summer in seattle

so here is a very sad story. i took 50 billion pictures of our summer mainland trip on my iPhone. during the very last 5 days of our 3 week trip, marin jumped into the freezing pacific ocean fully dressed and i went in after her. also fully dressed, and with my iPhone in my back pocket. certainly we are thankful that i was able to grab marin, but my phone did not survive. i am still mourning the loss of all the photos. it has been my hang up in updating the blog. but i am pushing thru and digging up all i can to document our fabulous trip.

we flew into seattle on the 4th of july, just in time to meet up with my brother and his family for some festive celebrating. the kids traveled so great on the flight over. we scored an extra seat for marin to have her car seat, a total bonus. we met my brother in the city at a rooftop party. it was a fabulous way to celebrate independence day.

 

 

the rest of the week was full of lots and lots of cousin time. these kids have so much fun together. they are silly, creative, and so clearly related. seeing them together makes my heart almost burst with love, and i miss them just as much now that we are home.

 

washington style beaching.

 

 

 

never ending party in the front yard.

 



 

 

 

 

 

another trip to the museum of flight. i have lost track, i think that was our 4th visit?!  

 

 

living aloha. i heart these faces!

 

 

here is a horrible picture to represent our ride on the seattle great wheel. the kids LOVED it. i was totally terrified and will never, i repeat NEVER do it again.   

 

these two. they just can't get enough of each other. 2 silly heads that love to just hang out a be silly together. aunt geri found them laying in bed chatting the morning we had to leave. such sweetness.

 

 

 

meet sidonie

 some of you might remember the amazing story that i shared about my dear friend virginie and her miracle baby, sidonie jennifer . well, i got to finally meet this little miracle and she is just too stinking cute! we had a quick visit with virginie, faustin and sidonie and it was so great to see them. i can't fathom how big our boys have gotten...seriously?! it was too quick, but so sweet to see all 3 of you! 

sweet as honey...

i was totally blessed while in seattle to have a special night to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our sweet baby girl. jen, geri & cortney hosted a very sweet and adorable baby sprinkle, and the best part was that it gave me a chance to visit with dear friends that i am not lucky enough to see everyday. i felt so blessed to have people come out to celebrate this bundle and can't wait for them to all meet her on our next mainland tour. 

marin maisie, we can't wait to meet you! 

bath time with b!

while in seattle we got to spend a few days with the pennebaker's! man, aren't we good at squeezing it ALL in?!  beckett is growing up to be quite the funny guy, and i love his little personality. the boys took a few baths together, something we will remind them of when they are 14. i love them. 

baker babies!

my main focus while in seattle was to get my hands on the baker babies! i had been dying to meet connor, hope, madison & victoria since they were born and felt blessed that i got to hang around and help out for a few days. i thought that i would take five million pictures, but the truth is when you are at the baker house you are busy! as an extra special bonus amber (the very loved surrogate) was also visiting and i finally had a chance to hug her. what a special person she is to the baker family, and to all of us that love the baker's so much! 

so, how are the baker's doing with FOUR babies?! in one word, amazing! they have such a system and lots of helping hands and all the babies are growing and thriving and very very much loved. when you walk in the front door you can't help but feel the joy that radiates through the entire place. it is just amazing. each time i left i wanted more of them. i never got enough. 

coen impressed all of us by hanging out with the babies for 8 hours one day! he set up his airplanes and showed them to the babies. he was such a trooper. it was kind of baby boot camp for the big brother to be! 

brian and misty, thank you for sharing your beautiful family with me. i can't wait to see them grow and become hilarious little people. by the way, parenthood looks good on both of you!