First Comes Love...

We finally got around to planting our wedding seedling this past weekend! It's not technically the same one we planted at our wedding, but my parents saved a handful of them, and when our seedling sadly went bone dry (right around our 2nd Anniversary, and coincidentally right after the birth of our first baby!) we had back-up. So we've been nurturing this little guy the past 3 years and it's been doing great!  Now that we finally have a family home, we decided it was time to plant him in the ground. I just hope we planted it with enough space to grow.  It would be pretty hilariously depressing to have to cut it down in a few years  ;) Here are some pictures of us hard at work, planting our little seedling! I thought it would be fun to take a family picture each year on our anniversary, next to our little tree. This year's self-timer image leaves some room for improvement  :)

It occurred to me on the morning of our Anniversary that this year marks half a decade of marriage for me and Kevin! I know it's not really that big of a deal, and I have no doubt I'll look back on this as juvenile, but for now it feels so real and secure. I love how busy and exciting these past 5 years have been, and I look forward to a whole new sets of adventures these next 5 years. God knows, my better half is done with the child bearing years, so I'll have to come up with a new adventure plan  :) My parents generously offered to babysit the kids overnight, so we spent the evening of our anniversary at Canlis enjoying a 7-course dinner (yes, 7!!)   We have talked about going to Canlis since our engagement, so to finally go this year was such a treat.  It's one of those special places; perfect for the most special of occasions. Kevin,  Happy Anniversary!   I love you so much and can't believe how fast 5 years have passed.  Last night...

Boy oh boy have we been busy! Somehow I expected summer to be a laid back time for all of us, but between our growing family, appointments, summer camp, and various summer outings, these weeks are flying. Things are going well, though.  I had a doc appointment yesterday and you sound great!  You have however been moving around a bunch and yesterday you were tucked in breech (not technically considered breech at 32 weeks, but you're a mover!)  However, I'm pretty sure you're back to vertex today; I don't feel like I have a head coming out one side of my abdomen, and a butt poking through the other side anymore  :) Also, Braxton Hicks have started pretty regularly now, but mainly when you seem to be laying sideways, so it's probably something to do with the big movements. Sleep is still a premium.  I borrowed a friends pregnancy pillow (I never used one before) and while I thought it was helping, last night I ditched it for the standard pillow under my le...

Hi Georgo! This morning we went to the gym (something I had fallen out of habit with around Easter). This was our third day in a row and while you were still unhappy to see me go, I came back to find you playing with the other kids and enjoying yourself.  It was just so cute! I have thought about putting you in school this Fall to begin cultivating more independence, and more importantly, having something to call your own (your own school, your own friends) but I've decided to wait until you've adjusted to Baby Brother being around.  I know the transition will be hard, but with Abigail at school most days, it'll be you and me on this new journey and I just know we're going to have a great time! Speaking of the baby, we haven't really talked to you about him yet.  With Abigail at the same age when I was pregnant with you, we talked about you non-stop, but as a third time around Mom, it seems a little silly explaining these things to a not-yet-two-year old. I...

The suburbs are growing on us! There's nothing more American than a backyard BBQ, kids eating Popsicles with syrup dripping down their clothes, and gathering on the street to set off fireworks. Our friends Erin, Richard, Bennett, and Erin's Mom Terri joined us for a little gathering and we had a blast! George and Bennett are so much alike.  Not only in looks but behavior too, so it was fun watching them together. Here are some pictures from the day: Spending the morning at Pine Lake Fighting over ladder ball, as always! After everyone left and George was asleep, I started cleaning up and noticed these two out front watching the big fireworks shoot up behind the neighbors house.  The picture was too cute to pass up  :) Then we broke out the sparklers! Since Klahanie is unincorporated, we could legally set off fireworks this year, but all that changes January 1st when we become part of the city of Sammamish. As suc...