Story Time with Anderson

Anderson loves "teaching" Adeline.  This video is a bit long but I love watching them interact with each other and love on each other! 

Hot tub tricks, pneumonia, and more

We went to a cabin in Suncadia (resort area just over Snoqualmie Pass) last week for some family fun.  We packed all our winter gear and we were thinking we would be playing in the snow for the following few days.   When we got there not only was there no snow at all but Adeline, who had a cold over the weekend, started breathing rapidly and her lips were turning blue.  So we decided to watch her overnight and made an appt back in Seattle for the next day.  She had pneumonia and a bad ear infection.  We got some antibiotics and headed back up to the cabin.  Poor girl but she was a trooper!

Anyway, we ended up having some good times and hiked up in the mountains a bit to find some good sledding hills.  Anderson absolutely loves family vacation time!  On the way out of Suncadia he asked "Mom and Dad...do you want to talk about what our favorite things were from the cabin?"  This is something that Brad and I ask a lot after vacations, school days, weekends, etc.  We both chuckled and love that he has started to do this on his own!  We each reported on our favorite things from the week (even Adeline...Anderson answered for her in his highest pitched voice).

My highlight was Anderson's hot tub tricks...here's a summary.  Of course, Anderson made all of these up...

• The Tordado
• The San Sancha Mom and Dad ("sancha" means to impress, Anderson explained)
• The Supter Loopty Anderson Launch
• The Wavemaker
• The Backward Spinner Winner

Happy 4th Birthday Anderson

Anderson turned 4 years old on Saturday!!  I know every parent must feel this way but it seems like he has grown up so fast.  I can't believe that it's already been 4 years since this sweet little boy entered our lives.  But yet I can't remember what our lives were like without him. We are so amazed and blessed by his words and actions everyday.  For his birthday dinner, Anderson requested mac n cheese, peppers, and strawberries with some Mumford and Sons for dinner music.  As we did last year, we asked him our list of birthday questions.  Enjoy the video!

Play-Dates

It's so fun to hear the play and conversation of preschoolers...oooooooohhhhhh, the adventures!!  Anderson has a very creative imagination.  He spent much of last week talking to me about what he would do if he could shrink to the size of a "spec of dirt".  Here's some video from a play-date with one of his good friends from preschool...they are planning a trip to Mt Rainier.

There's a new doctor in the house...

Anderson and Adeline are already becoming great play-mates.  Anderson is really getting better at being gentle with her and learning how to "play" with her.  To Adeline, Anderson is king.  He can make her smile and laugh at any given moment.  Her eyes are always on him.  To Anderson, Adeline is his princess.  He is very protective.  At the gym last weekend I spied on the two of them in the middle of my workout and found Anderson right where I left him...right in front of his sister's carseat.  He was sining to her and dangling a toy above her.  The gals in the child care center said that he did this for most of the 60 minutes they were in there.

I caught this play-time on video the other day.  Anderson loves playing "doctor" and frequently (almost daily) asks Brad if he can work with him at his hospital when he grows up.  The two of them (Anderson and Adeline) were playing like this together for at least 30 minutes while I was cooking dinner.  I love this!!  

The Adventures of Huder

Huder (hooter) is our "elf on a shelf" and he's had quite the adventurous stay at our house.  Anderson was very upset with him the first time he messed with his toys but now he thinks its pretty funny what kind of fun things Huder does while we are sleeping.  Here is a sample of where he's been and what he's been up too.

A hiking we will go...

As the holiday season sets in...and the rain, I think fondly of the warm summer months and the beauty of the mountains.  We love hiking and hope that our kids will love it too.  Anderson is well on his way.  He is usually pretty good for at least a 2-3 mile hike before he needs a ride on dad's shoulders.  Each season he gets better and better.  Adeline, of course, will get to enjoy a free ride up the mountains in the Ergo for the next couple of summers!  We were not able to get up to the mountains as much as we like this summer but we did get up a few times.  Here are some photos...enjoy!  We did!!

Arboretum in Seattle...on a scavenger hunt made by dad!

Hiking with dad in the Cascades

What kind of crazy animal is in that tree?!?

Hiking up Little Si

Pointing to Mt. Si in the distance

Lunch at the top of Little Si

Hiking with cousin, Elle, near Lake Wenatchee

Perfect hideout!

Love it!

Peaceful alpine lake...so tempting...

And we're in!

Discovery Park in Seattle

Picnic at Discovery

Dad, Anderson, and Adeline hiking in the Cascades

My little hiker...carries his own backpack too!

Mom, Anderson, and Adeline taking a break at the top

He took a tumble...but got back up and finished the hike.