Excursions, countdown in Seattle.

Checking out the cool car on Pike St.
This week has been fairly open for Bray, and so we have taken advantage of the time to go to some of our favorite places in Seattle. Since we are only here through mid-April, and Bray will have multiple rehearsals till then, we thought we should do it while we can! We will definitely miss all the fun venues Seattle has to offer!Hobbes loved them.The very cool police horses! Both kids were not afraid, and Hobbes even pet their noses! They got stickers for their bravery.
Making their chips into airplanes at Chipotle.Going upstairs to all the pretty things in Anthropologie.
So this kid is just a little obsessed with mirrors. In this pic, he was saying, "Mom, these are my cheeks!" And the other day when we went to a friend's house for dinner, he introduced himself like this: "HI! I'm Hobbes, I'm handsome." Oh man.
The cool windmill in Anthropologie!
Another cool mirror. In this pic it was, "Look, Mom, I'm SO happy!" :)
Walking back to the opera house, the sun came out amidst the rain.

Guess what today is??

Grandparent weekend!

Guess who came for Valentine's weekend? Ama and Ampa!! We had a fun-filled, jam-packed weekend! We managed to go to the Children's Museum in Factoria, Red Robin, watch Cloudy with a chance of meatballs by the fire, go to the Aquarium, and even have a date night! Altogether, the kids loved it, and tried several times to persuade Ampa to take them back to 'his house.' Thanks for coming and treating us to all the fun Ama and Ampa!!


At the water exhibit in the children's museum.
Getting choked by an octopus' tentacle! (Jill Fagan met up with us at the aquarium!)
For the 1st time ever, Hobbes wanted to 'do' everything...head in the holes, touch all the exhibits, climb over and swim with the seals, you name it!

Being an octopus.
Happy octopi.
Valentine's Day!

Happy Val-Birthday, Bray!!

Since Bray's birthday is so close to Valentine's Day (the 18th) we decided to combine celebratory desserts this year. The result: Red Velvet cupcakes with lots of love, and even an Alabama symbol.:)

Friends, frills and fun.

My girl is no longer a baby. Not even a little bit. She has always been more 'mature' for her age, and even at 16 months, felt more like a 2 year old to me. Now, she's nearly 3 and she already seems much like a preschooler. A few weeks ago, she got invited to her first 'big-girl' birthday party, and they even got to dress up as princesses! Madeline wanted to be a ballerina, and she had to wear the gloves, boa, tutu and 6 necklaces. Although she and Hobbes play together very well, the games they create are very different from the ones she plays with other little girls. Last night, we babysat our friends' daughter, Mackenzie, and they immediately got all decked out in princess costumes, purses and crowns. I took them to my work for some 'ice cream' (frozen yogurt) and they sat and chattered while I ordered. It is so fun to see her growing up!
At Lily's birthday party.
Showing me their puppies.
Girls and crowns.
SO excited to have a friend over!

Watercolors.

I can't believe I haven't gotten the kids the little 'watercolor' sets until now! I loved these when I was little, and they are *so* much cleaner than finger paints! We made Valentines with them the other night.

Handsome haircut.

I gave Hobbes a haircut this week, and after it was done, I came out to the hallway to find this....


Guess he likes it!

Library Boy.

We go to the library a lot, and the kids love playing on the computer, finding books and movies, and putting the puzzles together. Their favorite part, though? Is the library boy statue outside. They say "Oh, HI, BOY!!" On the way in and on the way out. They always check to see what he's reading...although, to me, it looks like the same book every time, poor guy...and they always pat his head before they leave.

Funny kids.

This morning, Bray dropped me and the kids off after picking me up from work, and before heading to his rehearsals. As Hobbes was going inside, he turns around to yell at Bray, "Thanks for driving, Dad! Thanks for taking us home from work!"

During lunch today:
Madeline to Hobbes: "Hobbes, I'm Pink Robot. What's your name?"
H to M: "uhhh, I'm Blue Robot."
M to H:"What's Mommy's robot name?"
H:"Mommy's Brown Robot."
M: "Mommy, you're not Brown Robot!"
Me: "I'm not? What am I?"
M:"Ummm, you're Mommy Brown Robot."

Madeline's latest song lyrics for the car rides:
" I don't CAAARRREe, I don't E-ven Caaarrrreee! You don't caaa--rreee, you don't e-ven CaaAARRREE!" All while having a toy dance on the window to the beat.

February Surprises!

Look who came for a surprise weekend visit!!! Some of our most favorite people: Seth, Naphtali and Amara!!
Trying to walk around in her new blue digs.:)
Madeline, being a helpful cousin. Amara actually took quite a few steps with her-maybe because she had to!
Looking out the window from Westlake Center.
With her favorite person, Uncle Bray, in Whole Foods.
Annnd once again, with Bray in her birthday duds from us!2 peas in a pod. They could play/watch computer games ALL day.

Top Pot Doughnuts before church! Hobbes has to have sprinkles.
I think she likes it!
What has been deemed 'Pink Steel.' (Bray was actually trying to get her to say d-O-nut. She got the O!)At Shnoo, a.k.a. work.

Eating some yogurt...

Asking for coffee...
Wonder where she gets that 'o' face?
The 'cheeseee' face.
Pouting about the picture.Hobbes, helping Amara walk.

...and trying to make her move her feet...
Saying goodbye!! It was super-fun!