The Seattlite Family

Ocean Shores

2012-02-05T15:13:00.002-08:00

I was talking with Ava when she came home from school on Thursday & I asked her if she wanted to go somewhere. She said, "Ooh ya!" A few years ago we went to Ocean Shores, so I got online to see if there were any deals for the weekend. There were! I called The Quinault Beach & Casino Resort & booked our room. I sent Conrad a text that we were going away for the weekend!

The weather couldn't have been better! Blue skies all around, wind (for our kite) & warm temperatures. We stopped at Taco Bell on the way, where out of the blue I just felt so proud of our family. The girls had us cracking up, retelling stories of how they were pretending to be zombies at the gym (ha!), Cate was laughing along just because it was the cool thing to do, & I don't know how to describe it, but I could feel the closeness. Yes, the touching moment at Taco Bell, hee-hee! Anyway, as luck would have it, our room was ready an hour before check in, so we were able to unpack & head to the beach.

The beach..... Last year Ava begged me to get her a kite. I got one, but the wind suddenly disappeared (albeit we were in our neighborhood) & we never got the kite out again. Yesterday though, the kite got to soar to unprecedented heights! Conrad taught Ava & Bronwen how to fly it themselves & Cate got to as well, using brute force (she grabbed the strings while Bronwen was flying it & refused to let go until I got her -who can blame her- it looked so fun).

After "digging tidal pools," & finding some pretty sea shells, we were ready to head back. All of a sudden though, 4 women with horses began heading our way! I guess they saw the girls & thought they'd like to see the horses up close. Bronwen & Ava were very happy & stroked the horses, but Cate did one pat & thought that was enough. :-) We talked for a little while & then decided it was time to head back to the hotel. We walked back, took warm showers & got into our coziest pj's & sat by the fire Conrad made. We ate the lovely food he brought from the restaurant downstairs. For dessert we munched on Oreos & watched Cars. Cate fell asleep with her sisters & we were out soon after.

This morning we woke up at 6. It was still dark outside. We could see the lights from fishing boats. Conrad got the fire going again & we had coffee while Bronwen & Ava had hot chocolate. Cate enjoyed her bottle filled with warm milk. It was perfect~ I love my family so much.

Naps

2012-02-02T06:32:00.002-08:00

Lately Cate has been trying to go without taking a nap during the day. I always lay her down with her bottle at 1 p.m., but if I hear her cute voice 30 min later (yesterday it was, "I wuv you mommy!"), I have to go & get her. I mean imagine if someone put you in a cage (the crib) & made you go to bed when you weren't sleepy -crazy! :-) It's funny because I used to treasure the down time. I would work on my website, check emails, browse facebook, while Ava would work on puzzles, play with play-doh (which I always end up regretting), or do something else.

With Cate awake though, the three of us have been doing activities together. It's funny because these extra hours actually make me more relaxed & happy than vegging on the computer. We'll play Barbies or the Wii & I feel like I'm getting to really know my kids more.

I've noticed there's a difference between staying home with your children & just keeping them alive versus staying home with your children & enjoying them.

My Baby Turns 2!

2012-01-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

Cate is the most adorable creature who has ever lived. Of course this is because she has two equally adorable sisters to copy from.

I have told several of my friends this before, but I'll say it here. I never realized how much I wanted a third baby until I became pregnant with Cate. And now that she's here, forget it. :-) She brings so much fun & magic in our lives, I can say I wouldn't be the same person without her.

Do you know this baby holds your face close to hers with her two little hands, looks you in the eyes & says, "I yuv you."

When we get Ava from school she literally runs up to her & hugs her while exclaiming, "Aya!!!" (not a typo)

When we get Bronwen from school she reaches out her tiny hands & says, "Hi Bronween!!" & touches her face.

She runs on her tiptoes like a little fairy.

She loves her "Dora ones" (underwear, t-shirt, shoes, books, the show).

She is mixture of Bronwen & Ava. She loves to be clean & neat & organized like Bronwen, but loves pretending to be an animal & loves every toy Ava loves.

She says, "Tuckaweeee!!" when she wants to be picked up.

She draws spiders (little squiggles) & then shouts, "Eeeek!"

She climbs into Ava or Bronwen's bed (whoever's room we're in first), when it's night-night time, but then protests when Conrad & I leave the room.

She makes a diamond with her hands when we sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

She LOVES Queen & will literally sing along with it. "We will, we will quock quock!" Hahahaha! And, she asks for Johnny Cash. "Cash?"

She will dance to anything!

She is completely POTTY TRAINED!!!!! I know, unreal! Though sometimes I still hear the dreaded, "Mama, poo-poo pants." Ha!

She is our little gift from heaven, & with three little angels, now I understand why somebody coined that phase.

Happy birthday my little love. I love you so much & am blessed to be your mama.

Christmas!

2012-01-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

Every time I sit down to update our blog I get side-tracked. :-) Some highlights of Christmas 2011:

Bianca & Kevin's Wedding Dec 15-17th
Duffy Christmas Party Dec 17th
My Aunt Emma & Uncle Jose & my mom coming out to visit us Dec 19th & 20th -we took them to our favorite Thai restaurant & had food family-style -LOVED!
Getting bad colds....all week until Christmas!

I swear, after all the festivities I hadn't slept so hard in a long time.

This time, I'll let the pictures paint a thousand words because I'm being too lazy to write more. To be honest though, I find it hard to believe I'm a photographer when I look at our "normal" pictures. They look like crap haha! Oh well, at least I'm getting some in of us. :-)

Okay, now that I'm actually looking at some of the pictures, I better write more. The little girls decorated sugar cookies for Santa by themselves (the photo). It was adorable! They picked the biggest cookie & put it on a plate, along with a glass of milk. In the morning, they found a magical note!

Conrad got me a wonderful 50 mm prime lens -the photos are off the wall, crazy! I got Conrad the Twilight Zone Audio CDs (his favorite gift) & the girls were set with Barbie stuff, Crayon Maker (awesome) & all other sorts of goodies.

We are very blessed to have our life together. I wish everyone a wonderful New Year!

Duffy Christmas Party 2011

2011-12-29T07:11:00.001-08:00

Isn't it funny how you can go several years without knowing that a great friend is only a few doors down?!

When Ava started kindergarten she became friends with a little girl named Addyson. I swear, when you look at them, you know why they're little magnets to one another. They are so similar that even their teacher gets them confused! While waiting to pick Ava up from school I got to know Addyson's mom, Stacie. They moved into the neighborhood around the same time we did, have three children, & are very similar to us! Soon came the play dates after school, then birthday parties. After a couple of months I exclaimed to Stacie, "Where have you been all this time & why didn't I know you before?" :-)

Anyway, this year we were invited to their first annual dress-up Christmas party. Cate found the popcorn right away, the girls found the toys & we found the wine. We had a great time!

I am so proud of my family. My Superman still takes my breath away when I look at him~ Con, I love you & your boots!!

Bianca & Kevin's Wedding!!!

2011-12-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

We got to Timberline Lodge up on Mt. Hood at 3 in the afternoon on Thursday, December 15th. It was a snowy paradise. Even the drive up was magical as we passed by glistening waterfalls & snowy banks with tiny paw prints on them.

The girls squealed with excitement as they gathered up small piles of snow (& subsequently pelted one another) in the parking lot. We walked into the lodge, &, "Wow!" Built in the 1930's out of timber & stone, you can tell how much love & work went into the building. It seemed like everywhere we looked, we'd find some intricate carving. The rugs are handwoven, the chandeliers are made of antlers; it is simply amazing. I don't remember being in a building that felt so solid, for lack of better words. To make things even better, our room was already ready!

After unpacking, we headed to the "cafe" on the second floor (our room was #218). The cafe was more like a lounge where you can enjoy the best cup of chilli or clam chowder (or cocoa) with a panoramic view of the mountain. I told Conrad I've never seen clouds like that except while on a plane!

Next up was the rehearsal & dinner. That is when Conrad & the girls got to meet my aunt & uncle from Bogota, Colombia for the first time. Words could not express how it felt to see them after 14 years. My sister, Natasha, pulled Bronwen & Ava aside & taught them how to introduce themselves in Spanish. Ava went first & said, "Me llamo es Ava." Then Bronwen went, "Me llamo es Brrrrronwen (rolling the "R")." It was fantastic! We all ate a delicious dinner, courtesy of Kevin's parent, drank & headed to bed.

The next day...on the agenda was the Magic Mile Skyride! With a short time-line & 3 little ones, we knew skiing wouldn't be much of an option, but at least experiencing the lift would! We bundled up & went all the way to the top of the mountain, then back down. Conrad got some great shots! Of course the girls had to make a snowman too! It was hilarious, Ava, with her little powerhouse body made a snowball that was about 2 ft in diameter! That was the base. Another funny part was Cate laying down, fluttering her arms, trying to make a snow angel. :-) By 11 a.m., it was time to get ready for the wedding.

All I'll say is that I doubt there has ever been a cuter wedding party -we were decked out! Lauren, one of Bianca's good friends, & her sister, Alexis, helped all of with our hair. I could tell how happy Bronwen & Ava were to be part of the women. My mom came up to the room too, dressed to kill in a fitted gold dress. She is incredible!

This wedding was filled so many touching moments. My favorite memory is of all of us dancing to The Isley Brothers' "Shout." I swear, I get teary-eyed with joy when I think about it. There's a part in the song when it says, "A little bit softer now -shout, a little bit softer now -shout" & everyone gets quieter & quieter & lower & lower to the ground. Conrad was dancing with Cate, getting lower & lower, I was with my sisters & my darling little girls were there, dancing with their uncles, looking at them as they were getting closer & closer to the ground. It was such a magical moment, I'll never forget it. Best of all, Tom, my mom's boyfriend, captured it.

Another cute part was during the ceremony itself. I didn't think Cate would make it down the aisle herself, so I carried her, but Bronwen & Ava were 100% ready for the job. Without any hesitation, they gracefully decorated the aisle with petals. At at the end of the aisle though, Ava noticed that there were still many petals left in the basket. Keeping up with what her Uncle Kevin told her, "I want you to put a lot of petals up at the front for Bianca & me," Ava tipped the basket all the the over to make sure the area was covered. Everyone cracked up!

All in all, we had an amazing time! Thank you Bianca & Kevin for letting us be a part of the greatest moment in your lives. Here's to a beautiful life together. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-29T13:51:00.000-08:00

The menu:

Turkey
Beef Tamales
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Brocolli Caserole (Delicious by the way!)
Stuffing
Rolls
Gravy
Pumpkin Pie
Brownie/Cookie Swirl Bars
Sparkling Apple Cider

Favorite memory of cooking Thanksgiving:

Bronwen, Ava & Cate (!) helping me wash the turkey & make the basting sauce.

Funniest memory:

Conrad lecturing me on how he would burn his fingers if we didn't let the turkey set out for 30 minutes (I was starving by then, so wanted to speed things up). ;-)

Favorite memory of Thanksgiving dinner:

Cate doing "cheers" with her little wine glass to all of us.

This is heaven on earth. :-)

Belated Halloween Post ;-)

2011-11-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

November has been the busiest on record for MichelleDouglasPhotography. This month I had 8?! photo shoots -perfect for holiday shopping! Yippee! All the work made for a lack of time for me to update our blog though, so now that Cate's sleeping, I thought I'd catch up!

Halloween was a bit of a blur this year. I think it was because Ava's birthday was a Halloween-themed costume party, so we kind of felt like we had already celebrated the holiday. The date did not go unnoticed by the girls haha! As soon as they got home from school they started asking Conrad & me when was it going to be time to go trick-or-treating. I made an early dinner & at 530 I started getting everyone ready. Bronwen was a Greek Goddess, Ava was a Darling Angel & Cate was SuperBaby! By 6-o-clock our doorbell started ringing. The plan was for Conrad to take Bronwen & Ava around the neighborhood while Cate & I passed out candy (we really thought she'd like that, & for the record, we did have her in her costume). As soon as Cate saw her sisters getting on their coats & shoes & heading to the door, she started crying. And I mean tear-your-heart-out crying. She ran to the closet & said, "Shoes! Shoes!" My heart brooookkkke. There was no way we could not take her with her sisters.

I told Conrad to give me a minute so I could put on my shoes & jacket & make a sign for the candy (we were going to just leave it by the front door). Then Conrad, my Superman, said, "Don't worry Michelle! I can take all three girls." He then smiled & scooped Cate up in his arms. He is the best dad in the world.

Baby, I love you forever~

Ava is 6!!!

2011-10-30T14:41:00.001-07:00

This year Conrad & I decided to do something crazy! We invited 50 people over to our home to celebrate Ava's 6th birthday, Halloween style!

The girls & I went to the Dollar Tree & bought neon Caution tape, spider webs, paper lanterns, plates, witches, skeletons, you name it! Everything to transform our garage into the perfect Halloween den! We even played spooky music!

With so many children, I knew we had to have an agenda to keep the kids entertained. First up was making a treat bag for a backyard candy hunt! The kids had fun finding treats in the grass & plants, & fortunately it was warm outside. The little ones got lollipops. After loading up on candy, it was time to load up on pizza. I have to say, I love Little Caesar's. We were able to feed everyone for only $65. Gotta love that! With tummies full, it was time to play the limbo, listen to scary Halloween stories (though the kids informed us that they weren't scared at all -ha!) & play a unwrap the candy bar game (layer the candy with wrapping paper, pass it around & the person who unwraps the last piece of paper gets the candy). Last but not least, we had a costume contest. Our little neighbors across the street won by far for their elaborate hair & makeup.

On Ava's actual birthday (the day before) we had a wonderful, quiet day. The girls happened to be off of school for a Teacher's Inservice Workshop. We went to the gym, then went to McDonald's (tradition) to get Halloween Happy Meals, then finished buying all the party stuff. We ate hamburgers at Ava's request, followed by chocolate cake.

Some fun things about Ava are:
Her favorite movie is Barbie Charm school.
Her favorite color is still blue.
Her favorite thing to play is dog & owner.
Her favorite season is summer.
Her favorite song is Queen's "Bicycle".
Her favorite stuffed animal is Cookie, the black & white dog.
She loves "D Time" (cuddling with daddy)
She's lost 6 teeth.

She is one of the most beautiful & loving people I have ever met. Her heart is pure gold. Happy birthday sweetheart!

Hooray for Fall!!

2011-10-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Whatever happened to the "I" in "I love you?"

2011-10-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Over the last year I've noticed an increase in the trend of people writing "love you." As I've used this phrase frequently on facebook to many of my friends, it's never bothered me until recently. More and more I've noticed it creeping its way into families, or to the opposite extreme, to casual acquaintances. The last straw was when it was bed time and the girls were saying their goodnights to us, and Conrad told them, "Love you." I wanted to scream out, "The 'I!' Don't forget the I!" (I believe I did say something about it too, lol.)

I know it's just a letter, a small word, but it is the most important part of "I love you." It's what gives those words meaning. To me, when you say that to a person, you're telling them, "Out of the whole world, you are loved by ME." That's what makes it special. I mean, imagine how dumb that Valentine mug would look if it just said, "love you...love you...love you..." haha, you get the idea.

I understand "love you" is a way to casually let somebody know you really care about them, or that they're special to you (What's wrong with writing just that??), or maybe people write it because they're afraid of rejection, but from now on I vow to include the "I."

If I'm bold enough to say it, I need to be brave enough to say it completely.

From Drop Box

Happy birthday to my Superman~

2011-09-25T13:23:00.001-07:00

My baby turned 45 this year. I am so proud of Conrad & of all his accomplishments, & I wanted to show it by throwing him a fancy birthday party. I talked to our good friends, Sheena & Tommy, owners of Thai Palms (hands down the best Thai food in town) & made arrangements to have Conrad's party at their restaurant on Saturday, which happened to be Conrad's actual birthday. They printed off cute menus for Conrad (I loved this!!!) & did a fantastic job with the seating. My sisters & our soon to be brother-in-law, Ty, drove up from Portland (which was AWESOME to see them & hug them!!!). The turnout was perfect. We had family, some of Conrad's coworkers & friends. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people, my gratitude is beyond words.

Happy birthday sweetheart. I love you. And, you're hotter than ever! ;-p

A Visit to the Dentist

2011-09-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

This picture had me cracking up when I looked at it. I swear, Bronwen & Ava look like they're preparing to blast off into outer space!

Cate also had her dental appointment (her very first one!). I would've taken a photo of her, but I was too busy holding her hands down with her body on my lap, & her head on the dentist's lap as he cleaned her teeth. She pretty much screamed & cried the whole time through her cleaning, which was nothing more than when I use the sonicare on her at home. I think it was more a matter of pride. "How dare anyone put their fingers in my mouth!" Haha!

Conrad went with us, & secretly I was happy he had to hear the crying too ;-p

Slumber Party!!!

2011-09-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

On Friday, September 16, 2011, Bronwen & Ava officially had their first slumber party! We've been friends of the Tu's for about a year, as we met through our daughters (Chanel & Bronwen were in first grade together & are in the same class this year, too). Little did we know that it was Chanel's first time to spend the night at a friend's house!
I picked up the girls (all three, since Ava is big!) & we headed to McDonald's for Happy Meals! We got home & everyone decided to ride scooters & draw with chalk until Conrad got home. When he got home, we all dressed in our pjs & turned on the jumper in the backyard. The girls proceeded to make a disaster with play-doh outside!
After snacks & getting ready for bed, the girls went to Bronwen's room & saw the blow-up mattress all cozy with plenty of blankets, waiting for them. I heard them a few times at night (they were trying to be sneaky & go downstairs in the dark -for what, I don't know), but by 10 they were sound asleep.
They had a great time. :-) Here's to milestones!

School has begun!

2011-08-31T13:36:00.001-07:00

I vividly remember 4 years ago, when I was working at the labs & Bronwen & Ava were going to La Petite, daydreaming with Conrad on how we would "win the lottery" when both girls would finally be in school. Oh what we would do with the extra $1K in our pockets hahaha. :-) Now fast-forward several years later & here we are (Wow how our lives have changed more than I would've ever imagined!). Anyway, as of today, August 31, 2011, we now have two children in elementary school.

The girls made special place cards for their back-to-school dinner last night (pasta with bread), took a long bubble bath, & laid out their outfits in our room. While I made "mermaid waves" in Ava's hair & straightened Bronwen's, Conrad cooked us eggs, waffles & fruit. We all drove to Bryn Mawr & watched both of the big girls in their annual parade. Ava had me laughing when we got back home because she said, "The parade was so embarrassing!" Me, "Why?" Ava, "Everyone was cheering for us like we were babies." Me, "Oh! Hahahaha!" as I'm replaying Conrad & I yelling, "Yay Ava!!!! You're in kindergarten now!!!" We were cheering the loudest of course haha!

What a great day, though my heart broke this morning when Cate was walking around the house calling, "A-ah! Bron!" She was looking for her sisters.... :-( That still brings me to tears!

Lake Chelan -Anniversary Celebration!

2011-08-15T14:42:00.001-07:00

Conrad, the girls & I went to Lake Chelan to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Of course we brought the little girls. To us, anniversaries are there to celebrate the founding of a family. The girls make our beautiful family, so it is only natural to celebrate with them.

Day One: Wednesday, August 10th

We left around noon on Wednesday (right after lunch so Cate could sleep in the car) & got into town at 330. As luck would have it, our room was ready! We freshened up then hit the town. Conrad, being the brilliant man that he is, chose the resort because it was right in the center of the city. We literally walked to a Thai restaraunt (The Bamboo?) for dinner. Next stop, Safeway to load up on a few groceries. At this point Cate was being "A bad Waz" [dubbed nickname from Bronwen & Ava -babies cry, "Wah", Cate cried, "Wah," alas "Waz" was born -hideous I know, yet Conrad & I even call her that!]. We pretty much hustled back to the hotel & went to the pool/hot-tub to relax. Dessert was cookies! Ava had some organic milk & exclaimed, "This organic milk is delicious. Mom, next time buy this organic milk." Ava only drinks chocolate milk, so this was a big deal. Cate spit up a little (or a lot) on her precious blanket, so I had to hand wash it then spend about 1/2 an hour drying it with the blow drier -ack! Conrad & I managed to get everyone to bed by 930, so we could be well-rested for the next day's activities.

Day Two: August 11th -Anniversary!

The night before, Conrad made arrangements for us to rent a speed boat for the morning! We ate breakfast at the hotel bistro -only mishap is when the waitress brought pancakes for Bronwen when she asked for French toast- we fixed it though, then headed out to pick up our boat. Cate had a major cow when we put her in the life jacket. The girls thought it was the coolest. We got in the boat & Conrad took off like a natural. I swear, the way he picks up anything that's mechanically related, he would be able to fly a plane if he ever needed to! The girls sat up on the sun deck with the wind blowing in their hair. It was like a dream come true. We went tubing, had sandwiches, chips & fruit, & the whole experience was surreal. By 1 pm we headed back to shore, where Conrad docked like a pro. We went back to the hotel for a few minutes then walked over to a charming Mexican Restaraunt for dinner. Full of energy, walked over to the local bowling alley. Conrad & I bowled great games, & so did the girls, even though they were too busy playing with the owners' chihuahua, Jake! Finally, we headed back, went swimming, showered, ate pizza & slept. It was wonderful.

Day Three: Thursday, August 12th

Time to head back... We packed up, went to eat breakfast, gassed up the car & drove home. I was actually really sad to leave. That's how you know when you've had a good vacation~

I love you, baby.

10 Wonderful Years with my Amazing Husband

2011-08-15T14:24:00.001-07:00

The reason why I can do anything in life is because of Conrad. He is my earth angel. He is always the one who consistently encourages me. He believes in me. He helps me. He gets excited with me even when I tell him the same thing a billion times. He never tells me I can't do something. He is the reason why I am so happy in life & why I have always been successful. He is the person who is my best friends & makes my life richer. He is why I try to be that person for our girls. I love you baby. Happy 10 years!

World's Best Dad

2011-07-30T15:49:00.001-07:00

Isn't he dreamy?

Alki Beach

2011-07-30T15:35:00.001-07:00

This summer Conrad & I have made a conscience effort to explore all of Seattle's hot spots. Since I have a photo shoot next weekend at Alki Beach, we decided to check it out. Dreamy weather, fish & chips along the water & ice-creams & italian sodas... The day couldn't have been more perfect~

Razzle Dazzle Douglas Jam!

2011-07-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried Razzle Dazzle Douglas Jam? It is fabulous!!! It was made by three very cute little girls & their momma the other day. Best of all, the raspberries were picked from our very own backyard. We gave some to the neighbors who gave us their old lawnmower. They came back to tell us how much they loved it! Bronwen said we should sell it. Then she said we should just make it free so we'll have more customers LOL. ;-) I love that girl & her entrepreneur's heart!

Fourth of July

2011-07-27T13:25:00.001-07:00

I know it's a little late, but I have to talk about our fabulous time! This year was hands down the best fourth we've had.

Conrad & I were brainstorming on what we should do for the holiday. As all the fireworks shows began at 10, it seemed like it would be a bit of a nightmare to try & take Cate out that late (she would freak out -this girl loves her sleep). We didn't want Bronwen & Ava to miss out though. The solution? We had our own "neighborhood firework show." We bought sparklers, poppers, snakes (that looked like gross poop coming out of a tube -ick!) & a few other types that went up a few feet. When we began celebrating with the kids across the street, we heard our neighbors behind us come out. They had a bunch of really cool (& probably illegal) fireworks! We joined forces with them, then another family came out. Then another & another! In total there were about 25 of us out until 1030. And guess what! Cate didn't cry at all! She was having a great time watching as all the other kids were.

I think the only people who weren't having fun were the neighbors with a newborn. Their house just happened to be at the center of all the action. ;-)

Cate "gardening"

2011-07-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to put this photo up for a while, but I haven't gotten around to it until now. :-) About a month ago the big girls & I started getting our garden ready for summer. We were busy pulling weeds, trimming bushes, edging, etc.. Bronwen & Ava then asked if they could water their seeds. I said okay. Within a few minutes I heard this:

"Cate! No!"

I turned around & saw Cate literally jumping up & down in the muddy water hole! To top it off, she bent down & started to drink the water like a puppy!!! It was hilarious!

Flowers have yet to grow in the "garden" LOL!

Teamwork

2011-07-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ava had a lose front tooth. She wiggled it for days & days, but it wouldn't come out. That's when Bronwen took matters into her own hands (literally).

I was in the kitchen when I looked over & saw Ava laying on the couch, with Bronwen hovering over her.

Bronwen: Does this hurt?

Ava: Nope!

Bronwen: Does it hurt now?

Ava: No! Just get it, Bronwen! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Bronwen: I got it!

Ava: What?! Mom, Bronwen got my tooth!

I swear, Ava's little toothy smile kills me. It is the cutest thing! Boy, life with little kids is wonderful!

Bronwen's Birthday

2011-07-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

Bronwen had three birthday parties this year! For her party with her classmates she wanted to ice-skate. I was laughing at the beginning of the party because the "ice-skating" included everyone walking around the rink, holding onto the wall. By the end though, everyone had the hang of it & the kids were definitely having a blast. Bronwen told me that when she was skating in the middle of the rink she felt like Barbie in one of her movies, ice-skating on the pond.

On her actual birthday, we celebrated at home with cake & ice-cream. She was very happy & surprised when she got a cute stuffed puppy & Eugene from Tangled.

Last, but not least, I had a photo shoot in Portland, so I thought it'd be fun to have a party for her there with my family & some of my high school friends. Everyone was so generous to her & she was on cloud nine for the whole week!

A Day at the Beach!

2011-07-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I did some family portraits at Discovery Park in Seattle. The views of the sound & Cascades are breath-taking & there is even a lighthouse! I loved it so much that I wanted to take Conrad & the girls. We packed up sack lunches & were off. Ava said her favorite part was riding the school bus shuttle to & from the visitor's center to the beach. Bronwen's favorite part was when they were digging tidal pools. Cate's was eating & drinking out of the tidal pools!

Opportunities Gained & Lost

2011-06-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'd like to start out by saying this post is pretty personal, but what happened to me was so great & important that I wanted to share.

A few nights ago I got an email from my friend. She said a photographer was going to post professional photos of she & her husband in Facebook. She explained that the photographer was one of her clients & was trying to build her portfolio. The photos were free & that under any other circumstances, I was her gal. I told her the only thing I would think is that it was awesome I'd get to see beautiful photos of them. Furthermore, I couldn't wait to see them because maybe there would be good ideas for me for an upcoming couple's portrait session. It touched my heart in an indescribable way that my friend took the time to write me a note because she didn't want to hurt my feelings. This little email exchange reminded me of an "Aha" moment I had a few months ago.

At the beginning of the year I had hoped to photograph an event for somebody & was absolutely devastated when I found out I was not chosen to be the photographer. I went from anger (The injustice!), to devastation (The rejection!), to worry (Why am I not good enough?), then to sadness. Then one day when I was sitting outside, I thought of something.

God wanted me to know that it simply wasn't my turn. For whatever reason, it was the other photographer's turn. I began thinking. Maybe she needed the extra money for a child, maybe for her bills, maybe... you get the idea. From that point on, my perspective completely changed on the situation & I didn't feel angry anymore. I realized that yes, God has a plan for me, but he also has a plan for EVERYBODY. Sometimes it'll be my turn, & of course I always pray for that outcome (LOL), but I'm not going to fret when it's not. Furthermore, this revelation made me feel so free!

I feel like I am more confident to pursue opportunities because I understand that sometimes I'll get them & sometimes I won't. The important thing is I realize it's not because of ME per se, but it's because that's the way God wants it. Though I still practice like crazy with my camera almost everyday to help my prayers along so people will want me to photograph them, I am more at peace.

I know this is pretty out there, but I truly am happier feeling this way.

So, go out there & live your dreams!!!! Don't be afraid of failing or being told, "No." In a book Bronwen has, there's a little paragraph where it describes God answering your prayers is like a stop light. Sometimes the answer is yes (green light), sometimes it's a no (red light) & sometimes it's maybe (yellow light).

My Birthday

2011-06-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Conrad was saying that instead of just getting a special day, I was getting a birthday weekend! Of course we didn't plan on it starting with Cate throwing up all over me, herself & our bathroom tile & with Bronwen getting a fever. The flu reared its ugly head for the third time this year on Saturday!

Not to be deterred, we dosed the girls with tylenol & headed out to the mall on Sunday. Conrad bought me a gorgeous purse & wallet & the girls got stuffed animals at Build-a-Bear. On Monday (my actual birthday), our vacuum broke, so we headed off to Target to exchange it for a new one (it was only 2.5 months old). As soon as we got home, Conrad started to BAKE. He made this ~

This is the best cake I've ever had in my life. I. Love. My. Husband.

Getting Older

2011-06-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

For the last two weeks I'd been very aware of my upcoming birthday. I was reminded each time I hopped on the treadmill & was prompted to type in my age. "Only 2 more weeks to type in 31." "Only 1 more week to type in 31." "My birthday is tomorrow, I my as well type in 32. Scratch that, I'm still 31..." You know what though, I was ready. I have been the happiest in my 30's & am content with getting older. I look at my three girls, my husband of almost 10 years, the calm in my life...it is nice to move forward with a foundation behind me. It seems like people get so freaked out about getting older, focusing on the physical changes, worrying about the goals or milestones they haven't reached, that they forget about the blessing it is to be alive.

Before the weekend, one of Conrad's coworkers, who had just finished aggressive treatment for Stage 4 thyroid cancer, went in for her check-up & found out everything is back. Her last day was on Friday & she is going to move back to Hawaii to spend the rest of her time there with her family [Upon learning of her situation T-mobile has allowed her to stay on the books so she may still receive her salary & benefits.] She is only 47. It is a blessing to get older.

Right Now

2011-05-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

I was going through some pictures that I've taken of the girls lately & came across these beauties. Bronwen, Ava, Cate & Conrad make me so, so happy.

Bronwen & Ava's Third Recital

2011-05-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Ava & Bronwen have participated in the Renton Community Center's Stepping Together Dance Program for the last three years. The instructors are incredible & each spring the dancers get to participate in their recital at one of the local high schools.

This year the theme was Sleeping Beauty. The girls danced beautifully & Cate was an angel. Afterward, we went to Dairy Queen to celebrate. I can't wait to do it all again next spring. :-) I am very proud of Bronwen & Ava's hard work.

Playing Hookie!

2011-05-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

We didn't get up until after 7?! this morning (normally we're all up by 630!). Lately, we've all been running around so much that I think it finally caught up with us. So, I declared a hookie day (for the girls at least)! We've had a ball... went to the gym, got haircuts, got McDonald's, took a long bath together, did our nails... bliss! Sometimes it's nice to stop & take a break to enjoy the moment. :-)

What's going on in your neighborhood? :-)

2011-05-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

The sun came out right when it was time to pick up Bronwen from school. As expected, the doorbell rang within 15 minutes of us getting home. It makes me happy that all the kids want to come to our house to play. The diversity is incredible, & the friendships, entertaining.

One of the little girls decided to put chalk dust all over her face LOL! ;-)

Spring is here!

2011-04-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

It has been sunny all week! Of course we've been at the park every day! :-) Yesterday we met some friends at a nearby park with sack lunches. Everyone played hard & Cate fell asleep as soon as we got home. Our girls love the sun!

My New Camera

2011-04-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Conrad said he was so proud of how I've been doing with my photography business that he surprised me with a new camera. I am in heaven!

Hooray for Weekends!

2011-04-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Conrad & I took the girls down to Portland to celebrate my dad's birthday this past weekend. What a great time! Natasha & her boyfriend, Ty, spent over four hours cooking 12 of us an authentic Italian meal (they MADE the noodles) & a delicious dessert. Bronwen, Ava & Cate had a great time getting into all of Grandma's things ;-) & it was nice for Conrad & me to visit with everyone.

The next day we drove down to Woodburn, OR for their annual tulip festival. I had two photo shoots there (Yay!) & the scenery was beyond beautiful. Our boots were covered with mud, but when I saw the resulting photographs, it was definitely worth it. The photos were so beautiful that I already have three more clients booked! Check them out! :-)

https://sites.google.com/site/michelledouglasphotography/

Surprise!

2011-04-12T17:48:00.001-07:00

On Sunday Conrad noticed that his rear tires were wearing out unevenly, so he made an appt & took it to the shop. At first they thought it just needed to be realigned ($100), but upon inspection they realized the tie-rods were messed up ($600 + realignment + new tires = $1700). Ouch! Not a nice surprise! On the plus side, Conrad telecommuted since he was without his car. We even all went as a family to pick up Bronwen, & on the way home stopped at Papa Murphy's Pizza. By the time our pizza was ready, the car was done -we were across the street, so it worked out perfectly! Great surprise! We ended up eating pretty early, so I decided to take advantage of the sunshine & start working on the garden. Of course all THREE :-) girls wanted to go out & help me. Even Cate started digging with her little shovel! We were in the midst of pulling out all the dead brush, when SURPRISE, this little guy hopped out!

Cate cried when it was time to go inside, but a sticker (she's patting it on her tummy) made everything better.

A Day at the Park

2011-04-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

After Cate's 15-month check-up this morning -she's perfect!- Ava & I decided to go to our neighborhood park. As we were walking there, I saw a grandmother & her grandson leaving. She was holding his hand, he was swinging his lunch bag & they were walking along a beautiful landscape. I couldn't help but think of how wonderful this little boy will feel when he is all grown up, looking back on his childhood, & remembering small moments like going to the park with the Grandma. It's incredible how quickly time slips through our hands & it's important to recognize that when interacting with the people we love. Conrad & were talking about this in the car the other day. How we'll look back on this time with our little children, functioning together as one, & remember it as the best time in our lives.

Bronwen is the leader of The Three Musketeers. She helps me so much with her little sisters. She comes up to me & puts blankets around my shoulders when I am on the computer working & they are in the living room watching TV. She always kisses & hugs us & says, "D (dad), you're the best!"

"Sister, where did you go?! I was looking for you!"

Cate is starting to want to do things herself. I thought it was appropriate that she's wearing her Nike "Just do it" shoes while trying to climb. She gets so excited to go to the park that when we drive by it she says, "Weeee!" talking about the slides & swing!

Ava, who tells me, "Mom, you're the best mom I ever had." She is the best daughter anyone could ever have.

Cate & her "concentrating" face -notice her cute, spongy pink tongue sticking out?!

We got to see a Bald Eagle flying around while we were at the park! Amazing!

Easter is coming!

2011-03-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

I had to cancel an outdoor photo shoot for today because the weather has been awful (boo, poor me -I was looking forward to it all week)! ;-) I still had portraits on my mind, so I decided to get a head start on promoting an Easter Portait shoot I'm doing at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Portland. I can't believe how fast the girls are growing. :-)

Growing Together as a Family

2011-03-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

I follow a blog called the Nienie Diaries & it is fantastic (the link is on our blog). Anyway, one day the author, Stefanie, wrote a small piece about family that really struck a note with me. She wrote that while growing up, her parents always made sure she & her siblings were together, spending time with one another. That that is the reason why they are so comfortable with each other as adults (like they actually know each other!). Every time I see Bronwen, Ava & Cate playing together, I totally get was she was saying. It's easier to grow roots that intertwine with your siblings when you're seedlings versus starting the process when you're already mature [trees].

With that said, staying home with the girls has been one of the best investments that I have ever made in my life, for their life. Bronwen & Ava are attached at the hip, & it is awesome when I see the same thing happening with Cate & her big sisters. Today, when I went to get Cate from her nap, this is what I found: Ava & Cate jumping in the crib, then Cate playing peek-a-boo with Ava. I LOVE it! :-)

A Funny Day

2011-03-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today is one of those days that will go down as one of the funniest, wackiest days in our household.

Let me start by providing some background information...

On Saturday I saw one of my girlfriends at the gym & she mentioned she hadn't worked out in a week because her kids had been sick. I told Conrad, "Wow, we've been really lucky this year. No one has been on antibiotics or been really sick." Mistake number one: opening my mouth. Mistake number two: forgetting to knock on wood.

Sure enough, on Sunday Bronwen came down with a fever of 103, which lasted until Monday. On Tuesday she said her ear hurt & was diagnosed with an ear infection (antibiotics -ack!). I kept her home on Wednesday, as she still had quite a bit of congestion & ear pain. Then, Cate started coughing & was fussy (full-blown major cold).

Fast forward to today, Thursday... Bronwen went to school & I went to the gym. It felt like a regular day. I came home, showered & got dressed & was just relaxing with Ava. Cate had gone down early for her nap since she was feeling so miserable. I looked at Ava & said, "I'm hungry. Are you?" She says, "Ya." We go downstairs & I put some chicken nuggets in the microwave. Suddenly I look at the clock. It says 1 pm. I realize the girls have dental appointments at 1:30. Oh no!!!!! I put more chicken in the microwave, cut up apples, run & get Cate, & load up everything & everyone in the car. I called Bronwen's school to let them know we're coming. We get Bronwen & hightail it to the dentists'. We made it!

After a perfect exam, I decided to take the girls to Ross to pick up some jeans. We were all in the dressing room, & I had just taken off my old pants & turned around to see Cate's baby butt crawling out of the dressing room from underneath the door. Ahhhh!!!!!! I grabbed my pants to hide myself & said, "Bronwen! Ava! Get Cate!!!!" Bron got Cate & we all began laughing hysterically. It was such a funny moment!!!

I got dressed & we went up to pay (in the very long line). Ava then exclaims, "I forgot my sticky hand (a toy she got at the dentists') in the dressing room!" I told her forget it. It's gone. She cried. I had to go back to get the poor kid her toy (it's really sad when she cries). :-) Toy recovered, goodies paid for, off to eat.

I pull up to the new Panera Bread near our house, unload all of us (Cate is super fussy at this point). Somehow I wasn't paying attention to the construction going on in the restaurant, or the sign that said the grand opening was tomorrow at 5 am. We walk in, the lady looks at me all sad & says, "We're not open yet!" I'm like, "Oh no!!!" She goes, "But you can come back tomorrow!" Ya right hahahaha!

Anyway, we made it home safe & sound, had some snacks, Conrad came home & we had a lovely dinner.

At least I got to hold my baby as she fell asleep in my arms, & I have my three other best friends in the living with me, in our jammies, watching TV.

What a day!!!

Imitating

2011-03-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

Lately Cate has been on a kick of imitating almost everything she sees. She began walking almost exactly two weeks ago while watching her sisters dance in the living room. Bronwen and Ava were twirling around and suddenly Cate stood up and started walking in a circle. A few nights ago she put her little hands next to the lotion dispenser and then rubbed them together. It was so incredibly cute and humbling to watch. Humbling because up to that point I never really thought of how much my children pay attention to and copy things that I do. I will always remember this simple, yet profound lesson in everything that I do.

Lazy Saturday

2011-02-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Today has been one of the coziest Saturdays we've had in a while. Our little alarm clock (Cate) woke us up at 5:15, but believe it or not, Conrad and I both felt refreshed. We chatted and watched the news while drinking our hot coffee, then our big girls came downstairs to join us and drink chocolate milk. Since we were all up, we decided to get a head start on the day and got ready for the gym.

While working out, a man in his 60's decided to talk to Conrad about a certain male medicine, to which Conrad responded, "Man, I need to stay away from that stuff; I have a hard enough time already. That's why I am 44 years old with a one-year-old." It was hilarious! I got an awesome workout with my good friend Hong (my arms were like jello for the rest of the day), and the girls got to play with some of their friends in the kids' club.

Back home, we had a quick lunch, then hopped in the car to take the girls to ballet class.

By that time Cate was ready for bed, yawning and rubbing her eyes with her little hands. Conrad rocked her in our bedroom while giving her a bottle, and she looked as happy as a little lamb. He put her in her soft crib, where she took a long nap. Conrad and I showered, then got back into our jammies. We've been hanging out all afternoon (after Conrad ripped out the carpet in our bathroom), with lasagna cooking in the oven and sunlight filling our home, making it warm and happy.

I love days like this. :-)

Valentine Week

2011-02-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

Bronwen is sitting in our front room right now, playing Heart and Soul. She is such a good girl and we are so proud of her. On Friday she informed us that she would be getting a new reading teacher this week. On Monday, we read a letter from the school informing us that she would be reading with the second graders! She forgot to mention that part. :-D

She is kind to her little sisters. She reads to Ava and helps her with projects. She chases Cate when she crawls up the stairs. She helped me with a speech today.

It is such a priviledge to be her mom.

Goals

2011-02-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

One of my friends wrote a post on her blog about her little baby giving her a pat on the back. I thought it was interesting because Cate does the same thing to Conrad and me, but I don't remember Bronwen or Ava doing this. It's almost like she's saying, "Good job!" or "Hi Buddy!" Then I began thinking, it is such an odd thing for a baby to do, and the timing is intriguing.

Right now, we have a lot of changes going on... Conrad got an amazing promotion leading a new group, Continuous Improvement Analytics (very high profile and high impact to the company), and I've been busy getting MichelleDouglasPhotography running. I'm proud to say I'm getting clients! Anyway, both endeavors are scary and challenging.

Thinking about that pat on the back, from a baby; maybe it's God's way of telling us everything is going to be okay and to keep reaching for those goals.

Kings and Queens

2011-01-23T14:08:00.001-08:00

This morning we ate scrambled eggs and waffles for breakfast. As usual, Cate dumped about 1/3 of her food onto the floor. While I took Cate out of her highchair and started washing her up, Conrad was on his hands and knees cleaning her disaster. I felt so grateful to him that I said, "Conrad, you're a king!" He looked up at me and said, "No I'm not. A king doesn't clean!" Bahahahaha! I just about died laughing!

Snow Day

2011-01-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

Last night Conrad and I fell asleep cuddling, with our blinds open, watching the snow come down outside. It was warm, cozy and perfect. To keep that magical feeling going, I declared a "Douglas Snow Day" and let Bronwen stay home from school (they had a 1.5 hr delay, so I figured, "Why not?"). Bronwen, Ava, Cate and I went to the Children's Museum for the morning, then hit McDonald's on the way home. Cate is napping under soft blankets in her crib, and I'm about to read the girls a story. I can't wait for my baby to home from work. This is the life. :-)

My Baby

2011-01-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

Today is my baby's birthday. Today, Cate is 1. I remember, when Bronwen and Ava turned 1, being really happy for them to reach that milestone. I was excited and proud of Conrad and me too because it felt like we were finally moving forward with our lives. Now, I find myself a little sad (I know, it's ridiculous) that Cate is 1, and I wish I could STOP TIME. It's funny when I look back at myself as a parent when I was younger. I wish I could tell myself to enjoy every minute with my babies because in the blink of an eye it's over. I understand too well how fast a year goes by. BUT, I am so incredibly proud of the little girl Cate is becoming. She is amazing!

Her milestones this year:
Crawling everywhere
Pulling herself up on everything
Standing alone -new since yesterday!!!
Saying and waving, "Hi!"
Climbing up the stairs!!!!

She loves to be where ever her sisters are. She loves to cuddle. She loves to look at books. She loves taking the toilet paper off the roll (ack!). She loves to dance with music. She enjoys flinging her food off the tray of her highchair (double ack!).

She is our little baby love, and we love her so much. We are blessed she is part of our family.

Happy birthday my little angel!

Christmas Day 2010

2011-01-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Bronwen and Ava's words, "Santa brought us a lot more presents this year!!" The highlights were: A "very fast" bike for Bronwen (Santa snuck it in her room when we were downstairs opening up presents), The Looping Lightening Roller coaster for Ava, that had literally over 50 steps to put together (ack!), and Cate's very own zhu-zhu pet (I swear, those are the cutest little toys ever!).

Bronwen said, "It has a kickstand, so I never have to lay it [bike] down. Now I can go as fast as Nava [neighborhood friend]."

Ava said, "This is coolest present I ever got!"

Cate thought, "Oh! Where does that pink, noisy critter think it's going?!" She crawls at warp speed to get it!

On Christmas evening we had our wonderful friends and their adorable little boy over. We had an awesome dinner filled with great conversation, laughs and Malibu rum. The kids were so cute at their special table with their Christmas place mats, plates and champagne glasses (sparkling cider -they actually toasted to each other!). There's something to be said about people who just get you. :-)

Anyway, Conrad and I both commented it felt weird that suddenly the holidays were over. I guess we were so used to our December routine of turning on our Christmas lights outside, turning on the tree lights, turning on our three Christmas villages and listening to Christmas music on Sirius in the afternoons and during dinner, that it felt like we were missing something without it.

With that said, I can't wait until next year to do it all again.

Here's to 2011; here's to new beginnings.

Sunset with Daddy

2010-12-29T21:06:00.000-08:00

The sunset was so beautiful tonight and I had an idea for a picture. I called Conrad outside with Cate and took one the most breath-taking photos. I love this man.

Bianca and Kevin, Tash and Ty and Portraits

2010-12-26T20:04:00.001-08:00

I love taking pictures!! I'm taking a lighting class in mid-January, and my website will be published soon after! :-)

Bianca and Kevin

Bianca -she should be a model!

Natasha and Ty

Natasha -those eyes!!

Christmas Break 2010 Part One

2010-12-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

It's the day after Christmas and I am already counting down the days until we can do it all again next year -that's how great this Christmas break has been!

With the girls out of school the week before Toymania, and Conrad still at work, I decided to load the ladies up and head down to Portland for a long stay.

Day 1: Bianca, Natasha, Bronwen, Ava, Cate and I went to my old boss's (from when I was in high school!) house for her annual Christmas party. She had no idea we were coming, and the look on her face was priceless! It felt so good to see her and some other familiar faces on such a fun occasion. To give you an idea of how much people love this lady, there was pretty much standing room only; the place was that packed! Bronwen and Ava were busy gathering all of her dancing stuffed animals, Cate was sleeping on me, and Natasha and Bianca were keeping us well fed. What I loved the most about the party was how much joy there was when she saw us. The comment of the night was, "Those Shedd genes sure do dominate!"

Day 2: Birthday party for my mom's boyfriend, Tom. Tash and I were busy making a fantabulous chicken enchilada dinner while Bianca made a cute black and white cake. My mom came up with a cute idea for a banner for his name. Tom looked very happy with his gifts.

Day 3: Engagement photos of my beautiful sister Bianca and her sweet fiance, Kevin. I swear, literally every picture of them was DARLING! Of course I was on cloud nine after this. :-D Then, my wonderful dad came over with the most delicious and mouth-watering homemade chicken wings and scalloped potatoes. They were perfect for holding us over for the Portland Zoo's Zoo Light Festival.

Bianca, Natasha and her charming boyfriend, Ty, and I took the girls to meet my sweet friend and her three daughters at the zoo. The displays were amazing! We got to ride a train that circled the park, then walked for about an hour looking at some animals. Bronwen's favorite display was one of an eagle swooping out of a tree to catch a salmon, then landing on another tree. Ava's was one of a crocodile that would open and close his mouth. I loved one where an elephant dipped his trunk into the water then sprayed himself. All the kids were squealing, laughing and running in delight, and let me say it, thank God for my sisters and Ty. They were a huge help in keeping the kids corralled! In all, the night had a very magical feel to it.

Day 4: Breakfast with my dad and his lovely girlfriend, Holly (Holly, I love you!!). This has become a tradition now, and the girls love it so much. I think they will always be fond of Shari's. Forever.

That afternoon I also got to meet up with one of my dear girlfriends and catch up.

Day 5: Load up and go home.

The girls love Portland so much that they never want to leave. I am also sad when we have to go. Every time I visit, it's like I get a breath of fresh air into my life. Besides getting awesome fashion advice (Bianca, I will buy that damn purple hat LOL!), I love the feeling of closeness with family. I know it's a bit personal, but one night when Tash was home and we were sharing the bed, I felt so happy and cozy in my heart. Almost like a little girl. I hope so much Bronwen, Ava and Cate feel as much love for each other as I do for my sisters.

Ornament Fun

2010-12-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

Where's Michelle?

This picture definitely sets the tone for the holidays :-)

Christmas

2010-12-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

Aren't the holidays magical?

Our girls are getting so big...

2010-11-27T14:38:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I wish I could stop time.

Auntie Bianca's 23rd Birthday Party

2010-11-26T16:59:00.001-08:00

I was informed that we had been up for everyone's birthday except for Auntie Bianca's (last year I was 8 months pregnant though ;-) ). So, for the Veteran's day holiday, all five of us loaded into the Jeep and were off!

Bianca was radiating with happiness with her handsome fiance at her side! If you're wondering, her ring is gorgeous! I've got to take a pic next time!

I was trying to take a picture of Bianca's perspective of her party, but when she saw how close I was to her while she was eating, she made me stop hahaha!

I wonder what she wished for. :-)

Conrad, Bronwen and Ava trying to hit it big on a scratcher. Sadly we didn't even win a dollar!

Cate's favorite part of the trip was by far being in Grandma's arms.

I'm telling you, being close to your family is priceless. I am so thankful for them.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

This was by far my favorite Thanksgiving!

Our week started off like this:

On Monday, which was an early release day anyway for parent-teacher conferences, the snowflakes came tumbling down. It looked like we were in a real-life snow globe!

On Tuesday, after a few hours of sledding, this is what I saw at our front door. Ava (who was wearing gloves), "My hands are frozen, mom."

Wednesday was more or less the same, and Thursday, the all-day feast began!

Cate's First Thanksgiving :-)

Following dinner, we watched The Last Airbender while drinking coffee (Conrad and me) and hot cocoa (girls). This day was so relaxing, I wish it never had to end, ahhh... :-)

Snow in Seattle

2010-11-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

A little bit of snow turned out to be about 3 inches out here, and it is soooo cozy! As I'm listening to Bronwen, Ava and their little friends sledding down the huge hill behind our house saying things like, "Now THIS is fun!" "That was the funnest thing in my life!" "Who let the dogs out? Woo-woo-woo-woo" (they spontaneously burst into song when they're happy), I can't kept but feel happy! This was even after Cate was just laughing while swinging her little legs in her highchair because she was so content. Conrad and I are enjoying a cup of coffee together and I swear, I have the best life ever!

Cate's Big Week

2010-11-20T19:59:00.001-08:00

At 10 months, Cate is finalllly crawling. And, in case those of you are wondering, she is also talking! I went to get her out of her car seat after dropping Bronwen off to school, and said, "Hi!" She looked up at me, and with her biggest smile said, "Hi!" For the rest of the day I was taking her here and there to show off her new skill (albeit she's been saying mama and dada forever, but this is truly a new word). Like I've been saying, our girls may take forever to move, but they're all early talkers. :-)

Here is a darling picture I took of her. You may have noticed the logo on it -yep, I'm going for it! I'm starting my photography business and will have a link to my website by the end of the month. Hooray!!

Little Miss Popular

2010-11-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

The cutest thing happened yesterday.

Ava, Cate and I picked up Bronwen after school, when one of Bronwen's little classmates asked if Bronwen could stay and play at the playground for a little bit. It was a gorgeous 65?! degrees outside, so I said, "Sure!" The girls took off running, and I stayed with Cate, who was very busy eating grass and leaves.

A few minutes later, while Bronwen was doing tricks on the bars, I heard some of her classmates talking. Lana said, "I'm going to play with Bronwen." Rachel said, "Me too!" Naomi said, "I want to play with Bronwen."

I smiled and felt so happy in my heart. As a parent we all want our kids to do well, be happy and fit in. It was a wonderful present for me to see that Bronwen does.

Crocodile DunMom

2010-11-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ava and I were eating bean burritos and when she finished eating, this dialogue took place:

Ava: "Look, mom," while pointing to her empty plate.

Me: "Wow! You must be growing again."

Ava: "Yes, and I got protein from the beans."

Me: "You're right. Protein is good for your muscles. And for your long hair and nails." Then I made the mistake of flashing my gorgeous (finally long) nails toward her.

Ava: "Ya, but you need to cut your nails [pause] Or else you'll look like a crocodile.

On Parenting

2010-10-31T14:12:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months people have been asking me for parenting advice. Whether it's about babies or handling multiple children, I feel like I have some good tricks since I have three girls. In the spirit of helping other moms, I've come up with my favorite hints for survival.

1) Grow up! I know it sounds condescending, but I've seen many mothers and fathers fall into the trap of throwing pity parties for themselves. You chose to have a baby, your life changed, so now it's time to focus on how AMAZING it is that you get to raise a family. I know it's hard, and it sucks sometimes (like when your sleep, routine, "veg-out" time and basically everything is dictated by someone else), but working through it and laughing at the challenging moments really is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. Sometimes I hum the theme from Rocky and it instantly puts me in a can-do mood ("Aha, you want to box with me little one? I'll show you!") versus falling apart.

2) Be supportive of your partner. Moms and dads are usually on the same team and probably have the same wants and needs. I know for me, I feel great when I think Conrad needs a break and I say, "Let me take Cate for you," or "Why don't you go and work out." etc.. It feels much better to try and anticipate each other's needs and give little gifts (of time to relax, doing a diaper change), versus getting into an argument on whose turn it is to do "X", or who does more. Focus on how good of a job your partner does.

3) Take children to the doctor. You are your only child's advocate. I get so mad when I hear someone say, "Well, he/she was crying for several days, and I just found out he/she has an ear infection." If your child isn't acting like his/her normal self, don't wait around like a dummy to get them checked out. How would you feel if you needed antibiotics for three days and no one took you?!

4) Clean your children. Diaper rashes happen, yes, I know. But, there is a correlation to cleanliness. I can say this because Cate has never had a rash. It's not because she's less susceptible to them, it's because I change her diaper frequently and I wash her after she poops. Imagine pooping all over yourself and wiping it up with a wipey. For those who do that, I challenge you to smell your baby's butt afterward and see if you don't gag. It is not okay not to bathe children.

5) Try to be in tune with your baby. If you're hungry, tired or cold, your baby probably is too. Who hasn't seen the parent in a coat and pants and the poor baby in a diaper and top. Are they crazy?!

6) Keep doing your core activities that define you as a person. Do you run? Have a recurring Thursday night out with friends? Work? Doing the things you like to do the most in life liberates you (expand your interests!) and helps get rid of the martyr syndrome. It also makes you more interesting.

7) Never be too busy for your family. Time is not static, and I firmly believe that you reap what you sow regarding relationships. If you're too busy for your kids now, they'll be too busy for you when you're old. Spending time with your family allows you all to grow together and become comfortable with one another.

8) Do the best you can. You know when you're making the right choices -go with that.

My Superman

2010-10-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

In this picture taken Halloween '10, Conrad benched a clean and staggering 425 lbs! Notice how he even keeps his friend way back to make sure no one even touches the bar during this feat of strength! ;-)

About a year ago Conrad was telling me about a meeting he had with a group of his peers from work. They were going around the room saying little facts about themselves. One of Conrad's attributes is that he is freakishly strong (note the picture and caption above). Conrad has always been very strong as a young man and throughout adulthood. Besides doing well in weight lifting, he actually took first in state, in form, for martial arts in New Mexico.

It's amazing to know how strong he is on the outside because he is equally strong on the inside. I know I've said it before, but Conrad is amazing. He is the best and most loving husband to me, a beautiful father, and a wonderful person. I am so proud to be his wife and blessed to be the mother of his children. He is my Superman.

Ava is 5!

2010-10-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

Ava, a.k.a., Squeakmouse, turned 5 this week! We celebrated her birthday last weekend at 321 Bounce with her classmates and some of her close friends. We had so many people show up that I found myself almost teary-eyed at the amount of support we have grown in 2 short years. It makes me proud of Ava to see her with peers who love and care about her. The generosity of everyone was amazing. When I mentioned it to Conrad, he reminded me of the old saying, "You reap what you sow." What a great lesson to learn re. relationships.

Speaking of relationships, my beautiful sisters came up from Portland to celebrate. Little did they know they were going to get roped into making 60 cupcakes for everyone. :-p Auntie Tash and Bianca, you're the BEST!!

Thank you to everyone for making Ava's birthday special. She is so happy to be 5!

Photography Class

2010-10-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

I began my photography class two weeks ago and I am just loving it! It is so liberating to take a picture, review it, then know what I need to adjust on my camera for it to come out the way I intended. I have been having a blast learning, though sometimes I laugh when I wonder what people are thinking when they spot me 1) laying under trees; 2) creeping in the grass on my stomach; 3) taking what looks like pictures of random things (i.e. my for sale sign!).

I posted this on FB, but I'll say it again; I highly recommend taking an intro to photography class for anyone who takes pictures.

Random Stories

2010-10-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

We've had some cute things happen over the last few weeks, and I realized that if I don't write them down now, I'll forget.

Ava
When I picked Ava up from school a few weeks ago one of her teachers stopped me to tell me something. She said, "Ava was the only one who knew the difference between fresh water and ocean water [they're learning about salmon lifecycles]. I asked, 'Does anyone know the difference between fresh water and ocean water?' Ava raised her hand and said, 'The difference is that the ocean has salt in it, and fresh water does not.'" Ms. C further commented, "Yes, Ava sounded like a scientist." I supressed my chuckle and thought to myself that I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Bronwen
Bronwen and Ava were invited to a birthday party held in a Tae Kwon Do studio (awesome!). Part of the package was that the children got about a 30 minute general lesson with the instructor. During the lesson he had each child kick a hand pad. Unfortunately for him he was holding it too close to his face when he was leaning over for Bronwen's turn, so when she kicked it, it hit him in the face. So much for his Tae Kwon Do catlike reflexes. "Hee-yah," my karate kid!

Ava
I started my photography class last Thursday, and Ava told me, "Ooh mom, I wish it were show-and-tell in your class. Then you could bring us." I love that little kid!

Cate
Why do I think it's so cute when that little baby yawns, stretches and farts in my bed? She is 100% love to me.

Someone's Birthday

2010-09-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

I love you my true love.

Snoqualmie Falls, WA

2010-09-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

Conrad and I were enjoying our morning coffee while watching the news when we saw that it was supposed to be 74ºC and sunny today. Perfect weather to visit Snoqualmie Falls! This majestic site is about 30 minutes away from our house. Ava packed us some snacks and we were off! Here are some of my favorite pictures. :-)

Cate's Interesting Choice in Teething Rings

2010-09-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

We went to a birthday party last week and my sweet friend even made a party bag for Cate. The look on Cate's face as she was chewing on it was priceless! I love my goofy little girl!

There's a birthday party in the house! Whoop, whoop!

2010-09-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Mr. C-Rad's (because he's awesome!) birthday on Saturday with some good friends. The menu was my chicken stir-fry and rice; the music was Sirus XM's The Coffee House; the theme was having fun! One of my favorite things about looking at this set of pictures is that you can tell how much fun everyone is having -from the kids to the adults. Thank you Steve and Miki for tracking down Conrad's favorite beer, and Megan and Jeff for coming. You guys are simply the best!

Ava Began Pre-Kindergarden!

2010-09-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

Ava and her best school-friend, Kitana -they were the only two who remembered the old routine of finding their names on their spots and turning them into Ms. Colleen

Ava hanging her lunch box underneath her cubby

Ava and Ms. Jen, the AWESOME program director

Our other big girl in the house began "Pre-K, mom, not preschool" this month! :-) I think she is excited about the fact that her program has a new, more grown-up title more than anything else.

Ava Lost Another Tooth -this one, naturally!

2010-09-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

About a year and half ago I posted the story of how Ava accidentally lost her first tooth. After a year of waiting, her permanent tooth grew in -just in time for her other bottom baby tooth to fall out. :-)

Three days ago as we were getting ready to take Bronwen to school, Ava was talking to me and I noticed that the said tooth looked very wiggly and ready to come out. I said, "Ava, let me see your tooth!" I wiggled it and said, "Oh my goodness, it's about ready to fall out!" She immediately backed up and clamped her mouth shut (she gets freaked out by that kind of stuff), and went to inspect how lose her tooth was herself. She went back and forth twice with her little fingers, and suddenly it was in her hand. She pulled out her own tooth! She was very happy and ran upstairs to put it under her pillow.

Check out the big girl!

Thank you Aunt Mia!

2010-09-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Aunt Mia,

Thank you for the beautiful coat you sent me. When mom put it on me, I snuggled into my hood. I felt so warm and cozy. Then I tasted some of the silk ribbon on the bottom of it. ;-)

I love you!

Your Little Cate

Bronwen Began First Grade!

2010-09-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

I feel like the luckiest mom in the world! Bronwen began first grade on September 1st, and was already formally recognized for her reading skills in an assembly last week. To quote the principal, "Bronwen reads like nobody's business!"

We're off to an awesome start this school year partly because Bronwen got to keep her same teacher from last year. Mrs. Crowley, who is amazing, moved up to teach the first graders. She let me know ahead of time, so I was able to put in a request to have her for this year. To top it off, some of Bronwen's little girlfriends are in the same class too. It'll be great to see how much she changes throughout the year.

Here are some shots I took of Bronwen leaving school. Hard to believe a new year has already begun. :-)

My Fashionista and My Artist

2010-08-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

Guess who is who ;-)

Somebody has a tooth!

2010-08-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

At 7 months, Cate has sprouted her first tooth! Isn't she cute? :-D

If you want smart kids, include them in your projects!

2010-08-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

My girls cook, paint (like real painting), landscape, do chores, and many other things with me. They play integral roles in our family and in our daily lives. I believe because they help so much, they know they are very important to us, which leads them to feel confident about themselves. The best parenting advice I have is to include your children in as many ways as possible. I know it may take longer to do projects, or things may not be done quite right, but it's so worth it. Think of how much they can learn from you, and how good they will feel about themselves because they know their parents believe in their abilities.

Bronwen and Ava helping me paint artwork to hang in our house

The Bedroom: No fun project goes unpunished!

2010-08-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

"Why on earth did I want to redo Cate's bedroom when we have the house on the market?" I asked myself this question each time, six times (one per iteration) until I was finally satisfied with the finished look.

Before Cate was born, her bedroom was our beautiful, spacious guest-room, equipped with my treadmill. Introduce Cate's crib, the room looked like the spot where we stored everything. Funny how one piece of furniture threw off the feel of the room. I felt bad for Cate, so I wanted to fix it. This is when the circus began. ;-)

Iteration 1: "I'll paint a beige accent wall, behind the headboard." I went to Lowe's with the intent of buying said paint, and I don't know if I 1) had a stroke; 2) aliens invaded my body or 3) went color-blind because somehow I came out with mauve paint. This was the result:

Iteration 2: "I'll paint an off-white stripe across the wall to break up the mauve." Conrad came home (yes, I do my projects secretly while he's at work so he can't stop and reason with me!). His words, "I don't get the stripe. It reminds me of a racing stripe." I laughed with my girlfriend later on. "Ya, that was the theme for the house -Nascar." Hmm, "Maybe I should have attached some cars to the stripe." Haha!

Iteration 3: "I'll add small chocolate-colored stripes on either side of the off-white to warm it up. And while I'm at it, I'll have some fun with vinyl and buy a chocolate-colored blanket." Results, good, until I hang up the silver artwork above the headboard. Yikes!

Iteration 4: "I'll rope in Bronwen and Ava and we'll spray paint the artwork pink, and paint the borders chocolate." The darn pink doesn't match the mauve!!! Agh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iteration 5: "I'll spray paint it brownish/bronze." It looked silver! Agh!!!!!!!

Iteration 6: "I'll just repaint the borders chocolate again." Finally, success! I know the mauve is a little out there for some people's taste, but I actually like the look.

My rule of thumb that each of my projects involves a minimum of 4 trips to Lowe's, and several tries before I get it just right. It's so fun though!

Happy 9th Anniversay to My Love

2010-08-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

I love you more than words can say.

THE cake :-p

2010-08-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Some cropping and cutting and pasting had to happen, but here it is. It was as delicious as it looks!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-08-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

Mom, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. I always think of how you take care of me. I love you, and hope you had a magical day.

A mom who is so beautiful

A mom who is so talented; she BUILT that waterfull and put in the landscaping (I mean like literally tore out the grass, hauled in the rock, etc.!)

Tash and I made a fabulous cake (as tribute to the waterfall) for mom, but I need to repost the picture. The one I put up earlier had somebody in the background in their underwear hahahaha!

Love,
Your Chellie

Pictures of the girls and me -Conrad will be in the next set :-)

2010-08-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

My changing attire with a 6-month old!

2010-08-03T16:09:00.001-07:00

It was a short while ago that I resigned to the fact I could no longer wear black. "Why?" you ask. It's because of a cute little baby named Cate. For the last several months Cate has liked to leave almost bird-like droppings on my [black] shirts, or [black] pants. Despite being grossed out by the smell, I was always thankful that the spit up occurred with 99% accuracy on the front of me, as opposed to my back. The latter scenario would end up being very embarrassing. I could just picture it; I would be gallivanting about the town, unaware of nasty, smelly white streaks on my back. Yikes!

Well...that has changed! With the introduction to solid foods, I can no longer wear white! I made this unfortunate discovery today when I got to the pediatrician's office with a nice splash of orange on my shirt -ewww! The visit went well, despite mine and Cate's attire, and the shots.

Onto great news, Cate is right on track for her age! She's sleeping through the night (hooray! happened right after we moved her to her crib), sits by herself, and laughs at all the cute things her big sisters do. She is truly a little doll, as are her sisters!

Summer Days

2010-07-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

A typical summer day in the Douglas household looks like this...

Cate on my lap, as usual.

My contaminated water after I let Cate drink some.

Mom's view of Bronwen and Ava's rear ends and legs behind the table as they are eating their cat and dog food (goldfish), respectively.

Ava, running back into the house after I called her in to pee in the toilet when I saw her about to go in the yard (like a dog). She will probably be the actress in the family as she tends to stay in character.

Life doesn't get much better than this. :-)

A New July 4th Tradition is Born

2010-07-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Conrad and I decided to take the girls about an hour south to an indoor water park/ hotel called The Great Wolf Lodge for the 4th. Honestly, guilt made us do it! With a lot of the firework shows starting at 10 (really? and this was advertised as a family event?), we weren't up for going out to the see the displays. However, we didn't want to just sit around and do nothing. Thus the idea of a mini-vacation was born! We had a relaxing time (i.e. no laundry, making beds, cooking or cleaning), the girls got to work on their swimming, and Cate got to go in a pool for the first time.

The Entrance

A Peek-a-boo View of the Indoor Water Park

Oh yeah, sweets were to be had!

Cate getting ready for her first swim

Baby Wolves

I love this man!

Catching up: Bronwen's birthday!

2010-07-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

We now have a 6-year-old in the house! Bronwen was living it up for almost the whole month of June with birthday festivities in her honor.

Mrs. Crowley, her wonderful teacher, allowed us to celebrate in her classroom.

The following weekend we celebrated with some of her classmates at Chuck E Cheese. I forgot the camera, but you can imagine the scene: a million happy kids running around, filling up on pizza and cake. The coolest part is when they put her in a booth and she had to grab as many tickets as she could in a minute. She got so many!

Then came her actually birthday, which included homemade lasagna (her favorite) and cake and ice-cream with the family.

I love our big girl more than words can describe. She has a sweet and gentle spirit and is always willing to help others. She is always striving to do the right thing. I am so proud to be her mom. Happy birthday my love!

Sleeping Arrangements

2010-07-02T16:39:00.001-07:00

Hi my little sweetheart. I bet you've been having the grandest time sleeping in my bed during the last 6 months.

Turns out it's not the convenience it used to be. You have gone from being a great sleeper to a little monster who likes to wake up every few hours to nurse, and I let you because I don't want to deal with the crying.

I'm afraid I have to break both of us of that bad habit (i.e. time to move you to your crib).

Maybe I'll start tomorrow, though. I still can't think of not snuggling with you all night.

Schooool's out for summer!

2010-06-22T17:19:00.001-07:00

Yep, I've been humming that tune all day because why? Bronwen's school year ended today and summer has officially begun! Bronwen and Ava began the festivities by putting on their favorite dog and cat costumes in the backyard (love the slots in their tricycles "for their tails," as Ava told me). In case you're wondering, yes, they have regular bikes, but they're in the garage so they won't rust over with our surplus of rain.

Next up, we headed out to a nearby lake and had fun playing, visiting the ducks and making sand-castles. Man how I love summer!

Father's Day Photoshoot

2010-06-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Today we had the first sunny day in a week! What does that mean? Photo making time! I broke out the tripod and took some pictures for a collage I'm making Conrad for Father's Day. Here are some of my favorites -enjoy!

Kitchen Remodel Complete!

2010-06-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

What's the best thing to do when you pull your house off the market? Remodel of course! Last week completed the painful month-long process of remodeling our kitchen. We had the granite and slate backsplash professionally installed, but I did the cabinets, island, faucet and helped Con with the lights. The only thing left is crown molding -yeah! The improvement is 100%! For those of you planning on remodeling in the future, the process takes a toll on your sanity (especially if you like things clean and organized) almost as large as the toll on your wallet. :-p

Be There for Family and Friends

2010-06-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Last week my sister, Bianca, texted me, asking if I wanted to go to her college graduation. This amazing lady finished her BS in 3.5 years (in December), and decided she wanted to attend the Spring ceremony. At first I texted back, "no," because Bronwen had assessments the following week, and the trip would require her to miss school on Monday. The more I thought about it though, my heart sank. I kept thinking to myself, if you can't count on your family to support and represent you, who can you count on? Suddenly I thought, "This is crazy -I'm not going to miss her graduation! Surely I can make arrangements." And, so I did (Bronwen's teacher postponed her testing to Tuesday).

As soon as I found out we could go, I called up Bianca and said, "Are you sure you can get more tickets?!" She was sooo happy, and I was so happy! The girls and I went, and even with three kids under the age of 6, we had a great time during the ceremony, and an even better time at the barbeque. Best of all, we didn't miss out!

The thing is, we are all busy, and can always come up with an excuse as to why we can't be at one function, either for family or friends, or the other. The sad part is that when we don't go, we miss out. We miss out on the fun and on the opportunity to really be there for the ones we love. This is especially sad when it's for brothers and sisters. I mean I look at my little girls who are the best of friends, and think it would break my heart if they weren't there for each other as adults. So, my challenge to everyone who reads this is to find every reason to try and be there for your friends and family instead of every excuse as to why you can't. Trust me, you'll be happy you did!

I love you Bianca, and thank you for inviting us (and thank you, Dad, for listening to the nonstop baby crying on the way back haha)!

Motherhood and Trying to Get My Body Back

2010-05-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

I feel a little sheepish about admitting it, but I've really been into this season of the show Kendra. Yep, I'm talking about the former playboy bunny Kendra. For those of you who don't follow the show, it's been focusing on Kendra and her husband raising their beautiful baby boy born in December. What I love about the show is that it shows the reality for many of us normal women of what it's like trying to get back into shape and accepting the "new body" post baby. I love the fact that she gained 50 lbs during her pregnancy (I gained 45 -with 2-weeks left). I love the fact that she doesn't understand why the weight won't come off (as she's stuffing sweets in her mouth -like me- who ever saw a skinny cow producing good, quality milk anyway?). I love that it shows the frustration of trying to look like your old self, while trying to take care of baby. "Do I do a billion more sets of bicep curls, crunches, lunges, to look awesome, or do I leave the gym now so I have energy to play with the kids and hold my baby?"

Cate has definitely thrown me for a loop this time, and I will say that as I still have those stubborn last 10 lbs, it is hard to see my soft tummy and bigger sha-booty (as the girls say). But then I look at Cate and the girls and realize that I will have the rest of life to be a gym rat, but only a finite amount of time to cuddle my baby and nourish her. So, for all you moms out there who aren't quite where they want to be yet, give yourselves a pat on the back. Anyone can have a hot little bod, but not everyone can be so lucky to be a hot mama!

More Stuff I Made Today :-)

2010-05-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

A Fun and Super Easy Cute Craft

2010-05-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

A few weeks after Cate was born I bought a cute headband with a flower on it for about $10. I was in love with the look, but didn't want to fork out tons of money on hair stuff. So...I went to the Dollar Store today, bought 5 bundles of flowers (that were only $1) and five packs of headbands (2/pack), and started sewing! This project is so ridiculously easy, and the effect is super cute. I encourage all moms/aunties/grandmas/friends of little girls to try it! An FYI, be sure to take out the plastic backings on the flowers (just sew the flowers to hold the petals together), so it won't press on baby's head. Enjoy!

Dance Recital Weekend

2010-05-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Bronwen and Ava had their second dance recital yesterday and it was great! It's remarkable how much their dancing has improved in a year. I wish I had something more creative to write about it, but the day (or night should I say) was topped off with Ava vomitting and running a fever of 103.7. Being up with her for three hours, plus getting up to feed Cate at 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, then 5:30 (seriously?!) has me tired. Fortunately, Ava only has a slight temp now (and no more throwing up), I'm almost caught up with the stinky laundry, and Cate is sleeping. Ah the trials and tribulations of motherhood... :-)

Portland Trip/ Grandpa's Birthday

2010-04-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Once again can I say how wonderful it is to be a few hours away from my wonderful family? I got some great pictures of the family, went out to eat, took long walks to the park, and capped off the visit celebrating my dad's birthday. Fun times!

Conrad, Me and Cate

2010-04-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

Cate is 11 weeks old, and it is amazing how quickly she is growing and changing! At night, she has started sleeping 6.5 hrs in a row, waking up only to eat, then goes back to bed. So far she is the best sleeper. :-) Conrad, the girls and I are just soaking her up. Some fun things:

-She loves icing (Bronwen was "feeding" her some off of her donut)
-She smiles the most when she first wakes up and when she's being changed
-She loves bath-time
-She needs to be in somebody's arms at all times -yikes, I know, but at least my arms are getting buff haha!

I am so proud of her and her awesome sisters. :-)

Maternity Photo Shoot

2010-03-19T19:09:00.001-07:00

One of my girlfriends volunteered to be my model so I could practice taking maternity portraits. We got some beautiful shots, and here are some of my favorites! It's amazing how much I've learned just by getting out there and really using my camera. I've been having an absolute blast!

More Pictures; Ballet Series

2010-03-11T17:29:00.001-08:00

My new hobby (and subsequent camera!)

2010-03-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

For the last few months, I have come across the most imazing photographs on several blogging sites (my favorite is Darin Warnick Photography -the link is on the blog). I have been inspired, and so with some of the money we got back from Uncle Sam, Conrad bought me my first "real" camera. I have been having a lot fun during the last 24 hours going through the manual and practicing with my cute test subjects. I'm going to enroll in an introductory photography class in April and look forward to seeing the results. Here's to fun in capturing moments! :-)

My family loves me so much

2010-02-04T10:36:00.001-08:00

I am the luckiest little baby in the world!