10.01.2012

Seattle!

In early October we finally got the chance to visit our good friends the Mann's at their new home in Seattle. We grew very close to these guys the short time they were with us here in Santa Barbara, and were so sad when they broke the news that they would be heading back to their previous place of dwelling in Seattle. Well at least we love Seattle so visiting them was extra fun! We also got a break from the crazy heat we were experiencing here in Santa Barbara. The weather was even sunny for us. The Mann's were good sports and played tourist with us for a couple days, but they also made sure to show us the local scene including some of their favorite shops, neighborhoods and eateries. The most impressive thing by far was their generosity. What great hosts! We woke up to pancakes, bacon and waffles and finished off our evenings with some yummy liberation of their making. Love love love
We miss you Mann family!


Violet's first plane ride was... busy.


relaxing after a long day of sight seeing at gasworks park

troll bridge!

rolling





more rolling






We did the Duck tour (like our Landshark- but waaaay better)- view of Gasworks park from Lake Union


duck tour baby!









We also had a chance to meet up with my lifelong friends Christy and Bonnie.
These are my little Cajun sisters and I love them so much.
Here they are making us a shrimp boil- per James's request.
Christy had her baby boy named Wilder in December.


Bonnie Ann cooks up a mean shrimp boil!
                                     

our first actual double date with the Mann's
                                                 


feeling so grown up here but why do Sarah and Jason look like they're still in college? 


this picture about sums it up their relationship

ipad menu and dry ice- swanky or cheesy? you decide

view from our window at the restaurant

Violet took her first steps in Seattle! Show off

Was it  his birthday??
on our last night they bbq'd and had some friends over. Love these girls!
Love you Mann family!
Now move back already!

9.22.2012

Touch-A-Truck, Painted Cabernet, Beach Walk

The weekend of Sep 22 was super busy. 
We took the girls to see the PEP fundraiser Touch-A-Truck, had a really fun beach walk and finally checked out the Painted Cabernet with friends Kate and Grant.
Action packed and super fun!
bounce house at Touch-A-Truck

this was Violet's first time in a bounce house,
since there weren't any big kids in there I decided to let her have at it

sam- so cute!


ever since Pen started watching Daniel the Tiger she's grown a special fondness for trolleys

buds



beach walk-one of my favorite ways to start a Saturday-
we walk, get coffee and let the kids stop at the different parks along the way




lets just say I got an early start before the Painted Cabernet ;)

um, so these two just love taking pics together--- who's that grumpy guy in the corner?





9.21.2012

LAPS trike-a-thon

My little ladybug had her first trike-a-thon today.
Her school, Little Angels, puts on this annual fundraiser every year.
It's so cute all the kids go around the track a couple times and at the end they get a medal. 
Everybody cheers them on, so cute!



the 3-4year old class in their bumble bee shirts cheering on the ladybugs!







9.16.2012

Violet turns 11 months!


On September 16 Violet Mae turned 11 months old.
In her tenth month she had her very first day at "school" at Infant Times 2. She loves playing in the tunnels and dancing with mommy. When she was 10 months, 22 days old she started saying "Uh-Oh" when she drops her food on the floor. She particularly enjoys feeding Gracie when she's in her high chair so now I have to put Gracie outside when its time for her to eat. :) She also started waving this month. Very cute. 


snack at Infant Times

waving

enjoying a bday lunch with mommy and Kelly

this pic cracks me up!

9.04.2012

Pen's 1st Day at Little Angels Preschool



Friday, August 31st, 2012 was Penelope's first day at her new preschool, Little Angels.
She visited a couple times over the summer and loved it. In fact, for the past three weeks she's been asking me daily about Little Angels. So of course on Friday she was very excited to finally get to go again. I explained to her that mommy would leave this time, but would come back to get her- and she seemed to be okay with this idea. Sure enough when we pulled up to the school she said "I'm so happy." She also insisted that she get to give her teachers their gifts herself. She adamantly repeated this to me several times and I was like "geez! I get it!" Her first day went great and she even picked one of the songs in circle time. When I picked her up she was sweaty from playing chase. She saw me, gave me a great big hug and then ran back to the bird seed table where she proceeded to ignore me as I tried to get her to leave. Well one can only hope every day is this good. 
Crossing my fingers this isn't just her "honeymoon phase" before reality sets in! ha!



giving teacher Eileen her flower
In her new ladybug classroom- thanks Jen for taking these!

such a big girl!


teacher gifts


to make this new change extra special I decided to give Penelope a new ladybug lunch box!

her school asked that we fill up these hearts with pictures from home so that if the kids get sad they can look to these for comfort. I filled Pen's up with pics of loved ones but also of fun memories like the carousel and fireworks


good job on a great first day P!
We love you!