Birthday Celebrations

I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday this year.  More than anything, I think that birthdays are a good time to reflect on all that has happened in the last year.  My 31st year was a big one with a lot of changes.  I kicked the year off celebrating our dear friends' wedding in Sun River.  Allison's and Rob's wedding was such a great time away with friends - and one year later they are expecting a little girl!  We can't wait to meet their girl in a little over 3 months.  In June we welcomed Katie into our world, which has been the best gift.  It has been an adventure navigating through life as a family of four.  The rest of the year is a little bit of a blur (post-baby memory is gone) - but I am so thankful for health, family, friends, and laughter.  Oh, and a glass of wine or two mixed in between : )

Kyle and I were able to get a night away and enjoy a dinner at Canlis - one of my absolute favorite restaurants.

Our view from the restaurant - taken from kyle's phone

That weekend, the boys went up to Whidbey to open it up for the season and the girls and kids had a slumber party at the Warmes.  We watched the Royal wedding and tried to keep all eight kids happy.  I am so thankful for my sisters!

All cousins, minus Katie who already had gone to bed...so calm : )

And the night continued...

The next morning - playing dress-up with Katie

What I woke up to on my actual birthday



And a Cinco de Mayo post-birthday celebration with friends (I forgot to take any pictures!)

I am one lucky lady!

Easter - Part II

After some pool time and nap time, we were back at it again.  First - we played with the Freers - Joe, Molly, and Andy searched for eggs in the arroyo.

Then Katie and Campbell Leady met for the first time in person, although they had already met in their mommy's bellies : )

The next generation of the ski group : )

Easter - Part I

I am catching up, slowly but surely.  Easter in Palm Desert is so fun.  Easter in Seattle...usually means rain and indoor egg hunts.  Easter in Palm Desert means spring clothes for the kids, egg hunts outside, and warmth!  We celebrated all day long and had a blast.  The morning started off with the Easter bunny leaving baskets for the kids.  Andy left carrots outside and a note...but the pictures of all of this are lost, which I am so sad about.  Either way, it was fun to celebrate this with Andy since this is the first time he understood the concept somewhat. 

We opened Easter baskets and had an indoor egg hunt.  Then we ventured to the Indian Ridge egg hunt outdoors - complete with a bouncy house, face painting, balloons, and a visit from the Easter Bunny.  After the club house celebration, we went swimming and played in the sunshine - and then got ready for Easter dinner.  We had another egg hunt in the arroyo with the Freers and then dinner with the Leadys.  Such a fun way to end our vacation!

Reading books from the Easter basket loot

Indoor Egg Hunt

Getting ready for the outdoor egg hunt

Palm Desert - Katie and Her Tutu

Here are some more of Katie with her pink tutu.

All done!

Palm Desert - Pool time with Katie

Katie was great in the water - but I didn't get any pictures of her there...because I was the one holding her!  I had to post these sweet pictures with her Bapa.

Palm Desert - Pool time with Andy

The weather was perfect - not too hot, but hot enough for Andy to want to get into the pool and stay there.  Andy gets cold pretty easily (we are working on thickening his insulation!), so it was fun to see him so excited to stay in the pool.  He was obsessed with jumping off the side of the pool and enjoyed having his sister in the pool with him (quite a challenge to have two non-swimmers want to be in the pool at the same time...but thankful for lots of help!).