Showing posts with label Family adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family adventures. Show all posts

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Could it be Spring?

When I thought the sun would never shine again, it appeared.  Yippee.  Of course it had to be the week we all got sick so we weren't able to enjoy the sunshine to the fullest but believe me we soaked up as much sun as we could through our windows. 


By Friday we had mostly recovered so we decided to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine while we still had it.  I biked with the girls down to Chambers bay.  It was the first time Grace has biked in the trailer. She loved it.  She loved being so close to Gwenevere.  Gwenevere is such a busy body Grace hardly ever gets to just sit next to her big sister and jabber.  


We met friends down at Chambers bay and had great visit.  It's been decided that a weekly play date to the park is a must, for the summer.  Yippee!


Biking home from Chambers bay is mostly all up hill.  I was afraid of the ride being too difficult for me since I'm out of shape and i'm pulling two kids, but surprisingly I only had to walk up one hill.  (I was so proud of myself.)  So to celebrate we went to MacDonald's for lunch.  hahaha  


James come home from work early, (hurray).  Than we met up with some friends at the mall and Gwenevere got to ride the train with her friend Kyler.  Thanks Kyler for a great first date.  Gwenevere is one lucky girl.  But she's off limits for the next 13 years.  Her next date will be when she's 16.  


Of course I forgot the camera.  :-(  I wish I had a picture of the two of them riding the train.  It was so cute.


After the mail we all headed to Costo for some yummy hot dogs and shopping.  


Friday was a great start to a wonderful weekend.


Saturday morning James took both girls to Ballet so I could have a hour to  myself.  (I love that man.)  While he was away I cleaned our bedroom.  It's been needing some deep cleaning for a long time.  When Gwenevere came home from ballet she walked into our room and her jaw dropped and she said  "I never new your room look like this."  hahaha.  How sad.  My child doesn't remember the last time I cleaned my room.  I guess I know what my new resolution will be. 
Side note:  James did deep clean our bedroom two weeks ago.  I just did a terrible job keeping it clean so that might be why Gwenevere doesn't remember it being clean.   


James came home from ballet and cleaned the car, switched the car seats, added another bumper sticker and than we headed out to the zoo.


We moved Gwenevere to a booster seat and gave Grace Gwenevere's old seat.
Both girls were very happy with the change.







I never thought I would drive a car with a bumper covered in stickers
yep, we're that kind of family






We drove to the zoo through the neighborhood and so of course, we had to stop at a few estate sales along the way.  


The zoo was PACKED!  I had never seen it so busy.  We stopped by the zoo store and bought a few souvenirs to remember how much we love it here in Tacoma.  (and yes we bought a Point Defiance Zoo bumper sticker to added to the collection).


this cute little hat is my favorite souvenir.
Almost as cute as the little girl wearing that hat
  We now have an infant hat from Hawaii and a baby hat from Tacoma.  The next place we move we'll need to get a toddler hat.


Since the zoo was so busy it was hard to see many animals so we spent most of our time just walking around the zoo and taking pictures of Gwevenere when she asked us to.


This is a picture of Gwenevere singing on a toad stool.
The song was about being all alone and lost.
I love dramatic play

walking down a steep hill

Gwenevere wanted lots of pictures with the shark face



When we got back to the car both girls fell fast asleep.  

While the girls slept we drove around the neighborhoods and took pictures.

This house is so cool it has windows in the chimney

I love living by the Sound

Who's seen "Ten Things I hate about you"  
Yep that's Tacoma's claim to fame


This is just a guess but I think this is the house in Ten things I hate about you.  It has views similar to the views in the movie, plus it has a large porch like the one in the movie and it's just a few blocks away for the school.
 But it's just a guess.

Mt. Rainier and the crack in our window

This is the church Gwenevere used to call out and say "Look Mom a Temple."
Maybe someday Tacoma will have a temple

We stopped by REI and looked at bikes.  I don't know what we'll do when we move away from REI.  (Maybe save our money?)  hehehe  

Slight digression:  Gwenevere loves going to the "bike store"  (aka REI).  And I must admit I'm quite fond of it myself.  Even thought 90% of the time we go, looking for stuff for James.  As of Friday's bike adventure my biking wishlist has grown and I'm looking forward to continuing our family hobby.   
I mentioned to James today a need for biking glove.  You should have seen his smile.  He was so happy to hear me say I wanted bike stuff.  

Back to the story:
After talking ourselves out of buying this bad boy, we drove to Little Ceasers and picked up a pizza for dinner.  

My favorite quote of the day.
Gwenevere:  "Oh I love Little Ceasers, not Big Ceasers just Little Ceasers."

We drove to a park and had a picnic.  The squirrels were extra friendly and it was hard to resist feeding them.  "Squirrels like pizza too?!  I didn't know that."

Gwenevere named the boy squirrel Joe and the girl squirrel Joe.  Don't ask me how she new which one was a girl and which one was a boy, but she new.








See Grace, This is where you get your squinty eyes.
  
But if you try really hard you can make your blue eyes pop.

At least that's Papa's little secret

And that was our weekend.  Thank goodness it's finally spring.


PS. Boy, my fingers are out of shape.  It took me over an hour to do this post.  Granted I did nurse one baby and put her to bed while blogging but it's been forever since I really sat down and blogged.  It feels good.  Kinda like working out.  It gets easier to do it the more you do it.  I have two more blogs I hope to do this upcoming week.  Wish me luck.

  

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Christmas in Idaho Falls (part 3)

Saturday morning James went on an adventure and enjoyed some time to himself.  Gwenevere, Grace and I played with Auntie Alisha, Grace and Tessha.  It was a pretty mellow day.  Christmas eve evening.  We went on a drive to see the Christmas lights everywhere.  


When we got home from the drive we ate dinner and enjoyed a Christmas evening devotional lead by Auntie Grace.  We (James) put the girls to bed and we played games.  Soon everyone was asleep and Santa came.

  


The Girls slept in Christmas Morning.  When they woke up Auntie Alisha was very excited to open presents.
I forgot to take pictures but we had lots of fun and spoiled by all the gifts.


Santa brought Gwenevere a toy dog, which Gwenevere named "Gwenevere Too".  And Santa brought Baby Grace little lamb. 




After opening presents we got ready for Church.  I loved going to Church on Christmas but Gwenevere was sad there was no nursery.  


When we got home for Church siblings called home and it was fun to talk to everyone.  Mom made a delicious Christmas dinner.  

James carved the Ham




After dinner we sat around and enjoyed one last night of visiting and playing games.



Gwenevere had a wonderful Christmas




To be continued.  Our trip back home.

Christmas in Idaho Falls

This year we had the opportunity to spend Christmas in Idaho Falls with my parents.  It was a lot of fun.


On Sunday December 18th we woke up at 4:00 am, James packed the car while I got the girls ready.  We were in the car and girls asleep by 4:45am.  I drove the first part of the trip so James could get some more sleep.  By 11:00 we stopped in Spokane and ate Breakfast.  Then next couple of hours were a little harder on the girls.  First Grace was tired of being her carseat, then Gwenevere had to go to the bathroom, and than it was time to feed Grace again.  
Driving through Cour D Alene

Gwenevere playing with Papa at one of the rest stops while I fed Grace

Best Friends






Finally around 4pm  everyone had settled down again and the rest of the drive went fast.  We go into Idaho Falls around 9pm.  EVERYONE was Happy!


Auntie Grace was home from her mission so we got to spend the holiday with her.  Gwenevere enjoyed all the attention and baby Grace took a liking to her Auntie Grace.


Grace meet Grace




Monday was a catch up from the long drive day.  Auntie Grace, Alisha and I went Christmas shopping and chatted till our hearts content. Papa took Gwenevere to the park by my parents house to play in the snow. Monday evening we decorated the Christmas Tree and got ready for Christmas.


Auntie Grace playing with Gwenevere.  Gwenevere insisted Grace pretend to be a dog and sleep in the dog house AKA Christmas Tree box.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Baby Grace opening her Christmas Ornament from Grandma and Grandpa Thomas

The Christmas tree

Grandma and Grandpa Thomas gave the girls 5.00 so they could buy a present for someone else

Baby Grace was super excited

Taking a nap is what Graces do best


Tuesday was cold but clear.  So we put on our warm coats and went to the Idaho Falls falls to feed the ducks and see the temple.
I spy a Temple

Lovely Grace

I'm not sure why Gwenevere refused to get closer to Auntie Grace for the Picture I guess she was done taking pictures

Time to go feed the Ducks

Hanging with Papa

Feeding the Ducks










After feed the ducks we wondered over to the D.I. for a while and then went back home.  James assembled an elliptical machine together for my Mom.   


To be continued