Halloween 2012

Jackson's class took a fieldtrip to Remlinger Farms to visit the pumpkin patch, go on a train ride, hay jump, and more. Such a fun day.

Getting ready to jump in some hay. He wasn't a fan of it getting stuck in his shoes.

There were several presenters there that taught the kids about farms. I love Jackson in this picture. He looks sincerely fascinated.

Grinding wheat

Jackson loves these silly face cut-out photo props. He wanted his picture taken at every one of them, and there were at least 20.

The train ride. It was fun to spend a day just Jackson and me. He sure has some great things to say when you get him talking.

Learning about bees

Our trick-or-treating group. Tyler was in Dallas interviewing for residency, so our friends let us tag along. It was so much fun to go with them.

My favorite house... awesome. I want to do this some day.

Spider web 7-layer dip. I love Halloween food.

Painting pumpkins. We were too lazy to carve this year, but painting was just as fun.

Pumpkin pizza for our little trick-or-treaters

Jackson already had a fair amount of sugar in him, so getting a smile out of him was impossible.

These kids have some silly face. I love that McKyla (blonde hair) has this gorgeous super model smile in both pictures. Jackson has a bit of a crush on her. He's a smart boy like that. In all fairness, he's got a crush on her adorable little sister too.

Fisher quickly figured out that the mini Reese's cups were wrapped in foil, and if you suck on them hard enough, chocolate starts to leak out. Jackpot... but always disgusting. By the way, Fisher was a trooper. He just chilled in his stroller in his little pumpkin suit and cheerfully watched the action all night, so he deserved a little sweet treat before bed.

Fisher turns 1

My sweet little Fisher, where did your first year go? Thank you for all the fun we've had this year. You make me so happy. You are such an incredible addition to our family. Some of my favorite things that you are doing right...

1. Your "happy crawl" as we've named it. When you crawl, you make happy noises and wag your head enthusiastically from side-to-side. It's sort of like a happy, skipping version of a crawl. It's adorable.

2. I can't make it through the grocery store in under an hour because every grandma in the store has to stop me and hold your hand and smile at you, and you are very good and smiling back. The cashier's at QFC all know you by name and look foward to your high fives each week.

3. If I lie down on my side on the floor, you eagerly crawl towards me. When you get close, you turn around and back up into me. Then you curl un into a ball and snuggle at my stomach, spooning-style, like a little kitten or something. It's pretty awesome. 

4. You give awesome kisses, and you've learned to understand the word "kiss". I think Daddy is your favorite person to kiss. When he asks for a kiss, you eagerly take his cheeks in your hands, open your mouth, and plant a big one right now his lips/nose.

5. Your big brother Jackson is your hero. You follow him around the house all day and laugh at all of his silly antics.

Fisher, you're adorable and we love you so much!

Enjoying the delicious birthday cake, sugar makes him happy :)

At some point we have to ease up on the "fish" puns with Fisher.

I love his expression. He's saying, "Oh hi, I'm about to have some cake and I'm pretty happy about it."

Posing for a photo on the night of his actual birthday. Tyler was out of town for his real birthday, so we kept it low-key. A little cupcake with my family singing via video chat, a bath, and bedtime. After he fell asleep, I did sneak him out of his bed and put him in bed with me for a while to snuggle. I used to do this a lot when he was a little baby. I can't believe how huge he felt in my arms. What a big boy (even though he's technically kind of a little guy, I was surprised to find that his height and weight were only in the 10th percentile at his one year check up)

I really hope he never grows out of loving mommy snuggles.

This was taken on the Sunday afternoon after we celebrated his birthday. I am kind of in awe of my beautiful little/big baby boy.

Idaho August 2012

We recently got to spend 3 weeks in Idaho. It was so fun. I'm always a little homesick for Idaho for a few weeks after Idaho trips.

Celebrating Ben's first birthday. He let Fisher crash his party and celebrate early too. Neither of them were shy about the cake.

Tyler and Jackson

Randi, Madden, Tyler, Jackson

Kim and Ben, this kid makes the best faces

Trying to assemble the present from grandma. I'm really excited for Fisher to have one of these cute toy garages. We played with one just like it when I was a kid and we loved it. Fisher loves it too.

Matching pajamas from grandma

Tyler, Jamie, Whitney, Kim, Steph, Kevin

Mmmm... cake. He kept trying to share soggy chunks with people that walked past.

More Summer

Some random assorted pictures from this summer

Seattle has actually been giving us a reasonable amount of good weather. We've been trying to enjoy the sunshine as much as possible.

I may have already posted this picture. I just can't get over his lips.

Back in June, Jackson's very good friend moved away. We have missed them this summer, but we are very grateful that we got to spend 3 fun years with them here in Seattle.

Father's Day. Cookies and a Daddy refrigerator magnet... what more do you need?

Our good friends just had a beautiful baby girl and were kind enough to bring her over to meet us, and they even let Jackson "hold" her. He was thrilled. She is such an adorable baby.

At the Bellevue 4th of July celebration. See the COD MW3? That's why Tyler wanted the picture.

Jackson's preschool graduation

Enjoying the zoo

Camping at Ensign Ranch

Way back in June, we went camping at Ensign Ranch with some of our friends. It was so beautiful up there, and Jackson had so much fun playing with all of his friends.

Roasting marshmallows

Hanging out in the tent for a family "nap"

This was Fisher's sleeping arrangement. I didn't really know what to do with a baby while camping. We brought his pack-n-play, but he couldn't really fall asleep in it, so we kept him all bundled up in his carseat instead. He slept better than any of us and woke up happy and toasty warm. I wish I had been so lucky.