pictures of interest...

Along with all of the west coast we are HOT! I am at an air conditioned cafe and loving it. We have been enjoying summer so much at beaches, parks, and outside at our house. Braeden does sooo well in his car seat or stroller to be in the shade. looking forward to going back to mid 70's weather

what we have been up too...

Terrace had her first jet ski ride - she had fun but was not all that excited about it before she got on. She also got to watch Brad and I get pulled on a tube! thanks jeff and monica!


more and more time at beach..this day the tide was really really low tide so we got to see almost legal size crab...bummer crabbing season is not open yet!



smiley braeden - 3 months old



tummy time on a great quilt my Aunt Mona (and family?) made...it is hard to have him on the ground bc T wants to dance around him, over him and run around him along with being right in his face...but he is getting strong and has rolled over a couple times (by accident I think).



self titled princess Terrace! we found a show on tv that teaches some ballet moves and of course she LOVES IT! She also loves to show and tell Braeden that she is a princess. She will say, hi Braeden I am your sister princess, you love your sister princess? very cute! he just wants to chew on her outfits!

Princess Terrace is almost 3

We had T's party a few weeks early this year bc Dottie was going to be up with us that weekend and it just worked out better this way. She had decided she wanted her party at Jungle Playland and after meeting anyone new, she would want them to come as well. We all had a great time! The kids played the whole time besides stopping to eat pizza and decorate cupcakes...which was a big hit! They also had fun with the animal masks and sunglasses. You will see we also got her a princess cake, she had seen it at the grocery store and loved it! So, parents mostly ate cake and kids decorated! Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a special day for Terrace.

We will be celebrating this Sunday as a family - doing activities she wants to do that day - so who knows where we will end up

her cake and below she is showing us that she is three!




examples of the glasses and masks...a big hit!



decorating her cupcake



Braeden sleeping again!

soccer

We enrolled T is an indoor soccer class last week and she loved it (she is small girl pink and white shirt and pants). She did so well participating and they even had a little game at the end which was so cute! The instructor threw out the ball and she ran right up and grabbed it with her hands. Once the kids told her not to do that she kicked it and the "game" went on. We went back today for another class but it was a different instructor and she was not wanting to play today - so we will see how she feels next week as we had already signed her up for a soccer "camp" two days a week (1 hr).

first trip...

down south to my parents house by myself. Before Braeden joined us it was easier to travel and stay with friends but now with two kiddo's we can easily take over someone's house. But Brad was working 5 nights straight so I knew I would want some help. My friend Maria came up for a night (THANKS MARIA) and then I spent 2 nights at my parents house - WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEKEND we had!

here is the recap -

Time at Marine Hill's pool - what I consider my second home bc I was always there playing and then working - go fish and tree


Braeden fell asleep sucking on my hand...sweet boy

eating an otter pop (again, something I lived on during the summer)


We had a great time at the farmers market Sat morning and we brought home clams...T was sooo excited but only ended up eating a couple of them. In the past I have fed them to her but this time she got a good look at them on her plate and decided to pass. We also enjoyed a small aquarium and touch tank run by the community college, it is only open Saturdays and T really wants to go back.
here she is helping my dad cook the clams


Braeden now enjoys sitting at the table when we are eating and we thought this was so cute with his hands on the table.


Sunday, my parents had a lions club potluck at Nancy's beautiful home! My mom wanted to show off Braeden and how much T had grown. We had a great time playing and my dad took her out on a paddle boat ride lasting all of two minutes before she decided she wanted to come back.

some things on my mind...

first of all - Brad has a day off soon so I hope to update the blog then. I can only seem to get it done at night (late) or outside of the house. I feel like I have alot to say and am sure I will enjoy looking back at what I was feeling...

I LOVE THAT MY "JOB" ALLOWS ME TO LEAVE THE HOUSE AND SPEND HALF OF MY DAY IN A SWIMSUIT! - we had a great day at a new beach this morning!
I am enjoying nursing my little man BUT also love that he is flexible and will take a bottle :)
I am surprised how well I have survived with lack of sleep this time around.
I loved catching up on OLD gossip while getting my toes done, then heading to picnic dinner with Micah, then to Mallards for sorbet and a game of candy land with Terrace (she understands the game now :), a quick stop at trader joes so she could push the little cart, and final stop to say a quick hi to Brad.
It is funny to me that B will not fall asleep until exactly 10 pm....want to work on making an earlier bed time.
I am enjoying no nap days (for T) for the most part minus the 5 pm naps if we are in the car.
I love how much B sleeps (lots of naps and 6-8 hr stretches at night).
I have sooo many great women in my life - great support!
I love watching TJ's creativity grow!
I could watch Braeden smile ALL day long!
I am so thankful that Brad is able to work so hard (so much!) so that I can be home.
Brad is a wonderful husband and father - so patient with all of us!
Brad and I get irritated when T needs to talk constantly but we need to remember these days will come to an end before we want them to.
I wish I could slow the children's aging...especially Braeden.
I am feeling ready to hire our first sitter for the kids...
WE ARE SOOOO IN LOVE WITH OUR CHILDREN!

Now - time for bed

The Big 3

we have a 3 year old and a 3 month old - here are some pictures from today's photo shoot! Terrace did really well while Braeden cooperated but was not impressed!









I love to look back and see how much Braeden and TJ look alike and here is another example. Below his picture are pictures of her at almost 3 months old.

4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Brad had an extra long weekend off and we had ALOT of great family time! We spent Friday evening down in Whidbey Island with Dottie. There were beautiful fireworks but TJ was not so sure at first but was ok with them if her ears were covered. Braeden did great in the moby trying to sleep while I covered his ears. We had a VERY quiet drive home!

Saturday morning we went to the Blaine parade in which TJ tried to run out and get candy and enjoyed herself. Then were home for a family nap before heading out to Sandy Pt. to enjoy and evening of friendship and more fireworks. The girls enjoyed sparklers and small fireworks. We again enjoyed beautiful fireworks but left early.

Whidbey Island -




Saturday the 4th - finally a good picture of the two of them!


hot day at the parade -



Evening at Sandy Point -

Braeden 2 month pics

yes a little late but I got some cute ones of him last week. He is so smiley and chatty now, can grasp his hands together and occasionally can get them to his mouth. He also loves to chew on our fingers :)