Sunday Funday.

The Bells were sans any and all belles this past Sunday evening and we went on the barge at Tana and Mike's. So. Fun. I love that Tana packed us SIX wine bottles with colored straws, chocolate, and napkins. I love family. AND I love a good random adventure...

The Table.

Ahhh being a dog owner. There are some ups. Constant nighttime cuddles, a family pet, a memory for the girls. Pearson especially adores him. I'll admit. He's pretty darn handsome. For a ginger.

And there are downs. Chewing up barbie shoes, people shoes, and: new outdoor furniture. Nice, beautiful, paid for from my garage sale money outdoor furniture. I cried. Just a little and I tried not to, but I did. I also lost my cool in front of Pea and told her that Brutus might need to go on a long term vacation to which SHE cried even though I was only half joking and I felt even worse. For some reason he chewed through and on four chairs and a table. Two days after I got it. He is SO aptly named: Brutus. You seem like my best pal and then you stab me in the back. Welp. The hubs was not happy. I think he felt bad for me and so...

He made me this beauty. It's a pallet from work stained gray. I love it more than anything else I could have bought, because it's unique made with love. I told the girls right before I took that first picture of their dad making something for their mom: this is what love looks like, marry someone like that. Like him. Also, on an even MORE serious note: I'll have you know I bought METAL chairs and we've since changed the legs, but it's like my favorite thing right now. Or ever.

I do things like paint my nails, get some color, drink coffee, and watch The Dick Van Dyke Show simultaneously at it. I love it and I love you, Mr. B.

The Zoo.

Grandma Polly took us to the Zoo again this summer. It's become an annual event and so fun. The girls really look forward to it and of course seeing Grandma! I always look forward to the dip n dots. This year Harp got in the fountain with all her clothes on. It was hot. Oh, and she sang, "This Girl is on Fira" the whole time. See below. As I look back through our trips its crazy how the girls have grown. I didn't even take a stroller. gasp! Here's to next summer; I hope they always love it...

Harper Does The Pool.

And other terrifying tales...
This girl.

She never liked swimming the last two summers and then something just switched and she loves it. She started swim lessons for the first time and smiled the entire first lesson from ear to ear. She HATES to "be little" as she says so I think joining Pea in this rite of passage was why she was so happy. The preschoolers have a platform they have to stand on so their head is above water and she definitely couldn't remember to stay on, but once you go under unexpectedly you start to watch where you're standing. Here's our Harp in all her glory...

Move-Up Day

Also known as the last day of school round these parts. Where we live you get to find out your teacher for that next year (in our case 1st grade!) on the last day of school. You get to meet him or her and meet those classmates you might soon be calling friends. It's all very exciting. AND nerve wracking. We made the decision to place Pea in looping should she get accepted. Looping is where you have the same teacher and class for 1st and 2nd grade. She takes a bit longer to warm up to new faces and so we thought it would be beneficial for her to have more time with the same people so as to develop her friendships etc. Ty did looping as a kid and his mom loved it. In case you haven't noticed Pea and her Daddy are just a little alike. I am putting my faith in it being the best for her and really excited to see what this will bring. I can't believe this kindergarten year is over. It's been quite the year with learning, new friends, field trips, watching chicks hatch, performances, and science experiments. I've loved watching her grow. For us, by far, the biggest challenge has been change and Pea's innate shyness, which I have a hard time understanding, let alone parenting! If you know me, you know I don't have a hard time talking with new people or walking into a room of strangers. In fact I enjoy it. My oldest love does NOT. And as I tell myself repeatedly: that's ok. That's her and we're different. I am just praying and asking for wisdom and trusting because that's really all we can do as moms. She's making strides every week and this summer will be time to relax! Here's Pea on the first day of Kindergarten and below the last! sidenote: she picked her own outfit, which I hated, but it was important to her so there you have it:) Such a growing girl...

Father's Day 2013

Today we celebrate the Dad's in our life! Love you Dad and Steve (sorry, Papa S we didn't get a picture with you today! BUT we LOVE you.)

We love you. Ty, you're just the best daddy ever. Your little gals adore you. Thank you for dancing with them. Thank you for loving them with an open heart and excitement...

The Emerald City

Last week we ventured up to our favorite City on one of the most gorgeous days I've seen there in forever. We stopped by Kerry Park to swoon over the view, then on to Chandler's fashion show at SPU where she displayed some of her work from her major, and then headed over dinner and ice cream at Molly Moon's. Delish. I was struck by how much I love Seattle. I had many a transcendent thought racing through my head that evening, which basically added up to a lyric from a Macklemore song. I love Seattle. Like really. And just like Dorothy dreaming of the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz, I used to dream of it too when I was young. But really unlike Dorothy my dreams were never dashed. The Emerald City of my hopes rose up to meet me and now on a sunny day; there's no place on earth to match it. However I do think any city where you fall in love, or find yourself, or grow up will always be a piece of your story. Like I said on my Instagram picture: Seattle was my diving board into a life I love and it will always be beautiful to me. I hope my girls feel its beauty too...

Maple Valley Days

A magical place where you blow 40 dollars in 20 mins, throw your 3 year old on a ride for teens, and win a goldfish you fear will die every morning. BUT at least you get some stellar smiles from these little ladies...

Dinner on the Farm

Joey & Taryn invited us to a farm dinner out on Dog Mountain Farm in Carnation for an amazing 5 course meal with a pairing of wine for each course. So naturally, Ty being a closet foodie or a flamboyant one; however you look at, we jumped at the opportunity. Before dinner there was a tour of Dog Mountain and an appetizer course. Joining us for the evening were J & T and the delightful Mayers! Each course was cooked by a Seattle chef and 80 percent of the whole meal was to come from the actual farm. It was all amazing! Here are the pictures. And HERE'S to doing it again (hopefully!) next summer...

(Pea)formance.

Kindergarten is rapidly coming to a close and today Pea had her music performance. She did so great:) Not the most enthusiastic performer, but she did all the motions and was not shy. I just love our sweet pea...

Instagram Catch up

I swear. Instagram has RUINED me for blogging. BUT. I will not totally succumb! I am working on a tell it like it is post for the end of the week. Sometimes a girl just needs time and space to sit down and write. I often compose beautiful pieces in my head only to have them rushed. A thousand starts and no follow-through. So, a promise to you dear reader: more meat, more real. Coming to a portal near you. Until then...real life.