Mother's Day

I hadn't noticed the flowers or card as I poured myself cereal and sat down to eat at the dining table. I glanced up at the tv realizing I didn't want to see what was on so I began panning around for the remote ... and that's when I saw these pretty tulips and my card that were laying on the breakfast bar.
I stood up, with a mouth full of cereal, grabbed one of my vases, poured water in it and placed my beautiful flowers to be displayed.
The card, as always, very sentimental ... and ecstatic about my new Amarige bottle as well. Yes, I can smell pretty again!

I thank all my Mother's Day to this guy. It's because of him that I became a mother ... and thankful to God for having blessed and entrusted me with three sweet children that give meaning to my life.

My choice of a Mother's Day outing was to keep it easy and relaxed and not to be concerned with looking perfect. A day out by the water, enjoying some sun, getting sand between my toes, and just being our true selves.

After several hours out by the water we packed up our things and headed over to Pagliacci's. It was wonderful being able to eat the one thing I love the most, pizza ... especially now since I am disciplining myself not to eat it too often.

*****
Jacob and I both called our own mother's and wished them a Happy Mother's Day. We both wished we could spend these important holidays with our loved ones but thankful at the same time that they are still here with us on earth and that they are just a phone call away.

I hope your Mother's Day was a restful and joyful one.

♥♥♥

Father, help us to live together in perfect unity
by loving, honoring and respecting one another and
serving each other for Your glory, honor and praise!
1 Thessalonians 5:13

Living In The Present

As each day goes by I notice that Riley is becoming more independent and because of that he also wants to do bigger kid things like I mentioned in my previous post, no more highchair and now he doesn't want to drink from his straw cup anymore ... at least not while we're at home.
It may not seem like big milestones to some but for me it's all bittersweet because it means that {what could be} my last child is growing up. Since it's been ten years since I last had a baby before having Riley everything we go through with him is like we're brand new parents because Riley is SO darn different than his siblings, from his birth, the way he looks to his personality.

The sun made an appearance one afternoon so Riley and I decided to go for a walk. Good thing too because the poor thing was becoming restless at home. Been cooped up at home day after day lately because of the rain. Too much of one thing is not good.

I had him wear his rain boots so he could splash in the puddles. He loved that! We saw worms and slugs. I think he may be afraid of worms or anything that slithers, for now at least. When we would see a worm he would go around it than walk over it. I told him that they don't do anything but I guess they weird him out because of the way they move. I get completely grossed out. I'm not afraid of them but just seeing them disgusts me.

He loves to go to Sunday school. During the week he'll ask me if its "Someday" {instead of Sunday}. I've tried correcting him but he continues to call Sunday someday. Anyway, we don't go to church every Sunday so when we do he gets very excited and can't wait to play with the other kids. I love how intent he was during story time. He's the little one against the wall.

After lunch on Sunday we drove to Seattle to Golden Gardens Park. Last time we were here was a little over a year ago. It's a very cool park but the reason why we don't visit this one that often is because parking is a nightmare and gets very crowded. This is a popular park because it has a sandy beach, fire rings, concession stand and of course a playground plus it has a marina and it's close to Woodland Park Zoo {which is tons better than Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma}.

The good thing is that we live here and we can visit any time we want especially during winter when there's not many people around. On this particular day we noticed that it wasn't extremely cold. I mean it was chilly but not to where we were freezing given we were by the water.

Like these boys tend to do when we're by the water ... they were skipping rocks or Jacob was and Riley was throwing sand.

We kept walking down the shore and we came across a rocky sandy area. Jacob lifted a medium size rock and found a small crab. He showed it to the kids but Riley was a little nervous. He said he didn't want the crab to pinch him. We weren't telling him to touch it but only to look at it, he still wouldn't get close. I also spotted tiny anemones, some as small as a quarter. I don't think I've ever seen any that small.

I know I said it wasn't freezing and it wasn't but look at Jacob, wearing gloves, lol. He's always cold.

Ok so we recently got new phones. We were up for an upgrade. Jacob and I both got the Galaxy S5. We liked our previous Galaxy so we just decided to get upgrades. I was testing out the camera especially to see how well it focuses. I loved it! I love my phone.
Anyway, there's lots of rocks with barnacles at this beach. I just looked them up wondering exactly what a barnacle is. I wish I hadn't. Those things obviously vary in size but whatever size they are they look like worms. Eww!!! I got grossed out. Now that I know exactly what they are I'm not going to touch a barnacle ever again!!!!!!!! You should google them, pretty gross.

While Jacob and I were taking in the views Sydna kept an eye on Riley. She took the next two pictures with my edit.

Riley is such a happy little guy. He's always smiling and laughing ... and so active. Although I wouldn't mind more mental breaks during my day I still wouldn't want things any other way. He keeps me moving. Obviously, that's what God felt I needed in my life when He gave us Riley, lol.

Warming Up In Seattle

Last weekend was a record breaking low to mid 80's. For some reason it felt warmer than what it actually was.

Saturday was pure sunshine and the high was 82 degrees with a light breeze. We spent the first part of the day at the zoo. When we went to the zoo for the first time we missed out on the petting zoo. We didn't know that they take those animals off exhibit half an hour before they close. So this last time we stopped at the Family Farm first.

I know we are overprotective when it comes to our kids but Jacob is always ALWAYS holding Rileys hand so I told him to let go of his hand and let him roam free. The zoo wasn't crowded. As soon as he let go of Rileys hand he ran away then ran back to us smiling. He loved his freedom.

We saw kunekune pigs, a cow, goats, and sheep.

Explored a farmers market and the compost area.

Then we walked over to pet the sheep and goats ... but not before finding a stick first.

Not really sure why Riley looks worried ... maybe that kid was being rowdy. He's got his two hands at the ready though in case he had to defend himself, lol. Just kidding.

Then what was funny was that Riley was more interested in the goats behind than he was on petting it. I'm just glad the goat didn't crap while Riley was looking at the wrong end.

Not a good picture but still cute. Riley and the gorilla made eye contact for like the longest time.

We saw a few more animals then we left.

Since it was such a nice day out we headed over to Golden Gardens Park. There was quite a bit of people. We did notice that the majority were college or single people hanging out on the sandy part ... not really our ambience. Families were found closer to the park but the park is a bit ways a way from the water and my boys love to skip rocks and get their toes wet so we hung out closer to the water.

Sydna brought her book and read.

We grilled hotdogs, snacked on carrots and cucumbers and dipped them in ranch ... well, Riley was actually just licking the ranch off the cucumber and carrots, lol.

Later on when we got home and as I was snacking on veggies and ranch again I discovered several carrots sticks at the bottom of the ranch container, lol. Geez -this kid!

After we ate we walked over to the water {Puget Sound}. The water was freezing ... and I thought the beaches in southern CA are cold. The water here will freeze your feet and turn them purple. Ok, maybe not purple but I'm sure you will experience some form of pain if you stay in that cold water long enough.

Crazy guy in the background. He didn't last long in the water. He got out within three minutes, lol.

I wanted Riley to play at the park before we left.

It was a fun Saturday.

Driving back home and driving past Lake Washington is always such a pretty sight. Actually driving past any large body of water in WA is pretty but seeing the Space Needle is pretty cool. There were lots of boats out and about. Obviously the Puget Sound was much more crowded ... Lake Washington not so much and that's where I would be hanging out if I own a boat.

Sunday was even warmer. I believe it got to 86 degrees and you know something ... we were HOT! I know, it's not really that hot but like I said it felt warmer than what the thermostat said. And for the first time in years we slept with our bedroom windows open. It was so cool hearing the frogs croak and to feel a cool breeze come inside the bedroom. That's about the best advantage about living in a two story house. Makes me feel safer sleeping with the windows a bit open. There's a lock that keeps the windows from opening any further so we feel safe.

Jacob and I can't believe that we've already gotten used to the cool and cloudy Seattle weather. We've experienced weather much hotter than 86 degrees {try 115 in Tucson, yikes!} and saying that weather in the 80's is hot well, it's even crazy for us to say but it's the truth people.

Still, I'll take mid 80 degree weather over 90+ weather and humidity any day. Ok, not any day because Spring, Fall and Winter should NOT feel this hot/warm.


Can't believe tomorrow is Friday already. Golly. Time just keeps going by way too fast. By the end of May will mark six months of us living in Washington. Crazy!

Hope you all have a great Mother's Day however you decide to spent it. Take care!

On Sunday

3.26.13

We drove to North Seattle. Jacob was told from someone at work about Golden Gardens Park which is in Ballard, a neighborhood in Seattle.

It took us about 45 minutes to reach this park.

It was 54 degrees and obviously when you're by the water it gets a lot colder. Jacob and Nathan wore shorts and I wish I would have worn my jacket. We were freezing at first.

He had a blast! It was so cute watching him have fun.

He's still a bit afraid of swings ... even swinging by himself. He wanted off right away.

But then the wind died down and we were no longer cold plus walking helped keep us warm. After Riley played at the playground for a bit we then walked across this grassy field, past the wetlands towards the shore.

The Puget Sound is such a giant body of water. It's hard to believe that the Sound stretches out so much. Just discovered that the Puget Sound goes all the way down to North Olympia and up to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is the Salish outlet to the Pacific Ocean. The international boundary between the U.S. and Canada. Truly amazing!

There were quite a bit of seagulls. Sydna also found parts of crabs as she walked on the rocky shore. Several different kinds of birds live or migrate here. You will see: mallard ducks, red-winged blackbirds, Canada geese, wood ducks, eagles, and seagulls.

Although this isn't the beach it was very therapeutic to hear waves crashing against the rocks and wooden stumps.

Didn't realize this until I was editing pictures just now that Sydna and Riley were dressed the same. That's funny.

The Olympic mountains look fake. Isn't this pretty!

I took a picture of these crazy guys playing beach volleyball in 54 degree weather. I told Sydna that I would totally play beach volleyball. Not with them but with my family against another family. That would be a lot of fun!

I do like taking pictures of artsy stuff whenever we're out and about.

Found a table and had a small picnic.

This was the very first time that Riley ate a sandwich that wasn't in bite size pieces. Yeah I know. I'm paranoid about him choking. This was a big step for me {us} ... and we did it.

I was telling my friend that since moving here I had never been to so many cool parks before in my life. From the playground equipment to the beautiful scenery.

We drove through Bellevue again on our way back home. Sydna wanted to drive across the floating bridge. I just think it's awesome! This is Lake Washington.

My mom is on her way here.
She has about an hour left of flying.
Jacob is headed to the airport.
Hope her flight was smooth.
Kids are a bit antsy.

I've already showed Riley a picture of her to bring back memories of when he last saw her which was in September. Do toddlers remember that far back? Not sure.
Oh well. He smiled when he saw her so maybe he does.