Sister Week Part One

Drew and I have it rough.

NONE of our beloved siblings live within even a 3 state radius!

Shaneen in Georgia

Devin in DC

and Michelle in NYC.

Sometimes we imagine what it would be like to have our siblings close.

And, for 1 week each year we get to live it!

Champagne and play dates!

This week was my sister, Michelle's visit with her baby (now 6 YEAR OLD) Jules.

And THIS is the best thing about family. Even though we only see them once per year there is always an amazing connection between cousins! Posing in downtown Seattle It was truly amazing how sweet these cousins were together. Ellie and Jules seemed to really enjoy each others company and realize how brief these visits are. Jules loving the backyard rope swing My favorite part about summer:

the sister visit!

Saying goodbye is always so tough because I know it will be another YEAR before I get to see them again.

But when that week comes it will be like we've never been apart!

xoxoxoo to my sis and nephew!

6 blue eyes

Cousins!

Sweet cousins with 3 pairs of brilliant blue eyes!

More sister/nephew visit posts to follow . . .

At 8 months

Jude is

*Sitting up like a champ! No pillows needed.

*Starting to think about crawling. It's almost as if you can see the thought cross his mind as he rocks forward.

*Loving food! Especially anything he can pick up with his fingers.

*Teething! To add to his 2 bottoms, he got 4 on top this week! Yep, 4 new teeth in 1 week. It's been fun.

*Talking up a storm. His babbling is so cute and it's starting to sound a little recognizable. Mamamama . . . . Dadadadada

*Tolerating his very loving sister amazingly well. Her hugs and love are very intense and he never seems to mind getting a bit squished in the process.

*Loving to stand. Sitting has been mastered and now it's on to standing! Preferably ALL the time!

Big BIG news!

Last weekend, we took a mini-break to Twisp in Northeast WA.

It's an annual tradition to float down the river with friends but this year it was a family affair. MaMop and BaPop came out to watch the kids while we floated . . . and we all stayed in a 500 sq. ft cabin.

Since we all had a great time, even in such close quarters, we decided to tell Ellie about the next family holiday we have planned . . .

D i s n e y l a n d !

She was definitely excited! Even though it took another 24 hours for the realization to hit her that we really are going to Disneyland in a mere 6 weeks!!!

Listen for the cute line at the end. Ellie is really into being "married" to all her family members lately.

Naps at Bedtime

Ellie has the habit of dragging out her bedtime for as long as possible (Like any normal negotiating 3 year old would do).

We have started giving her 2 "tokens" which she can use to come out of her room and fulfill one of her many requests

*I need another song

*I need another hug

* I need a hug and a kiss

*I have to tell you something . . . really important

*I just need to get one more toy

* etc etc etc

The token system has been working really well but tonight we looked over the back of the couch and found her asleep on the floor.

Guess she was too sleepy to even make a request! Love how she found Jude's onesie and used it as a pillow

This and That

Life is plugging along lately - imagine that!

Working lots . . . teaching moms to breastfeed then coming home and breastfeeding.

Kissing Jude . . . my lips hurt sometimes from kissing him so much.

Celebrating . . . 5 years married! Fancy dinner out, even tried Steak Tartare. Delicious!

Even a shopping trip to Trader Joes is fun with this silly kid around . . . Serious about stickers

These days . . . life is really good