Grandma and Papa's Spring Visit

May 1, 2014- Shortly after Benjamin's birthday, Grandma and Papa came for a few days to visit.  Story time: 

 While Josie was in school, Grandma, Papa and Benjamin and I headed to Seattle Center and Pacific Science Center.

 There was a circuit exhibit and Benjamin worked at this for nearly an hour.

Thanks for visiting, Grandma and Papa!

Under the Big Top

Our good friend, Markus, is the director at Teatro Zinzanni and he invited us to the awesome kids show - Dream On. Jodi, Josh and David joined us.  What a fun, fun morning under the big top. Thanks, Markus!

Dream On!

At the beginning of summer Josie and Benjamin were writing "dream lists"  Here is Benjamin's as dictated to Josie who wrote it down for him.  He has some pretty high aspirations :)  I'm sure this little gem will find its way back to him sometime around high school or college graduation.

Daffodils - Spring is Coming!

March 9, 2014 - It was very difficult to leave the warm, sandy beaches of Mexico and come home to a very wet and cold Seattle.  The daffodils blooming in the front yard about a week after we returned helped a little.  Always nice to see those first signs of Spring....

The attempt at a good flower picture is NEVER easy.  Photographic proof below:

Spring Break Seattle Style

Marty had a business trip for nearly the entire week that the kids had off for Spring Break.   I tried to make the best of single parenting and staying in Seattle for the week.  We had daily "big breakfasts" with lots of fruit. 

 It was very sunny so we headed to Alki.

 The sun was quite deceiving because it was still pretty cold and windy.

 Eventually they just decided to play in the sand UNDER the towel which was protecting them from the cold and wind...

 The wind died down and they came out from down under.

 Our awesome neighbors invited us to use their pool as much as we wanted that week.  It made the "staycation" a little more fun.

Benjamin has been able to swim for awhile but this was his first time swimming confidently enough that I didn't feel I had to be right beside him.  Josie was there but she obviously is a firm believer in the "sink or swim" method :)

The dolphin express...

We also went to Kelsey Creek Farm over in Bellevue with our good friends Ali, Will and Charlie and Liz, Lilly and Henry.

The kids decided to roll down the hill.  The three youngest took that to mean that they should start to wrestle.  

 Benjamin and Charlie (who both have the "alpha male" thing going really got into it.. and hopefully got a few frustrations out.

 Charlie and Benjamin are the two most likely to be getting into trouble in the future.  Either they will be doing it together or against one another.  Here is one of their calmer moments.

 Later in the week we also headed to Pacific Science Center.  This is certainly Benjamin's happy place and he loves to explore and discover.   Josie continues to be in a "NO photos" mood for most outings.

 Overall, it wasn't too bad to stay in Seattle for Spring Break.

End of March and Movin' On

We have been having weekly family dinners with Josh and Jodi.  One week while her parents were in town we decided to go to the bowling alley for happy hour and a bit of bowling.  Fun times were had by all. 

Josie posing and the boys too fascinated with banging the balls. 

What a beautiful setting of the sun...

And on our walk home, Benjamin was so taken by this bobcat tractor.

Another one of our weekly family dinners here at the house.

Josh LOVES Josie.. and he and Benjamin are getting along quite well these days too.

On March 29th, Josie turned 7 and a half.  I made her a half of a lemon cake to celebrate.   I was in the process of renewing my teaching certificate and was at a class at the zoo all day on the 29th but Josie, Marty and Benjamin celebrated with cake at Oma and Opa's. 

I usually dread classes for renewing my certificate but this zoo class was actually really fun and interesting. It was a full day focused on birds and there was coffee and food served all day... what could be better?

Bob the Great Horned Owl

 A cute morning snuggly photo of the kids.

My friend, Siri, and I have been doing kid/date night swaps since January.  A couple times a month we drop our kids off at their house and Marty and I go out for a few hours and vice versa.  The kids have become very good friends and we all get a few kid-free hours.  Win/win for everyone.
Below: Josie and Caetano.

Some random creations from Benjamin. 

Some tree climbing and soccer playing

 I don't take the kids together to the grocery store very often.  I did for a quick errand after Spanish class and they both wanted to get in the truck cart.  Look at Josie's knees - she barely fits!!