For the love of art...

Anderson and Adeline have been really, really, really into coloring and art projects for the past few months.  Art, drawing, and writing are things that did not interest Anderson before the age of 4 but he is loving it now.  Almost every day he asks if we can do a "project" or if I can "print off coloring pages for _____ (some upcoming holiday or event)".  He has asked to have an "art show" in the evening and wants to invite grandparents and neighbors to come over and look at his art.  He said he would make hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone to eat and wanted to sell his art.  Our little entrepreneur!  I think he's starting to clue into the fact that his mom is not the most crafty of moms.  Poor kid!  Adeline, at 18 months, has the attention and focus for coloring and drawing that must be ingrained in girls.  Or maybe it's her obsession with doing anything and everything her brother is doing.  Either way...the girl loves to color and will stay with it for as long as her big brother.  Here's a cute video of the two of them coloring together.  Notice Anderson critiquing my coloring ability...rascal.  Enjoy!

The Laughter of Children

One of my most favorite sounds is the sound of my kids laughing.  Anderson laughs so hard when we read stories to him that he frequently pees his pants.  These are two videos from November that I never got around to posting.  Anderson is learning to blow up a balloon at Grandma Shorty's and is being coached by Grandpa Mark.  He was laughing a lot harder before I started filming.  Ha!  The video below is of Adeline just being silly with a toy bucket on her head.  She is such a joy to be around...I swear, the kid is always happy!   Enjoy...

Halloween Fun

Halloween was a lot of fun this year.  Anderson was really into picking out his costume for the first time and I got my craft on by sewing a bow on one of Anderson's old costumes for Adeline (I know...just a bow...but I'm impressed with myself when I re-attach a button).  We hit up the 35th Ave businesses and then did a couple of blocks around the house.  Grandma Suanne and Grandpa Mark both came over to watch the little goblins collect their feast.  Adeline was clueless but by the end understood that she was supposed to grab something, put it in the pumpkin, and say thank you...so stinkin' cute!!  Anderson was so very polite and after he got the treat and said thank you, he would say "Have a very happy Halloween".  Such a charmer!

Monkey and Ninja

We met up with some friends on 35th Ave...Adeline is obsessed with her buddy, Max.  It's no wonder why...he's superman!!

As if the candy collected wasn't enough, Grandma Suanne brought over Halloween cupcakes for each of the kids too.  Adeline LOVED it!

Anderson with his loot!!  He was very generous with sharing too.  

Adeline at the Park

She's growing up!! Too fast!! Where did my little baby go?!?

Camping with cousins = lots of fun!

It has been a very busy summer for me...I'm sorta waiting for a summer when I don't say that at the end of August!  Between family, work, and friends I have felt like I'm don't know whether I'm coming or going.  But, all is starting to calm down and this morning I have a couple minutes before the kids wake up to catch up on some things.

I am about 1 month behind in posting all the fun things we did this summer.  Back on the last weekend of July we (me, Anderson, and Adeline) went camping with Jane, my dad, and Jen + kids on Bainbridge Island.  It was so beautiful and fun for the kids to spend time with cousins and Grandpa Tracy.  I was pretty impressed with myself and Jen...tackling camping without our husbands.

Thanks to Jane for the invite...looking forward to it again next year...when the kids are a little older and they can all sleep in Maggie with you two...haha!!  We wouldn't do that do you!

Kids playing at the beach

Super-cheese!!

Anderson wanted to take a picture of us...pretty good!

This one kinda cracks me up...

This might be the only picture of all 4 kids together from the entire 2.5 weeks there were out here....at least all of them are there and eyes are open!

Pretty amazing!  Adeline loved the sand.

See Mt. Rainier in the backdrop??  Such a cool picture.

Little Gray-man in deep thought...

At the campfire...Jane and Grandpa Tracy cooked up some pretty awesome meals!  

And just like that...

Anderson is riding a two-wheeler!  Pretty awesome!

Who wants to run 200 miles over 28 hours with 12 people?? We do, we do!!

In July, we ran in the Northwest Passage - Ragnar.  It was the second time for me and Brad's third go round.  As it's been in the past, it was the most fun we've had doing a race.  This year we recruited my sister, Jen, for the second time and one of my closest friends, Ashley.  Nothing like spending 36 hours in a sweaty SUV with close friends and family!

Here's how it works...there is a 12 person team.  The team breaks into 6 person vehicles.  Each person on the team runs 3 legs in the relay.  The people in each vehicle run one leg then meet up with the other vehicle so that each of those runners can run a leg.  So it's a good amount of running, a lot of cheering on teammates, and a little sleep!

Here are some pictures from the race...enjoy!  Also, a big thank you to Grandma Suanne for watching the little munchkins while we race across part of the state!  Love you!