we HEART dad

Just a couple pictures in honor of Adam being an awesome dad.

Wearing matching jerseys while watching the (nail-biting) game this past Sunday.

A visit to Adam's work on Monday.  The kids loved it (especially the golf cart ride) and E didn't want to leave.

Go Go Seahawks!

Kids were excited to wear their new Seahawks gear that we picked up while in Seattle.  Unfortunately, both of them were fighting colds, and Gavin was feeling especially under the weather.

After almost six years of marriage, I have to say that I've come a long way in terms of my relationship with football season.  Before having kids, it was always a contentious time in our household when September rolled around, because I simply did not understand what all the hoopla was about.  And while I wouldn't willingly watch a football just for fun, I do enjoy rooting on a team; and having learned a lot more about the sport, I can now appreciate the athleticism involved.  The best part of football season is that it signals the beginning of fall (my favorite season of the year), and now that we have two little ones, watching the Seahawks play has become a welcome tradition for our family on Sundays.  It's sweet to see Ella cheer on the team and share in her dad's passion.  And Gavin (always eager to catch a glimpse of the TV) has started to partake in the excitement.

So hello, football season.  I'm glad there is finally room in my marriage for you now.  :)

Resting up before the game.

Ella loves cheering on the team.

"Ella like See-haat-tle." -- E

We just returned from a trip to Seattle to see Adam's family and attend a memorial for his grandfather, who had passed away.  While the circumstances were somber, we were grateful to be able to travel as a family for a reunion of sorts, and also to introduce Gavin to his dad's roots.

After an unnecessarily long travel day (the flight was good, the rental car experience was not), we took advantage of the mild Seattle weather and walked around Fisherman's Wharf.  The kids loved the ferris wheel and the carousel ride.  

E has a strange love of orcas, so we were happy to serendipitously come across this mural on the back of a factory building.

Happy to be able to kick around on the bed. 

The kids did great on the flight and we don't mind traveling with them (even with all the added baggage), but despite always getting a crib in our room, our kids never slept in them.  Bed sharing is not a favorite of mine when you have to fight for room on the mattress and dodge random limbs kicking and punching you in the middle of the night.  

Though we took Ella to Seattle when she was six months old, this was her first ferry ride.  Needless to say, she loved it.

G had nothing to complain about either.

The memorial was held on the Hood Canal, at a family home that Adam's Grandpa Gene had built for his family.  It was emotional, but beautiful.  A perfect way to honor a very good man and the legacy he leaves behind.

Adam's cousin's kids taking advantage of the warm weather.  Idyllic childhoods are a happy side effect to having a house on the water.

E took the water immediately.  She loved learning how to skip rocks.

E has a special little bond with her cousin, Samantha.

It's a sweet moment realizing that these two get to be here. 

I love this man.

E with her Auntie Ashley.

I know it was really special that Mimi got to share this with her grandkids.

Gavin enjoyed every minute being outdoors in the fresh air.

The weekend of the memorial also fell on the first home game for the Seattle Seahawks.  The morning of the game, Adam too E for another ride on the Ferris Wheel, this time with Grandma in tow.  E is smitten by her dad.

We had a delicious lunch at a nearby pizza place.  Definitely recommend it.

While the boys went to the game, we took the kids to the Space Needle.  E loves planes, trains and automobiles, and could have ridden the monorail all day long.

At the Space Needle with cousins.

He was all smiles.

On our last day we returned to the Seattle Center and visited the Children's Museum.  It was the first time the kids have been, and had it not been for lack of naps and tiredness, we could have stayed all day.  

We attempted to grab a quick lunch outside by the fountain, but discovered E had a fever and was coming down with a cold (darn that toddler sitting behind us on the plane who was coughing ALL his germs everywhere!).  So after E napped on me, we headed back to the hotel for chicken soup and lots of sleeping.

Despite the kids getting sick, we had a wonderful time in Seattle.  It was probably the smoothest trip we could have asked for with two young kids.  It was also memorable and sentimental and a good reminder to appreciate and enjoy the family we have.  We are grateful for the time we got to spend with Adam's extended family and look forward to more trips like this one.  Also, the Seahawks won, so it was win-win for everyone. :)

belated birthday

I turned 32 last Monday, and I celebrated with all my favorite people.  It was a quiet birthday (as they are now with kids in the picture), and I prefer it that way.  I just love having the chance to enjoy the people that fill my life up with so much love and light.

We kicked off the festivities with dinner for two at AOC Wine Bar in Beverly Hills.

Then there was tea with my girl friends.

And ice cream cake with my favorite girl.

And waking up to this face.  Best gift a baby boy can give his mom?  The gift of 12 hours of sleep.

Aloha

Our computer went wonky so it's taken me a while to finally upload pictures of our recent trip to Hawaii.  It feels like it took just as much time for the kids to adjust back to "normal" life and our regular routine.  I have to say, traveling with Ella at nine months old was a great deal easier than traveling with both kids.  Thankfully, we had help from Grandma, Ashley and the kids' godparents, as we attended my good friend's wedding, survived a tropical storm, and validated Adam's fear of shark attacks.

Our first leg of the trip was mainly for Denise's wedding, which was beautiful!  I attended to bridesmaid's duties, while everyone got to do some activities like ATV riding and kayaking.  Ella was a flower girl for the first time, and while I was nervous she would be nervous with all the attention, loved every minute of the festivities.

Buckled in and ready for take off!

Our journey begins with G's first play ride (LAX --> Honolulu).  He did great!  Slept a lot, and woke up to play a little, shout to make his presence known, and ate to fall asleep again.

While I had packed a kid-sized suitcase full of toys, books and activities to occupy her for the 5.5 hr. flight, E mostly slept, ate and watch videos on my iPad.

We stayed near the wedding site, which was on a more secluded side of the island.  So we got a lovely, lush view of Chinaman's Hat.

I love Hawaiian food and was happy to find a shrimp truck very close to our hotel.

Going for a stroll outside our hotel.

This girl loves her accessories.

Taking a tour of the hotel grounds. 

While everyone went ATV riding, Donna and I took the kids to a local beach.  It was a perfect afternoon on a secluded little strip of sand.  The waves were gentle and E LOVED splashing in the water.

She thought it was hilarious that the waves were tickling her toes.  She kept asking for "more waves!" and I was happy to oblige.

We saw people land on the beach.

My kids LOVE their Mimi.

I woke up to this face every morning.

Denise & Tristan had their rehearsal dinner on the beach.  It was a picturesque backdrop evening.

E in her flower girl outfit.  She ended up walking down the aisle with a cone of popcorn (while I held her flowers).  Go figure.

A quick family picture before the wedding began.

One of the best parts of the trip was spending time with our friends.

Two of the handsomest men I know!

E exploring the wedding site with her Lala.

 After the wedding we flew to Maui for a family vacation.  We loved having our friends and the kids' godparents along for the ride.  Many hands made light work, but toddler meltdowns definitely made traveling a little tougher this time around.

On the shuttle to the airport.  I didn't realize how much luggage and stuff came with two kids.

E has developed a love of planes.  She also made sure to do some yoga in the airport to help with the flight.

We had a VERY lovely welcome gift waiting for us when we arrived at the hotel.  The kids were thrilled to open up their goodies!

Last year, it was just Ella's name in sponges.  Hard to believe we have another name in our group.

Traveling is exhausting.

Making prints in the sand.

Beach bum.

No trip to Hawaii is complete without a fruity cocktail served in a pineapple.

So blessed to be able to still vacation with my oldest friend. 

Heading out for a shopping excursion.

It was really hot during our trip, so we made sure to stay hydrated.

We were going for "Lion King" but got "Totem Pole" instead.

G and his Mimi waiting for the sunset.

"Where's the sun going?"

We braved the heat to make a trip to Lahaina for shaved ice.  It was delicious.

Ella loves her breakfast buffets.

Our favorite memory from the trip ended up being a visit to the Maui aquarium with just the four of us.

While in Maui we were hit by a tropical storm and alerted of two shark attacks (!), affirming Adam's long-seated fear.

Learning about the marine life in Hawaii.

Upside down jellyfish.  I have a strange love for them.

Being the neat-freak that she is, E was fascinated by the scuba diver cleaning the tank.

Stingray encounter.

We think this fish looks like G when he was first born.  It's all in the puckered mouth.

Maybe it was the heat or the exhaustion of traveling, but E spiked a fever the last night we were there.  Fancy sorbet was what the doctor ordered.

Getting ready to head home.

A successful and memorable family trip.

Airport bound.

Aloha, Hawaii!  'Til we meet again!