Day trip to Vashon Island

Our friends Travis and his lovely wife Emma invited us out to their family's cabin for the day. It was great to see a body of water again. So refreshing. The smell, the crisp air, the beauty of the mountains. All of it.

 An attempt to get a photo.

 Another attempt. 

Kids+wind+bright sunshine+distracting sand to dig in= not so great photos.

We did get in some serious bird chasing time though.

The kiddos thought it was neat to drive the car onto the boat and we tried to get yet another photo from the deck. But way too windy.

They would much rather play in the car.

 Beautiful Mt. Rainier from the ferry.

When we got off the ferry we drove for a few minutes then hiked down to the cabin.
Everything is so beautiful here.

Our friends' littlest guy. Super. Duper. Cute.

We bubbled.

 Our friends' oldest boy. Another serious case of the cuteness.

 And played with rocks.
And searched for sea glass.

 We swam.

We played with the hose.

And got splashed by the hose guy. :)

 We just plain looked cute.

 And took in the view.

 Our lovely friends Travis and Emma.

We thought it would be fun for the kids to go on a boat ride...

It was pretty fun for her. Especially when our friend Jason let her drive the boat.:)

But Bubba didn't really have an opinion. 

Lovely view from the cabin.

And last last but definitely not least. The kiss! Still cant believe she actually went through with it as she is usually telling me how she doesn't really like boys. She did today! :)

Wordless Wednesday. Bell Buckle, Tennessee

Suckie Free!

 My daughter was very attached to her "suckie" and that's why she was 3 when we eventually "sent them to the newborn babies in the hospital" but they are actually still in my pajama drawer. I couldn't get my self to trash them...don't tell her.

Little Man has been attached to "suckie" for quite some time now, and showing no signs of kicking the habit on his own...then I noticed a change in his teeth. Drastic times call for drastic measures....

I am going to miss these sweet post-nap-suckie-faces...sunglasses and all.

 I knew I didn't want him to have suckie when he was 3 and that means I had to start weaning him off it now, cause goodness knows how long it would take. So I cut a hole in one that already had a hole. Little at first, but smart little guy would turn it in his mouth so his tongue would cover the hole. On to my next next attempt: cut a cross in another suckie at the tip. (thanks to my friend Allison-who told me about this) I wanted him to still be able to have his suckie at night, to hold, and with the hole in it that's about all he can do. 

This was a very gradual process, about a month or so of little holes here and there and him telling me that it was broken. Not many tears, because it was just a fact, the suckie was broken and there was nothing he could do about it. It was sad because I wanted him to have that security he has had with suckie since he was a baby, but I also knew he would be fine without it.

Fast forward to last week, and he has thrown his suckies away on his own! One by one, day by day, because they are broken! I hate to trick the little guy, but it worked! And I am so proud. We have been suckie free ever since. 

Hooray!

Now to get him to use that potty...

Anniversary date night. Seattle style.

We decided to go downtown on our 5th wedding anniversary for old times sake and stroll pike place market again. We love the hustle and bustle of it all, plus I thought it would be fun to compare an old photo of back in our dating days...

Then: 

 Ahhh young love. Dont laugh.

 Now:

 8 years later.  Where has the time gone??!

 We went to 'Lola' to have appetizers and these beignets with vanilla-mascarpone frosting that were on the Food Network's show "The best thing I ever ate". And boy were they all they were talked up to be. Absolutely Heavenly.

I could hardly wait to get my paws on them.

Him either. ;)

After our appetizers and heavenly beingets we strolled around downtown hand-in-hand. Well not in this picture, and the 4 photos above - I had to have two hands for the camera of course. We are not really given the chance to hold hands all that often anymore, so we took advantage. 

And I loved it. 

Anyways,

I eventually asked my Hubby what movie we were going to go see. He replied "Why don't we get dessert to-go somewhere and walk down to the pier and watch the sunset instead."

"Whaaa?" I replied grinning. "Really?"
I couldn't have thought up a better night.
My husband can be pretty romantic, but usually not one

to skip a movie (in the theater) when given the chance. Especially ones that have been given 3 1/2 stars. Those are definite must-sees in his book.

 I'm pretty lucky. :)

 This guy came for a visit.

I think he eyed our desert. 

But flew away because we wouldn't give him a bite.
Such beggars those sea gulls.

Cheers to eating tiramisu and chocolate mousse and watching the sunset in peace.

This was definitely my kinda day.
 Good work honey!