Maui 2019

Two years ago we took an amazing trip to Maui to celebrate my parents' 40th wedding anniversary and both of their 70th birthdays.  It was such a good trip--one that we couldn't stop talking about even a couple years later.  So when my parents suggested that we travel there together again, of course we jumped at the idea!  Plus, we were excited about the idea of doing a trip all together again so our boys might remember it better since they're older.  I don't think Cameron remembered the first trip because he was only 2 years old.

It was such a wonderful trip again. In fact it was one of the best trips to Hawaii I've ever had.  Of course we did such fun activities and made wonderful memories.  But one of the reasons it was one of the best trips for me was because I was able to be much more present, relaxed and intentional about my time on the trip.  I really focused on soaking up time with my kids, slowing down, and doing what I really wanted to do in the moment--not thinking about what activity was next. The result was a really rejuvenating week and a half.  And really great quality time with my family. The only bummer of the week was that Ryan, Carly and Laila weren't able to join us.  When we planned the trip, they weren't sure if they'd be ready or able to travel that far with Laila yet.  We missed them and we're already talking about doing a trip again in a couple years if possible.

Here are some of our favorite activities and moments from the trip:

Traditional first night meal at Hula Grill

Beautiful view from our room

Yummy dinner at Leilani's

Pops had hula pie twice on the trip!

Kid yoga session while waiting for dinner

Another pretty view

Lots of fun pool time

Nathan swam without floaties!

Cam got much more comfortable in the water too!

Nathan finally rode the water slide!

Fun day at the aquarium and the beach in Kihei

Jungle walk to Honolua Bay

Largest avocado we've ever eaten!

Lots of Go Fish card playing

Lots of beautiful beach time

And sandcastle building

The huge banyan tree in Lahaina

Date night to our most favorite restaurant Lahaina Grill

Lots of fun brother time

Lots of incredible sunsets

Our last night and wonderful dinner at Duke's

Favorite photo from the trip

Aloha!  Can we go back??

Snowpocalypse

February was the craziest, weirdest winter weather we've ever had.  In fact it snowed more at our house than we've ever seen before in all our years growing up and living here!

The first round came on Super Bowl Sunday.  A snow storm came through that ended up giving us 8 inches of snow!  School was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.  Even Seattle University was closed on that Monday.  James braved the snow (thanks to our 4Runner!) and made it to work.  I was actually happy to be home because I felt like I needed a couple days off.  Plus we hadn't had snow all season so we were excited!  It was fun to have a break in the routine.  The boys and I went sledding and played in the snow a lot.  I had some really great quality time with them.

Then the weather reporters started predicting a huge storm coming our way at the end of that week.  The storm was supposed to start Friday night.  We got a few more inches that night, but it wasn't too bad.  We were still able to go up skiing the next day and had Cameron's friends over for a little playdate on Sunday.  

Then Sunday night the flurries started and it just felt like they were never going to stop!  The next day we measured and we had gotten about 24 inches in 24 hours.  Granted some of the snow that had previously fallen hadn't melted yet.  But I have never seen so much snow in this area.  James couldn't even get our 4Runner out of the driveway which means it was major.  

The snow came all the way up to our doorstep!

Look at the size of those icicles!

We finally dug out and found our driveway!  

Although it was fun to have more time off and snuggle in the house with my family (thank goodness our furnace held out the whole time and never gave out!), by this point I was starting to feel done with the snow.  We had so much snow that we couldn't sled or really go anywhere.  We made the best of it doing puzzles, shoveling together, trying to take walks, watching movies, etc.  But it was crazy.  Obviously our area just isn't prepared or equipped to deal with that much snow.  In fact, Snoqualmie had to declare a state of emergency in order to get help from other cities and areas!  They brought in front loaders and transported snow to this open area in town that has piles and piles of snow now that probably won't melt until July.  All in all Nathan missed 7 days of school!  School was closed all that week.  

I'm writing this in early March and that snowstorm happened in mid-February.  We still have snow from that storm on the ground!  It's going to take forever for it to melt.  Plus it's still really cold.  Winter just doesn't want to let go.  This snowpocalyse was definitely one for the books and one we'll be talking about for a long time.  But spring can come anytime now.  I'm ready!!

Ski Season

We just finished up our second ski season as a family!  The boys took lessons again through SKIBACS (the Boeing ski club) for about 6 weeks at Snoqualmie Summit.  We decided to do private lessons similar to last year to allow them to learn together and to help build up their confidence.  They made so much progress this year!  We spent 1-2 Saturdays on the green runs where the instructor worked with them on technical skills.  But it didn't take long for the boys to be ready to go on blue runs and once we started, we stayed on blue runs the rest of the season.  I think the boys liked the challenge and variety of the longer blue runs. 

January lessons were sunny and warm (one weekend even felt like spring skiing!) as shown through these photos.  Although it was beautiful and easier to be warm, we were a little concerned that the snow wouldn't hold up through the season.  The slopes hadn't gotten much snow since December and it was starting to get icy.  There was no need to be worried.  February brought with it some very unusual and crazy winter weather.  Lessons were even cancelled one Saturday because a snow storm came through the area.  We still braved it and had a great day together as a family though.  By our last weekend (see video below) there was tons of wonderful powder on the slopes!

Both boys definitely built up their confidence and improved technique this year.  They are both skiing much better with their legs together and more parallel.  And they are getting more competent with their turns.  They still aren't using poles so they have good balance.  More than anything they enjoyed it and had fun and felt good about their progress which is our whole goal to begin with. 

Similar to last year I loved doing skiing every weekend as a family.  Even though it's an investment, I love that it gets us outside in the winter to be active and enjoy God's beautiful creation in the mountains.  It also teaches our boys about resiliency, perseverance, and courage.  Plus it just provides good quality family time for us.  Even Aunt Jacky came up skiing with us a couple weekends which was really fun!

Already looking forward to next season!

Christmas 2018 Memories

This Christmas season was probably one of the most fun and magical we've had yet since our boys are at such wonderful ages.  They both fully believe in Santa and all the magic of the holiday season and of course they were super in to all our traditions and fun activities of the season.  I know the window for them believing is limited so we are soaking it up as much as possible.

Here were some of our favorite memories from the Christmas season starting with the weekend after Thanksgiving:

Black Friday spent downtown with Nana and Pops visiting the train at Macy's, riding the carousel, starting Christmas shopping and visiting the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton

Annual trip to Molbaks to see the poinsettias with Nana & Pops

Visited Santa and had dinner with Gramma and Grampa & Nana and Pops

This year's turned out with lots of smiles!

Got our Christmas Tree at our favorite place: Keith & Scott Tree Farm in North Bend

The boys were in our church's children's Christmas play. Nathan even had a speaking part as the character "Little Billy."  And Cameron was a shepherd...finally after many years of being a sheep.

Got to see the Lion King Broadway musical at the Paramount!

Our favorite Christmas tradition: riding the Santa Train from North Bend to Snoqualmie.  Freshly baked cookies and hot cocoa, visiting Santa, and dinner at North Bend Bar & Grill

Christmas Eve with the Warners

Laila's 1st Christmas!

My favorite photo of the season!

Christmas morning at our house

Santa came!!

Christmas dinner at the Spauldings'

What a busy and fun-filled season it was!  I love looking back on all the memories and moments.  So grateful for family and the chance to celebrate and reflect on our most meaningful and important gifts.  

Another New Family Member

Our sweet niece/cousin, Laila Marie Warner was born on Thursday, September 20, 2019!  And we are absolutely smitten.  Isn't she adorable?  We are thrilled to finally have a little girl in the family!  Carly and Ryan are amazing parents so far and it's been so fun seeing my brother as a dad.  Laila just gets cuter and cuter every day and it's been so fun to love on her.

Nana and Pops with her the day she was born

I got to visit just 2 days after she arrived and was in heaven holding her for a couple hours to give Ryan and Carly some much needed rest!

Finally a couple weeks after she'd been born Nathan, Cameron and James got to meet Laila.  It's darling to watch the boys around her because they are so calm and gentle.  Cameron is just drawn to her--he definitely loves babies.  Eventually though they get restless and I think they want her to just get up and play with them or start talking to them.  ;)

Of course Ryan has captured some amazing shots of her since she was born:

Love this family photo!

The name Laila is Carly's middle name.  And Marie is Carly's grandma's name.

I personally am so excited to have a niece and to finally get to be an auntie.  I'm excited for our bonding times and to be the source of support and fun that Ryan and Carly have been to our boys.  It will also be such a joy to watch the cousins play together and build relationships.

Congrats Ryan and Carly!  Welcome to the world baby Laila!!