Visit

Visiting

We're just finishing a very lovely visit with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bill. We did lots of reading, many many art projects, and they helped me with Unity's birthday party- a slumber party. We had six kids over and four of them spent the night. The giggle to sleep ratio was about what you would expect but Unity had a blast- she's been asking to do this for years. 

We're already looking forward to the next visit. 

We miss Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bill

Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bill came to stay with us last week for Brixton's birthday. We had such a fun time with them and did so many projects I can't even list them all. The house is quieter without them. Well, maybe not, but less constructive for sure. 

Thanks for the great visit guys. 

Chicago/ Forest Park

Four generations!

 

 

 

We are having a blast visiting with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bill, going on lots of adventures and just enjoying spending this time together.

 

visit

My parents are heading home right now, after an amazing visit in which they: painted our front hall and hung the kids' coat rack, helped me organize and rearrange all the furniture in our study, hung eight pictures, read countless stories, did an amazing art project with rubber cement, water color paints and salt, put the kids to bed every night and just got to spend some really good time with us. 

Tell me again why Seattle and Chicago aren't closer? 

We had such a blast, and we can't wait for the next visit.

Christmas part 2

 

Some more moments from our Christmas extravaganza.

 

Four generations!

a little frenzy.

                                                       yes, it's the famous American Girl doll. She
                                              has been asking for this for a while and it was her
                                             only present.

                                 Brixton got some fun stuff too.

 

The table of relatives just goes on and on and on....

Christmas part 1

 

We are returned from a lovely Christmas in Arizona. It was my first time having a sunny desert Christmas and I have to say it was fun. We rented a house near where my grandparents live, and had fun exploring the area. It's so completely different from where we live that we really felt transported.

 

 

                                                       Everyone pile on Uncle Michael.

We decorated our little tree with paper ornaments.

                                                  Swimming on Christmas Eve- that's a first.

                                                             One of the many roadside cacti.

Snuggles with Grandparents

            I'm so thankful that even though all of our family is scattered across the country, we are still able to get together for important occasions. Birthdays, Christmas, we managed to travel across the miles that separate us and have those important snuggles.

In the months to come we suppliment with phone calls and skype and letters and whatever we can, but it's so good to have these visits. I am so thankful that we manage to keep pulling it off.

The distance in miles is large (Florida to Seattle- can you get more cross-country?) but our heart distance is always small. Thanks for the visit guys.

food and friends

We miss Chris/Papa while he's visiting in Vermont but we've been trying to stay busy. We had a nice visit with Abby and Evan and their daughter Juna. Abby and Evan used to live in this house as Chris's roommates way back in the old days so it was fun for them to stop by en route to MA and have them see the house and garden again. Grandma Cindy has been doing lots of fun projects with the kids including (of course) tons of art. She and Unity made several paintings together. Unity's school friend Ginger came over to play and they had a blast playing with all of Unity's toys. And..I've been trying out some new recipes- quinoa salad with asparagus and soba noodles with tofu, Shitake and carrots. Yum!