Christmas Trees and Close-Ups

Audrey and Sam coming out from under the bed tent at Greg and Jessica's . . . whom Audrey affectionately referred to as "Caca" for the 1st couple years of her life. Sam is slowly but surely establishing himself as a legitimate playmate for Audrey.

They are actually sharing a loveseat now and again for their bedtime show. How cute, right? Well you should see how the scene changes if Sammy crosses over on to "her" cushion! Believe me, there is a reason he's tucked himself over into the corner of "his" cushion.

Audrey got ahold of the camera and actually got a few good photos snapped. Sam was thoroughly enjoying the attention.

Considering her usual self-photos end up being of the carpet, she actually snapped a good one of herself.

We have been talking to Audrey about taking the volume down a notch. We told her that she should practice using a quiet voice on our trip up to Anacortes for Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad are 100% on board with her scotch-tape solution.

I'm looking forward to the day when Sam can do some sawing and the old man can just point to the tree and grumble. Until then he gets pampered by Mom. Your day is coming Sammy.

Perfect spot for a family photo right? Wait, where's Audrey . . . Oh yeah, she's 4. She must be as dificult as possible, it can't be helped. "Hurry and take the photo or we're going to be on the news". I mean really, who looses their kid at a tree farm?

Just when we think she can only make things more difficult, she jumps in and becomes helpful. Again, Sammy, your day is coming!

Family Pics and Halloween

Imagine this stereotypical husband and wife conversation regarding family pictures (it could happen anywhere in the world . . . even Kenmore, WA!).
Wife: Honey, don't forget we have family pictures this weekend.
Hubby: (grumbling) Family pictures . . . we have plenty of pictures of the family.
Wife: It will be nice to have ones that are a little more formal, you'll see.
Hubby: (almost pleading) We'll never get the 4 year old to hold still, when we ask her to smile she'll purposely look away.
Wife: She'll be fine, it will be quick.
Hubby: (Thoughtfully) I think it's supposed to rain on Saturday.
Wife: It's not going to rain, and trust me, you will appreciate the pictures later in life.

These are the little conversations that remind me why I love my wife so much. She's almost always way ahead of me on creating "life's little moments", especially with the kids. Not that family pictures is some sort of revelation, but I gaurantee it wouldn't have happened if it was left up to me. Below are a few of the 200+ photos we now have that were taken by someone who actually knows what they are doing.

Sam if finally over his irrational fear of swings! Actually, his fear isn't that irrational. I think he was around 9 months when Audrey decided to help push him. He was midway on his return swing when she (unintentionally) gave him the whiplash push back forward. Trying to stuff his chubby little legs through the bucket swing after that just wasn't going to happen.

Nothing confirms fall is here like roasted corn on the cob at Country Village. Our kids (as I'm sure most) absolutely love the roasted corn, dipped in a huge pot of melted butter, and sprinkled with salt.

Our "pumpkin patch" adventure this year entailed us simply going down to the Yakima Fruit Market on Bothell Way. We felt a bit guilty, but it had absolutely poured for 3 days leading up to it and we knew the local patches would be a mud bath (do I sound like I'm still making excuses?). Oh well, Sam and his buddy don't seem to mind.

Sam is definitely on-task here while Audrey is goofing around. I'm 100% convinced this is a sign of things to come. Audrey's pre-K teacher told Lisa yesterday that Audrey is the little social coordinator in class. I'm also 100% convinced it wasn't a compliment.

Audrey has been learning the basics of a calendar. You can imagine what the month of October looks like to a 4 year old. You flip the page to a 31 day month, and way at the bottom, on the very last square, is the little pumpkin that signifies possibly the best night of a child's life. Waiting and counting the days was a true test of patience for her. The day is finally here and she is even willing to put an arm around her brother if it speeds up the candy-getting-process. We love her choice of uni-sex costumes (that's a spider if you can't tell). Sam, guess what you're going to be next year? Sorry kiddo, hand-me-downs are a fact of life for the second born.

1st Day of School!

Audrey all dressed up for her 1st day of Pre-K! The poor thing was so excited I'm not sure if she slept the entire week leading up to it.

Still smiling. She loves school so much that she literally heads out to the car and climbs into her booster seat 15 minutes before it's time to go. Lisa tells her that they have a little time before they need to go and Audrey replies "That's okay Mom, I'll wait right here . . . ".

It is amazing how little kids can connect within the first 5 minutes of meeting each other. By day 2 they were all hugging each other when they showed up.

While Audrey's school is only 1/2 day, 3 days a week, it gives Mom and Sam a little alone time. Well, let me paint the picture of what the alone time really is . . . Mom gets to do whatever the heck she wants while Sam . . . well, see the picture below on what he gets to do for the 3 hours Audrey is gone.

The quiet house actually works a little too well with Sam's nap. He often has to be woken up to go pick big sister up from school. It is almost criminal to wake a sleeping baby. Okay, fine . . . toddler.

If he's a good boy and lets Mommy have her time, he gets a little something like say . . an Oreo cookie. I think he's on board!

. . . and Audrey just looks bored with her meal. "Lasagna again . . . ho-hum, what's a princess to do?".

4 Year Olds Can Catch Fish!

Lisa's uncle Tim has a beautiful place out in Poulsbo that has been near and dear to Audrey's heart since they hosted the family re-union the year prior. It was her first experience with many leisurely activities such as berry picking (blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry), hammock lounging, "insanely large swing from a tree" swinging, and best of all . . . homemade ice cream. She has been asking to go back ever since.

As you can see from the picture above, being 4 years old opens up your world to a whole knew batch of leisurly activities (Yep, uncle Tim has a fully stocked pond on his property). Would you believe that she landed a fish less than 5 minutes in?

Success! And don't worry, it was catch and release. Lisa was worried that she might be cleaning and de-boning an 8 ounce bass.

For Audrey's birthday party Lisa suggested we do face painting. Being the mild idiot I am I said "do we rent a clown to do that"? Did I forget who I married? As Audrey likes to say about her mommy (in her very best Beastie Boy voice) "She's Crafty!" Lisa did a great job painting faces (butterfly of course for Audrey).

4 year old birthday parties really are great. It's the first one where kids seem to get that there is one birthday child and they all sit around and watch and give the occasional ohhh and ahhh. And yes, Disney princess theme'd toys still win the day. I'm not sure, but I think that branding campaign is going well.

And here we have our two very own princesses. Cinderella (Sydney) on the left and Aurora (Audrey) on the right. I know the Disney princess line-up better than the Seahawks line-up . . . AHHHH!

Quick quiz . . . can anyone identify one choking hazzard for Sam on the table above? Okay, how about 17 choking hazzards? Still too easy? Don't worry, Audrey has promised to "Put them in their bed every night . . . I promise".

We've referred to Sam's ever growing toddler mullet before. I was telling Lisa that we shouldn't cut it and let the top grow in to meet up with the back (perhaps I'm jealous of growing hair?). I do believe after seeing this picture that I was arguing a very weak case.

Pretty sure I didn't have an awesome Blue Angel chair to sit in when I was a kid. Lisa and I were singing "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" from Top Gun the whole time. I think he's more like Iceman but Lisa likes Goose. The hair stylist was not impressed.

In the end mommy knew best and the haircut looks pretty good on our "he looks nothing like a baby anymore, so let it go already" baby boy.

Who doesn't love being a tourist in their own town? You really do learn a lot on these kind of adventures. One caveat . . . the tour guide sold Bremerton to a group of ladies thinking it was Bainbridge. He told them it was a 30 minute ferry ride to Bremerton and they could have dinner and watch the sun set as it reflected back on the city. Pretty sure they were a little upset when they drifted into Bremerton.

Or perhaps they didn't hear him because of all the quacking? I felt like I was at the UofO on a Saturday afternoon!

"Not sure about these new binky's mom, maybe I am ready to give them up".

When Audrey was born Lisa joined a mom's group. They are still going strong and meet very regularly. Here are the kids at the group 4 year old birthday party.

And here they are with the addition of siblings. Nearly all families have now "doubled-down" with two even adding a third (in less than 4 years? that's crazy talk). It's so sweet to see all the kids piled on their mother's laps. Can anyone see Audrey and Sam cuddling? Yep, still not happening. She was up quicker than a flag on the fourth of July when she saw him coming.

I'll admit, he's a little grabby, but come on Audrey you're his idol! In a show of affection, she did cry when he recently fell down a half flight of stairs (unhurt), so I suppose there is still hope.

Swim Lessons and Lake Chelan

If you read last month's entry, I made the comment about the cheap target pool not being able to handle the 3 year old fury . . . well the inflatable slide gave up the ghost, but never fear, Audrey quickly found a replacement "launching pad".

Poor Sam still hasn't been invited in to the big kid pool. He doesn't seem to mind . . . who would want an incoming 45 pound 3 yearl old messing with your surf anyway.

In preparation to a trip to Lake Chelan we put Audrey in swim lessons. While the 1st day was a shocker (the teacher drags all the kids off the diving board and forces their head under water) she was a champ by the end.

Flash forward to the pool at Lake Chelan and you can see she had the basics down. The kicking and screaming trying to stay out of the pool on the 1st day of swim lessons turned to kicking and screaming when it was time to get out of the pool at Lake Chelan.

Who would want out when mom is this fun!

Sam finally made it to the big kid pool! Well done Sam, now KICK!

In classic Audrey fashion she made a new best friend immediately. Meet Brooke. Every single time we go to a park, event, grocery store, or gas station Audrey immediately seeks out any girl within a few years of her age and introduces herself. I'm serious. Just tonight we took the ferry home from Kingston and she met a little girl on board. She cried for 10 minutes when we had to return to our cars because she was going to miss "her very best friend".

Look at mom swimming around the lake with Audrey and Brooke (Audrey's best friend (best Lake Chelan friend))! Anyone that knows Lisa's aversion to cold water knows what a feat this is.

Sam's lake time was better spent at the playground just off the lake. Anytime we got near the lake Sam would decide to eat the sand. Boy genius.

100 degrees = immediate ice cream cone purchase. While Audrey is all for tasting mommy's chocolate chip mint, Lisa looks a little leary of diving into Audrey's Cotton Candy flavor. I don't blame her.

Packed up and headed home . . . pretty sure the kids enjoyed the week. Is there any better road trip when your kids are in this mode? "Honey, where are we going?" "Who cares, we can actually have an adult conversation!".

Sam is getting a little more love from Audrey these days which is very sweet.

"Come here bubby, I'm gonna give you a little squeeze."

"Gee thanks big sis, you're the best . . . do you think I can play in the big kid pool tomorrow?"

"Not a chance diaper boy, just keep smiling for the camera."