This past week the kids and I spent a fun filled couple of days at Lake Chelan with our cousins Amy and Kali.

I can not tell you how tickled Amy and I were that the kids played together SO fabulously!!  They got along so well all weekend long that Amy and I actually had time to visit!  What a perfect trip.

Our trip started on Sunday.  The kids napped for 2 hours of the 3 hour drive---yippee!  We checked out the resort clubhouse, played at the park, and figured out what channel had Sponge Bob while we waited for Amy (she was on a Tour-de-Washington;).

Our first night in the kids downed a big taco dinner and played with bath crayons in the tub.  The poor housekeepers, the kids drew on every surface of the tub and shower!  Here are two of our little burritos.  Each night all three of them wanted to be wrapped in their towels like a burrito.  They got to be chicken, cheese or beef.

Then, we had to compare big bellies!  Although Kiernan and Kali are pretty similar eaters...his buddah belly did get first prize in the Under 5 division.  However, Amy and BK2 stole the show.  Her beautiful 32 week preggo belly was the biggest by far! (Sidenote-that is NOT a real tattoo!)

Since my children decided to get up at the crack of dawn and Kali demonstrated the amazing ability to sleep through their racket.  We ate a quick breakfast and decided to walk down to the lake.  One word-Gorgeous!  Ok, two words-Gorgeous and cold!  

Chelan is a very touristy town....in the summer.  In mid February, many places are closed.  But we made do.  The resort staff told us about a great kids' park and bowling alley in town. The kids ran around for over an hour playing at the park.

After a delish lunch, great long nap and some dancing time we all headed downtown to Chelan Lanes.  This was K and M's first time bowling!

Another yummy dinner, hilarious bath time and a pretty easy (considering there were 3 kids under 5 all sleeping in big kid beds!) bedtime routine for night 2.  

On our last day in town we decided to head over to the resort's indoor pool.  It was fabulous.  No one else was there.  The temp of the pool and outside was super comfortable.  And, we had 3 great listeners.  I had to take the kids swimming by myself and the kids did so great following directions and waiting their turn!  Great job Kali!!!

Kali's fave was swimming (kicking and paddling as fast as possible!) ALL the way across the pool.  McKenzie's fave was jumping in the pool.  She never jumped in completely (with no hands) but she LOVED jumping in and going under water.  Kiernan's fave was snuggling with mama.  He would fake jump in and just hold onto my neck super tight while I walked him around the pool.  Loved it!

After a quick lunch, lots of SpongeBob and a huge clean (just unpacking and repacking the car took forever!) later...we were back in the car and headed home.

Amy, I am so glad the kids could spend some time together!  They had a blast and have been bombarding me with, "Where Kali? Where Amy"  "Go to Kali's house?" daily since we got home!  We are so lucky to have such wonderful cousins.  Can't wait to do it again after BK2's arrival!

Our fabulous Mommy Group had a fabulous Valentine's Day party!  Thanks for ALL the great snacks, games and all around good cheer Es!

The arts and crafts were off the charts!  The kids made hand print Valentine's card.  Painted pink hearts by rolling marbles around in a box with big blobs of paint (all the kids loved that one).  And got to decorate cookies (thanks to all the mamas who supervised my kiddos doing this...I was off chatting in another room and didn't even know it was cookie time!).

The all vegan all the time snacks were uber delish!  Check out this adorable strawberry bagel.  1/2 bagel, vegan cream cheese, strawberry jam and a strawberry cut into the shape of a heart (somebody was channeling Martha;).  And if McKenzie was eating it, you know it was good!

The kids had a great time celebrating with all their friends and mommy and daddy had a great time celebrating without any kids.  That's right, about an hour into the party Eric and I ditched the wee ones and went out to celebrate V-day as (gasp) a couple!  Thanks so much for watching our babies M and E;)  We owe you (seriously, let's set up a date night for you two).

Pockets full of posies

Ashes, ashes we all fall down!

We have had so many fun play dates this year.  With Daddy working and at school so often during the week, Mommy and babies get to invites friends over for play dinners.  To all of you moms out there with late working husbands...this is a great idea! You get to have adult conversation with your friend and your kid(s) are so excited to see there friends they play and play and play until they are so tuckered out that they go straight to sleep....beautiful.

On this night we had our friends Katrina and Andrew over for dinner.

First time for a story

Bathtime with 3 little ones is always an adventure!

Then time for stories on the rocking chair.

Time for a kiss good nite.

We can't wait to see you again!

2009

2008

2010 Schedule

7:30 Wake-up, books and milk

8:30 breakfast

9-12 Activity

12 Lunch

1-4 Nap Window

4 Snack

4:30-6 Activity

6 Dinner

7 Bath

8 Milk, books and bed

I'm sure this is fairly boring for basically anyone but me and Eric.  This is purely for documentation purposes;)

For reference purposes, here is last year's schedule (or at least, my best memory).

7 Wake-up, books and milk (they had just transitioned from bottle on January 1st and McKenzie barely drank any milk the entire month of January)

8 Breakfast and play

9-11 Nap

11 Snack and play

1 Lunch

2-4 Nap

4 Snack and play

6 Dinner

6:30 Bath

7 Milk, books and bed

I guess not too much has changed...but they sure do look different;)

Kiernan and McKenzie are 2!

We celebrated the day with birthday presents in bed (trains and a travel track for Kiernan and an ENTIRE baby doll room set for Kenzie).  The kids got to splurge on their favorite treats all day (chocolate milk;).  We went to see Santa and the kids did awesome! No tears, not huge smiles, but they were looking at the camera (pic to come soon).  We went to the Christmas Eve service..but didn't make it the full hour.  Then home for the kids; favorite chili.  It was a beautiful birthday for two beautiful babies (I still reserve the right to call them babies even though I am fully aware that they are completely functioning big kids).

We celebrated with our friends and some family (grama and grandpa) this past weekend and had a wonderful party at Gymboree!

Aaron turned 2 on the 27th so we had a joint (huge) party with all of our friends!

Can you believe how big all of our Mom and 'Baby' Group friends are getting?!?

All of the kids were hysterical over the bubbles.  Seriously, it was like they had never seen bubbles before.  So cute!

This picky eater is pretty open to try any kind of treat...a chocolate on chocolate cupcake perhaps?

Getting a dozen kids under age 6 to pose for a picture...hey, at least we tried:)  Thank you to ALL of you who helped in making this possible.

Two 30 year olds + two 2 year olds= 1 happy family;)

The after party at Red Robin.  10 adults and 5 high chairs and no major meltdowns or flying food!! I call that a success!

We love our Grama and Grandpa!

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas 2008