Bubble Bath Splashing

Auntie Calie treated us to Zoo Lights at the Point Defiance zoo. It was a great night and we are very thankful.Mommy's little boy! Between big sister and Mommy it's safe to say that Sammy is definitely a ladies man. Jeez Sam, where does Dad fit in? Oh yeah, somewhere behind Billy (our cat) and ahead of peas and green beans.

Loving sister or a thinly veiled attempt to crowd Sam out of the picture? I'm going with the latter . . .

Why did we move all the way out to Kenmore so they could have seperate rooms? I think this is proof positive that sharing a room could have worked!

Well, maybe not. Sam, if you want her to play with you splashing her is not the best game plan.

Ahh, sweet revenge for Audrey. Actually Sam, I guess your trick worked as I was present and can attest that hidden beneath that basket is your chubby little smile. Really, even hazing by Audrey gets a smile out of him.

When Audrey needs a break she hides out by the bookcase. I absolutely love this picture.

The zoo in the winter is so much fun. You literally end up having many of the exhibits to yourself . . .

. . . and the African Safari has the perfect "time-out" jail for Audrey!

Who knew a tutu could also be an accessory. "I'm so pretty I can't even look".

"I'm so pretty I can't stop looking". Sam is definitely becoming self-aware . . .

. . . or perhaps he thinks he's made his first friend? Either way, I love the little guy.

Santa!

This year at Santa's house, Audrey got a little bonus time as they switched photographers during her visit. It took a shockingly long time for the new photographer to get the lighting right, so Audrey got to get up close and personal with Santa. Santa actually got frustrated with the photographer and took a couple of cheap shots saying "I had the line down to nothing before you got here!". Awkward? Very!

Audrey loved her bonus time, but thank goodness we didn't find ourselves in this scenario two years earlier as evidenced by the photo below . . .

This picture still breaks my heart, but I'm sure all little kids have a version of this photo.

Lisa joined a mom's group when Audrey was born. Unbelievably they still get together monthly (if not more). Although I have to say the get togethers represent more of a "wine night" minus the kids than the playdates that used to be more prevalent. However, as a dad I realize the value in these getaways. A happy mommy is a happy family.

At the last playdate Santa made an appearance. If you are wondering if Audrey takes more after daddy or mommy, here is evidence that not even Santa can pull her away from a craft table. Mommy it is!

Sam noticed Audrey's affinity for Santa and thought he'd take a shot at getting noticed. Well played Sam.

Don't be fooled by the book, it's the nearness of Audrey that's driving his smile.

Every once in awhile she obliges him with a little attention. Thank you Audrey.

That is when she's not feeding one of her stuffed animals of course. It's funny to see how nuturing she can be to them but not her little brother, but I suppose that is pretty typical.

Leading up to Christmas Audrey kept claiming that "It's not Christmas yet because there's no snow". Thank you to every Christmas book and show that makes this fact abundantly clear to a 3 year old. Thank goodness we got our share this year. I think Audrey was even ready for it to go by the end!

Sam is slowly adding "boy" themed toys to his collection. I don't mean to be to worried about stereotypes, but I think 90% of his options today are pink. I'm a huge fan of hand-me-downs, but at some point he needs some primary colors!

And thank goodness the kitchen is a cross-over, to be used by either the future Rachel Ray or Bobby Flay.

Sam absolutely loves the bath, which I think is pretty typical for little ones. Audrey always wants to help out . . by dumping water over his head. We simply have to say "Audrey won't it be fun when you can both bathe together" which makes her promptly turn and run out of the bathroom not to be seen again until Sam is safely in his pajamas. (note the pink watering can)

Sam has begun his "military crawl". No leg action yet, but he's surprisingly mobile on his forearms. This was supposed to be a picture in front of the tree. Lisa and I are headed to Babies R Us as I finish this so we can get a baby-gate. Lisa's days just got a little tougher . . sorry hon, but he is pretty cute.

Coug Recruit & Cousin Love

I have to be honest, after this season, my loyalty to the beloved Cougs was definitely tested. But alas, an Apple Cup won is always sweet (no matter how rotten it was). And poor Sam has no choice in his college allegiance at this point, so the Cougs it is!

Okay Sam, if there is a question on your entrance exam to WSU about the proper dump truck driver positioning, feet first in the mouth isn't the correct answer (let's hope it's a multiple choice exam!).

How is it again that we over stimulate our little ones these days?

It's hard to believe the two buddies above have had countless hair pulling, ear twisting, claw scratching, blood drawing spats over the years. It truly is a love/hate thing they share.

Speaking of love/hate! Actually, Audrey is very sweet to Sam. He'll take anything he can get from her. She walks through the room and his eyes are glued on her with that chubby smile. If she "accidentally" pushes him as she walks by . . . no matter, it actually makes him giggle. A kiss to the forehead is uncontrollable delight.

Audrey snuck out of this picture as I think she was jealous about having to share cousin Kyla with Sam. Audrey asbolutely worships Kyla. She literally stands in front of her mirror at home and asks if she looks like cousin Kyla. I think we all had that older cousin we so looked up to when we were kids. We are so fortunate that Audrey has Kyla. Thank you for being so sweet Kyla, I know it isn't easy!

Wait, I take that back. I'm not sure Audrey is excited to be laying next to Kyla at all. Oh my.

October = Potty Training & Halloween

After several months (let's call it 6) of pestering Audrey about potty training, Lisa and I finally decided to let her do it on her own time. I was shocked to hear 3 year olds don't always do what mommy and daddy tell them to do.

Anyway, on October 1st when Lisa was getting Audrey out of bed Lisa said "guess what today is Audrey" and Audrey calmly replied "Potty Training Day". Really!? Okay! Let's make a chart and go for it. After 3 little accidents that morning she's been perfect.

With a gift given for every 7 successful potty runs, you can imagine their would be a big gift at the end of the chart. Well, we gave Audrey some choices . . . a bike, maybe a trip to Disneyland . . .


. . . nope, she wanted a freakishly large tinker bell balloon. Lifesize actually to a 3 year old. Some things aren't meant to be blown up. Tinker bell is no longer a cute little pixie in my mind.


Audrey was so excited about her new found independence, she had to create a cheer for it. I'm not sure which side of the equation I'm more worried about when I notice that my 3 year old is one clothes pin away from fitting into her mother's high school cheerleading uniform.

Audrey bragging to her little brother . . . perhaps a challenge . . . "see how impressed mom and dad are with me . . what have you done lately". Okay Sam, show us what you've got . . .

Oh my Sam, you're going to have to bring a little better game than that!

October also brought a trip to the pumpkin farm, now an annual tradition with Sydney. Here comes the token parent comment "I can't believe how much they've grown!". : (


I was pretty happy when Audrey turned down the caramel apple and elephant ear for the much healthier roasted corn . . . until I saw the melted butter vat that they dipped it into 3 times. Audrey was in heaven.

Sam is taking the "scare" part of scarecrow seriously. Well done kiddo.

Any chance he's shedding some of the baby fat? HAH!


Mom took one look at the butcher knife I pulled out to carve my pumpkin and quickly went in to safe'n'sane mode.

Hands down, Audrey's favorite part of her butterfly costume was the little bit of make-up on her nose. She literally had a panic-attack when she thought she smudged it on the way to Sydney's house for trick'or'treating. Tradgedy averted when mommy pulled out a little eye-liner.

Scary Giraffe.

The past several years Lisa and I have taken Audrey to Queen Anne Avenue. While this has been great as it's very festive, and frankly very easy, our move to the suburbs was complete when we did the old fashioned "door to door". It was surprisingly nostalgic.

Sydney was adorable in her angel costume!

Sam doesn't realize in this photo that mommy and daddy have poached all of his halloween candy. Better luck next year "gum boy".

Booster Seat & Thanksgiving Prep

Daddy's girls! A mile from our house there is a little shopping village (actually called Country Village) that has a bunch of quaint little furniture stores, craft stores, tea rooms, and a great bridal shop (so I'm told). It's basically a guy's worst nightmare on Sunday afternoon.

It's tough to miss as there is a 40 foot chicken that guards the entrance. As Calie pointed out, you know you've moved out of the city when directions to your house include "turn right after you pass the big chicken". I'm never at risk of missing it as every time we pass it (which is often as it's on the way to I-405) Audrey screams out "BU-KAWWWW!!!!!".

The train ride is a must when we go to "The Village". Of course, out of all the "open air" options for train cars, Audrey has to be in the caboose. While I look comfortable, it's an extremely bumpy ride once we hit the trail. At least seventeen times (the number of head bumps I experienced) I realized that the caboose is not the equivalent of first class on Alaska.

Angie threw a little Labor Day get together at the lake. It's great that the kids are old enough to enjoy popsicles and fun in the sun.

Our little girl has graduated to a booster seat. And we were actually worried she might not like it.

Sam is not shy with the smiles. He's such a good kid. Why doesn't he sleep?

The Disney princess addiction is still going strong. Though I think we are on track to be a butterfly for Halloween so perhaps it's waning?

Are we at the age where we can work some chores into the mix? This is a great photo. However, the better photo would have been 3 minutes after as we were trying to get the hose back from her. Nothing says super-soaker like a 3 year old with a live hose!

My ladies about to hit the town. Or the village . . . . Country Village . . . . BU-KAWWWW!!!!

Sammy getting ready for Halloween. Very scary Sam, very scary.

Audrey is already working on her Thanksgiving form. I'm always surprised at the things kids will and won't eat. I wouldn't think olives would make the cut, perhaps it's the fun factor?

"My sister is amazing! I don't know what Thanksgiving is, but I'm on board! Gimmee, gimmee, gimmee one of those olives!".