Halloween.

As you saw, we had the ballerina & monkey for one Halloween party.  We then had Rapunzel & monkey for another.

Happy Halloween!  

Visiting a friend in a nursing home.  

THEN:  Visiting more friends!

Laila could not believe Ingrid ALSO had a side braid!  

It's become tradition to visit the Thorstenson's on Halloween.  The costumes come off, we eat Halloween candy & the trains come out.  

First cone.

I don't think Axel has ever had an ice cream cone before.  Since Jason wasn't around for this meal, I wanted to document.  As you may recall, L's first cone was in a fabulous ice cream shop in San Diego.  This place was almost as great.  Fabulous pizza, fabulous gelato and fabulous friends.

My life.

I love getting home from work in time to greet these warm bodies as they wake-up from naps... even before the first smile shines though. 

Halloween party #1.

Monkey & Ballerina

Ellanor

Natalie

Derek

Axel

Laila

Fun evening filled with fresh cider, pony rides, cousins & games at our church's Halloween party.

*** (auntie foul:  I thought I snapped pics of Brendan & Nils on ponies too but, I didn't.  I'm sorry to have left them out.... ***

School.

I stumbled upon this cute classroom & could hardly contain my smile.  

Just like her mama...

This was how I spent most my free time when I was young... behind my aunties & sister playing with their hair.  Auntie Monique was a total trooper as L ripped gently combed through her hair over & over with a fold-up brush...

Seattle memories with Denver girls.

Holly & I roomies in college.  We hadn't seen each other in a decade.  In September 2011 we stayed with their family, vacationing in Denver.  This year she brought her girls out to Seattle to stay with us.

It was a special time touring our lovely city with some really sweet girls by our side.  The kids were such troopers as we saw as much as we could in a mere 4 days.

Zoo

Ferry ride 

Docking

Beach time where we found 2 seal pups! 

Troll

Kerry Park

Rachel the pig, at Pike Place

Matchy mamas - at the Locks...

The kids got along so well.  It was fabulous to get some good girl time in.  Thank you for making the big trek up here, Hol!  We love and miss you!!!

End of an era... a very brief era...

Fluttering around a field getting our butts kicked by other teams Soccer is over.  This was a great way to introduce Laila to a really fun sport.  She met lots of great friends & will always have these memories of getting to be on a team with her 2 boy cousins.

The kids all accepting their awards from coach "uncle Donny":

L

D

B

Happy half!

Axey is officially 2 1/2!  Happy half to my favorite boy!!!  He has been such a wonderful addition to our family.  I never dreamed of having such a sweet, cuddly, big, squishy, creative, lovable little guy.  Every time we pick him up from Sunday-school we hear the same thing, "he is such a cuddly kid, he's so sweet."  We love you Axel Benj!

Mornings with daddy.

Love those 3, heaps & heaps.  

Picnic at the Locks.

I know, I know... I am in serious need of a post.  Well, last week we did a spontaneous trip to the Locks.  Laila has been asking for months for a "real picnic".  Jason surprised her with one.  They ate homemade sammy's and snacks.  We went across the street & grabbed a Red Mill burger.  Everyone was happy.  And, we had the whole lovely goose-pooped field to ourselves.  

They could have stayed here watching fish jump for days... 

L loved using her special lunch box from "auntie Krestene" 

Perfect day.

Mommy, daughty date.

Lai & I snuck out for a date tonight.  We went to the mall to shop for a birthday present for J.  Laila would like to buy him pink underwear.  Axel would like to buy him something blue.  Instead of shopping for daddy, we got side-tracked at the new H&M (who wouldn't with all the Minnie Mouse & Hello Kitty loot?!), Nordstrom & a cupcake shop.  By the time we were done eating our cupcake, the mall was closed.  We'll have to look for some blue & pink undies later...

This dolly with 2 pig-tails, 1 hair clip & a new sparkly red headband (in all at once) is as good as they get.  So was the cupcake. 

Love you my little Ingrid.