Downtown...

Can you here the song?  Doooowwwn towwwwnnn!!  I think that was our theme last week when we brought the kids with us on what was going to be our 13 year dating anniversary out.  Our sitter cancelled at the last minute so we took them with us.  We hit all our favorites and frankly it was a great way to celebrate.  In pictures...

Sweets

There was some serious cookie and ginger bread eating...I mean making...this Christmas.  Good thing we got dev into the dentist before the holidays.  Here are some pics of the various events involving frosting.

The 2013 tree hunt

We found a new place to get a tree this year and we are thinking it is a keeper.  Ever since the church a block away stopped selling them a couple years ago we've been with out a 'go-to' tree lot.  It's about three miles south east of us but its got a little hike to see some old growth trees, and a ton of the you-cut nobles that we love.  Santa was there and of course hot chocolate and free antlers.

Before and AFTER

Let's just say the boy know what he wants.  Nick and I pretty much tried everything to get him to change his mind but he wanted a "military" hair cut.  Bitter sweet because his bright blond locks were so much a part of his personality but nick and I agree, if at all possible he is even more confident now that he made such a big decision in his own.  He's 4.5 and it feels he's growing up super fast these days.  Still a good lookin kid.

The Green Lake Gobble

More photos from today's run.  Photo cred for my sister Jessica.  She needs to just fallow us around so we can get more fabulous pics.
 

All of us post runs - for like 2 minutes I was hot enough to shed my layers...pretty sure it was like 35 degrees outside - my toes were numb when Nick and I started running.

Not sure if this was before during or after his run but it's a sweet pic of him.

 

Dev mid 500m  run / walk / run. :)

Dev nearing the finish line.  I felt it was important to add this photo so I am reminded what my mama face looks like.  I had just been told that I was not allowed run with him, "I can do it by myself."  Noted. Tova started "saying" this about six months ago - it took Dev 4.5 years.  This will take some getting used to.

Showing off for Aunt Jessica.

Mid balance continuing his show for Jess.

Good times had by all.  I wish I'd had Jess take pics of our post run meal too.

Green Lake, Ballard and Tacoma

If you're ever wondering what it is we do all weekend this post will provide a little insight.  I was telling nick today was pretty much everything we usually do all week jammed in to just the one day.
We started with a quick run (or two) around green lake.  Much to Nick's dismay I signed him up for the Green Lake Gobble 5k run.  The man hasn't run in a year (per his recollection) and yet he busts out a 7:35 pace.  Check it: nick's results.  I signed up for the 10k and more than once wondered what in heck I was thinking but I held my own: angela's results.  Deven kicked 4.5 year old butt and per his recollection he won the whole thing. 

Next, we introduced grandma and grandpa Bodle and aunt Jessica to our post green lake fun run tradition.  Brunch at Hales Ales in Ballard.  Seriously people do it.  If you like beer, breakfast and coffee cake go.  Never mind the difficult location just go.  There will be no regrets.

Next, we celebrated Autumn Siebenaler's fifth birthday at the Tacoma children's museum. I remember walking to the hospital from my office only hours after she was born to make sure she and her mama were doing well.  *sigh*  I'm so thankful to have that memory of this tall, happy young lady!!

We have a pretty spectacular children's museum in Everett but the Tacoma one is pretty darn awesome.  The kiddos had a blast.  Painting, water works, tree houses, musical instruments.  Oh and cup cakes.

Finally, the grocery store.  Yes no day is complete without a visit to some market or another.  Today the main goal was a turkey to start the thawing / dinner prep process.  Going with a bbq Turkey this year.  It hasn't failed us in the past and weather is supposed to be great!  Ugh my mouth is watering already.

We drove the I5 corridor today but it was totally worth it.  A great way to kick off this holiday week.   

Creative movement

So I'm fairly certain that if I had not be involved with dance, brought Dev to the nut cracker for the first time at 2 years old, and let him watch ballet YouTube videos, Deven would not have been interested in dance on his own.  Nature vs nurture?  Too philosophical of a discussion for this blog.  Non-the-less, last year Dev, after seeing a movie available on Netflix called First Position, asked if I would sign him up for classes.  Hmmm...me sign my kiddo up for dance...yes, I think so.
This is Deven's second year and I do think it has been really good for him.  In the least it has been a place to explore his creative side and be in a place that expects his discipline and respect.  Deven is challenging.  He is uniquely qualified to both question your desire to want to work with small children but at the same time inspire you to continue because of his genuine passion for...life. 
Who knows where he will take these lessons but I do know that he loves participating and learning how to move his body.  And I have already had my annual request to go see Clara.  I'll take it for as long at it lasts.

Deven doing angular movements with his buddy Max

Last June's show - is partner in crime, Josie. 

 

School pics - cuteness overload

I can't get them all...gonna be a tough decision for sure.  ** I'll add Deven's tonight when I get them.

Tova is 18 months...

I mean 19.5 months.  Well she was 18 months when we went for a check up last month.  It's official.  Per our doctor, Tova is just tiny.  Not unhealthy or lacking appropriate nutrition, just a tiny girl.  She's maintained her 30th percentile in height for most of her life which leads our doctor to conclude that she's getting what she needs and she is just going to be a little girl. This brings a whole lot of relief to this already crazy mamma.  The added worry that Tova may not be getting what she needs has been an underlying worry for the past year or so...not fun. 

Since receiving the news, this last month I've finally felt ok to start weaning or at least saying, "hey pretty girl let's eat some real food first."  While I love my extended nursing relationship with my biggest fan I am ready to start being my own person again...at least as much as you can become once you are a parent.  She's not all done yet and frankly I'm quite not ready to be 100% done either but we are getting there.

Mean while this girl is teaching us the difference between boys and girls.  She loves bags, sparkles, touching/feeling anything but especially plants, dirt and blankets.  She adores Deven but is also willing to kick is butt if necessary...and it frequently is necessary.  Tova loves, I mean loves ME.  This may sound conceded but its true and I will revel in it because I'm sure it will not always be this way.  Nick is a close third only trumped by her favorite teacher Miss Marisela.  Marisela is the only other person she will allow me to leave her with without complaint. 

She still doesn't talk much but she's all over keeping up with the three of us so honestly there is probably isn't time for much discussion.  She loves going out in the stroller with Sam and me, she loves oranges, bananas and raspberries.  She dislikes getting dressed and would just assume to stay in her jammies all day (who wouldn't).  No and different inflections of the word is her favorite thing to say.  Help and milk are her favorite signs.  Purple is her favorite color and elephants and turtles are her favorite animals.  She's a girly tom boy and we just love our girl.

Silvertips night

My boss has season tickets to the Silvertips therefore I get to buy some off him when he can't make it.  He was out of town this weekend so he decided to give me his two seats and actually bought another two for us all to go. He's say it was a thank you for always being able to take his tickets but I'm suspicious there is some unknown project at work or something!?!? 

Either way, it was quite an adventure being a later game but we lasted two quarters before having to drag both crazies home.  Of course we met up with chip and Charlie while there.  Thankfully they are used to...us. :)

Pics: a.  Dev knows how to get me to stop bothering him for a picture now and just gives me a smile when ever I ask!  b. Dev and Tova walking up to the bar together.  To their, or rather nick and my credit they only ordered water. c. Daddo and Tova Rae. d. Charlie being a darling and offering us his popcorn.

A simple trip out

Nick was at Husky tailgating.  The kiddos needed new jeans and long sleeve shirts for the winter.  So.  We went to the mall.  On. Our. Own.  We've definitely done this before but Tova is a little more mobile.  Deven is a little more argumentative.  Well this mama just took a big breath and we dove in.  My strategy was to hit them with an all fruit jamba juice of their choice then one store and one store only. Gap.  Of course.  Then straight to dinner in a restaurant of their choice.  Pasta it was.  The waitress knew what I needed and didn't mess around with a special glass.  We all kept it together mainly because I put away my need for them to be seated at a dinner table and the genius idea that is crap paper for a table clothe.  Though, the culmination was when we went to the inevitable last second bathroom trip and Tova's near demise by changing table collapse due big brother's climbing attempt...a WONDERFUL women told me that she'd been listening to me [whilst one of my children almost kills my other] and she thinks I'm doing a wonderful job.  I almost cried.  Cloud nine the rest of the evening. Period.

Bob's corn and pumpkin patch 2013

We did the patch right this year.  Acorn squash, corn on the cob, homemade mustard purchases and honey crisp apple the size of tovas head.  Oh and we picked out pumpkins for carving too.  Kiddos LOVED the tractor ride to the patch and hanging with the Wright's.  A great tradition.

Random visit to Bellingham

We had a free weekend day a few weeks back and it was gorgeous so we decided to visit and walk around bellingham.  We walked the new board walk on the bay and around down town.  Was super nice and always fun to reminisce about college which *gasp* was 10 years ago.