crazy. But the Pho tasted great! 

I took the kids to Wild Walls for a day time adventure. They loved it and I was shocked at how easy it was to take them to an adventure place alone. 

 

more reading... the girls made a reading station! 

a gorgeous hike in the woods in our backyard!

Charlie turns 8!!

Charlie turned 8 this year!!! Just incredible to see what a young man he is growing into. 

I was in Phoenix so we celebrated the day before I left. He got a robe just like his sisters and he was thrilled. He also got a Messi jersey that he wears anytime he is not in uniform. What a delight you are Charlie and we are so proud of you!