Dear Fall...

Dear Fall, we love you! Please stay for awhile, we're having so much fun.

~Jack & Lauren

(We spent a morning at the apple orchard with Jodi & her day care)

'See animals (insert mommy, daddy)'

We finally gave in after a week of 'see animals mommy/ daddy' & took the kids to the zoo. Where the obsession came from we do not know

trying to capture that 'sweet fall picture' which unfortunately Lauren was not digging.

Riding on dad's shoulders the BEST way to enjoy a day at the zoo!

the prairie dogs are always a big hit!

riding on the wagon to see the farm animals (which I mistakenly called a train and a 6 year corrected me 'it is not a train, it's a tractor and wagon' - ok yes I know sometimes i just don't think clearly... I blame this on my two children)

all I wanted was one pic with the kids in front of the corn maze... this is the best I got :( at least they're not crying. I think my obsession with taking pictures has left my children with a phobia of looking at a camera anytime it is pulled out...

Happy Fall!

Missing these kids..

We have been away from the kids for 1 week & boy do we ever miss them. I of course had to take some pictures before we left so that I could play with them on the plane. I'm working on getting some Spain pics up but that could take awhile... We have had an amazing trip so far! We just moved from Madrid to Barcelona today. Here we have an apartment so better internet connection so I might get a few pics up sooner than later.

ps - Jorge & Beatrice's wedding yesterday was awesome no other way to explain it! Missing you all, but we have a little more exploring to do before we get to come home. Grandma & Grandpa you better be giving hugs & kisses to Jack & Lauren for us. Hasta Luego!

Dance Party

The kids are at Jodi's today & apparently they are having a dance party - Jack is loving it! Here are a few videos for your entertainment!

Beautiful Washington

Where to begin...? Beautiful scenery, peaceful evenings & great company all made for a wonderful family vacation!

The kids are ready to go on their first airplane ride!

Once in Washington our journey started in a small town, Quilcene which had a drive thru coffee shop and a lady who never stopped talking. Here we rented a house on Quilcene Bay and started our first morning off kayaking with the sea lions (this little guy was scared to take the plunge)

and hunting for oysters. The boys enjoyed fresh oysters on the grill for breakfast.

We went into Port Townsend and enjoyed a great seafood lunch.

Lauren enjoyed some bonding time with Uncle Brett.

Reese with her favorite Aunt :-)

Brett took us up to the top of Mount Baker so we could take in some gorgeous views... We didn't really get to see much through the clouds - but we got a nice family picture.

Jack playing follow the leader with papa

We enjoyed lots of laughs...

beautiful sights

This is Curt's new happy place (insert sarcasm)- The lavender fields of Sequim

You could smell the lavender as soon as you opened your car door. I can smell it looking at these pictures, beautiful!

Here grandma is getting lots of love!

Buchart Gardens in Victoria, BC is a small piece of heaven on earth. We had a girls day out and had a perfect day. It started with a warm cup of coffee on the perfect late summer morning, then was followed by the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen, breathtaking.

Here we are leaving picturesque Victoria.

Into Seattle we go. Our house in the ghetto actually ended up being a really nice place, we didn't necessarily feel the need to introduce ourselves to the neighbors. Though they were probably talking amongst themselves as the flames from mom's bacon on the grill were shooting off the deck...

First stop - Pike's Place!

The kids and grandpa of course had to sit on Rachel the Pig.

We went to Chittenden locks

& saw the fish ladder - look at all the salmon!

Then we came home and Brett's friend Peter made us a delicious supper of salmon, scallops & crab legs - yummo!

Thanks for the great vacation!

6 months

Lauren is 6 months (approaching 7...)- I just love this time! She loves to sit and play, laugh at her brother & is super laid back (though is beginning to develop a little bit of an attitude!) She sits back and lets her brother splash her with water, tickle her, steal her toys - but she is starting to figure out how to let out long, loud squeals when she wants something. Our little Lauren has gone from Jack's mimi, to baby, to Lauren, now she is 'my sister'. Watching these two laugh and play with each other brings a smile to my face.

Ever since we found out we were having a girl I've dreamed of taking pictures of her in a little tutu.. so here are a few. Our serious Lauren wasn't in the mood to give out too many smiles yesterday... but I caught one!

4th of July Fun in the Northwoods

We spent our 4th of July weekend up north with Grandma & Grandpa T. The Schlemme's joined us for a weekend of:

yogurt...

parades....

smores...

dancing in the rain...

and relaxing!