California Girls at Heart

June 19, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

We may live in Seattle now but these girls will always be California Girls at heart. Its cloudy with some rain but this doesnt stop them from decking themselves out in sundresses and sunglasses. Love these two and their sassiness!

Will I Ever Catch Up?

June 19, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

This is what our laundry seems to look like lately. Mt. Laundry might be a great name for it. Not sure if I will ever catch up. Wish me luck, I am going to need it.

Mt. Laundry for the win.

Seven Years Together and Many More to Go…

June 16, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

Today Shaun and I celebrate our 7th anniversary. Seven years together as a married couple, husband and wife, best friends. Seven years isn’t a long time in the grand view of life, but those years have been packed with a lot of big life events. Plenty of ups and downs, plenty of moments filled with tears (of joy and of pain or upset) and so far we have weathered it all. I think it goes without saying that what doesn’t kill you does make you stronger. At least that is my opinion and with each passing year, we are stronger then ever.

I could say a lot more, but I wont. Sometimes the best things are said with simplicity. So with that, I say Happy 7th Anniversary Shaun! I love you with all my heart and I cannot wait for all of the adventures ahead of us.

Happy Fathers Day!

June 15, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

Happy Fathers Day to some of the most amazing men that I know!

To my grandfathers, where ever they may be, I love you and miss you so very much. I feel a bit lost without you and miss the little things, like being taught how to properly use a scientific calculator or being told stories as we traveled through Wyoming and Montana about how the Yucca plant and other feathered brush were the Natives hiding and waiting for us. Its those things that will stick with me forever.

To my dad, the man who taught me to look towards the sky and dream. To imagine and dare to to wonder what is out there. Who taught me to love the outdoors, how to fish, to spot a grizzly from a distant hill and to learn how to use a camera. For being an amazing Grandpa who always makes his girls laugh and keep them constantly in wonder.

To my father in law, Patrick, who helped raise and shape the man that I love so much. For welcoming me into his family with open arms and with a few warnings about the family I was gaining (be wary of those Olivers, *wink, wink*). From a special memory of a moment shared at our wedding to a love and appreciation of hockey (and some good humored jabs about my love and intensity for the sport.), to being an amazing grandfather who

To Shaun, the most amazing husband a girl could ask for. We have been through ups, downs and more moves in our marriage then most but we have survived and had fun doing it. You are an amazing father; kind, patient, always excited to show them something new and always there to pick them up when they stumble. Each day you show them how to dream, how to keep reaching for what they want and how to learn from their mistakes. You make them giggle with your silly stories and songs but you are firm when they need guidance. Such a wonderful father, so much so that I could go on for days. I love you and thank you for all you do!

Happy Fathers Day to all of the amazing men out there! Know that you are loved and appreciated every day.

Two Times In Three Seasons! The Kings Win the Stanley Cup!!!!

June 14, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

It was a nail biter, but there is a lot of celebrating going on in our house! The LA Kings are the Stanley Cup Champs for the second time in three years. I could babble on about how, as a fan, I am so excited but I wont. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Its a great day to be a Kings Fan… just wish we had been in LA to celebrate.

Sick Little Sister

June 13, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

Well “the crud”, as we have so fondly named it, has finally caught up to everyone. Ellie is now down with it and couldn’t be more miserable. Poor little monkey. Ellie has always been known to have high fevers and this is no exception. I guess its time to wait it out and hopefully get past all of the yucks.

For now I will be opening all of the windows in the house, cleaning and spraying everything down that I can to keep away the cruds. Shaun is down with a milder version of what the girls have. However, he looks worse than it is because his eyes were hit hard. Yeah, hes gone in to work and been sent home based solely on the watery and swollen masses that his eyes have become. He wouldn’t let me take a picture and post it. Hmmmm, I wonder why? I keep praying I stay away from this one. Very much over being sick.

Abby Graduates from Pre-K

June 12, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

Well, Abby made it! She was fever free for over 24 hours (without the aid of medication) and woke up today feeling well enough to graduate with her Pre-K class. She was very excited! Over the last few days the absence from school was starting to get to Abby and I could tell she was getting upset that she might not be well enough to go. But she woke up chipper, happy and ready to leave Pre-K.

Ellie waiting patiently to watch her big sister

Their ceremony was short and small. This is Pre-K after all. Each child had their names read aloud and Miss Foster had some lovely and kind words for each student. The class made their own caps and also helped put together a photo slideshow for the parents. It was fun to see them grow through the year through photographs.

After the ceremony, the school put together a small luncheon for the children and their families. It was nice to sit and talk with some of the parents one last time before we parted ways for summer break. We live farther away from the preschool than most families, so Abby wont be attending the same school as most of her classmates next year in Kindergarten.

Walking down their road. Miss Foster read “Oh the Places You Will Go”. Not a dry eye in the house.

Abby recieves her “diploma” and the gift she made for mommy and daddy.

The Pre-K graduate! She wants to be a doctor for moms and babies when she grows up.

Sisters!

A proud mommy and her little graduate.

A very proud daddy and his graduate.

Miss Foster with her little graduate and future student. Ellie will be in Miss Foster’s class next year!

After graduation, we took the girls for a celebration lunch at their favorite place, Red Robin. Abby had a yummy lunch and received a special gift from us. To commemorate her day, she got a new backpack. A big kid backpack! One that a Kindergartener would take to school and can fit big kid folders and homework. Abby is very excited that she will have homework. (We shall see how long that feeling lasts!).

Lunchtime smiles and silliness. I cannot believe this girl is going to be in Kindergarten!

Opening her “super big” present!

Showing off her “big kid” backpack and some of the goodies that were tucked inside. Lots of fun for the summer and next year!

Ellie recieved a little something too! A perfect little pony backpack for her year in Pre-K. She wouldn’t let me take a picture of her with it. Shocking.

Yay for big kid backpacks!

Today was a great day and everyone was healthy again! Yay for celebrations and fun times. Its even better when daddy gets to take a day off from work too!

Down For the Count

June 11, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

I usually don’t like to post about our kids being ill but this was one of those moments where I couldn’t help it. After watching Ellie suffer through Whooping Cough at only 4 weeks old, seeing your kiddos really sick makes your experience completely different.

Abby started off with what seemed to be allergies. Quickly she developed a fever and her eyes watered and look as though they might swell shut. After three days of a fever that we couldn’t control or lower with medication (ie; Tylenol and Motrin) we made our way to the doctors office just to make sure there wasnt something bigger that might be going on. Her doctor seemed a tad concerned but before putting Abby through the ringer, she had us wait until Sunday before coming back in and addressing the problem further.

Sunday came around and nothing had changed. Abby was still unable to fight her fever on her own, which remained constant and over 102.7, and her doctor was concerned based on a grouping of symptoms that Abby might have Kawasaki’s Disease. So we were whisked off to Seattle Children’s Hospital to run tests and be very sure that this was just a virus and not something bigger.

Poor peanut was not doing well at all!


After a cool shower to try and bring her fever down. A little more light in those eyes but still so sick!

Being a trooper with lamby, some snacks and of course her favorite doggy, Rosebud!

Before I continue I want to say that in the end, Abby did not have Kawasaki’s. She tested negative and instead had a very aggressive form of an Adenovirus, which effects the sinuses. This was what was creating the crazy issue with her eyes and such a high fever. She was given a good dose of Tylenol and after a few hours, she finally started to respond. They took blood work, hooked her up to an IV to get fluids running through her and all the while Abby was a brave little soldier.

We were blessed to have Auntie Kelli and Keith help us out. They met us over at Seattle Children’s and hung out with Ellie, who was quite concerned about her sister. Luckily, a trip to Starbucks for some treats brightened her spirits. Thanks to the both of you for helping on such short notice!

I cannot say enough about the staff (nurses, doctors and even the admissions staff). They were fantastic with Abby! They spoke to her like a person, explaining everything that was happening in terms that she could understand. They did their best to make her comfortable, happy and as fear free as they possibly could. Her IV went in like a breeze and aside from the occasional discomfort when she moved her hand, she barely knew it was there. (We covered her hand with Lamby… out of sight out of mind). She received her own pair of hospital socks, which Abby thought were very cool, and they gave her some of her favorite snacks since her appetite was starting to pick up again. Despite feeling bad, she was having a lot of fun and even got to watch some cool movies too!

Now we are back home, resting comfortably and hoping that she can improve enough to attend her preschool graduation. Fingers crossed!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

June 3, 2014December 30, 20181 Comment

When Abby started preschool in California, we went for the first day and then we took off for our girls trip to Montana. Her teachers asked if we could take some pictures and bring them back for Abby to share with the class. So while we were in Yellowstone, Abby found a photo album that she loved and we brought it home with us and filled it with pictures of the trip to share with her class and keep for her to enjoy.

Abby and Ellie were going through their bookshelf and found the album. They brought it into our bedroom and sat there looking at it for nearly an hour. Abby told stories and helped Ellie to remember some of the things she might have forgotten since she was just two at the time. It was so nice to see them getting along and Abby teaching Ellie. It makes my heart burst to see them bond in such a way.

Bunny Birthday Bash

June 1, 2014December 30, 2018Leave a comment

Abby’s friend from preschool was celebrating her 5th birthday and both of the girls were invited. They were certainly excited for a birthday party in general, but when the girls found out that there would be bunnies there…. all bets were off. What a fun and happy birthday party and who can resist a cuddly fuzzy bunny! I know I couldn’t and neither could Shaun! We called him the bunny whisperer. They all seemed to calm down and snuggle up with him every time we picked one up. So cute!