emerald city diaries

Phew, just making it with this November family update before the end of December!

{all three kids playing together which, delightfully, happens quite a bit these days // Fitz LOVES reading books // an umbrella walk}

{had brunch + the loveliest walk along Lake Washington with a friend // movie lounging // Aaron + Fitz tinkering}

{introducing the kids to “Miracle on 34th Street” // Daphne learned to roller skate at a friend’s birthday party // the girls made placecards for the Thanksgiving table}

{Daph + Bob Barker, Ben + Sarah’s dog // lots of cuddles + another ear infection for Fitz // enjoying candy canes inside the car while Aaron tied the Christmas tree to the top}

{Fitz enjoying the snow from inside // Fitz enjoying a show from the side table // SNOW!}

November felt fast as there were only a few weeks of school between Halloween and Thanksgiving break – the kids get that entire week off of school. Just a few weeks into the month, Fitz started fevering again and it turns out he had another ear infection. Yep, just weeks after his last one at the end of October. Luckily, once he started antibiotics, he was good-to-go!

We were able to meet the girls’ teachers for their Fall Parent Teacher Conferences, and then spent Thanksgiving with Ben + Sarah. Then it felt like we just ran into December and the official Holiday Season!

Happy December!

M

{Daph + Fitz “reading” together // Fitz caught a cold which turned into a double ear infection // it was straight into the bath with these two after all that digging in the dirt!}

{I was able to get away for a long weekend in Seabrook – my favorite place! – with some girlfriends // Eloise reading a “secret message” letter from a friend with a (blue light) Spy Pen I brought her back from my trip // for Storytime Pumpkins at school, Eloise chose the book character “Eloise” and her pumpkin was SO cute!}

{the girls had a Fall Dance at school last week + we all had so much fun! // Daphne had her last soccer practice + scrimmage // Fitz playing dress-up + Daph taught him how to “Trick-or-Treat”!}

{the entire family on Halloween (I don’t know how to un-crop Aaron’s head 😂) // Fitz the Minion + Mama at the Halloween parade – he liked watching the drum line play but it was pretty loud! // Daph and her friend with their T-Rexes}

Phew! It seems like October had a lot going on as we really got into the rhythm of school, work + activities, and I guess it shows since I took almost no photos.

We had a hot + smoky first part of the month which kept us from being outside much. And then this last week or so, we had a super fast fall and now it feels like winter already. Rain, grey + dark!

I took a long weekend away with some of my closest girlfriends + we headed out to Seabrook kid-free! We had some rain + some sun + the company was so lovely. I hadn’t been away from the kids for so long – the girls since Fitz as born but never away from Fitz before! – so I was a little nervous. And Aaron held down the fort with all 3 kids on his own.

Mimi joined us last weekend as we celebrated Halloween! (We were having so much fun I didn’t manage to take a single picture of her and the kids… sorry Mom!)

As much as I love the “holiday season” part of me is just not ready yet. But it’s fast approaching, so I guess we’ve got to jump on board!

Happy November!

M

{enjoying the last days of summer with crafting + Kinetic sand outside on the back deck // Daphne started U6 soccer // Eloise discovered all of the unharvested carrots in the garden beds}

{oh these two goofballs // Aaron + the kids // headed to the first day of school!}

{family screen time while I cooked dinner // Eloise joined a Girl Scout troop! // Fitz’s first time in a shopping cart (that was highly sanitized!)}

{the kids playing in party hats on Fitz’s birthday // Fitz + Eloise reading together in her bed – my little bookworms // the girls with their school mascot at the all-school family BBQ}

{family photo at Fitz’s birthday party // Fitz playing with new toys // and enjoying a delicious cupcake!}

{lunchtime selfie before his (re) hair-cut – the first one was SO bad but the re-cut was SO much better! // Fitz got his final dose + has been great at wearing a mask if we are out // exploring a new playground while the girls were in school}

Oh September. Probably my favorite month. The true end of summer with school starting but still some final sunny + warm days (but those cool, crisp mornings are everything). And also Fitz’s birthday is such a great way to wrap up the month before we really head into fall + it seems like the holiday season is just rushing in.

As I mentioned in the first day of school posts, the girls were delayed a week in starting school so we had a bit of a longer summer break than anticipated. But it was nice to have some final slow days, especially since Fitz still started school, and the girls and I explored some playgrounds, and the library + donut shop!

We are in the full swing of the school year now, maybe finally getting a hang of the early morning wake-ups to catch the bus and finding all of the cozy sweatshirts + coats for the morning. Our weekends are full of activities for the girls while we also try to hang out as a family (continuing with take-out dinner on Saturdays plus movie night!) but also making sure we can get a few things done around the house too before we are in the rainy season.

I can’t believe it’s October, though. Like, what?!

M