Hey Batter, Batter

They're back!  Jake's entire baseball team moved up together to AA baseball this year.  It's been really fun to watch the kids' skills improve over two seasons.  They're a young team in the AA bracket, but have held their own winning all but one game so far.  They're a scrappy team that wins by stringing together hits and making outs in the field instead of relying on a few power hitters to drive in most of the runs.  Opponents are caught off guard when some of our smaller players step up and line drive the ball into the outfield.  It's been fun to watch and Jake is having a great time playing for his dad's team again, especially since he drilled one into right center in today's game for his first ever stand-up triple.  It was awesome! 

Our New Beach Cottage

We spent the entire afternoon constructing our very own beach cottage at Fowlweather Bluff (cottage being loosely defined here).  Jake added the finishing touches including side walls to keep out the wind (a good design sense...maybe taking after his Dad?!).  The day started off grey and overcast, but turned out being warm and sunny.  The fact that Jason and I ended up cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry well into the night was so worth it.  I'd choose beach hut building instead of cleaning the house any day!

Hello, Tired Eyes

11-04-2012

I love this picture of my girl.  Her eyes betray her; she was so tired on this afternoon.  But we were outside and my animal loving girl had found a caterpillar.  So even though her eyes look tired, she also looks peaceful and happy and relaxed.  And I love when she is just having fun being 4, even a tired four.

"You're annoying me and I'm ignoring you!"

We try to teach our kids to express how they're feeling instead of just whining, storming off, etc.  So Jason and I couldn't stop laughing when Jake turned to Payton in the backseat of the car and emphatically told her this yesterday.  And just for the record, she deserved it and he kept his promise.

Jake, unimpressed

Sounders Game

Jason got great seats to the Sounders game at work, so he and Jake went.  It poured!!  Not like typical Seattle drizzle-type rain.  Like monsoon, coming down in waves type of rain.  The fans were crazy as always and it was still a packed stadium even with the weather.  Jake loved it!  In fact, he reminded me yesterday that the season starts today and he wants to go again.

10-21-12

A Momentous Day

Payton's been asking to get her ears pierced for the last 6 months or so.  We kept telling her we would think about it when she turned 5.  She caught us off guard when she asked why she had to wait until she was 5.  We didn't have an overly good answer but explained she needed to be able to take care of them, clean them etc.  She stressed that she could do all of that now and she didn't care if it hurt a tiny bit to get them pierced.  We relented; she was a trooper getting them done and, true to her word, she's taken great care of them.  She loves having real earrings and is counting the days until she gets to change them.

01.27.13

02.15.13

  Marina Park and Beach

King of the Hill

Watch out Everest, here he comes....

 A little more her size....

Rock climbing at Marina Park

Love You

I can't believe this is our 17th Valentine's Day together.  Love you!

Mondays at the Marina

Payton and I often stop by the Marina for a quick bike ride on Mondays after we drop the boys off at school.  It's really nice to have some one-on-one time to just sit back and play.

It's The Little Things

It's the little things I love the most....

-  Jake's dimples when he smiles.  They're even more noticeable when he tries to hide them.

-  Payton's dimples.  Not quite as noticeable as Jake's, but there all the same.

-  How Jake smiles with his eyes.

-  Payton's deep breathing when she's lost in thought or concentrating hard on the task at hand.

-  How Jake gets completely absorbed when he reads.  He tunes everything out when he's into a good book.

- Watching Payton sing and dance to the radio in the rear-view mirror.
-  The smattering of freckles across Jake's nose that most people wouldn't even notice.

-  Payton's hugs.  She gives them fiercely and often.

-  Jake's "Hey Mom!  Will you come in and say goodnight.....again?"
- Payton reaching up to hold my hand when we walk.....anywhere.

-  Hearing "I love you Mom!" from them both.

Marina Park 01.03.13