emerald city diaries

{We spent Friday morning at the Zoo & Eloise loved the penguins! Yes, there is also a heron in the exhibit. Apparently he likes to hang out with the penguins.}

{After seeing a few zoo exhibits, Eloise wanted to be carried around in my arms. So we ditched the Zoo for the nearby playground & spent most of the time at the sandbox. In the shade. In our matching sandals. It was perfect.}

{Our across-the-street neighbors have an amazing garden & it’s strawberry season! They dropped off this bowl on Friday & we got another drop-off this afternoon! Next year we are for sure growing our own strawberries!}

{On Saturday morning I got a mini-spa day with a pedicure and a facial, and it was so lovely! I only read gossip magazines at the nail salon – such a guilty pleasure!}

{We headed out to a good friend’s house out in Black Diamond on Saturday afternoon which is about an hour south-ish of our house. It was so, so beautiful & right on a little lake. Eloise & Aaron got into their bathing suits and had so much fun in the water.}

{That is Eloise on the left & her friend Blakely on the right who was celebrating her second birthday! The girls loved those balloons!}

{Today was super hot again, so instead of attempting to go somewhere, I opted to stay home & let Eloise play in a water bowl on the back deck. She was pretty amused, but we are eagerly awaiting the water table that should be delivered this week as an early birthday present!}

{Eloise ate her weight in strawberries this weekend. This was her snack this morning which she finished in about 10 seconds. She is obsessed with strawberries!}

{Aaron was working on our bathroom cabinet doors today & I am getting so excited! Next up: priming and painting.}

{When I got into our car to go to Pure Barre this afternoon, it was 96 degrees. I kid you not. It was so hot! And I may or may not have gone to barre just for the real A/C!}

{Aaron had dinner plans tonight, so right as I got home from barre he was out the door. Since we didn’t have a car, Eloise & I walked to the closest restaurant a few blocks away. Eloise insisted on taking her doll Louise, one wet wipe, and her sunglasses (which she broke within minutes of our trip!). It was fun to get out with her in the neighborhood, but I was so, so sore from barre & she wanted to be carried almost the entire way (which includes a huge hill!). So half-way home I made her walk which is like herding a cat… we saw every bug, leaf, & rock in the neighborhood!}

This weekend just flew by & I can’t believe it is already the start of a new week! I have become a true Seattleite since I constantly talk about the weather, but holy Hannah it was hot this weekend! Luckily Aaron installed our little A/C unit during the last short heatwave so we’ve had some relief, and I am so, so thankful our bedrooms are downstairs!

I am gearing up for a short week since I get a mama’s get away weekend next week – YES!

How was your weekend?

M

{Eloise decided that wearing Mama’s sunglasses was so fun while we ran errands on Friday morning.}

{We had friends staying with us this week & Eloise loved having a baby around the house!}

{Eloise was trying on bike helmets for an early birthday present & Aaron joined in on the fun!}

{Jen & her hubby were in town for a wedding & we got to have breakfast together – it was SO FUN!}

{Aaron worked on our bathroom cabinet doors a little this weekend. It is going to be so good when it’s done!}

{Despite the look on her face, Eloise LOVES her new cow helmet!}

On Sunday morning, we set out on an urban hike to explore some of the city which was pretty fun. We borrowed a hiking backpack from a friend so we were much more mobile than we would have been with a stroller; and Aaron was such a champ & carried that thing for our entire trip! And despite the fact that it wasn’t really supposed to rain, it poured rain for a lot of the day on Saturday & we still managed to get out & have a pretty fun day! Here are a million pictures!

{Off we go! Full disclosure: about 1.5 blocks into our “hike” we turned around because none of us were appropriately dressed for the super rainy weather.}

{Ah, raingear. Much better!}

{Aaron & Eloise posing under a bridge at the UW.}

{Family selfie with the Husky in front of Husky Stadium. We walked thru our neighborhood (Ravenna) & caught the Burke-Gilman trail all the way to Husky Stadium to catch the lightrail.}

{The Capital Hill lightrail station had this really cool sculture art piece!}

{After a little bit of exploring & grabbing some lunch, I FINALLY got a huge, beautiful bouquet of peonies. You guys, these flowers were only $10. I wish I could come down every week for flowers!}

{Obligatory phot of the family in front of the Pike Place Market sign.}

{Eloise was all tucked away in that backpack!}

{So many PEONIES!}

{And lots of fresh produce. Aaron got an apple & it was probably the best apple we have had in, well, ever!}

{Eloise found this little wooden rocking horse inside the Market & she was obsessed. I feel like we are depriving her by not having a riding animal at the house…}

{And a family shot of us with the Market pig!}

{And another of me for good measure with the other Pike Place Market sign!}

{Eloise loves pointing things out & then saying what it is. We are probably 50% on totally understanding what she is saying!}

{We headed home & cut thru the UW. That campus is stupidly pretty & brought back so many memories of my college days!}

{Admiring the rose garden.}

{And posing with George Washington!}

{This morning we headed over to hang out with Ben & Sarah who were having a garage sale. We brought Eloise’s Y-bike & her new helmet, & she had a great time. She did take one big spill though over her handle bars & smooshed her face. There were a few tears, but she wanted to get right back on that bike! Really glad she had a helmet on though.}

{Eloise cruising around the freshly-mowed yard this afternoon.}

{And playing in the dirt while Aaron finished up his yard project this evening after dinner. Then it was right into the bath!}

We had such a fun weekend even though it rained WAY more than it was supposed to. Luckily today was really sunny & pretty warm, so it actually felt like we were kicking off summer! We had just a few plans which was nice over the long weekend, but we tried to relax a little too. Our urban hike was the biggest adventure we had & it was really fun. We don’t spend much time down in Capital Hill or downtown anymore, despite our relatively close distance, since it is a hassle to park & fight traffic. The lightrail is awesome & will only get better when we get a station just a few blocks away!

I am amazed that we are already at the end of Memorial Day & can’t quite believe that spring is coming to an end. Seriously!? We are looking forward to a short, but hopefully productive week! How was your weekend?

M

P.S. While this weekend serves as a Memorial Day for the brave men & women who have served our country (& I don’t mean to usurp that meaning with this post) I wanted to honor the life of a very dear friend of ours who recently passed: John Sisko. He was incredibly meaningful to us & Aaron was particularly close to him; he officiated our wedding & has filled our home with many beautiful pieces of art. His passing is sad & tragic, & our hearts are grieving this loss of his family & friends. May you rest in peace John. xo

{At breakfast on Saturday morning Eloise figured out a new way to eat bagels: with one finger thru the hole!}

{After Aaron & Ben moved the fence up, it left this little tree right in the middle of the yard, so Aaron moved it up to the otherside of the fence. Slowly but surely we are prepping this new space for raised beds!}

{Saturday night we were able to get out for an early birthday date night! Musashi’s in Wallingford was just what we needed! Thanks to Jess & Cale for watching Eloise! You can see some of their shenanigans here.}

{And conveniently Molly Moon’s ice cream was right down the street from dinner, so even though it was cold & a little rainy, ice cream cones were in order!}

{And we couldn’t have the Andersons over without playing a round of Catan! Jess pulled out a pretty big win!}

{Date night attire means heels & jewelry. A nice change from my normal toddler-friendly wardrobe.}

{This afternoon we celebrated little Nora’s first birthday party! Eloise loved the balloons.}

{And while Eloise & I were out, we just so happened to be in West Seattle to hit up Bakery Nouveau for some French deliciousness. Arguably some of the best French pastries in the city! Breakfast tomorrow is going to be awesome.}

{Aaron & Ben being goofy on FaceTime tonight. That is Aaron’s face but Ben’s mouth. Eloise thought it was pretty hilarious.}

We had a really fun weekend seeing friends & playing lots of Catan on both Friday & Saturday nights! It was a little colder & rainier than we would have liked, but we got some good work done in the yard & are looking forward to celebrating Aaron’s birthday all week long (his real birthday is on Tuesday!). I am having trouble believing we are approaching the end of May, but am excited about the kick-off of summer. How was your weekend?

M

{Up until this weekend we have had absolutely gorgeous sunny weather (like summer in May!) so we have been spending a lot of time outside. Eloise is discovering sidewalk chalk & is a pretty big fan.}

{On Saturday morning after a quick morning playdate, Aaron & Ben worked on moving our side fence up to the front of the house. We want to protect that front window – which is currently our office – from the street as well as give ourselves some good space for raised beds. I had to run out and rent a jackhammer to help get the fence posts out of the old concrete, & Aaron & Ben seemed to have a pretty good time with it!}

{Meanwhile Eloise & I hit up Whole Foods to get some sandwiches for lunch. Eloise is super into stickers lately, especially when she is in a shopping cart – thanks Target! – so she was pretty impressed with these huge stickers we got at the deli so we could check out before our sandwiches were ready.}

{Thin Mints, Scandal, & a sleeping toddler = a great Saturday night!}

{I have been hitting up Trader Joe’s right after my Sunday afternoon barre class, mostly because it is peony season! Oh those blooms!}

We had a pretty mellow weekend with no real plans except for Aaron to move the fence, which ended up being a success! It was grey, rainy, & a little cold, so any other outdoor plans were foiled, but we managed to keep busy & get a lot of things done inside the house. I have been attempting to do a big spring clean these past few weeks & feel like I am finally making some progress! And we are gearing up for a busy but fun week!

How was your weekend?

M