Mommyhood in the Quah

Christmas Tree is Up!

2011-12-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

We all worked really hard and finally got the Christmas tree up and decorated! And with only 2 glass ornament casualties!

Evan's Thanksgiving Day - Do The Turkey Boogie

2011-11-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it gets any cuter than this!

Evan's Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

All 4 Kindergarten classes put on a Thanksgiving program this morning. Evan was given a speaking part and practiced for a few weeks. Here's his big debut!

Fall City Farm

2011-10-08T16:16:00.001-07:00

After the Fall Festival, we went to Fall City Farm to get some pumpkins. We were also planning on picking some vegetables from their UPick garden, but found out they're not doing that this year. Very disappointing. :( Evan was looking forward to digging up potatoes and cutting the zucchinis and lettuce.

Fall Festival Animals

2011-10-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

The kids enjoyed their time at today's Fall Festival, but one of their highlights was the animal area. They had a bunch of animals available to touch, hold, observe and even adopt. There was a table with snakes, cockroaches and a lizard that the kids were at first leary of, but warmed up to very quickly. Evan loved the snakes.

There were also: pygmy hedgehogs, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets and a wallaby! The kids could also sit and have a bunny in their lap. Evan really took to the bunnies and said he wanted to have a bunny. Sorry kiddo, not happening.

Camp Korey Fall Festival

2011-10-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Camp Korey's Fall Festival in Carnation and had such a great time! There was a corn maze (Evan and Isabel running in the above pic) and your goal was to find the fire pit within the maze to make smores! Yum! We also got a tractor ride, which Ellena was really looking forward to! Lunch was delicious - pumpkin pancakes and hamburgers!

Karate Belt Testing

2011-10-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last night Evan had his first belt testing for karate and he did awesome! Such focus, determination and effort! He should be getting his yellow belt next week - exciting times!

We got to sit inside the classroom and Ellena got a little restless, since I was snapping all the pictures of Evan. So she decided to swoop in front of camera as I was aiming at Ev. Stinker!

Grandma and Grandpa were able to watch the testing as well - their first time seeing Evan in action. They were very impressed!

Another Fishing Trip

2011-10-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Evan and Pops were back on the river with Uncle Ring, determined to catch a fish. They went on the boat for a few hours in the morning and Evan came back with 2 pink salmon. (We ate it that night for dinner!) Ellena and I joined them later for lunch and some time on the river and tending to the chickens.

Rustic Apple Pie

2011-09-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

Today Ellena and I got to visit Evan's Kindergarten class - what a treat! We helped the children make "Rustic Apple Pie". We'll be baking it tonight for dessert!

River Time

2011-09-30T16:11:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Uncle Ring and Aunty Jane, we have been spending lots of time on the river. Evan is learning how to fish from Uncle Ring and is loving it. He can cast on his own and has hooked a salmon and a trout. So far, he's the only one to catch anything out of the river! He hopes to catch something that we can cook and not just release back to the river. :) Ellena enjoys walking along the riverbank and looking for special rocks.

Here's the salmon Evan caught - huge!

Big Day for Evan

2011-09-29T13:11:00.001-07:00

Evan had a momentous day on Tuesday, Sept. 27. He lost his first tooth! It had been wiggling for quite some time and after going out for a sweet treat, he played with his tooth a little and showed me how it was barely hanging on. On our drive home, he said, "Mom, you are not going to believe this." "Did your tooth fall out?" "Yeah, and it's bleeding all over." So on our drive home, I'm passing kleenex to the backseat and by the time we get home (5 minutes max), the bleeding has stopped. He has mentioned that he hoped the tooth fairy would bring him a penny, so we gave him $5 and a penny. He woke up excited the next day and asked what I used to get from the tooth fairy. When I told him a quarter, he said, "When am I going to get a quarter?!" Uh, hello, you have $5!

The other big thing that happened that day was after school, Evan exclaimed with a big smile on his face, "Mom! I have a girlfriend!" Huh? He has never talked about girlfriends or anything like this before so I was a little floored. He said he played soccer with the boys and a little bit of tag with his girlfriend at recess. He couldn't remember her name, but recognized her when she walked out of school. When I asked him what having a girlfriend means he said, "Well, she's a girl and she's my friend." Ah, makes sense. But the way he talks about her with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes makes me think there might be a little something more there. :) You can be sure he doesn't talk about his buddies the same way!

Happy Anniversary, Grandma & Grandpa!

2011-09-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

We went out to dinner to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's wedding anniversary. We tried the new WildFin restaurant in Issaquah - food was ok/pretty good and there were a few kinks that still need to be worked out (they were only open for a few days).

Evan's Soccer

2011-09-29T12:58:00.001-07:00

Evan has a few more weeks remaining in his soccer program. Soccer took a break in the summertime, when he picked up swim and karate lessons. Evan has since decided that swim and karate were much more fun and declared he doesn't like soccer. He missed the last couple weeks due to rainy weather and getting over an ear infection, and I'm sure he was not put out to miss soccer practice. But he sure looks adorable in his uniform!

Ellena & Her Cats

2011-09-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ellena has become very attached to Piko and Poki... well, more Piko than Poki. The kids hold a grudge against Poki because she takes their stuffed animals, carries them around in her mouth and licks them as if the furry friends were her babes. Piko went through a medical scare (end result - detached retina and lost vision in his right eye, confirmed hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure and low potassium = 2 transdermal meds that we rub into his ears and potassium chew treats; thankfully he is doing well on the meds and even gaining some weight!) and Ellena made sure to check on Piko throughout the day. He now tolerates her snuggles and makes it a point to visit her during our bedtime tuck-in.

This picture cracks me up because Piko is in the middle of begging for food. He gets very vocal when he thinks it's time for mid-afternoon snacks. He paces around the kitchen and meows and I happened to catch him mid-meow.

Ellena & Poki

Karate

2011-09-29T12:40:00.001-07:00

Ellena and Evan had a couple months of karate classes through a Living Social deal. They both really enjoyed it. However, Ellena was not quite ready to take the classes on her own. I sat in the classroom and sometimes held her hand when she needed a little boost of support. Evan loved it and asked to continue even after the deal was over. We moved him up to the next level of classes (5-6 year olds) and they continue to challenge him every week. He has his first belt "testing" next week, to move up to a yellow belt. I'm probably more anxious about it than Evan, but know that he will do great!

Evanism & Ellena-antic

2011-09-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Last night's Evanism - We went out to get a frozen yogurt treat. The sun had set and Evan was so stoked. I guess he does not go out of the house at night... EVER. He could not stop looking around at how different the world is in the dark. "Wow, I can see the MOON!" "There are lights everywhere! It looks like Christmas!" "Will the stars come out later?"

Today's Ellena-antic - We were filling up gas and I told Ellena to look at the car pulling out. I told her it was a fancy car. It zoomed off and even when idling, it was super loud. I told Ellena that car is called a Maserati. She then asked, "Is that going to be my car?"

Today's "Wag of the Finger" for Momma - I dropped the kids off at school and drove into Bellevue and back, in time to get Ellena. On my way back, it dawned on me - I can't use the carpool lane anymore! Good thing the tint is dark and I didn't get pulled over! I'm just so used to using the carpool lane - "Give me a break, Mr. Officer! I've been using this lane for 6 years!" Oops. Will have to remember this for next time.

Evan turned in his first homework assignment this week - it included pictures about himself and his favorite things. We needed to get a family picture, so we set the timer on the camera and got a good one of the four of us. I've posted one of the six of us (furry friends included).

Ellena's First Day of School

2011-09-01T09:12:00.001-07:00

Today is Ellena's first day of school - she attended summer school with Evan, but today is her first day without big brother in the class. She's such a clown.

This is probably a pretty accurate picture of what Ellena was feeling as we waited in the drop off line. A little sad, scared and nervous.

Drop off went pretty smoothly. Mrs. Robertson, although not one of Ellena's teachers, is still familiar to Ellena because she walked Evan into school many times over the last three years. Like a pro, she swooped in, unbuckled Ellena and helped her out of the car. They went to unload another student and then walked into school together. No tears, no fussing. I think Ellena was a little surprised with how fast it all went down. Pops is patting himself on the back since he believes it's his presence today that kept the tears at bay.

Ellena's Open House

2011-08-31T15:03:00.001-07:00

After dropping Evan off at Kindergarten, we headed to Ellena's school for her Open House. She got to show me around her classroom and do some of her favorite works. She was quite tickled that I went with her to school. Tomorrow is her first day without Evan and without Momma. I am anticipating tears and perhaps a tantrum, but she will eventually be ok.

Evan's First Day of Kindergarten

2011-08-31T14:58:00.001-07:00

Today was Evan's first day of Kindergarten! He was a little excited, a little nervous and scared, and a little worried about not knowing anyone in his class. But he did great and we couldn't be prouder of our big boy! He took home lunch today, but is anxious to buy lunch at the "cafe" when it's chicken nugget day. So funny, my Plateau boy calls the cafeteria the cafe! We look forward to a fantastic year for Evan!

Here he is when he finished his first day. What a smile!

Seattle Sounders Soccer Game

2011-08-31T14:53:00.000-07:00

We won two tickets to the Sounders game and with one of Grandpa's season tickets, we were able to go to our first (me and Ellena) and Tommy and Evan's second Sounders game. It was a blast! We ate lunch together in the main concourse area and got to our seats about 12 minutes into the game - the Sounders had already scored twice by then!!! The score ended up being 6-2 - wow! So much fun!

Lemonade with Uncle Stu

2011-08-31T14:50:00.001-07:00

The kids insisted on making fresh squeezed lemonade with Uncle Stu - lots of hard work, but soo, soo tasty! Thanks, Uncle!

Anniversary Dinner

2011-08-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our 7th anniversary at John Howie - yum! Evan made it a formal affair with his painted on mustache!

School Bus Ride

2011-08-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

Our school district bus drivers put together a way to introduce riding the school bus to students entering Kindergarten. We got to go on a bus ride and learn safety rules. Look how happy the kids are to be riding the bus! Needless to say, it was a grouchy morning for all. Kids were in a bad mood, my neck was really bugging me, and once we started moving, I flashed back to the elementary school field trip to Lahaina that made me car sick and turn green. Fun times for all!

Summer BBQ with the Mommy Group

2011-08-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

Evan "met" these friends when he was 8 weeks old and we've stayed in touch ever since. Can't believe how quickly the years have gone by!

It also happened to be Ivy's birthday, so Miss Wendy made some fancy cake pops that looked like ice cream cones. Yum!

Ellena's Birthday Party @ Little Gym

2011-08-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

Ellena had her birthday party at the Little Gym. This was her first time inviting friends to her birthday party and she was absolutely tickled. When it was her birthday on Tuesday, I said, "Good morning! It's your birthday today! You're 3 years old now!" She responded with her daily question, "Is today my birthday party?" Sorry, that's Saturday. Well, the day finally arrived and she had a blast! We're so glad her buddies could attend and help us celebrate our big girl's birthday! The above picture was taken as we were loading up - Ellena was excited!

Ellena & Jelina - 2 swinging monkeys

Blow out the candles, Ellena!

Wrangling cats!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ellena!

2011-08-11T21:30:00.001-07:00

On July 26, Ellena turned 3 years old! She had a special birthday circle at school and she got to be the line leader for recess time. I surprised them with McDonald's happy meals for lunch and then we went out to dinner with Grandma, Grandpa & Uncle Stu. Ellena got to pick the restaurant and she chose her favorite place - Similan Thai. The girl loves her tofu pad see ew! We then came back for her blue cake (homemade chocolate cake with homemade strawberry jelly in the middle, covered in homemade buttercream frosting - Ellena chose blue this year) and presents.

Visit from our California Cousins

2011-08-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

Aunty Kim, Uncle Mike and Cousins Aaron & Kade drove up from California for a visit. We were so excited to see them and spend time with them! We played, we ate, we ate some more, we celebrated Ellena's birthday early and ate again! We look forward to more cousin time soon!

Remlinger Farm with Cousins

2011-08-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

We have been to Remlinger Farm many times for berry and pumpkin picking, but we've never tried the Family Fun Park before. Through a Groupon or one of those deal sites, we were able to get tickets for half price. What a great time we had! I'm even thinking, dare I say it, that it would be worth the full price of admission?! The kids loved all of the rides - Ellena rode a pony for the first time and proclaimed it her favorite part of the farm. They also rode the roller coaster about 10 times in a row. What I was impressed with is that most of the rides are made for the little ones and they go on it by themselves. There was only one ride that had a height requirement, but everything else was made for tiny tots! We're so glad we got to experience this other part of the farm with our cousins, Aaron and Kade!

Summer School!

2011-08-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

Evan and Ellena started summer school on July 19. It was a very exciting time for all of us, well, maybe not Evan - more on that later. This is the first school experience for Ellena where I drop her off and pick her up - previously, we would attend together. It really helped to have big brother in the same class - at drop off and pick up, they walk together and she does not have any abandonment/separation issues. We shall see how this changes in the fall when she attends alone while Evan starts Kindergarten! I am excited because it's been a long time since I've had alone time! I usually get to a gym class, but the last few weeks I've had neck pain and am taking it easy instead. Still nice to have some me-time!

Evan is the least excited about summer school. I think he's of the mindset where he's already finished Montessori school and is practically a Kindergartner, so why does he have to go to his old school again? When I tell him it's a school day (they only attend 2 times a week), he groans and gets huffy. This will rub off on Ellena because she does everything that Evan does. We've had talks about his negativity and it has improved a little in the last week.

Here are the kids at pick-up with their teacher, Mrs. Hoffman. Afterwards, I asked Ellena what her favorite part of school was. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she thought about it and she replied very seriously, "When you came to pick me up." Aww!

Karate Kids

2011-07-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

The kids started karate classes and it has been an experience. Evan is really into it and practices on his own at home. Ellena was a bit overwhelmed during the first class and ended up having a HUGE meltdown. The next class I went in with her and helped her and she did a million times better. Phew!

Swim Update

2011-07-12T09:08:00.001-07:00

The update on the kids' swim classes. After rocking out the first 3 classes, Ellena decided she no longer wanted to do them. Nice. So she sat out some of the classes and I asked her to just sit on the stairs with her class for the last 2 - at least she was in the water again. Evan is currently registered for another session and is doing great! He's really getting the coordination of his arm stroke and will now have to work on the side breathing. While Evan is in class, Ellena goes in the little pool on her own and has progressed to walking on her hands so that most of her body is in the water and is blowing bubbles the whole time. We told her we'll try classes again next summer.

4th of July

2011-07-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

Another great barbeque and fireworks show at the Nishioka farm for the 4th!

While waiting for the fireworks show to start, the kids got into a tickle fest!

Ellena got to meet one of the chickens up close and personal. She also got to feed them strawberry tops.

Visit with Aunty Sandy

2011-07-03T19:16:00.001-07:00

Uncle Alex's mom, Aunty Sandy, was in town for a visit and we got to spend the evening with her - the kids LOVED her! They enjoyed showing her how they weed the backyard and swing, and together, they made up fantastical stories together. They didn't want to let her go when it was time to say good-bye. We look forward to her next visit!

Strawberry U-Pick

2011-06-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the start of the strawberry U-pick season! The season is starting a little later than usual and we're glad it's finally here! We ran out of jam a few months ago, so will have to stock up all over again!

This is what 7.5 pounds of strawberries looks like.

Did 2 batches of freezer jam (Sure Jell pink box is the best I've come across so far!) and still have maybe another batch's worth of strawberries to go. Ran out of bottles!

Birthday

2011-06-26T19:58:00.001-07:00

Today was a wonderful day! Started it off with a surprise treat from Pops - he went to Seattle to get my favorite French pastries before they shut the roads down for the parade! We ran a few errands and started in on some heavy duty yard work. Pops got a new tool for trimming the trees and we did some major trimming - the branches fill our front and back yards and will get hauled away tomorrow. We then went to dinner - tried out Pearl in Bellevue for the first time and it was a pleasant experience. Miso butterfish, crab pasta, cucumber melon mojito, strawberry topped bread pudding and complimentary butterscotch ice cream sundaes were really good and the kids enjoyed their meals. I would probably skip the calamari next time though.

Museum of Glass

2011-06-24T18:29:00.001-07:00

Today we went to the Museum of Glass - a very neat place! We had a Groupon that expired at the end of the month, so off we went to Tacoma! There were a few outdoor exhibits and the Chihuly Bridge of Glass (where these pics came from). Inside, there were exhibits, a mini movie theater that showed a video explaining how they do what they do (this was the kids' favorite thing), a children's art studio where they had a couple art projects, and the hot shop - where a visiting artist was actually in house creating glass art in front of our eyes. We checked back in throughout the day to watch their progress. We got there a little after 10 AM, took a walk to a nearby brewery for lunch at 1:30 (super duper late for the kids but they were so engrossed in everything!) and left around 3 PM.

One of the exhibits was really interesting for the kids - "Kids Design Glass" where children draw anything that they would like the artists to create in glass. They had a room full of the children's drawing and the glass art next to it. There were animals, dinosaurs and many more creatures from the children's imaginations. In the art studio, Evan and Ellena drew their creations and turned it in, in hopes that their image will be turned into glass some day!

Karate Kids

2011-06-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Signed the kids up for Karate classes through an amazing Living Social deal (20 classes and uniform for $35!!) We got them registered and picked up their gi this afternoon - kids didn't want to take them off for the car ride home! And the first question Evan asked the worker when we entered was, "Where are the ninja stars?" Oh my.

Swim Lessons

2011-06-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

On Monday the kids started swim lessons. This is Evan's second summer of swim and for a kid who hates getting water in his eyes in the shower, he sure does love swimming! I was unsure of how Ellena would do in class. She watched Evan do his lessons last year and this year insisted on taking them, too. I figure it could either go really really well (at the dentist she is very attentive and follows all of their directions) or really really BAD (flat out refusing to do what the teachers ask her to do and throwing a little Ellena attitude in there for good measure.) I am pleased to report that she was an absolute star in class! When the teacher would ask who wants to go first, she would never volunteer. But if the teacher asked her specifically, "Ellena, do you want to try..." she would not hesitate to do it! I was so proud of my big girl!

June Pics

2011-06-20T07:46:00.001-07:00

My monsters: Ellena got a hold of Evan's vampire teeth and Evan has a fake monster finger.

My clowns - trying to get a picture before leaving for Evan's last day of school.

Evan chowing down at Novilhos.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-20T07:40:00.001-07:00

For Father's Day, we celebrated with a "linner" (lunch/dinner at 2 PM) at Novilhos, a Brazilian steakhouse in Bellevue. The food was tasty, the service was great, and the kids loved getting their meats carved onto their plate. Evan, by far, enjoyed himself the most - we couldn't get over how much he ate!

Evan's "Last" Day of School

2011-06-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

Evan attends a Montessori school a couple minutes away (thank goodness for the close proximity on those days we're running a little late!) He started when he was 2 1/2 years old and is now graduating at 5 1/2... Sort of. Last Friday was the last day of the school year, however he and Ellena will be attending the summer session together for 6 weeks before he heads off to Kindergarten and Ellena will start going 5 days a week. We hope this will help with Ellena's transition to the "big kid" school.

The above picture was taken as we were getting ready to leave for school. I'm tickled that the kids chose to wear the clothes I made them - Evan's shorts and Ellena's shirt.

The kids are walking to the play area, where they got to attend the school's carnival. I love how Ellena got in line with her brother and joined the class as if she were already a student.

Here are the kids with Mrs. Hoffman - Evan's current teacher and Ellena's future teacher!

Birthday BBQ for Uncle Alex

2011-06-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Uncle Alex's birthday in June (although his birthday is in May) with a yummy bbq! Here are the kids with the birthday uncle and Aunty Marissa.

The kids loved playing with Uncles Hoku and Link and Evan proclaimed Uncle Link makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever!

Ellena's School Picnic

2011-06-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

June! Lots of exciting events, but zero time to blog about them!

To kick off June, we went to Ellena's school picnic. It was the last day of her one-day-a-week pre-preschool. She loved going to school and would ask every morning, "Is today my school day?" We're sorry that this program is ending for her, but are looking forward to Ellena starting at the Montessori school this summer!

Leavenworth Day Trippin'

2011-05-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

It was Memorial Day weekend and we had NO plans! So on Sunday morning, we decided to take a 2 hour drive to Leavenworth - Washington's "Bavarian Getaway." We had a great time exploring this cute town and ate and ate and ate! We arrived around lunch time, so we yelped it to Munchen Haus, known for their brats - yum! Kids didn't like their turkey dog much, so Pops got them a JUMBO popcorn!

We browsed a variety of stores - toys, Christmas decorations and even one dedicated to nutcrackers! Pops and I hung out at a brewery while the grandparents took the kids to a park - where they made new friends and even saw a deer!

We then looped back to the center pavilion where they had live musicians and a big hill for the kids to roll down. Before leaving, we had to get some ice cream and pastries from the Danish bakery. Those danishes and kringles were ah-maze-ing, but I'm not convinced there is anything worth a 2 hour drive. We're glad we went, but will definitely stay away during their peak Christmas tourist season - can't imagine the crowds!

The Gun Show

2011-05-30T15:44:00.001-07:00

Ellena was wearing an undershirt the other day and Pops thought he saw some skin where he shouldn't be seeing skin. Turns out, her brand new undershirt had a hole in the sleeve! Luckily, it should be a pretty easy fix and she can wear the shirt again... But of course I had to take a picture of Ellena flexing her muscles with the hole - the shirt can't contain these guns!

By the way, I made the ladybug shirt for Ellena - it's a shirt, not a dress she's outgrown. Ellena has decided she no longer wears "pretty dresses". She will only wear shorts/pants and shirts. So I am on a mission to make her the cutest darn shirts out there!

Ellena Lobster

2011-05-24T12:56:00.001-07:00

Pops picked up this snazzy lobster shirt for Ellena when he was in Boston last week. Here she is modeling the tee. Miss you, Pops!

Momoka & Rikuo

2011-05-16T12:53:00.001-07:00

We had our friends Momo and Riku over for playtime and dinner - what fun! Pops was in charge of getting a picture of the kids - like wrangling cats!

Mother's Day Weekend

2011-05-10T13:17:00.001-07:00

What a fun and special Mother's Day weekend we had! On Saturday we went to lunch at my favorite restaurant, Wild Ginger. We went to the Bellevue location cause it's closer, not realizing their menu is a little different from Seattle. Note to self, go to Seattle next time.

We then walked around the Bravern and picked up Vovito gelato for the kids and Trophy cupcakes for the moms! Yum!

That night Evan was excited to prepare dinner for us. He received a little Smokey Joe Weber grill as a Boy's Day gift, so he planned the menu accordingly - hot dogs, toasty buns and smores, along with a green salad he created himself and Ellena pitched in by making a fruit salad. Hope the kids cooking for us will become a Mother's Day tradition!

We took it easy Sunday with our usual grocery run, conveyor belt sushi for lunch and Pops did a seafood feast for dinner. Evan is looking forward to tomorrow's gift delivery - chocolate covered strawberries... I'm not 100% convinced he'll be sharing those with me!

Tape

2011-05-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

For the last two days, Ellena has been cutting pieces of colored tape and sticking it on a Valentine heart. The heart is about 1 inch thick, there's so much tape on it. This afternoon Ellena decided that the tape was too sticky and started taking off every piece of tape. In an incredulous voice, Evan asked her, "Are you serious? You're going to take off all that tape?" Her response - Yup, cause it's sticky. Evan then went on to say, "But it's sticky tape! That's what it is! Sticky tape is.... sticky!"

Easter Sunday

2011-04-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

After our busy Saturday, we took it easy on Easter Sunday. We did our grocery run and then had the kids wait patiently downstairs while I got everything ready for their egg hunt in their rooms. I hid 9 eggs and 3 prizes in each of their rooms. They got a kick out of searching their rooms for their treasure. Here is Evan with one of his prizes - the Lego Ninjago Ice Dragon.

Here is Ellena with one of her prizes - the Lego Ninjago Turbo Shredder. Both sets were on the kids' wishlists, so they were excited to build their sets for the rest of the afternoon.

Pops smoked a turkey for our Easter dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, and I made a chocolate cake with strawberry filling, buttercream icing, Peeps and chocolate chips to make it look like a sunflower.

Saturday, April 23

2011-04-25T13:22:00.001-07:00

Saturday was a very busy day for us! We had a bunch of errands to run, as well as some fun activities for the kids. The first kid activity was a huge egg hunt at a community church. We met our buddy, Taryn, and hunted for eggs! This church does a good job of splitting the kids up by age, so Evan went with Pops and rocked it out - through some strategizing with Pops, he came back with a bucketful of eggs! Taryn & Ellena on the other hand did not do as well - the volunteers screwed up the hunt by taking a third of the group to another entrance, but starting the hunt without all of us there. By the time we got in, most of the eggs were picked up and the girls were left with just a few. Luckily, they were pretty ambivalent (Moms were more irked than anything!) and the girls were pleased with their chocolate treats and tattoos!

After lunch and some downtime, we were off to our next outing - a Build A Bear birthday party for our friend, Addison. Evan chose a rock n roll bear (complete with green mohawk) and Jedi clothes - he named him Rock Bear. Ellena insisted on something blue - she chose a blue peace bear with sparkly tanktop, pink ballet shoes and a Jedi lightsaber with sound effects. Ellena named her Bluey.

Snuggle Babies

2011-04-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

Ellena has become really attached to Piko and Poki - she calls them her "Snuggle Babies". She insists on keeping her door open at night, in case Poki wants to come in and snuggle with her. Piko has a knack for finding the sunny patches in the house and basking in the warmth. Well, today Ellena found him at the front door and snuggled up to him. She was feeling a little sick and found some comfort snuggling up to her brown kitty.

Evan, on the other hand, has tested positive to a cat allergy, so he keeps his distance from the cats and they are not allowed in his room. When they go (hey, they are 12 years old!) hopefully his asthma will improve.

Vegas Day 4

2011-04-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

On our last day in Vegas, we walked over to the Jerky Store to get treats for the kids and some snacks for Uncle Stu, who catsat for us. We also ate at Triple 7 Brewery for the first time - wow, HUGE portions! All in all, the food was so good - hawaiian food, seafood buffet, prime rib buffet, champagne breakfast buffet, Cal snack shop, ox tail soup at midnight - we had nice full bellies!

Grandma Sue and Grandpa Bang Bang were amazing babysitters - thank goodness! Pops and I spent many hours at the 3-card poker table because of G&G. What was one of the big draws for the kids? Ice cream!

Vegas Day 3

2011-04-22T12:31:00.001-07:00

On Sunday my parents took us to the Mirage to see Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. The kids really enjoyed watching the dolphins train and the large cats sleep (that's all they did, but it was still neat to see.)

Vegas Day 2

2011-04-22T12:20:00.001-07:00

On our second day in Vegas we took the kids to Circus Circus, of course! The kids enjoyed playing games for tickets. They redeemed the tickets for some Super Mario toys and won these cheeseburger pillows from a fishing game. When Ellena showed Grandma Sue her prize, Grandma asked her, "Wow, did you get a cushion?" Since Ellena is unfamiliar with that term, she promptly corrected Grandma, "No! It's a pillow, not a cushion!" Ellena had all sorts of comebacks for her grandparents on this trip!

We also viewed three free performances at the big top - contortionists, a juggler and African acrobats. I'm so glad we stayed for the acrobats - they were by far the most entertaining! I forgot to mention that on the first day in Vegas, we also went to the MGM Grand to catch a taxi. While there, we went to the Lion Habitat and were really impressed - another free activity that was great for the kids. They had a few trainers inside with the lions, actively playing with them and getting them moving. The lions enjoyed their play time and we loved watching them in action.

After a delicious family dinner to celebrate Aunty Ellen's birthday, we walked over to watch the Fremont light show. I don't think the kids realized how cool it really was - spoiled kids.

Egg Coloring

2011-04-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Kids enjoyed coloring their Easter eggs yesterday during TV time. We did 4 colors and soaked the eggs for 5-10 minutes each. Pause the show, take out eggs, put in new ones, resume the show. Much better than sitting around and waiting :)

Vegas Day 1

2011-04-20T12:20:00.001-07:00

On April 8th we were off to Las Vegas for a mini family reunion. It was a blast! We dropped our things off at the hotel, had lunch with Grandma Sue and Grandpa Bang Bang at a Hawaiian food place and then went off to the Strip to visit the M&M store. I can't believe how much there was to see! We spent over an hour exploring the 4 floors - mixing a take-home bag of uniquely colored M&Ms and watching people make their own printed M&Ms. What did the kids decide to buy? An M&M slot machine, of course! That night we went out to dinner with the family (about 18 of us in all!) to celebrate Aunty Margie's birthday (that would be the kids' great grand aunty.)

Dress Up

2011-04-20T09:32:00.001-07:00

The latest pattern I picked up for Evan included a "head wrap." I told the kids it was a bandana, so they call it a "banana bandana." After hounding me all day to finish if for them "Is it done yet? Is it done yet?" I finished it and forced them to wear it all night. When Pops heard "bandana", he was thinking a simple piece of triangle fabric. Oh no, no! Much more complex! When he saw it on the kids, he said, "Is that a doo rag?" Yeah, I guess it is. They like to wear it with their eye patch and pretend to be pirates - Arrrrrrr!

Ellena flipped hers around and she looked like Tupac. So here they are looking like Tupac.

Evan's school had pony rides this week and they invited the kids to wear cowboy outfits. A checkered shirt was the closest we got, but he was thrilled to take in his cowboy hat!

Pacific Science Center

2011-04-04T15:55:00.001-07:00

Happy first day of Spring Break! I took the kids to the Pacific Science Center - it was free admission day, sponsored by our favorite grocery store! The kids had so much fun and thank goodness they were so patient while we waited half an hour in line to enter. Phew! Here are the kids in the Butterfly Exhibit. It's one of my favorite places.

Here are the kids inside the Science Center. Behind them is the Space Needle.

The kids are posing inside a guitar. In case you can't see the little monkeys, I've posted another pic below of a close-up.

Big Girl

2011-04-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

I can't get over how much Ellena has grown in the last month or two. She's taller, she's talking up a storm, she's drawing with intent (here's his eyes, his legs, this is a heart balloon) - WOW!

As cute as her little bob haircut was, Ellena decided she does not want any more haircuts and will be growing her hair out. We have been doing pigtails when she lets me. Once, she pulled the rubber bands out and her hair was a little wild. Evan looked at her and said, "Why does Ellena look soo.... soo Chinese?"

Here she is modeling her Girl's Day purse from Aunty Bette. She totes along Hot Wheels!!!

"Evan Protect Me"

2011-03-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ellena has become afraid of a variety of things lately - monsters, the dark, loud sounds, bugs and spiders, scary tv shows - you name it, she's probably afraid of it. We have been struggling with bedtime and our endless methods would take up a separate blog post. But I caught the two kiddos yesterday snuggling on the couch as they watched a Halloween show, which Ellena deemed too scary. She insisted on watching it, as long as Evan protected her. Evan was thrilled to be the brave protector, but at one point, he did admit that Ellena was squishing his hand behind her back and that it was uncomfortable for him. But he took the pain and kept his hand there, just to ease her fears. I love seeing the two of them so loving towards each other - a nice break from their contrariness!

Lego Fever

2011-03-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Both Evan and Ellena have Lego fever - they LOVE their Legos! Luckily, Ellena does not put the pieces in her mouth, so we can have the Legos out without worrying about choking. We got some cool bricks at the Lego store this weekend, and also found some Lego man headlamps for the kids on clearance. Could not resist!

Little Gym

2011-03-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Groupon, Ellena got a few classes at the Little Gym. She did pretty well, considering the many little bodies tumbling and bouncing around her - she does not like people in her space and is not afraid to vocalize her unhappiness! Today Ellena practiced her forward tumbles and can now do them unassisted! She was introduced to backward tumbles, backwards walking on the balance beam and walking sideways along the horizontal bars. In the above picture, she practiced balancing on one leg.

Imagination Movers

2011-03-05T17:05:00.001-08:00

Last night we went to the Imagination Movers performance at the Paramount Theatre. We all had a rockin' time! They put on a great show and the kids loved it! Pops and I felt so old, thinking it was a bit loud. :) There was an opening act, "Choo Choo Soul", and Evan kept turning to Pops and asking when the Imagination Movers were coming out. He was clearly not amused by the openers.

Whenever they wanted audience participation, they would shine a bright light into the crowd. Ellena thought it was too bright and would make this face.

After the show, we walked over to Dragonfish and had dinner. Pops was not impressed with the food he ordered, but my meal was pretty good - miso skirt steak with tempura onions and yams. Their restrooms were located inside the connecting hotel, so we all made a trip before leaving. As we walked through the lobby to go, Pops and I noticed a few guys sitting in the couches. Hey, it's the Imagination Movers! We asked if we could take a picture and they were just the nicest, most accommodating guys. The kids were enamored and Ellena didn't want to leave. By the way, we didn't make Mover Dave take the picture, he just wasn't in the lobby at the time.) What a truly special way to end the night!

San Francisco Trip - Day 4

2011-03-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

On our last day, we walked over to the Palace Hotel to check out their courtyard. Ellena was all monku and you can see it in her face. On our way back to our hotel, we came across a toy store. I told the kids we could go look, but we weren't buying anything. Well, turns out this toy store carried all the discontinued Legos! Specifically, the Power Miners Crystal Sweeper that Evan is set on getting for Christmas ("But you can't find it in stores" - "Santa can make anything.") So we got the Lego set and Evan will be "paying us back."

We took the streetcar to Pier 39 and ate lunch at Wipeout Bar and Grill - pleasant experience! The kids found a sea lion sculpture they enjoyed playing on.

We then took the Blue & Gold Fleet bay cruise - a one hour boat tour which went under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. When we asked Ellena what her favorite part of the trip was, she said Alcatraz. Not sure if she liked seeing the former prison island or if she just liked saying the word. You'll notice the wood railing behind the kids. Ellena was dragging her hand along the wood as we walked onto the boat. I told her not to do it or she would get splinters. Not one minute later, she gets this shocked look on her face and realizes she got 2 splinters! Needless to say, it was not a pleasant boat ride for her.

We caught the streetcar back to the hotel and I went in search of a sewing kit so I could dig the splinters out of her fingers. That's when I realize that I left my credit card back at the Wipeout restaurant. We book it back to our hotel to ask the concierge to call the restaurant and make sure it's there. We then go back to the streetcar stop and waited and waited and waited. Finally, it arrives and we go 2 stops when Ellena declares she needs to go potty. Serious?! So we get off and find a restroom for her. We are now running short on time and go in search of a cab. Happy ending - we make it to the restaurant, grab the card, cab it back to the hotel and grabbed a quick bite to eat in the hotel's restaurant (Ducca at the Westin Market Street: really excellent Grandmother's cake - basically a lemon tart, and meatball sliders) where Pops met us and the towncar was ready to whisk us to the airport! Phew! It was a lovely time, but it's always nice to be back home!

San Francisco Trip - Day 3

2011-03-05T14:45:00.001-08:00

Day 3 was an adventure for us, since Pops was at his conference and we were on our own. We started off with Evan's new favorite thing - room service! We then walked together to the convention center, said good bye to Pops, and played at the convention center's playground and carousel.

We caught a cab to Japantown to meet with Aunty Ellen. The craziest of small worlds - we randomly ran into cousin Kay there too! Aunty took us to Iroha for lunch and the kids loved the food!

We rode on the cable car and took it all the way down to Fisherman's Wharf. We got off for an afternoon walk and decided to have an early dinner down there. Evan chose Capurro's because there was a statue of a sea captain outside. Ended up being a really good experience! Evan raved about the pizza, El loved her pasta, and Pops and I shared the yummiest garlic crab! (If Capurro's crab was a 10, Stinking Rose crab would be a 0 - it was awful.)

We ended up at Mel's Drive In for a sweet treat. Pops and Ellena shared a hot fudge sundae and Evan ate a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

San Francisco Trip - Day 2

2011-03-05T14:32:00.001-08:00

After a big, tasty breakfast from Mel's Drive In, we headed to Pier 39. You can see Alcatraz in the background.

Here's Evan with the famous Pier 39 sea lions.

We then went to the Aquarium of the Bay. This was Evan's favorite place, because they had a moving walkway through the shark exhibit. We also got to watch them feed the seven gill sharks. And their touch tanks were really cool - sharks, sting rays and skates! Neat!

We went on an invigorating walk to Ghiradelli Square and the original Giradelli chocolate shop and ice cream parlor. The kids loved their ice cream cone with sprinkles and goodie bags. We said good bye to Aunty, Uncle and cousins and got a much needed afternoon nap. Then, it was off to Chinatown! Had a tasty meal at Oriental Pearl - and they even had Evan's favorite soup dumplings!!

San Francisco Trip - Day 1

2011-03-05T14:21:00.001-08:00

We had an amazing time visiting San Francisco! We met up with Aunty Kim, Uncle Mike (Ellena calls him Uncle Dynamite!) and cousins Aaron and Kade. Together, we rode the train and bus to get to the California Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park and saw their famous albino alligator.

The kids thought the dinosaur fossils were pretty cool!

We had dinner at the Stinking Rose - a good place for garlic lovers! My favorite part of the meal was the Bagna Calda (oven roasted garlic cloves in olive oil and butter) and steamer clams. Yum! And Evan and Aaron destroyed the super sundae!

Iced In

2011-02-24T20:34:00.000-08:00

This morning we were iced in, so we bundled up and braved the cold. I pulled the kids around the neighborhood in the sled and then had a snowball fight in the backyard. Ellena had a difficult time getting around, since the snow came up to her knees. Hopefully we can get out tomorrow!

Snow!

2011-02-23T13:39:00.001-08:00

Thankfully, we got our quick errand done before most of this white stuff started sticking to the roads. Got home and the kids had an impromptu snowball fight (surprisingly, Ellena started it!)

Water Weekend @ MaST

2011-02-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we headed south to MaST, the Marine Science & Technology Center in Des Moines. Every Saturday, they have a free "open house" for the public to touch and see their Puget Sound animals. Similar to the Seattle Aquarium touch tanks, but on a much smaller scale. However, I feel like we were able to get much closer to a larger variety of creatures at MaST - kids enjoyed themselves, but the location was COLD!

We then took a short stroll on Redondo Beach - a very pleasant, but chilly, morning! And what better way to warm up than to have lunch at Saimin Says in Kent?! Perfection!

Ellena's Rough Day

2011-02-18T18:37:00.000-08:00

Ellena had quite the rough day. She woke up fussy and started the day off with a tantrum on the stairs. She rolled around on the landing, spitting and crying. I think just because she wanted me to carry her up the stairs rather than walk up herself.

The day went ok after, but this is where she ended up taking her nap:

She tucked herself into the corner, under her bed. She sometimes plays there and "hides" but I think she was so tuckered out from her tantrums, she ended up passing out there. She was a little upset when she awoke, cause she was wedged under. We then had a talk about not going there any more.

Evan

2011-02-17T20:27:00.001-08:00

Well, if Ellena gets her own blog post, then I guess Evan needs one, too. Here's Wolfy Evan.

We had a sunny day last week, so we stopped at the park for a bit - cannot wait for summer!

Here's Ellena giving Evan a lap ride. This is one of my new favorite pictures - there is so much joy!

All About Ellena

2011-02-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Every day I attempt to drill into Ellena's 2 1/2 year old brain that she isn't the center of the world, but at least in this blog post, it's all about Ellena. I'm so glad I got her little smirk as she snuck some of her favorite crackers.

Here she is pretending to be a mermaid by sticking both legs into the sleeve of her hoodie.

Ellena was playing in the truck and wanted to buckle into Evan's new booster seat. She got such a kick.

The funny thing about this picture is that right before I took it, Ellena remarked, "I think Poki is looking for snuggles." Poki then jumped onto Ellena's chair and snuggled up.

Creationary Creations

2011-02-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

The kids got the Lego game "Creationary" - think Pictionary, but instead of drawing, you need to build it out of Legos. Here are some of our creations: Evan's barbecue, Ellena's sand castle, and my elephant.

Evan's Pictures

2011-02-07T17:52:00.000-08:00

Evan took these pictures - all his favorite things!

Ellena's School

2011-02-04T11:13:00.001-08:00

Ellena attends a pre-preschool program through Bellevue College. She and I go once a week to explore the different sensory stations, have a snack, and enjoy circle time. Ellena absolutely loves school and is looking forward to going to Evan's school this summer!

Ellena glued googly eyes to her bird and then spread glue all over its body. There were feathers available to glue on, but she insisted her bird only needed glue - lots and lots of glue. So much that it leaked onto the back of the bird, so we placed it on the paper for stamping. Ellena then stamped the dogs all around her bird.

Here she is with one of her buddies, Hayden. The girls were holding the "telephone" and just giggling - too cute!

A New Neighborhood Friend

2011-02-02T15:39:00.001-08:00

The kids and I made a new friend in the neighborhood - of the 4-legged variety! A little black kitten was roaming our neighborhood and came by to visit while we played outside. She was very friendly, curious and daring! She climbed the cherry blossom tree a few times - the first time she used the branches and ground cover to break her fall - the kids were AMAZED by this acrobatic feat. The following times she made it down herself. The last time I had to help her down (and I think I made a friend for life - uh oh!) Because she is mostly black, Ellena thought it was Poki and was very concerned that Poki was running into the street. We explained that this is a different kitty, but she does look like Poki. So the kids named her "Poke-a-roo".

Ellena-antics and One Evanism

2011-02-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

The other day Pops complained about the twisted straps on Evan's carseat. The next day I went to buckle Evan in and the straps were not twisted. I exclaimed to Evan, "What's Poppa talking about?!" He then huffed out, "Oh Pops... he's such a... MAN!"

Ellena has a pair of maracas that are blue and green. She asks me what color they are and I purposely give her a wrong answer. She then cracks up and tells me the right answer. After this went on for a while, she finally said, "Momma, you're not very good at this game!"

I mistakenly addressed Ellena as "kiddo" - I think I usually save that for Evan. She exclaimed, "I'm not kiddo! I'm... (you could practically hear the wheels turning in her brain)... Sweet Ellena!"

I had a shirt with the Polo Ralph Lauren logo on it. Ellena was examining it and asked what it was. I explained that it was a man riding a horse and playing a game where he swings a stick to hit a ball. Ellena repeated it all back to me and then said, "That's not very safe!"

Ellena's 2nd Professional Haircut

2011-01-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

Pops usually gives Ellena's hair a trim when it starts getting wispy. Since our haircut place had a $7.99 special going on, I asked Ellena if she would like to get her hair cut there. She was very excited! Just like at the dentist, she sat very still and listened to the hairdresser's directions. Ellena ended up with a sleek looking bob - very stylish!

Ready to Go

2011-01-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

Ellena was so anxious to get going on our errands, she got herself all ready to go. She put on her boots and her ducky backpack and picked out a truck book to take in the car.

Evan, on the other hand, was content to stay at home with his new library book.

Kids

2011-01-19T20:43:00.001-08:00

Ellena found a steal at Target today - Disney Princess house slippers for $1.98. She was tickled pink!

Here's Evan posing with his latest Lego creation. That kid loves to build!

Daddy's Girl

2011-01-18T16:40:00.001-08:00

Love, love, love these pics!

Poppa's Birthday "Cake"

2011-01-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

Poppa got to choose his birthday dessert and he went with the cherry chocolate almond croissant bread pudding! Poor Evan got the stomach flu last night and has been sleeping all afternoon. Luckily, Ellena helped me put together the dessert. Such big muscles on my little helper!

TV Snuggles

2011-01-11T18:56:00.001-08:00

Today the kids were feeling very snuggly during tv time. They made a little pillow fort for themselves on the couch and snuggled in together - very sweet!

Pics from Today

2011-01-10T20:40:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! We have been busy cleaning out our closets and today was my first opportunity to snap a few pics of the kids. Evan is posing with his Power Miner Legos. What cracks me up about this picture (besides his stance) is that he's wearing a vest he found in one of his storage bins. It's a 2T that Ellena decided she wanted to take for herself. Of course, Evan had to mooch in and reclaim it for himself. Can't believe it still fits him. So now we've had a few tug-of-war matches over who gets to wear the vest.

Ellena was in a mood today! She didn't want to be in the picture... she wanted to take the picture. The kids have their own cameras that they can play with, but mine is off limits. So she was moping around, avoiding my camera and pushing the stool around. I tricked her and caught her on the other side of the island. Got a great smile, with a hint of rascal-ness in her eyes. Now imagine that same expression as she takes Evan's most favorite stuffed animal, Penguin, and hides him away! That girl!

Christmas Morning

2010-12-25T11:05:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful Christmas morning! The kids had a blast opening their presents!

Santa's Cookies

2010-12-25T06:42:00.001-08:00

Last night we left out a cookie for Santa. Ellena insisted that Santa wanted apple juice and Evan said Santa had to have milk, so Santa got both beverages. You might notice that Evan's cheeks are extra rosy in this picture - he's fighting a cold, but surprisingly, no fever. Poor guy needs his sleep, but he's so excited for today that he's been up since 5, checking to see if it's time to wake up yet.

Aquarium with Buddies

2010-12-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Evan and Ellena visited the Aquarium the other day with their buddies, Colin and Adam. The kids had a blast together!

Here's Ellena posing with the gi-normous octopus

The kids on the orca (and the random girl in front of Ellena)

Ellena posing with the harbor seal

Evan and Ellena running on the pier after our Red Robin lunch.

Christmas Evanisms

2010-12-24T11:51:00.001-08:00

* When I asked Evan what he wanted for breakfast on Christmas morning, this is the conversation we had:

Me: I'm assuming you want pancakes, cause they are your favorite. What else do you want with your pancakes?

Evan: Eggs... and presents!

* I guess I was interrupting him this afternoon, cause he said in his snooty voice, "Excuse me, Mother. I'm counting now. Please turn off your voice."

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Some New Pics of the Kids

2010-12-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

Here are the kids munching on their baby carrots (with the tops on) - straight from our organic produce box.

Evan with the gingerbread man that he made at school.

Ellena after eating a cookie - chocolate all over her face and hands!

Family Picture - Runners Up

2010-12-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

Last night we posed in front of our Christmas tree for our annual family picture. We did get "the one" that we used for our Christmas card, but I wanted to share some of our "outtakes." These kids crack me up!

Sugary Sugar Cookies

2010-12-07T16:40:00.001-08:00

Today we had another bake-fest... This time we used a box mix from Trader Joe's - a sugar cookie DIY kit, including cookie mix (just add butter and egg), 3 metal cookie cutters and a whole lot of icing and sprinkles (all for $3.99!!!!). FUN! The kids were on sprinkle-duty, of course, and ended up with more sprinkles on themselves and on the floor, than on the cookies... Ok, that is an exaggeration. Cause a whole lot of sprinkles ended up on those cookies! Evan is mean-muggin' the camera, while I was able to catch one of Ellena's brightest smiles ever!

Our Tree!

2010-12-04T20:28:00.001-08:00

Today we picked out our Christmas tree! We have been going to the same tree lot for the last few years - reasonable price, really nice looking trees, proceeds go towards the church's home-building program in Mexico - everyone's a winner! In past years, we've gone with Douglas firs because we like the pine-y smell and the full look. This year we found a 9' Noble fir that was extra full and a nice bonus - shouldn't drop as many needles! Score! Tomorrow we will embark on decorating the behemoth. :)

Gingerbread Men

2010-12-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

Today the kids got to decorate their super-large gingerbread men. I found some reasonable kits at Trader Joe's (9" cookie, icing, sprinkles and candy coated chocolates for $3.99!) They had fun squeezing on the icing, placing the m&ms and pouring the sprinkles... huge mess! But they enjoyed themselves and also got to taste a little, too!

Kids' Christmas Trees

2010-12-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

I love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree, but I hate all the needles that drop on the floor. So we decided to do a real Christmas tree for the family room downstairs (no more carpet! Just sweep up the needles!) and the kids each got an artificial tree. They were thrilled! Here are my clowns posing in front of their trees - each self-decorated. Notice, Ellena puts all of her decorations on the bottom. Evan did a pretty good job of spreading his out.

Here's a picture of Ellena's big-girl toddler bed. She has been hounding us to move into this bed for a few weeks, so we finally took apart her crib and moved in the bed! Oh goodness!

The Good with the Bad

2010-11-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

The last couple snow days, we stayed in and Ellena has made huge strides in going to the potty. We are so excited, proud and thrilled for her! I can't believe my little baby is a big girl, wearing big girl lady-pants! And she is quite proud of herself, too! She is looking forward to going to Evan's school next year and sleeping over at Grandma's house (both 'requiring' panties.)

But to go with this good news, Ellena has been struggling with her sleep. I've read about this happening as little ones hit milestones, such as potty training. Poor girl moans in her sleep and is quite distressed as we put her down. We hope that this will pass soon.

First Snow

2010-11-22T16:07:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we had our first snow! It was a light dusting that the kids had fun experiencing. Today we are getting dumped on!

Sticker Mosaics

2010-11-09T16:31:00.001-08:00

Evan got a sticker mosaic kit from his buddies, Nate & Riley, and the kids are LOVING it! The set comes with four separate projects, so Evan didn't mind Ellena taking one for herself. Each little box has a number and each number corresponds to a sticker color. They are tiny! And there are a ton of boxes! It kept the kids busy for an hour this afternoon and Evan is back to work on his after taking a little break. I'm surprised that Ellena is "sticking" with it - the pieces are quite small (recommended for age 5!), but she's always been quite dexterous. So if you are thinking of getting one of these kits for your little one, know that it has our thumbs up approval!! Thanks again, Nate & Riley!!

70 Degrees in November!

2010-11-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it?! It was downright toasty outside today! We got to take the bike and scooter to the park today and enjoy the sunshine. We loved it!

Here's a picture of Ellena enjoying her Halloween goodie - check out her stance!