Our Weekend

Our biggest news of the weekend was that Daddy came back! Mike arrived Saturday afternoon and Samuel was thrilled to see him. I guess I didn't realize how much he would miss him but it was pretty evident by the smile on his face as soon as he saw Daddy in the airport. Saturday was also one of the best weather days we have had this year. After naps, we decided to head over the University Village to walk around, have dinner and spend some time outside.

After playing in the kids play area and eating dinner we walked by the fountain. It is really cute actually. There are frogs and a turtle that squirt water back and forth. There were kids playing in the water and Samuel was eager to join them. Since we had extra clothes we figured why not? Samuel was pretty hesitant at first. He stood on the side and watched everyone else. He then got a bit braver and started plugging the holes that the water was coming out of. His final and bravest attempt was to go underneath the arches of water. Although the story is great told it is much better in pictures.

I still laugh out loud when I see these pictures. Talk about being in the right place at the right time with camera in hand!

Liam spent the time watching all the kids and I am sure wishing he could join them all.

Our Weekend

This weekend was full of fun and exciting surprises. Saturday Mike and I got to spend some time reflecting over the last 10 years. It was so nice to look back and remember how we met, how we fell in love and what our roller coaster of a ride has been. It is crazy to think that we have known each other for 10 years!

Saturday afternoon the guys took Mike out for a beer while I put the finishing touches on a surprise party. Since Mike turned the big 30, there was need for celebration. With the help some very gracious friends we made 15 pounds of potatoes, 30 sausages and onion gravy (Bangers and Mash). He was genuinely surprised and the party was fantastic. Lots of great food, Guinness and friends! I will have to post some pictures when I get them from Jessi...she was on camera duty for me.

Sunday morning we all rolled out of bed and headed to brunch with the DeWaals and Johns Bowlings. We ate at a wonderful cafe, Portage Bay Cafe, and all left so full we could burst. Since we needed to take to work off some of the food we headed over to the University of Washington to walk through campus. The cherry bloosoms were beautiful and we got some great pictures.

Aunt Angie was also here for the weekend. It was so nice to have an extra set of hands. The boys loved having her around. Samuel was especially sad to see her go.

Overall we had a fantastic weekend. I was a bit tired though...good thing you only turn 30 once!

Wanting to Move

So Liam is about to move into the stage of mobile. AHHHHH! I was secretly hoping that maybe he wouldn't decide to start moving until he was around 5 but looks like it might happen before then. Liam has been sitting up for awhile now and is just been much more interested in things around him. He has been caught rolling over pretty frequently and has now moved to going from sitting to his belly fluidly. He then attempts to start crawling but is in the process of figuring out how to make all his limbs coordinate movement without ending in a face plant.

Liam has also been very interested in pulling himself up on anything that is close. This is often my legs or a couch but yesterday was the laundry basket. I grabbed the camera and caught these shots.

Interest...

The Peek...

Settling for a nice gnaw (teething?)

Caught in the act!

I think it will be all too soon that Samuel and I will be chasing Liam around the house. I am hoping he will only be interested in his and Samuel's toys and will leave all the other stuff alone. I know another unrealistic hope but can you blame me? We will keep you updated!

Soccer Balls

Yesterday Samuel, Liam and I headed out to the park to meet some friends. The boys both got soccer balls for Easter and needed to get them dirty. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Here is Samuel is full action. He is running and kicking and I have to say pretty well! Maybe a soccer player in our future?

Liam decided that sitting and holding his soccer ball was safest at this point!

This might be one of my favorite shots ever. Samuel is fascinated by his shadow. He was so excited that "he do it like me mom!" I had to smile and tried to remember when something so little brought me so much joy!

Opening Day

For Easter, Gram got each of the boys a Chicago Cubs article of clothing. Of course we had to pull out the camera and get some shots especially with this week being the beginning of the season! Here are the cuties...

Liam totally unaware of how crazy and fanatic this house gets around baseball season!

Samuel kissing the ball goodbye before he hits it out of the park!

A cute shot of Samuel ready to head to the park.

Go Cubbies!

Snow?

Who knew that it could snow in Seattle at the end of March? This is what is going on outside my window as I write. I am not the least bit thrilled about it by any means. I only thought weather like this happened in Michigan...

Spring is Here

Spring is here! The weather is getting nicer, the sun is shining more and we are getting out to play. Living so close to the lake and only a 20 minute walk to a big playground is so great. We make it to the playground usually twice a week now. The library is also within walking distance and will become a regular outing also. Here are a few pictures from last week that said "spring" to me!

Sidewalk chalk

Dirt

Clear blue skies

Easter Fun

Here are a few pictures of our Easter fun...

Uncle Mike and Samuel waiting for the egg hunt to begin...

Mommy and the boys...still waiting...

Liam was fascinated by eggs this year. Here he is going for his first one!

Samuel caught on pretty quickly and started collecting eggs!

What could it be?

Liam could care less about what was on the inside. He loved banging them together!

Liam showing off his egg.

The Easter Bunny

This past week we were out and about and had to make a stop at the mall. Being the time of year the Easter Bunny was in full force. Samuel was all about waving and saying hi from a distance but wanted nothing to do with getting close to the overgrown, carrot eating, monster. Liam didn't really have a say in the matter and was pretty fascinated by it all. I did get to capture a few pictures of the event. Here is a brief conversation that I believe was playing out...

Liam: Help me!
Samuel: It's ok buddy. I am pretty sure he is a vegetarian.
Liam: Are you sure?
Samuel: No, but he doesn't look very hungry.

Samuel: Listen, mom does this to me every year. Just sit still, put your hands on your knees like this, say a little prayer and it will all be over soon.
Liam: Easy for you to say. You aren't the one sitting up here.
Liam: Ok, if you say it will be alright.
Samuel: Just look at mom and pretend you are excited. She will get a picture and we can get on to the toy store.
Liam: Thank goodness Santa is still 9 months away! By then I will be able to run away.
Samuel: Don't worry little dude, we have time to plot together!
Both: Cheese!

Uncle Mike Is Here!!!

The boys are thrilled to have Uncle Mike come and visit for the next week. Here they are the first couple of days. I will post more pictures as I take them.

Liam getting his few seconds before Samuel comes flying in.

Samuel and Uncle Mike playing with sidewalk chalk.

Early mornings...

Happy Saint Patricks Day

Need I say more...

The Beginning of the End

As the beginning of March came upon us I realized that we only have about 5 more months here is Seattle. Wow. It is so hard to believe that our time here is almost through. It will be much harder to say goodbye than I ever anticipated. Mike and I are in the process now of figuring out how we want to do that and do it well. Seattle has been so much to us over the past three years and a sense of closure feel very needed, at least on my part. We quickly realized that Seattle is all the boys have ever known and leaving will be just has hard on them as it is on us. Lots to think about over the next several month...

Here is what we have left...

April
Mike's 30th Birthday
Mike finishes another trimester
May
Mike walks in graduation (they said yes)
Mike begins his last two classes
June
Mike finishes his last two classes at MHGS
Jenn hands over her leadership role
July
Samuel turns 3
Liam turns 1
We celebrate our 7th anniversary
We grieve the death of Hannah (4 years)
A going away party and spend time marking our end here
August
we begin the drive

At this point I don't feel ready for all this. Although the past three years have been the hardest three we have endured, we have been so transformed by our time here. We will leave this place with such a sense of gratitude. We are different people individually, together and as parents. So...the journey continues...

Reading Fun

Being a teacher this shouldn't surprise me. I know kids do this but it is still amazing when it is yours.

We came across this the other night when Mike was reading to Samuel. He stopped at some point and Samuel spit out the next several words in the book. Mike continued reading and stopping every so often. Samuel continued to finish the sentences for him. We have found that there are at least three books he is able to do this with! Pretty cool!

Liam Update

Since Samuel was previewed the other day I figured Liam better get a shot also. It is amazing how fast he is growing and how quickly he is doing things. He is still only sitting. No crawling in the near future, thank God! He is very interested in everything around him and is very sad when he doesn't get to participate. Oh the life of a seven month old!

As far as a doctor update. He went the other day to have his ears checked. They are clear! Yeah! He does have a minor infection on the outside of his ear where he continues to grab and pull. They are guessing it started as eczema and since he digs at it all the time it got infected. He has cream we put on it and it is clearing up well. He also hit the 20 pound mark! Crazy...no wonder my arms are tired!

Here are a few cute pictures from today. Enjoy!

Cheese mommy!

The better side of him. I think the toy he was playing with went out of his reach!

He is laying up on my legs here and trying to attack me to get the camera. This picture cracks me up each time I see it!

Learning to make lots and lots of noise!

Give me that mom! He almost grabbed it before I was able to snap the picture!