Swimming!

Back Float!

Maddy is taking swimming lessons again, only this time she is on her own in the pool with the teacher and her classmates.  She is extremely proud of this, and is very happy to learn more about blowing bubbles, floating and swimming.  Steve and I are also happy that she is learning and wanting to swim on her own as we're looking forward to lots of pool and lake swimming in the years to come.

Circle time: blowing bubbles

Trying out the kick board

Autumn Fun - Little Snippets

Our little Peanut

November was full of adventures and activities! 

We celebrated our friend Luella Sweany's 2nd birthday at the Vancouver Early Learning Center at the Vancouver Community Library.  It was an amazing place for kiddos to play and everyone had a great time.

Maddy finally got a haircut (she's happy she can see again) and since the salon happened to be in my work building, I brought her up to see my office!

We joined the crowd and bought Maddy the movie Frozen, which we watched for the first time. Maddy really enjoyed it (I will admit that I liked it too), and is now belting out the lyrics of "Let it Go" like the best of 'em.  She hasn't asked to watch it again yet...but I won't be too surprised when she does.

Maddy loves to help in the kitchen, whether it be baking, getting dinner ready, helping me with my coffee, or pouring milk into the cereal bowl.  She also loves to wear the new apron from Grandmom.

Steve and I enjoyed a wonderful date night while Maddy enjoyed a fun sleepover at the Sweany's home, with friends Olivia and Rohin and their families stopping by as well. 

Steve and I also took a night away to help our friend Brendan celebrate his 40th birthday at Silcox Hut up on Mount Hood (while Maddy's former teacher Ashley spent the night with her).  Nearly 20 of us made the trek up to the hut, accessible only by Snow Cat or Chair Lift.  It was a vey fun night, clear and cold, with amazing views (including one shooting star).  Fun times!

Luella and Maddy: Luella's 2nd Birthday Party

Maddy at Luella's party

Kieran and Maddy

Maddy's haircut!

Visiting Mommy's office

Loving Elsa and Anna from Frozen

Baking time!

Sleepover at the Sweany's: Maddy and Andy

Marnie and Steve at Silcox Hut: Mount Hood

Sunset on the Mountain

Halloween 2014

Our Little Elephant

Our little Elephant had a ton of fun this Halloween! We went to our friend Shana's home for the festivities,and WOW, she wasn't kidding when she mentioned her neighborhood was known for this holiday! The houses up and down her block were all decorated, home owners were in full costume and kids were trick-or-treating EVERYWHERE! We headed out with the Daby and Flynn families as well as some of Shana's neighbors, and the Gregoriches also met up with us further down the street. The Flaby's stayed back at Shana's to hand out candy.

Maddy held our hands for the first two houses, and after that, no more! Our independent big girl insisted on walking up to each house on her own to say her Trick-or-Treats and thank yous.  The only exception was a house that had several gigantic moving spiders in the yard...Maddy wanted me to join her for that one!  Near the end of the evening, Maddy didn't even want to hold our hands walking down the street...luckily Wilson was around and offered to hold her hand! Holding a 7 year old's hand can be more fun for a tired girl.

Pirate Steve and Elephant Maddy

The gang - ready for Trick or Treating!

Pizza before heading out for candy!

Brett, Daynia and Wyatt - Star Wars Family

Althea and Eric = Dominoes!

Wilson and Maddy - Trick or Treat!

Our Pumpkins!

Pirate Maddy!

And While Grandmom and Granddad Watched Maddy...

Swamp Tour!

...Steve and I took a little trip to New Orleans with 16 dear friends, all to celebrate our upcoming 40th birthdays! All friends from college and/or high school, we descended upon New Orleans from Minnesota, Colorado, California and Oregon to catch up, reminisce and have an all-around good time.  Steve and I arrived early Friday morning, so we headed straight to Cafe du Monde for beignets and coffee.  We had time to spare so we took a carraige ride around the French Quarter, then stopped at the Carousel Bar for a Milk Punch (my mom recommended we try this drink!).  About that time our friends were starting to arrive, so we met up at Lafitte's (oldest bar in New Orleans).

Friday night we had a chef come to the Fleur de Lis Mansion (a bed and breakfast we rented for the weekend) and had a five course meal, featuring a crab and shrimp boil.  That night we headed out to the local bars.  Saturday we all went on a Swamp Tour, then to a nice dinner as a group (Colette's) and out again for the evening.  Sunday we walked around the French Quarter and that night headed to Frenchmen Street for dinner and music.  All in all a great trip with wonderful friends!

Feeding the Gator

 

 

The Swamp

Fleur de Lis Mansion - our home for the weekend

 

Hot Tub with Waterfall

Best Beignets!

Carriage Ride through the French Quarter

Enjoying a Milk Punch at the Carousel Bar

The Spotted Cat

Music on Frenchmen Street

 

Music on the Street

Grandmom and Granddad Visit!

We were so excited for Grandmom and Granddad Sebastian to visit - we talked about for months and when the time came...it was wonderful!  They arrived on Saturday, October 18, 2014, which happened to be the day after Grandmom's birthday.  Maddy and I picked them up from the airport and we headed to our house where we showed them around as it was their first time seeing our "new" house, and Maddy immediately took control of the tour.  That night we enjoyed a dinner out at a neighborhood favorite restaurant (The Country Cat) and then headed back to our house to enjoy Grandmom's chocolate birthday cake (her Grandmother's recipe) with chocolate frosting on the outside, and "surprise" pink frosting inside (Maddy wanted pink involved).  It had been a long day, so Grandmom and Granddad headed to their hotel shortly afterward.

Sunday Grandmom and Granddad came over late morning and Grandmom, Maddy and I headed to our local farmer's market while Granddad and Steve watched the Vikings Game.  Grandmom, Maddy and I had a nice walk around the market, and we bought fresh salmon, dill, apples, tomatoes and a cookie treat as well. Mom made a yummy salmon dish for dinner and I made some rosemary roasted potatoes for a side.

Monday Grandmom and Granddad headed over to our house early so we could take Maddy to school together, so they could see ChildRoots and also learn the lay of the land, as Steve and I were heading to New Orleans a few days later and Grandmom and Granddad would be watching Maddy while we were gone!  As they would be flying out Monday, the same day we arrived, Maddy would be going to school that day to facilitate the transition.  Grandmom and Granddad enjoyed seeing ChildRoots and meeting some of the parents, kids and teachers.  Later that morning, the three of us (me, Mom and Dad) headed out on our own little adventure, to wine country, Dundee area, Oregon.  We visited three wineries - Anne Amie, Argyle and Tyee.  It was nice to have some solid time to catch up and hang out with my parents, all while enjoying some very good wine!

Tuesday Grandmom, Granddad, Maddy and I all headed to Seattle together.  We went to my cousin Chris' home to visit for dinner with Chris, his wife Brooke and their 2 year old daughter Ellie (plus baby on the way!).  We had a lovely visit with a nice dinner and dessert to boot, then headed to our hotel.  It was late, but Maddy was VERY excited to stay in a hotel.

The next morning Maddy got to watch cartoons in bed, then we headed to Pike's Market, had a fantastic brunch at Lowell's, and walked around the market checking out the seafood, fruit, veggies and crafts.  Grandmom and Granddad bought Maddy an adorable new hat, and I got a much needed new wallet (rubber, made from tires, so hopefully will last a long time) and Alaska King Crab for Thursday's dinner.  I love walking around the market and the little shops surrounding it, and even though it was raining, it was fun for all of us!  The rain made the drive back to Portland a bit challenging, but we made it just fine in our new CRV.  We didn't make it back to Portland until evening, so we ordered Chinese food for dinner and called it a night.  Grandmom and Granddad stayed at our house that night and for the rest of their stay.

Thursday Steve and Granddad and Maddy flew a kite and then went to a puppet show while Grandmom did a bit of reading for her upcoming Board of Directors meeting, and I spent some time packing and running errands, preparing to leave that night on a red-eye for New Orleans. That night Steve and I made the King Crab leg dinner for all of us, which we all enjoyed very much (possibly me the most - crab is my favorite)!  We had some leftover cake and Steve and I said goodbye to Maddy for a few days...and that night my dad drove us to the airport for our red-eye to New Orleans!

Friday through Monday Maddy had an excellent time with her grandparents and I really don't think she missed us at all! Grandmom and Granddad took her to swimming lessons, out to lunch and shopped for new legos and other toys, baked cookies and cooked meals together, and played and played.  When Steve and I flew back from New Orleans on Monday, we met Mom and Dad at the airport (they were leaving shortly after our arrival) and received a debriefing - all went swimmingly well and they had a great time with their little granddaughter.  And we arrived home to a clean house, some new favorite toys for Maddy, and some very yummy home cooked meals in the refrigerator.  We are one lucky family!

THANK YOU, GRANDMOM AND GRANDDAD!!!!!

Maddy and Granddad Reading in the Blue Chair

Maddy gets her own Walleye!

Special gift from Grandmom - Apron and Spoon

Maddy and Granddad at the Pumpkin Patch

Mommy and Maddy

Maddy with Granddad and Grandmom

Me and Mom at Anne Amie Winery

Me and Dad

Visiting Chris, Brooke and Ellie

Ellie and Maddy

Having Brunch at Lowell's restaurant: Pike Place Market, Seattle

Lunchtime Adventure

Thanks for all the new Lego's!

Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies with Grandmom