Sea-town

Imagine the Best of  Peter, Paul and Mary soundtrack playing, the smell of toasted Dave's Killer Bread*, and the creaminess only German chocolate can produce in your mouth and then you will really have the full scope of my trip to Seattle.

ahh...sigh.

Good stuff.

*As a side note, if you've never heard of Dave's Killer Bread you seriously haven't lived. If I didn't adore my husband I might just marry this Dave guy despite that the fact that he's an ex-con drug addict, solely for his bread. No really. Its that good. You may purchase it at Costco in Seattle.

Back to the trip...

Let's start with some rainy pictures for my dear "friends" that believe it only rains in Seattle...oh wait I don't have any pictures like that because it was gorgeous the whole time we were there:)

Ok how about some pictures of a shopping mall.

Turns out this is what the outlet mall looks like...fabulous!

We also...

played at the park,

Baked,

Colored,

(let's not mention how Naomi snuck out of her packn'play to color on the walls)

Dressed- up all matchy-matchy

(Go Seahawks!)

Ate chocolate....

(just happens to be a German Chocolate Factory down the road called Boehm's Candy. My mother's maiden name is Boehm. So it's kinda perfect, just like her.)

Played Tumblin' Monkeys

(seriously coolest game ever!)

Played in the snow

(the obvious favorite...highlight of the trip!)

Dad and I went running, in the which he and the hills kicked my trash!

Of course I choose to place part of the blame on brand new running shoes and giant blisters on both of my arches. Got a full refund for those puppies.

and then we had to say goodbye...sniff sniff

to my dad that is...my mother had the joyous task of flying home with me and kiddos.

She stayed a couple days and then went on to my sister's in Atlanta.

Thanks for the sweet trip mom and dad! Love you!!!

Flyin' Solo

As "solo" as flying alone with 3 children is I suppose...

Wednesday night the kiddos and I boarded this plane. No, we were not heading for Disneyland. Although, with the Disney soundtrack blaring and Disney coloring books and pilot wings being passed out, it kinda felt like it. Part way through the flight while I was changing a poopy bum in lavatory with turbulence and cutting off Naomi's running laps up the aisle to 1st class I was beginning to realize that this was definitely not the happiest place on earth. There was one saintly Alaskan fisher boat woman (not sure if the title would be fisherman or fisher woman? hmm I don't know..I digress) who made it her personal mission to help me out. Although I felt grateful, it is possible for people to be overly friendly and when I'm stressed I kinda just like to stay in my little survival-mode bubble.

Then I looked out the window as we were landing and saw this...

Turns out I kinda think

Seattle is the most magical place on earth.

Kick'n it with the folks for a week and couldn't be happier, even in Disneyland:)

Monster Jam 2012

Daniel, Mark, Erwin, and Tom took the kiddos to Monster Jam last Saturday.

It was Kolby and Daniel's 5th Year in a ROW!!!

In our house its Thanskgiving, Christmas, and then Monster Jam!

Oh and Clifford came along too. Kolbys class takes Clifford home for the weekend and takes pics of what they do together. His teacher said it was the first time Clifford had ever been to Monster Jam.

Not sure if she meant it as a comliment or an insult?

vomit to go please...

There's been a nasty little bug 'round these parts that's giving everyone the throw ups.

Last Monday morning Kolbs started tossing his cookies. Olivia was invited to see Beauty and the Beast with her auntie and cousins. I just knew it wasn't a good idea but her daddy had already made the arrangements. She wore her Belle slippers and packed a purse with princess paraphernalia. Unfortunately when she returned home the only thing in her purse was 3 cups of vomit.

nice.

I'm an awesome mother right?

Not sure my sis-in-law will ever forgive me:)

The rest of my family and extended family all joined in on the sickie fun.

Glad to say we are all well and happily eating again.

Since I decided not to photograph the purse full of puke...

here's some pics of the previous weekend we spent in Beaumont.

Walking with grandpa

and she was done with the walking...outta no where she just plopped down.

and here's my adorable mother-in-law in her historic neighborhood.

Don't you just wanna squeeze her? I do:)

 we walked all the way to a fabulous bakery where the kids picked out a king cake.

First time I heard of this New Orleans tradition I thought it sounded a bit odd. If you enjoy eating a cake with a hiding baby in it then this is the dessert for you:)

 and what would a walk with Olivia be if we didn't stop for every wild flower:)



She Speaks...

Naomi didn't want the other 2 to do all the chatting...

Last one makes me thrilled to be a mommy everytime!

So happy that baby #3 is just as magical as the 1st and 2nd!

Keep up the talking Naomi!

We can't wait to hear what you have to say to the world:)

(21 months)

Finances, Education, Dating and Marriage...according to my children

Finances:

Kolby to Olivia: "If you wanna have a big house you'll probably need two jobs. Like a construction worker and a donut shop."

Kolby to Daniel: "If you come to my donut shop dad, I'll let you be for free!"

Me to Kolby: "I'll give you a ride to school for free, and pack your lunch for free, and make you dinner for free and..."

Daniel to Kolby: "I'll let you live in my house for free."

Kolby: "Wow that's a lot of free stuff! When I'm a contruction worker I'll build you a house for free too."


Education:

Daniel to Kolby: "Your teacher called Kolby and it turns out you gotta go to school on Saturday. Oh and you have to teach too."

Kolby: "What?!"

Me: "What would you teach, Kolby?

Kolby: "I would say, 'Go home! Have a nice weekend! Buh-bye!'"

Dating:

Kolby to Daniel: "Are you home from your date already?"
Daniel: "Nope Mommy's just putting Naomi to bed and then we're going back out."
Kolby: "That's because you like to kiss a lot!"
Babysitter: (blushing)

Marriage:

Kolby to Olivia: "My music teacher got married."
Olivia: "Did she kiss her boy?"
Kolby: "Well they got MARRIED!"
Olivia: "Gross I'm never kissing anyone!"
Kolby: "Mom and Dad kissed at their wedding"
Olivia: "Do you have to kiss 2 times?"
Kolby: "No, you dance and then you kiss one time and then you dance again and then you throw flowers and people give you presents. You'll like it. You can invite the cousins, and me. Maybe you should invite mom and dad too."
Me to Kolby: "Who are you gonna marry?"
Kolby: "Oh you don't know her."
Olivia: "Ya, you're gonna marry me!"
Kolby: "No, even when we are older, you'll always be my sister."
Olivia: "I'm not getting married"
Kolby: "Do want kids?"
Olivia: "yes"
Kolby: "Then you gotta get married."

Baby You're a Firework

My kiddos sing this song at least once a day.

New Year's Eve they finally had a reason.

The Erwins hosted and it was dabomb.com let me tell ya!

We ate, lit fireworks, played a hillarious game of charades

(photos would be far too scandalous I assure you),

and welcomed in 2012 with a smooch:)

Auntie Rosie even crimped Olivia's hair for the occassion:)

Can't think of a better way to start a year than plant'n a big wet one on this hunk:)

Happy New Year Y'all!