Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday

Merry Christmas Everyone! Thankfully, we were able to get the car out of the snow today, and over to the Villanueva's to spend a meal and hugs with the Fisher side of the family. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

I can't believe our Beckett is three today. He has developed into a talkative, creative and energetic boy with a passion for anything with wheels and engines. I'm amazed at his thoughtfulness and clarity of ideas. We just love to him to pieces and truly love to play cars with this little guy, our "speeder".

It's snowing! Still! Stop!

I'm sure I will look back with fond memories, but right now I just want it to melt. How do people live in this much snow all winter! We have had two+ weeks of snow on the ground. Somewhere there are children who yearn to play outside in the snow, build forts, sled down hillsides... but they don't live here! Dragging them outside, after bundling them up in their puffy coats, trying to keep track of the mittens and hats and walk in the boots and five minutes later they are both screaming to go back inside. I think it's a mixture of too much snow (it is at Quinn's waist) and of course, it is cold! After a couple of afternoons doing this (Mom just simply can't stay inside all day, regardless of the weather) they troop outside with much less trepidation and actually have fun for 30 minutes before they are ready to shed the outer puffy shell of clothing and find the fire and hot coco. At least nap time is good around here....

Quinton is One!

Our TinTin is one, officially not a baby and onto Toddler-hood....although truthfully, he has felt like a crazy toddler for a couple of months now. "Quinn monster" (Beckett's nickname for him... because of Quinton's habit of destroying in Godzilla style any track or tower Beckett creates) is all about movement and exploration. He loves to spin, jump off of things, climb over dad, and chase mom. He desperately tries to keep up with his big brother and his "policeman / speeder" games, and laughs and smiles with little effort. He is a joy in our lives and we are so lucky to have him in our family. Happy Birthday baby! Thank you to our family and friends for celebrating with us!

Pumpkins, Leaves & Tractors

Don't you just love the Fall!

Here's our little tiger & octopus.... Beckett totally understood Halloween after visiting one house. After that he had no problem stepping up (and sometimes inside the homes) and shouting trick or treat. He also found that the longer he stood and smiled, the more scoops of candy he got. Quinton was just happy to be along for the show - - - and didn't mind the outfit one bit. What a sport. What lovely ages they are.... especially because mom & dad get to eat all the candy, they didn't even miss it!

Proud Auntie & Uncle! It's a boy!

Look what my sister did! Ok, Adam helped as well :) Welcome to the world little Jackson Rian! We love you!!!

Sleep deprivation photo.... those lovely first few weeks (months)

It's been awhile

since I have posted anything. How easy is it to get caught up in the day to day and suddenly a week, month or two have passed. Where did our summer go? Although I must admit this is my favorite time of year (truly good northwest latte weather), I feel like all of a sudden I have 2 toddlers, the holidays right around the corner, I'm almost an auntie and I'm wondering did I sleepwalk through this past year? I have bucket loads of memories, it just seems to go by too quickly.

Cape Disappointment...

Well, we went on our first camping trip which was a lot of firsts for us. First time in a yurt, first camping trip with kids, first visit to the emergency room..... all very memorable!! All in all, I think we'd do it again (albeit without the emergency room visit) although maybe choose a place more optimistically named...

Later this month we spent a nice long weekend with grandparents, enjoyed the fleeting warm afternoons and I actually got to play 18 holes (it's been awhile!).

Quinton is 9 months old!

Well Papa Jim predicted it.... our Quinton is walking in month nine. Help us! He is quite a determined little guy, and seems as amazed as we are at what he can do.

We had a busy month, throwing a work picnic and then heading down to southern Cali for a couple of days of sunshine, wedding festivities, and visits with Uncles. So thankful that we have good travelers!

Q is 8 months

Happy Fathers Day!

Quinton is almost 8 months and will not stop moving. He is an active kid and in an attempt to keep up with his big brother, really has no fear scaling large furniture and has developed a warp speed crawl. Go Quin!

Sticker Happy

Quinton is 6 months

Can that be right, 6 months already! This boy moves constantly, even when he sleeps he fidgets. He would crawl if his legs knew how. He usually 'swims' around in circles on the floor outraged at his lack of forward momentum. I smile, knowing that my days of relative calm in the house are numbered. This kid will test our drawer pulls, our safety gates and our nerve for sure.

Beckett has taken much more interest in this baby who steals toys and laughs at his little noises. He loves to wake him up from naps. When he hears Quinn cry, he runs up to his room screaming "I save you Quinn! Beckett to the rescue!".

Swinging at The Del

Coronado was just beautiful, and they even had a gorgeous park downtown with more kids and strollers than I've seen in awhile. We spent the afternoons at the park and beach and soaked up some much needed sunshine. I don't think Beckett will ever forget the "rockets" (the F14's) that flew during the weekend air show.

Seaworld bound

We spent the last couple of weeks down in California, storing up the vitamin D, and relaxing with grandparents. It was wonderful to see the family and the sun. I realized how long it had been since we have had a hot day in Washington - the first day we arrived in Palm Springs it was 80 degrees + and we put shorts on Beckett. He immediately started crying and pulling at his pants insisting that his pants were too short and something must be wrong...

We left Palm Springs for a couple of nights in San Diego. What a beautiful place, I can understand why everyone else wants to live here too.... We got the chance to visit Sea World, and Beckett was in open mouth awe for most of the day.

Quinton is 5 months old!

Another month has raced by. Quinton is in the 90th percentile for weight, and boy do our arms know it. Despite his spitting up half his weight in milk each day, he continues to grow!

Quinton and Beckett had a surprise visitor this month, Auntie Amy!! We loved seeing you!

Resolution

So I really have come to terms with the fact that I am going to be surrounded by boys/men for the rest of my life, but I realized last night that I have taken things a bit too far. I was getting undressed, took off my sweatshirt and jeans and two matchbox cars fell out of my pockets. Both my babies were outfitted in jeans and t-shirts (car or truck motifs are the only ones 'allowed' right now by Beckett) and I realize that my attire is strangely starting to resemble them. I dread the day that anyone describes me as wearing "mommy pants". So my new resolution is to raise the girl-ly factor in our family - at least a little - each day. If I digress again, please someone let me know before I become a candidate on "what not to wear" with mommy jeans.

Quinton is 4 months old!

Well I can't believe we have had Quinton with us for 4 months already! He has outgrown his crying colicky stage and is onto giggles and wide eye staring. A much more lovely stage... we have decided to keep him.