Kicking! 19mo video

The girls having a good ole time in the bath. Kicking, splashing, and saying Heh-WO!

And, they kept saying all day, "Happy Day, Daco!" It must be somebody's birthday :)

Happy Day! We're 19 months old today!

The girls love running around saying "Happy Day Happy Day!" so I thought it was an appropriate title for today. They sure are growing up :) Right now, they both have a ton of bumps and bruises from playing hard, running too fast for their bodies to keep up, and grabbing the rose bush (aka the OWEE bush). Caroline has been saying May-(pause)-tze, accompanied by pointing at her sister and laughing, but neither of them are saying Caroline yet (it's a tough one). They love talking on pretend phones - Caroline shouts "He-woh!" into hers - sounds a lot like Hello - while Macie just looks coy, like she's talking to someone very important. We loved having so many visitors this month - Cousins Lizi, Andrew, and Schuyler (BABY), Gruncle Bob (BOB) and Gruntie Enid (NEDID), and Uncle Brock (BOK). Fall is definitely here and the girls have been wearing their jackets and hats in this blustery, cold weather we've had the last - gasp - 2 days! We're back on my school schedule, so they get to play with their nanny, Ashley, one day a week, and my parents, Ama and Daco, another day. We are looking forward to seeing Mike's parents, Papa and Mimi, at the end of October. Life is good, even with the newly emerging all-out temper tantrums :)

Great-Grandma Mildred

On September 15, Mike's grandmother, Mildred, passed away. She was 95 years old. Mike flew to PA to be at her burial and we're planning on going back as a family for her memorial service next month. We are so glad that she got to meet Macie and Caroline this summer and that they got to meet her! She really lit up when they were around!!!!
Here are a couple of pictures from June - Macie, Mildred, Charlie, Mike, and Caroline

And, here are a couple of pictures from this past weekend.

Our week without dad

While Mike was on the East Coast visiting family, the girls and I spent most of our time missing him. And, getting hurt.

Mike had the camera, so these shots are from my phone and a little blurry.

Caroline checking out her huge bandage from a big, bloody knee.

And, Caroline again, sad about her big goose-egg on her noggin. You don't know how badly Macie wanted to have an ow-ee, too. Every time she saw Caroline getting her knee bandaged or the bruise on her head, Macie would frantically look for an ow-ee on her body. Don't worry, we finally gave her a matching band-aid!

And, we went to the dentist for the first time! The girls got to brush the dinosaur's teeth, sit in the big chair, and have their teeth looked at.

Here's Macie, enjoying some reading while we wait for the dentist.

Being silly

Caroline

Macie

Can you see in that thing, Macie?

Look! We put on dresses over our pajamas!

Saying "Sikka" and "Heh-mut" at the Marymoor Velodrome

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Today is a BIG birthday for Mimi in Atlanta! We wish we could be there to celebrate with you and are hoping for lots of happy and HEALTHY birthday wishes to come true (that was for you, Papa). We love you both so much!!!!

East Coast Visitors Part III

Uncle Bob and Aunt Enid came to visit this week from Connecticut! We are having another round of summer weather for them and have been having so much fun with them here.

E and Bob as snow leopards at the zoo - at least E is growling

Jaguar!!!!

What's an elephant say, Caroline?


Nice work!

Look at him go!


E and Bob with a view of the Pugeot Sound and the Olympics in the background. I guess Macie was feeling a little camera shy - or maybe she just couldn't take her eyes off that bicycle!

Caroline and Bob playing in the big rocks

Macie couldn't stop laughing at Enid on the swings - so fun!

What did Caroline and Macie climb this week?

The kitchen table. Caroline's holding and licking the salt shaker and Macie has a butter knife in her hand. Nice job, mom.

Now, that's a lot of twins!

Angie, Stacey, and I are all former rowers and we all have twins! Crazy, huh? Starting at the top left, Dave and Stacey have Tsai and Finley, then you see Jack (the big brother to twin boys Cole and Quinn), there's Angie holding Cole, Macie and Caroline, and you can see two more dads' legs.

Hey Tsai!

Jack, spinning Mike and the ladies!

The baby whisperer with 3 week-old Cole - I see a pattern here, Mike....

The dads take the big kids for a walk while the moms hang out with the newborns! Go dads!

Who needs hair when....

You have BUBBLES!

M and C think bubbles are pretty much the coolest thing ever. I wonder if it's because they are "Elmo" bubbles?

BIG slide

Caroline and Macie check out their new (hand-me-down) slide. It IS AWESOME!

We have our own water park! Caroline goes first....

Then, Macie!

East Coast Visitors Part II - playing tourist and a trip to Bellingham!

Cousin Lizi, her husband, Andrew, and their 6-month old daughter, Schuyler, came to visit last week. We had a blast hanging out, showing them around Seattle, and visiting Bellingham with them. Come back soon!!!!

Cheryl, Lizi, and Schuyler at Pike's Place Market

Caroline and Macie touch the famous pig!

Caroline is NOT a fan of the monkfish
Family pic - Mike walked up from his office to spend some time with us while we were downtown
The flagship Starbucks - it was PACKED!

Kerry Park, where you get an amazing view of the city skyline, including the Space Needle and Mt Rainer (on a less cloudy day). Macie and Caroline loved playing there, but didn't seem impressed with the view.


Macie, look at Uncle Tony and Aunt Cheryl behind you!

Up to Bellingham for the weekend - Andrew and Macie check out the sleeping baby, while Mike makes sure they don't scratch the car :)
Ama and Caroline sniff the flowers

Drew, Lizi, Schuyler, Daco, Caroline, Ama, Macie (about to take that bike for a spin), and Mike in front of the Bellingham courthouse
Andrew and Lizi kissing a goat for some unknown reason. But, it makes for a cute picture!

Caroline and Macie check out Jonathan and Gabe's bricks - see their names?

Caroline, looking pretty pleased with herself, after having an unreparable blow-out at the restaurant. We got some funny looks as we were leaving!

C and M, practicing going DOWN stairs with dad

Mike, the baby whisperer

Andrew and Macie, laughing over a nice pitcher of lemonade

The vultures hovering as baby Schuyler tries to eat in peace!

Macie makes Schuyler laugh!

Caroline, leaning in for a better look at Schuyler's eyes!

Don't worry, baby Sky, we'll rock you!