Spring

Winter is finally over, we've been getting out for walks and park visits just about every day it isn't rainy. It's tiring for some ;)

Our fourth year in Pullman and she can now master this giant climbing structure at Krugal park. 

She was very proud of herself.

Our little bookworms.

We don't usually play April fools pranks but this year we decided to do some friendly ones. 

We made "sushi rolls" with fruit roll-ups, rice krispies treats and mini swedish fish. I also put out orange "juice" for dinner. Which was orange jello in glass cups so nothing comes out when you try to drink.  haha

This is my on going project I started over Christmas break. Making family fridge magnets. But once the pictures were laminated the magnet wouldn't stick to them, so I used easy to remove velcro strips so the kids can role play with family members. 

It's so nice to see everyone everyday since we're so spread out. 

 Love them.

Hobbes gets pretty excited about bubbles.

Pullman is so bittersweet. I wasn't expecting to still be in pullman to have to say goodbye to these three lovely ladies, nor do I want to. It's so tough to say good bye. I've really cherished all the laughs and funny stories and sweet friendships we've made over the last years. 

(Raccoons, bear Spray, birthing stories...what am I missing?!)

Vacation!!

Six and a half years. 

Was the last time we went on vacation just the two of us for more than one night. 

A huge thank you to Mom & Dad for gifting us three nights away to have fun. 

We decided to head down to Anaheim, CA.

Day 1, we flew, got settled and met up with Skyler's sister Sasha who lives in L.A.

We went to China town and had authentic Korean bbq. What an experience! Grills right there on the table, sitting on stools and using metal chopsticks and bowls. They were very similar to the ones my mom brought back from her mission in Korean many years ago.

 Day 2, we drove around quite a bit, we visited a few areas of Skyler's mission. Ate at In'N'Out of course. We went to an amazing bakery on Laguna beach where I tasted the best cinnamon danish I've ever had.  It was overcast and breezy but it was still fun to walk in the waves at LAGUNA BEACH! We drove up into the hills there and I just couldn't believe how spectacular the homes and landscaping were. And like people say, the houses are quite literally on top of each other. 

We visited the Newport Beach Temple 

I thought it was SO COOL to see the citrus trees randomly growing in people's yards. 

Day 3, Disneyland!! We got the hopper pass and actually did Disney and California Adventures in one day. Since it was just us, we just rode the rides we wanted to over and over, stopped when we were hungry and kept on going! It.was.awesome. Although the "mom" in me felt a bit guilty that the kids were missing out, especially when we saw the Little Mermaid ride or when Cinderella walked by with a huge line...and the other part of me was like WOooo we don't have to wait in that line! 

The weather was perfect and the park wasn't crowded at all. I totally recommend going mid-week in March. We didn't wait longer then 20min. for any of the rides we went on (with the exception of 1-2).

Day 4, Travel home day. Why does vacation have to end...ever? We bummed around at the pool, went for a drive hoping to run into Long beach but didn't, so we stopped at Chick-fil-A to see what all the hype was about and we were pleasantly surprised. Made our way back to the Long Beach airport, which is so chill, no lines and pretty much all outdoors. 

We came back to two happy little campers that had lots of fun with G&G but also had lots of snuggles to give us. We stayed a couple nights at my parents to celebrate my brother's 30th birthday at Buca di Beppo's. yumm. 

Hobbes points at EVERY airplane. And since my parents live near a small residential airport, they said he'd been pointing quite a bit. 

Jon's Birthday Dinner

The lighting was terrible for pictures which is why they're all b&w. But,  the food was great, and we were happy to be able to celebrate together. 

Summer Fun

We've so enjoyed this Summer. I have to say Pullman Summers really are awesome. There are a TON of parks here and since we love to ride bikes, we mostly bike to them. 

Hobbes and Hayley have been living it up too. I've found out that no matter what park or where in the park I set him down he gravitates toward the messiest part. I kept setting him down in the middle of this field and he would just turn around and bee line it crawling through the grass as fast as he could to the dirt/wood chips. 

We've entered the silly smile faze. She refuses to give a nice smile in pictures, don't get me wrong, I still love her silly ones. 

Whatever the season, the sunsets here are AMAZING. 

 Ever since visiting my parent's back in the beginning of July, Hayley loves finding dandelions and blowing them. Not sure what type this one is but we found it while on a walk and she got super excited to blow it. 

We visited Sunnyside Park while my parents were here for Hobbes' birthday. We counted over 40 ducks in the pond, that's got to be a record, or maybe no one had come by that day to feed them yet so they were all out for us.

We were about to start swimming lessons again and I decided the long hair had to go since it's a constant battle to get the tangles out and do it cute. 

I was sad to see most of her baby curls go, but she's loving it short and so am I. 

Lentil Fesitval! 

...again she refused to smile. 

Pretty sure none of us look good here, but we had to get the traditional shot of us in front of the big pot of lentil chili. In our defense it is always SO stinking hot during lentil festival.

Hobbsy is a fish. He LOVES the water and outdoors. He guns it to the tub any time the bathroom door is open. So one day he was crabby so I just put him in the tub, empty and let him have a pretend bath with all his toys. He loved it. Then I didn't come fast enough when he screeched that he was done and he face planted out of the tub. My bad. 

Just as much as he wants inside the tub he also guns it to the porch screen door whenever we open it. (we live 4 stories up) So there is no way I'm letting him out there, the little 

"wigg-we worm" as Hayley calls him. 

Happy Birthday's!

7/26/13

Hobbson turned 1!

He is: so funny, incredibly ticklish, strawberry blonde, loves his sister to death and smiles SO big when she enters the room. He's said, Mama, dada, Hayee, Hi, NAN!!, all these a couple times but nothing is super consistent. Except NAN!!! 

(I think that's what he calls me because he yells it right at me when he wants food/drink.)

He's a dang fast crawler and has only taken a couple steps 1-2 times, but not walking. He's got 8 teeth and teething about 8 more, not sure since he doesn't welcome my poking around in there. But his poor gums are swollen and tender. 

(Nevermind my mess of hair...it's so annoying to see a picture with hair in your face, 

you just keep wanting to brush it away) 

Silly boy, wasn't sure what to think of the treat. He did like the whip cream frosting.

A few gifts, Mom and Dad were nice to come visit and celebrate with us. Since we knew they were coming we celebrated a day late. (hence the photo time stamp) 

Naturally this is what he's interested in doing with new toys...

Funny since this is what Hayley did with her toys at about the same age...

(Yes, she is supporting herself, with no help)

7/30/13

Happy Birthday Skyler!!!

This was Skyler's "Golden Birthday" for those unfamiliar...it's when you turn the age of the date you were born. For Skyler it was 30yrs. on July 30th. Double reasons for celebrating since 30 is a big one. 

I'd been planning this for awhile...

I arranged for a sitter, not one we usually use to make it look like I was running out of people to ask, and I said we only had 2 hours for dinner and travel time, since the sitter "had plans" afterwards. :)

In the weeks leading up, I had contacted probably 40 of his fellow co-workers, past friends, mission companions, siblings, scout leaders, anyone and everyone I could think of. Asking for memories, short stories, funny moments and sentiments that they love about Sky. I received quite a few and boy were some funny. It took all my might not to squeal the surprise. 

Day of, I picked up 30 Gold balloons, printed the sentiments and tied one to each balloon. I made some map bunting since decorating for a mans' party isn't easy... a map themed bunting seemed to be a nice medium (and Sky loves maps.)

We got home from dinner and actually everyone was arguing about where to stand, his friends in the front, spouses in the back etc. It was funny. Then they saw us and were like, OH! SURPRISE!! 

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the Birthday boy on his special day, or of all the treats. :)

But I will note, there was Brownies, Homemade shortcakes w/lime-strawberries and cinn. whip, tuille cookies with homemade strawberry/watermelon sorbet and white cantaloup/pineapple sorbet. 

(I was very happy with how everything turned out, and I do take special orders ;) )

Sky was very surprised. At the end of dinner he even asked me, "so what do you want to do when we get home? 

To which I looked down and solemnly replied:

"oh nothing, maybe just put the kids to bed early and watch a show."

8/6/13

Happy Birthday Chelsea!

The day before my actual birthday, Skyler was able to take off work, 

and he let me pick all the activities. 

So we drove up to Heyburn State Park which is about an hour north of Pullman in a town called Plummer. We started with a picnic lunch (that was cut short because the bees this summer are seriously out of control!) then we rode bikes along the lake for awhile. It was beautiful, I hope we can go camping there sometime. 

(Then since it had been hectic before all our birthday's hit, he took me shopping and let me pick out a few new things, including a pretty polka dot dress that I'm super excited about)

The next day on my actual birthday I celebrated by taking the kids to the WSU creamery, Ferdinand's, for my free birthday cone. I'm such a child, I know.

Then if that wasn't enough, Skyler treated me to dinner at Black Cypress. 

And a brownie sundae of course since I'm not crazy about cake. 

I'm so lucky.

So Happy Birthday to all of us, Hayley was a great sport in all of this considering her birthday was back in April. She was sweet.