Category: life lately

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

{all 3 reading on the couch together – swoon! // craft projects + a podcast in the afternoon // Fitz figured out if he stood on the play microwave like a stool, he could swing from the playhouse…}

{took the kids to the Zoo! finally saw the penguins – who were just out of quarantine – and a big sleeping bear // dinner at our weekly Play Street block party, celebrating E’s birthday with friends + neighbors}

{headed out to Seabrook for a trip with my family // celebrated E’s birthday, F’s upcoming birthday + D’s half birthday}

{the kids “golfing” with Fitz’s new golf clubs // this WA beach may be my favorite place on Earth}

{playing in the sand // the kids in the big beach chair // Daphne lost her first tooth!}

{Fitz wanted to “swim” in the tiny pool – this lasted about 15 minutes // Eloise got her ears pierced for her birthday! // a final birthday party at the Laurelhurst Beach Club}

Phew! The last month of summer. We kicked off August by celebrating our 12 (yes, 12!) year wedding anniversary. It does not seem like it’s been that long, though SO much has happened in our lives in that decade. We didn’t get to celebrate with a date night out (which we have promised ourselves once we have a good child care option) but a dinner date in with some of Seattle’s best sushi enjoyed after the kids ate!

The girls had their two camps in August which all went well. We celebrated Eloise turning EIGHT and spent some time out on the WA coast in my favorite little town on the planet with my family. I tried to get the kids outside as much as possible (when it wasn’t too hot – we’ve had a few streaks) to just enjoy the nice summer weather. And lots of late mornings and post-dinner family walks as we continue to enjoy our laid-back summer schedule.

Now we are coming out of Labor Day weekend and are saying good-bye to summer! Eloise is supposed to be starting school tomorrow (Daphne starts next Monday) but the school district board and the teacher’s union have yet to finalize their contract, so a strike is looking likely. Just over here trying to get the kids ready for school AND support our teachers, but also needing to know how much (if any) childcare we’ll have this week. Brightly though, Fitz starts school on Thursday no matter what the public school is doing. Plus, we are in the final countdown towards Fitz’s SECOND birthday. What?!

Wish us luck this week. And some good mediation for the adults running the public schools.

Happy September!

M

 

Oh July! When Seattle actually started to feel like summer (June was just SO wet and cold)!

{the girls in our neighborhood Fourth of July parade (after it being cancelled the past two years) // a family hike in Twisp // the beautiful Methow Valley in the North Cascade mountains}

{in downtown Winthrop – the cutest little town!}

{more of Winthrop where we explored a bit}

{Eloise’s favorite place at the cabin // such a beautiful spot on the river // the kids outside the bakery in Twisp}

{checking out the local playground // spent the afternoon at the local pool which was cold but perfect for the kids // driving home through the North Cascades}

{the kids were (mostly) asleep in the car since it was the evening + Aaron and I were in awe of the beauty of the mountains while we were driving // I even snuck out of the car for the view of Lake Diablo}

{kids playing in the water table – love that it occupies all 3 of them! // Daph started weekly soccer for the summer after loving soccer camp // these kiddos!}

{we spent a fair amount of time out on the back deck reading + playing with kinetic sand // a giant box! the kids played “The Boxcar Children” for a few days // Eloise started a summer session of ballet at the Pacific Northwest Ballet school + everyone was excited for her to be all dressed up!}

{these two down at Seattle Center while we waited for Eloise’s ballet class // so proud of Daph for climbing all the way up the ropes on this playground and making her way over to the big twisty slide! // at the International Fountain}

{Aaron + Fitz with the Space Needle // a FOAMY play date! // coloring on the back deck – and Fitz in glasses, eep!}

{the girls had “The Nutcracker” ballet camp // Fitz + I found some water to play in during the heat wave // everyone practicing stretching}

{the one week the girls had ballet camp in Bellevue and it didn’t make sense to drive home + back just happened to be the HOTTEST week in Seattle // we got to see the floats for the Seafair Parade down at Seattle Center while we were down there for Eloise’s ballet // Daph got an invite to a birthday party at Laurelhurst Beach Club + the weather was gorgeous!}

July was really the longest month so far, if I’m being honest. Not having consistent childcare and a regular schedule is really challenging for me. Plus the heat – we’ve never been so thankful to have A/C which was installed in the spring!

We finally made it up to the mountains (Daph’s been asking since 2020) and stayed at our neighbor’s cabin in the North Cascades. It was really fun and SO beautiful, but a humbling reminder of how hard it is to travel with littles. Then we came back to some actual SUMMER weather (which we all promptly complained about just a few days in, typical of the true Seattleites that we all are now) and had a mix of camp weeks for the girls as well as the start of some activities for the girls (after a two year hiatus).

And now it’s August (what?!) and we are cruising into our last half of summer. It’s so wild that everyone else in the country (it seems like) is heading back to school – the kids don’t start until after Labor Day which, honestly, is amazing. Aaron and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on the First, if you can believe it, and while we haven’t had a date night since February 2020 (unless you count driving to the hospital when I was in labor with Fitz!) we have been tremendously grateful of our lives together + the family we’ve created. We are celebrating with some fancy sushi (take-out) on Friday night after the kids go to bed!

We’ve got a packed few weeks to round out the summer: Eloise’s EIGHTH birthday, a trip out to Seabrook with my family, one last week of summer camp, and a smattering of get-togethers with friends!

Happy August!

M

{the girls watching the Zamboni before skating lessons // Fitz’s bedhead from one of his many (sicky naps) // FINALLY feeling better + this kid loves the swings}

{Daph with a tiny flower behind her ear // crazy hair day at school for Eloise – there were about 9 ponies! // Fitz was trying to get “in” this little Barbie jeep (our friends have a “real” Barbie jeep like this and the kids ADORE it) and he kept saying “IN! IN!”}

{Fitz has never met a sandbox he doesn’t like + will also 100 percent steal all available shovels // riding in a car // mini golf!}

{mini golf with our nephew Teddy (visiting from Indy) // enjoying some cotton candy at a school play date // the mini golf crew}

{CHEESE! // oh these two – do you think we’ll end up with three kids in glasses? // summer is for bubbles}

{on our first official day of SUMMER I managed to get all three kids to the Zoo! it’s the first time I have been with them by myself because of the pandemic + I’m not gonna lie I was pretty proud of myself!}

{finally getting some sun in Seattle! // this bub got his first COVID vaccine + was the bravest // lunch on the back deck}

{Fitz + his beloved broom – he loves to “sweep”! // these littles doing coloring together while Eloise was at Girl Scout Camp // holding hands by their favorite garage door in the neighborhood – can you be any cuter?}

{cousins! this is the first time Fitz has ever met one of his cousins – hello pandemic baby – and he was OBSESSED with Teddy who came out to stay in Seattle for a month. Teddy mostly stayed with Ben (his other Seattle uncle) but for his last week, he got to stay with us + the kids were SO excited!}

Holy moly, I can’t believe June is over. And also, it only finally feels like summer since we had so much rain and cold though the entire month. The girls really only got out of school half-way through June, so summer is still hoppin’ around here!

And we managed to survive our first week of summer camps for the girls (I sprinkled a few throughout the summer so we can make sure they still have a chance to be bored!) and it was such a success! Other than the stress of needing to get both of the girls to camp by 9 am on different sides of town with one car, it went swimmingly. Daph was so excited about soccer camp that I signed her up for soccer lessons starting at the end of this week, and Eloise adored Girl Scout camp which provided her with endless activities for an entire week (she starts Girl Scouts this fall with a Troop and is pee-in-your-pants excited!).

This past month has felt more normal than any other month since the Before Times. Which, as much as it brings me (social) anxiety, it’s been really great for everyone, including me. We have been so isolated for so long that seeing friends + neighbors and engaging in the community has been the best. Looking forward to the rest of summer!

Happy July!

M

Phew, these past few weeks have been a lot. And here we are in mid-June, but I wanted to recap our May!

{We celebrated Mother’s Day a week early + it was wonderful just to get photos with the kids! // Also Daph + Fitz are so sweet together!}

{Papaw + Uncle David were in town for a golf trip – which didn’t end up happening, but that’s a long story for another day – and the kids were absolutely thrilled to have people to play with! // Fitz LOVES reading books}

{These three are just the sweetest // another group shot at the playground // trying on new shoes!}

{Lots of reading with Papaw while he visited // Fitz showing off his skills}

{Eloise loves to build forts + was very proud of this one // the girls have been ice skating once a week at the new ice rink // Fitz + I spent some time at the U Village playground and he LOVED this little car}

{the boys reading together // “Papaw face” // reading + bouncing}

{the bedhead on this one plus can you hear him saying “cheese!” // celebrating Aaron’s birthday! // Eloise + Mimi have been doing art challenges each week and these were E’s cupcakes}

{kicked off the kids’ bathroom remodel + said good-bye to the claw foot tub // Fitz has really loved being in his hooded towel after bath time recently // another mama made sure I was in the photo with the girls at the front gate of T-Mobile Park}

{trying to keep this guy contained during the baseball game // Eloise’s school had a special night at the Mariner’s game + she was SO excited! // CHEESE!}

[Fitz signing “more” because he spent the entire game snacking // Fitz has recently started walking with his hands in his pockets – it’s adorable! // Eloise being so brave while she got her covid booster – just in time for summer!}

{Sometimes these three play really well together // Fitz taking an unusual daytime nap + we would find out he was sick with a massive ear infection over Memorial Day weekend} // Daphne girl looking so old!}

{Demo Day + the new tub being placed!}

May felt busy + a little crazy too. It was the last push before the end of school activities and events really picked up. The girls were in skating and swim lessons which actually made life feel a little more normal (since we completely stopped outside activities for over 2 years).

We celebrated Aaron’s birthday – YAY – and headed into Memorial Day weekend with high expectations of some sunny weather. But we ended up with having the coldest + wettest spring on record (with only 5 HOURS of sun in the entirety of May). Ugh.

And then we had our first really scary sickness with Fitz (and honestly, ever as parents as the girls were never really sick as babies or young toddlers) over the holiday weekend. Once we were able to see our doctor and get a prescription for Amoxicillin, he was on the mend pretty quickly for an ear infection, but there were some scary + sad moments for sure.

Happy June!

M

{Celebrated a brand-new FIVE year old! // Daphne got her first vaccine + was SO brave // Fitz’s haircut BEFORE – this is before he lost his mind + cried the entire time}

{Fitz’s hair AFTER – he looks SO old! // Daph wanted to golf with Uncle Ben for her birthday so Ben, Sarah, Aaron + Daph went out for 9 holes // these two play SO well together}

{Fitz with a teeny tiny ponytail + Eloise // Daph got a Bluey dollhouse for her birthday + the girls created a mega dollhouse! // Fitz, Eloise + me watching Daph do her swim lesson}

{Fitz finally got to visit the U Village playground! // introducing Fitz to the Y-Bike + he’s almost too tall for it // this is a pretty usual snack situation around here}

{Aaron + the girls made dumplings for Korean Family Dinner night // Daph loving on the dogs at U Village // Fitz getting into so many hangers}

{that little ankle cross! // Fitz is the perfect size for our backyard playhouse // Daphne making a bug at school}

{I never thought we would need central a/c in our Seattle house, but after triple digits last summer, here we are! We had it installed just on the main floor with the ducting in the attic. // the cherry trees are in bloom all over the city + this tree is one of our favorites when we take a walk around the block // Aaron + Fitz being twinsies}

{Fitz is up ON TOP of the play kitchen – he uses the shelves in the cabinet below as a ladder… it’s super fun! // Fitz decided that instead of riding his bike, he’d rather dig in the dirt // we celebrated TEN years in our house – can you believe this is what it looked like when we bought it?!}

March sort of felt like a blur but also an awakening as we creep out of winter. We’ve enjoyed some warmer, sunnier days as of late which makes us all SO excited for SPRING! Seattle always puts on it’s best show with the blooms everywhere – daffodils (and now tulips), cherry trees, and everything coming to life in abundant green.

We also have officially have a FIVE year old (who is registered for Kindergarten in the fall) and an EIGHTEEN MONTH old – how?

Happy April!

M

 

{Eloise the fort builder // Fitz LOVES the swings // and he loves headbands + snacks}

{Fitz’s bedhead is the best // Daphne feeling festive! // this silly kid loves to wear his pants on his head}

{he wants to be a big kid so badly + brings things to the table so he can sit in Daph’s chair // Eloise’s school friend gave her a recipe for an Ice Cream Smoothie which sounds amazing! // the kids reading together}

{Daph made a Valentine’s Day card for Mimi which said “Feliz Dia De Amistad” which means Happy Friendship Day! // the girls’ Valentine’s Day goodies from their school parties – it’s like Halloween over here // Fitz watching the world out the front window}

{Celebrated another trip around the sun! // saying good-bye to Seattle for a few days // and HELLO to the beach at Seabrook for mid-winter break!}

{the girls exploring the Gnome Trail and the gnome + fairy houses that are there // “take a picture of me, Mama!” // the kids loved being out on the (cold) beach}

{everyone loved the zip-line, including Fitz who kept asking for “more” // Eloise + the Old Stump // there was a bocce ball court just outside of our rental house which the kids loved, plus the SUN!}

{Mimi headed up for the long weekend to see us all + help celebrate Daph’s birthday!}

February felt SO good. It’s always been my favorite month (I am only slightly biased) but especially after the eternity of January, February was really refreshing. We celebrated Eloise’s Half Birthday (how is she 7 and a half?!) and the girls started going to swim lessons again. It’s been great to see them in the water, especially Eloise who took a 2 year hiatus from lessons, and is swimming like a fish and diving down to the bottom of the pool. I can’t wait to see her swim this summer!

Our school district gives the kids the entire week of President’s Day off and calls it Mid-Winter Break, and we used the opportunity to get out of town and head to the coast. We haven’t been away from the house since the end of the summer when we were also out at Seabrook with friends. Even though it was cold (and even snowed the first night) it was SO sunny + beautiful out there! We had the best time exploring the town, swimming, the beach + watching movies together. Then, we topped off the break with a long weekend with Mimi!

Happy March!

M

 

{these photos perfectly capture the girls’ personalities! this is the tiny sledding hill we made in front of the house when we had SO much snow on the ground after Christmastime // Fitz can climb basically anything at this point}

{since a theater isn’t really an option but we all wanted to see SING 2, we bought the most expensive movie rental ever – it was worth it! // Aaron + Fitz reading together // who is this little boy + where did Baby Fitz go?}

{these two have the most special relationship + play so well together // Fitz can pull himself up enough to see what’s on the counter + then hold on with one hand while swiping at whatever is in his reach with the other hand… it’s super fun! // watching Daph play outside + get some of her wiggles out}

{all three kids sitting + reading at the same time! // Eloise does a lot of art at school + this last month her class discussed and created the Northern Lights  – this is one of my favorite art pieces she’s ever done at school, it’s SO beautiful! // sometimes Fitz likes to wake up at 5 am + then he’s tired and falls asleep in the middle of the floor}

{selfies with the tiny guy // cuddles with Papa // gosh, he’s so cute!}

While there were moments of joy and fun times (as pictured above) January was rough, if I’m being honest. Truly the longest month of my life. Coming off of the merriest time of the year is always a little tough, but adding in scrambling to get KN95 masks in kid-size, rain and rain and rain, the daily worry that school (for either girl) would suddenly be cancelled, a week of no preschool + a Covid exposure at school. It was just a lot. We survived. But really, still just surviving over here.

BUT, looking forward to February (the BEST month, biased or not) that will bring making Valentines with the girls, Valentine’s Day parties, a birthday celebration (albeit at home + just our small family) plus a short trip over mid-winter break.

Happy February!

M