++My baby at five++

The rest of his birthdays were ok.  Just growing, developing and hitting new milestones.  Somehow, this one seems like we've entered a whole new league.  Five is not baby, not even really preschooler, five is big.  Heck...it's your whole hand worth of fingers! 
I spend every year on Wyatt's birthday watching the clock and reflecting on where we were at that time on the day he was born (it's easy to do since he was born in the middle of the afternoon).  I think about how much our lives have changed.  With the exception of my lack of free time and extra pounds, I think about how much better my life is with Wyatt in it. 
I think sometimes this blog gives him a little bit a bad rap.  Yes, he's picky about his clothes.  No, he won't wear costumes or uniforms (but we've made some big strides...stay tuned).  But he is such a good kid.  Mark and I sometimes sit at the table after dinner is over and just marvel at what a good kid he is.  (no need to remind you what a big Wyatt fan Mark is).  He's a gentle soul.  With an innocence that I'm holding on to with everything I have.  Scooby Doo is too scary.  I love it.  He's not into Superheroes or Star Wars but is very attuned to which of his buddies are into what--"Isaak would really like that Spiderman backpack."  His superheroes are of the more realistic variety.  Police Officers, Firemen, construction workers, soldiers...and Dad. 
He loves school.  He bounds in to his room every day with a smile on his face.  He makes friends easily and from what I can tell he's well liked by the kids in his class.  Here's hoping that stays with him as he grows.  He has an inquisitive mind and he's always trying to figure out how everything works.  He doesn't play much with toys but prefers open-ended "gear." 
He loves sports and continually amazes us with his coordination.  His list of sports he wants to participate in grows daily.  His latest is tennis.  If you ever want to see pure joy at work, send Wyatt and Mark outside with some type of ball.  I can never tell who is having more fun.
I've said it so many times before but I really do love having a boy.  But more than anything I really do love having my Wyatt.  Now if you would please just stop growing up and stay your sweet self forever, please?

++Ten on Tuesday++

I'm still SUPER far behind on my blog but I'm trying to catch up.  Keep looking back as I'll still post things from the past. 
1.  Today was back-to-school for us!  Wyatt will be going five days a week now.  It's a pre-k program.  He'll be in school as much as kindergarteners but it was the only next step for him without repeating a year.  Claire starts on Thursday!

2.  I can almost taste the 7 hours I'll have to myself each week.  Here's a hint...it's delicious!

3.  I have big plans for that time.  I wonder how long it will be before I come back to reality.  Who knows, someone who has been forced to shop, clean house, cook, and breathe with one or two sidekicks might just be super efficient without any! 

4. I want a new camera so bad.  I finally feel like I can honestly say that I have put the time into learning lots about photography and I'm not naive enough to think better equipment will give me better results.  But in this case I know the limitations of my camera to know that the upgrade I have in mind should work in my favor.  Now if I could just work up the nerve to spend the cash.

5.  I've actually set some goals for myself...making myself EARN the camera.  The most recent set of goals (because other attempts have come and gone) is to get all caught up on my photos first.  Have I done my PSA lately?  People, don't do what I have done.  Stay up to date on your photos.  The next easiest thing?  Just don't take any.  But I think you will regret that more.

6. I have been dealing with a weird back problem all summer.  I finally gave in and went to the doctor for the first time in forever.  Believe it or not, it's a mysterious ailment.  I guess I have a big mass of scar tissue around my sacroiliac joint (think of where your back and hips connect).  The only thing I can think of that may have caused this is pregnancy.  So, it's confirmed, having kids is a pain in the butt!

7. Mark has decided that we should challenge each other to one thing each week that we think will help us to be better at things we are struggling with.  His challenge to me?  Only use my computer at my desk.  Mine to him?  Make one healthier food choice at each meal.  As day one comes to an end we have been successful and now a different part of my back hurts.

8.  We have a new member in our family named Kelly.  More on that later.  (don't get too excited...)

9. Larson starts Kindergarten tomorrow!  How are all these kiddos so old?

10.  Invites went out today for the hottest party in town.  My child can't make anything easy, but I am planning one cool "search and rescue" party.  Think flashlights, compasses, trail maps.  We can be pretty sure what I am going to be spending my free 7 hours on over the next couple of weeks!

11.  Extra credit (since it's been so long).  Wyatt starts soccer on Sunday.  Tonight he is sleeping in his tall socks.  He heard is buddy Sawyer got tall socks and started sleeping in them so he had to try it too.  Am I smelling a breakthrough in the clothing department?  Or maybe just stinky socks.

++Pumping++

It's so fun to track the progress of your kids as a parent.  When they are small it seems as if you are hitting a new one every week.  If you ask my husband, each time they reach a milestone it is yet another sign that they are destined for greatness. 

When Nana was in town she taught Wyatt...in about 30 seconds...something I've been trying to get him to learn for a year.  How to pump a swing! 

 Destined for greatness.  For sure.

++Birthday Girls++

Susan and Cora have birthdays less than a week apart.  This weekend they celebrated with a joint party at the beach.  I always love it when we get together with her friends.  I feel very safe.  There are three pediatricians in the photo below.  

Birthday beauties.

 How fun is it that this is the third time we've watched Cora blow out her candles...in person! 

 Who's this cutie?

 Or this one?

 I had to take the chance to snap a few photos with the great scenery.

 Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

++Cousins Day Out++

In blogland it may appear that we see the cousins a lot.  It's probably because we tend to do fun things with them so I'm more likely to take pictures.  In reality, we aren't exactly next door neighbors and between work, school, sports, swimming, skiing, birthday parties, church, and on and on, we actually have a hard time finding time to get together.  This summer we hatched a plan.  Susan is now only working part-time (yea!!) so we decided every Friday we would get the kids together and do something fun.  Once again, reality prevailed and between camps and vacation we only were able to make 4 or 5 outings work, but we made the most of them. We even named it "cousins day out" because everything seems more fun with a name. 

Nana is in town this week so we decided to show the cousins one of our favorite Eastside treasures: Remlinger farms.  Aren't these the cutest strawberries you've ever seen?



Oh wait, we're missing one...

Or  maybe these are the cutest strawberries.  Or craziest old ladies.  Photo credit to Wyatt.  I've trained him well, huh?

This is perhaps in the running for one of my top 5 photos of the year.  It so perfectly captures these boys right now.

Did I mention that I'm not sure the cousins have ever done rides before.  Believe it or not, dare devil Cora loved the pumpkin.

Claire was perfectly satisfied with her mini-carousel.

Boy boat.



Girl boat.

A good time was had by all.

++No Sympathy++

I think sometimes people feel sorry for the little sister.  They worry that she might get beat up on by her big brother.  Let's just say, no sympathy needed here.  She'll be just fine.  

Props to the big brother...he takes it all in stride.

++No excuses++

Remember me?  I'm back.  I don't really have any GREAT excuses for our absence.  No illnesses, pregnancies, injuries, MOVES, or other exciting things to report.  I just got bogged down with another photo class, a couple of trips and trying to get some other stuff updated in my photo life first.  And, to be honest, when the backlog gets longer and the task grows more daunting it's just that much harder to tackle.  But, I refuse to let these memories be lost forever so I'm going to try to get us all caught up.  I may post from the past simultaneously with present events...so dig back every once in a while for fun.  I sat down and made a list of back posts I need to work on.  There were 36.  Now where in the world did I get the idea this would be daunting?

But I know you  missed these crazy rugrats.  And I'm tired of getting harassing emails from the grandparents...

So here we go!

++Mr. Handsome++

I learned the hard way last year that my kids don't warm to well to professional photographers so I decided to take matters into my own hands this year. 

Hands off ladies, he's all mine. 

Total cost of photo shoot?  $20.  $10 for family ice cream following shoot and $10 for lego police truck bribe.  Success.

++Girls Day++

The boys were at a Mariners game so the girls were left to their own devices.  Since I know some of you who come to my blog are equally fans of the cousins as well, I thought I'd share a little glimpse of sweet Cora at almost three.  

 I believe I've said it before but Cora is a dare devil.  A total thrill seeker.  Just like her mom.  My sister was on the other end of the teeter totter and was sending them flying.  I love the difference in expression of the two girls.  Totally them. 
Cora: "bring it on".
Claire: "I think this is fun."

++Hiking, take 2++

We tried out hiking for a second time this weekend.  This time we went to where we thought we were going last time.  Much longer hike, much tougher terrain, and much more beautiful scenery.  Mark wins the trooper award as he carried Claire for the 2+ hour hike.  She did her best but is so pokey.  On our list to buy: a hiking backpack.  Funny.  I thought we were done with all that gear acquisition.

 Here we are at the bottom.  Wyatt was there too.  He was just about ten steps ahead of us the whole time it was hard to take his picture. 

We're doing our best to play pacific northwesterners.  Now if we could just figure out how to embrace the rain...

++On her way++

Watch out world.  Here she comes.  Not sure where she is headed, but I'm fairly certain she hasn't left anything behind. 

++It's here again++

The most important day of the year has once again arrived, right on schedule. My little elves were hard at work baking me a cake.    I think I had something set funny on my camera...they didn't come down with a bad case of jaundice...so don't be alarmed. 

I was greeted with cake for breakfast. 

 I'm not sure if Claire sampled the icing or not, what do you think?

 I guess when you are 34 and have two kids, you no longer get to blow out your own candles.  Now that birthdays have somewhat lost their luster for me. It's fun to see the little ones get all excited about them. 



So do they get the wishes, or do I?

++The world needs more of this++

It was our turn to host boy's book club this month.  A while back, I stumbled on information about this park and knew we had to try it.  It's a dream come true for little boys.  Tools, scrap wood, a forest and their imaginations.  Each boy was given a toolbox with hammer, nails, twine, etc. and access to this huge pile of scrap wood. My favorite part is that nobody got so caught up in safety and covering their bums that the fun was taken away.  

The tool boxes included safety goggles but I think the kids liked them as fashion accessories best.

 Demo was just as fun as building.  If not more fun. 

 Every construction site needs a foreman. 

 And every construction site needs one man to "supervise" while the other works. 

 Our crew with their, um, creation?

 Have I mentioned before that I love having a boy?

++A Walk In The Woods++

Now that we have lived here for two years (crazy, I know) that kind of makes us official Pacific Northwesterners, not just visitors.  And if you are a Pacific Northwesterner, you hike.  That's just the way it is.  We started small.  We weren't quite sure how the littlest one would handle it. 

Wyatt checked out our course before we took off.

 Now that is one big tree.

 The highlight by far was "skipping" rocks.  Don't you just love the soft haze coming off the water?  Makes everything seem dreamy. 

 I had to include this shot.  Kind of looks like I was about to get clocked in the head with a rock.  I don't remember it ending that way but it sure didn't look good for me.  We need to work on teaching her to throw OUT.

 My goodness, if I didn't know better I would almost say we look authentic.

No one needs to know that we took the wrong exit off the highway and ended up at the wrong park and on a totally different trail than we expected.  No wonder we were the only ones there.  It still was beautiful!