soaking up some sun

basketball.

Ava just finished basketball but this was way back when the season first started.  I couldn't figure out how to get a single non blurry action shot so this is her heading to practice instead.

It's safe to say basketball is not her favorite sport but she ended up having a good time and she got the "Most Coach-able" award which made me almost cry.  She is a sweet, sweet girl.

Jack took this

and said, "make sure you post this one on the blog."

Me and my baby.

cracking himself up.

Well.  Imagine my surprise to see that no one has blogged here since November.  

And they didn't even bother to do Thanksgiving.  

So I think I will start here:

I vaguely remember this evening.  

I was unloading groceries while cooking dinner for friends when I realized it was snowing and my 100 tulip bulbs were sitting in the garage, not safely buried in the ground.  So I ran out and started digging and my sweet buddy came out to help.

Now I just have to wait 5 months to see how we did!

Jemma says

"Where are you going to live when I get married?"

And I say, "Here, I think."  And she says, "with me and my husband?!"

And I inform her that when she gets married, she's the one who moves out.

And she thinks for a minute and says, "I hope Phil will build us a house in the backyard!"

And I think yes.  Me, too.

What is this??

my sweet baby coloring on paper.

Shocking, I know.

one last birthday celebration

turning 5 never felt so good.

cutest pilgrims I ever saw!

The first Thanksgiving.

I know one person who was super pumped to see snow!

He lined all his trucks up to start shovelin'.

First snow

When we left for Seattle, our little town was in all its fall glory and we came home to this.

First snow, November 3rd.

road trip.

Ed and I hit the road for a quick trip to Seattle.

It started out pretty Seattle blustery:

the view from the hotel.

But it cleared up and we were able to ride the crazy high (175 ft) ferris wheel:

I'm not gonna lie....I have a pretty vivid fear of heights and a good dose of claustrophobia so this wasn't my favorite form of entertainment but the view from the top was pretty sweet: 

 Breakfast at our favorite spot.

 View from our room.

After a quick stop at the market. we headed to the Seahawks:

 Outside the stadium.

And later, after we talked ourselves into matching gear:

Jack says

"you're the prettiest mom I know."

And later, "sometimes, when I'm at school, I just wonder if you miss me too."

Why yes, yes I do.

Trick or Treat!

This was Henry's first year going to each door and getting his own loot.  He loved it.

One lady said "you look nice" and he says, "I know!  Thank you!"

 Can you see the whole pile of kids here:

 We mad dash trick or treated and then headed to the Cougar game.  I had planned on just sending Jack with Ed but we ended up with box seats and I couldn't turn it down so Jemma got to go to her first game and Henry stayed for more candy hunting with his cousins.

 Jemma had an awesome first game.  It's possible the box seats can set you up for high expectations the next time around!  She had hot chocolate and carmelcorn and carmeled apples, plus comfy seats and heated bathrooms. 

Happy, Happy Birthday!

  Treats for school:

Waiting for her friends:

 Can you stand this much cuteness??

It was a busy day!  Her party was right after school, then she went shopping with grandma, then a quick nap and then dinner out with the kids, and then Brooklyn and Sara over for a movie:

The girl was just giddy.  

Sort of how I felt five years ago: