by Jennifer | Dec 6, 2011 | Blog
There are always so many fun things to do each Christmas season, and never enough time to do them. This year, we decided to stay in downtown Seattle overnight so we could enjoy all the wonderful things there are to do there and not have to drive up a bunch of times. Here is a glimpse of our two day trip.
Checking in and relaxing in our room at the Red Lion on 5th Ave.
The Holiday Carrousel at Westlake Park
Waiting to ride the Monorail up to the Seattle Center
The fountain at the Seattle Center
Sunset at Golden Garden Park
Visiting Archie McPhees (an enormous novelty store) – Ashley has no idea that this is not a “normal” baby doll. She just kept saying, “Two babies.” It was pretty funny!
Riding the excavator (Molly’s word for escalator)
Taking time to get ready during our relaxing morning at the hotel. Ashley wanted me to blow dry her hair.
The gingerbread houses at the Sheraton. The hoses were wonderful and I liked the theme a lot this year.
The Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Many of the trees in Pioneer Square had scarves around them. I have no idea why the girls are sticking out their tongues for the picture. . .
The touch tank at the Aquarium. It was deserted and we had so much fun exploring without the crowd!
Toyland Village at the Waterfront Park – probably would have been better at night, but we were there and it was way to FREEZING to walk back down here in the evening!
Pike Place Market – one of the only times I have enjoyed being here with kids and a stroller because it was also deserted! There was plenty of room to walk, look around and push the stroller! Nice!! 
Waiting for the snow at Pacific Place
Ending our trip with Santa – Ashley loved seeing him in person, can’t you tell? She loved waving and saying, “Hi Santa” from afar, but wanted nothing to do with him when we got up close.
It was such a fun time for us as a family. I think this will be one of our Christmas traditions from now on! Thanks to Sia over at Centisible in Seattle for the idea!
by Jennifer | Nov 13, 2011 | Blog
Let me just say that the amount of leaves in our yard is out of control!! I can’t even see the back yard (which I’m OK with since it’s only half landscaped) and the front side yard has a covering a few inches high. Molly and Ashley were so excited to jump in piles of leaves the other day. And there are plenty more leaves still falling for them to jump in again every couple weeks as I put them in the yard waste bin. What fun (for them – not me!)
It’s never to early to learn how to use the leaf blower
Molly had so much fun throwing them up in the air and also running and jumping into the pile.
Also around this time of year, we put together our shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. I decided to have them pack it right around Sage’s birthday since we were seeing all these new presents. It was time to focus on giving to others and not just getting! The Barbie was a toy all the girls wanted, so it was nice to take that time to talk about how much God has blessed us and how we have this chance to bless another child.
by Jennifer | Nov 13, 2011 | Blog
This was a busy week with Sage’s birthday! She turned 7 on Tuesday and started off the day by waking up around 5:45 because she was so excited to open presents! After Molly and Ashley got up, she opened some of them and then enjoyed some yummy cinnamon scones for her birthday breakfast.
It was a school day, which she was very disappointed about because she couldn’t play with her gifts for very long. We went and had lunch with her at school and took her her favorite Chicken Burritos from Taco Bell.) Then after school she opened some more presents and had a little bit of time to play before family and a few friends came over for dinner. It was a busy but fun day!
Opening presents nice and early in the morning
Barbie pool from Grandma and Grandpa
William and Ashley eyeing the adorable train my dad made and painted for Sage
Our 7 year old!
by Jennifer | Nov 6, 2011 | Blog
It’s is hard to believe that Sage is going to be 7 on Tuesday! We celebrated with a few of her friends on Friday evening with a non-slumber party. She chose black and white polka dots as her decorating theme and had fun the night before putting dots up all over the playroom and family room. 
I picked up 4 of the girls at the bus stop and they came home, changed into the jammies, and played for a few minutes while we waited for the other 2 girls to 
arrive. We started off the party with a few games, then we had some yummy homemade mac and cheese and fruit salad. Then they enjoyed some black and white polka dot cake and Sage opened her presents.
Who knew that cutting a cake could be so interesting.
Next was movie time, complete with pillows, blankets, popcorn and bean bag chairs. This only lasted about 15 minutes are they were all so excited to play “school” with one of the presents Sage had just opened. So the rest of the night, our home was a school – complete with classroom, office and nurse. They played for almost 2 hours. It was so fun to see them all interact (and get along so well!)
Everyone went home by 8:15 (thus the reason for the name – non-slumber slumber party). Our 3 girls were exhausted, as I’m sure the rest were as well!
Group Hug!
by Jennifer | Nov 6, 2011 | Blog
Halloween is such a fun time in our neighborhood! There are so many families out trick-or-treating. The girls loved it. It was not raining (amazing!), and not too cold. We were out for about an hour and basically went around the block. Here are a few pictures of our evening (and pumpkin carving the day before.)
Cleaning out our pumpkin
Sometimes you just need a drill . . .
Thanks Papa Murphy’s for the Scary Face pizza for dinner to I didn’t have to cook!
You gotta love trick-or-treating at a friends house when your two year old just walks right in when they open the door! (Notice there is no Ashley in the picture.) 
We only got a little bit of candy . . .
Tom thought it needed to be sorted so we could find the kind we like easier.
We also were able to take the girls to the Harvest Party at Sage’s school the Friday evening before Halloween. Sage loved seeing a few of her friends in their costumes.
by Jennifer | Oct 24, 2011 | Blog
Last Monday after school, Sage tried out for a part in Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs and got a part as a bat. The play is put on by a few people from the Missoula Children’s Theater. She had a blast at rehearsal Wednesday – Friday after school and then again on Saturday morning and early afternoon. They had 2 different performances. She came out on stage 3 times and of course I have video of all of them. (This is mostly for grandparents to see, but feel free to watch even if you aren’t Grandma, Grandpa or Papa.)
When the video zooms in, Sage is the middle (in case you can’t find her).
