On the Receiving End of a Video Chat

As I mentioned before E got to tag along on the last leg of her daddy's tour. Kinda awesome, right? Not too many kids get to take a week and a half off of homelife and drive from Atlanta back to Seattle in a tour van. She's loving it. I've had a harder time not having her around. I think there were 2 consecutive nights I spent away from her last year sometime, but nothing like this type of separation. Our family is equally divided down the middle; 2 away and 2 stay. Of course we have our multiple daily conversations when I have to interrogate her on teeth brushing and vitamin taking. Every once in a while my phone let's me know there is a video chat afoot; let the silly face making contest begin! Her and her N could have hour long spells doing this: 

We miss her, and cannot wait until next week when we're all back together again.

Duet

Caught the two boys in a little post breakfast jam session this morning. D on acoustic guitar and N on a cardboard accompaniment.

Family Time

It's state testing this week, so our classes were cancelled at our school. Perfect timing 'cause Dad's leaving us for a while...we decided to check out the children's museum over on Bainbridge Island and enjoy the sunshine, baked goods and ferry together!

Her name in Lights

E Swing

His Name in Lights

N Swing

Very Windy Ferry Ride

Downtown Christmastime

This afternoon when N woke up from this nap we shuffled the kids into the van, drove downtown to find a parking spot and did our yearly Christmas outing. It was just us, and we had a really nice few hours. N even wore underwear the entire time without an accident! We didn't do everything I had on our list; we forgot about the giant gingerbread houses until we were already back in our seat on the monorail, we skipped ice skating on purpose because neither D nor I wanted to wait on the sidelines with a 2-year-old rubber ball bouncing off the walls. But the miniature train was pure magic for N, the aforementioned monorail offered a lovely view, and the carousel is a must. This year we also stopped in for a scheduled snow flurry inside a mall (not much to write home about, but now we've done it). All in all it was a really nice time with my family.

Camp Korey 2011

The sun was out this morning as we made our way over to Carnation for the second year in a row. We had a really great time with animal petting, corn maze, marshmallow roast, pumpkin bowling, tractor hay ride, and of course the search for the perfect pumpkins. We had a lovely time last year, but they made it even better for 2011. If you get a chance check it out, they're open every weekend in October for their Fall Festival 10am-4pm. Please support this wonderful organization.

Lake Chelan 2011

You know the drill. I've taken this camping vacation every year of my life, save 2 or 3 summers. My mom before me and her mom before her; it's tradition. Some of you have joined my family over the mountains, some I hope to come in the future. We were thrilled to have Molly with us this year, and my sister and Laila joined us for a few nights too! The weather was hot and the water cool. Here are the pictures in no particular order (but cannot believe I don't have even one shot of Gram, the one with E jumping rope does not count, so sorry Mom!).

Daddy time

Kids making the pancakes

N loved sweeping

D did all the cooking!

beach boys

water time

float in a boat

float in Papa's boat

reading at the shore

cousins and Papa in the background

dinner at the drive-in

Karlee and Laila

swings

peeking out of the tent in the morning

E learned how to jump rope

bath in a box

baseball

relax

Slidewater's

sea-saw

water boy

fast slide with E

impromptu hairbrush concert

the DJ

balloons with Papa

Fresh local Bing cherries

E and D Go-Karts

N's first Go-Kart