Ballard Locks

I managed to get the kids fed and dressed, a lunch packed, and the stroller in the car by 9am today...I think that might be a record for me! We headed over to the Ballard locks to see the boats and to see if there were any salmon in the fish ladder. No luck with the fish...we will need to go back in the middle of summer, but we did see quite a few boats coming in from the Puget sound, including a fire rescue boat.

Captured on the iphone

I have been meaning to research the best place online to get your instagram photos printed because it would be a shame to not have hard copies of moments caught on my phone. Here are a few as of lately that I can't wait to get printed. Oh, and a video of a splashing session going on in the bathtub! Gosh I sure do love those kids!

Weekend away

I think this past weekend was one of the best times we've had together as a family since we've been back in Seattle. We went north to Lake Padden, near Bellingham to meet up with my mom, step dad and sister. It had everything there, a playground, off-leash dog park, a lake (obviously!) and multiple trails going around the lake. We got there a bit late in the day due to traffic, but still managed to catch the sun while it was still out. Shepherd went on a swing for the first time, and Ruby was gathering rocks for her favorite activity...throwing rocks in the water. The dogs had a blast too, getting all their energy out from playing fetch in the lake. Or maybe I should say just Wyatt got his energy out. I don't think it is possible for Belle, (my sisters German shepherd), to be tired!
          After the delicious barbecued hot dogs and giant cupcakes my step dad just had to buy, we packed up and headed to the pier in Fairhaven, just outside of Bellingham. My step dad told Ruby that we would get to see seals in the water there, and sure enough one popped its head out of the water and followed us down the pier. Ruby's eyes lit up when she saw it! I love moments like that where we as parents get to see our children experience something for the first time.
          Once the sun went down, we headed back to my moms and stayed the night. Luckily we got more beautiful weather the next day and enjoyed relaxing with family. Our morning consisted of a delicious breakfast, jumping through the sprinkler, and like every family out there, target practice in the front yard with a bow and arrow. Yes, my husband, whom I love dearly, wants to be like Katniss, from the book The Hunger Games. We were using my sisters re curve bow and Jeremy also tried my moms compound. Both my mom and husband were able to shoot an apple with an arrow! All I have to say is, watch out Katniss.

sweet dreams

Time flies too quickly around here. Shepherd is already scooting his little body all over the house and getting into EVERYTHING! He has mastered the army crawl and is a newly independent little man, or so he likes to thinks. I also have been helping Ruby learn how to ride her trike, but she is easily distracted by things around her..."oooh look mom, a flower!" (she says as she pedals into a bush). I will admit that is something that she takes after me...hence why my mom was a bit worried when I got my drivers license :)
          I will leave you with one of my favorite things to look at, a sleeping baby.