The Tibbetts Family

What Can I Say...

2011-03-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

She loves the camera, literally.

I Love This Face...Enough Said!

2011-03-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

I Have The Sweetest Husband

2011-03-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

My husband knows I love flowers and especially the big bouquets that he occasionally surprises me with from Pike Place Market. He brought these home to me at the beginning of Feb. and it reminded me of Spring. Have I told you guys how lucky I am to have him as a husband, a father and as a best friend. Well, I am. I am blessed beyond words. I love you John!

Science Fair Project

2011-03-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

This was the first year Blaise was required to do a Science Fair project so this was definitely an experience. He chose his topic all on his own; which butter melts faster, margarine or real butter. He was excited about all the trials and presentations. I wonder what he will choose next year. Hmmmmm. Great job Brother (what everyone calls him at home).

Family During The Holidays!

2011-03-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

This past Christmas was the first time we have stayed in Washington since moving to the NW. We celebrated Christmas with my Mother in law and sister in law in Renton. I wish I could have captured my children's expression as they walked into the door. There were so many presents and the house was decorated so cute with personalized stockings and decorations. Barbara, I know you will ready this, and I want to thank you for all the work you put into making our Christmas so awesome. It was amazing the happiest we all felt and you truly mean the world to us! We hope to see you this weekend :)

Christmas!!

2011-03-10T21:20:00.000-08:00

Can you tell I'm trying to catch up on posting... Wow, these are from Christmas. I keep telling myself that as long as I'm posting, it's OK. We had a blast as always this past Christmas. Each of the kiddos received their very own cot for camping and Santa brought the younger ones a bb gun and Blaise a pellet gun. John loves to go shooting at the range so we thought we would make it a family event! The close up of our Christmas tree was to show you some of our ornaments. They each have one ornament for each year of their life. They are old enough now, that they can pick out their very own glass ornament every year. It's turned into a fun event and one that takes us down each isle until they find that special ornament that they claim as their very own. We come home and write their name and the year on the bottom so there is no confusion.

Birthday Meal, Japanese Style

2011-03-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

Every year the kiddos get to pick a restaurant of choice for their birthday meal. This year we sort of guided Ethan with his choice and we ate at a Japanese restaurant where they cook the meal in front of you on a hibachi grill. We all had a ball as the chef tossed Shrimp shells, made volcano's out of onions, and juggled utensils. I do have to mention that the fire and utensil tossing scared Addi and I don't think she will be visiting that sort of restaurant for many years to come. Her birthday is in April and she has already mentioned to us that she will NOT be choosing the Japanese restaurant. I bet she chooses Rainforest Cafe, it's one of her favorites.

The Many Faces of E

2011-03-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

Here are the many faces of our youngest. He is the happiest little guy who happens to have the best hair in the family. These pictures make me smile, how blessed we are to have this little guys in our lives!

Birthday Bash!

2011-02-16T13:41:00.000-08:00

Since Ethan was born 3 days before Christmas, it has been easy for the 2 special days to merge together over the last 2 years. I promised myself that this birthday would be special and separate. Ethan is a pirate little boy so we had the cutest cake complete with cupcakes for his party. It was fun and he had a blast! Can't wait to see what he will want for his themed party this upcoming year.

My Heart Still Hurts...

2011-02-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a note written by my husband last week, we had such a scare that we want to get the word out to as many people as possible. I still cry when I think about what happened, and I have anxiety the last 2 -3 times I've dropped him off at pre-school. I hope you all learn from our experience and please share the message! I love my family and I'm so grateful for them!

I forgot to secure the cap to a bottle of cough syrup; Ethan got up this morning and sometime after breakfast drank the entire bottle. We didn't notice anything until he started saying "I'm crazy mommy...I'm crazy." He wouldn't stop saying it...We noticed a rash, and quickly after that it hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't hold his head up, it kept rolling from side to side...his eyes were out of focus and rolling around in his head. At first we thought it was a concussion, he had taken a pretty good spill and had a bump on his head...we just didn't know, so we called an ambulance which took Jen and E to the hospital. Jen told me afterward that E was completely unresponsive, wouldn't talk, wouldn't react to anything on the way to the hospital.

After a CT scan, a chest x-ray, and a spinal tap...the ER doctor was able to rule just about everything out except an allergic reaction, OR if he got into something. I drove home to comb through the house to see if I could find something; Jen asked E while I was en route, he told her that he had drank a bottle of orange medicine. When I got home I found the empty bottle, right were I had left it the night before.

My little man could've died today, the ER doctor admitted after he stabilized how worried she had been Thankfully he is doing much better, as of a few hours ago he was tearing through a bag of potato chips and wanting to drink dad's Coke. I couldn't stop staring at him, feeling like I had failed in the most basic way a dad could fail...to protect my family. E turned and looked at me, I told him I was sorry...he said, "that's okay daddy." I will never forgot today, or that moment.

The pediatrician came in and tried to make us feel better, she told us how often this kind of thing happens...parents that are shocked to find out that one of their kids got into a medicine cabinet. She asked us to remind our friends, ALL OF OUR friends how important locking up all medicine is. Don't count on child proof caps, don't be surprised that "baby-proof" cabinet locks aren't so baby-proof...I wouldn't want any of you to go through what my family went through today.

Thankful Jars

2011-01-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

We've started a new tradition in our household where we write on a piece of paper what we are thankful for. We will do this every year on Thanksgiving day. I'm still contemplating how to preserve the outer drawings and if we should do a new outer layer every year? But... the tradition has been started and it will be a fun thing to look forward to this upcoming Thanksgiving.

Holidays with the Fam

2011-01-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas Day with my Sister In Law and Mother Law, which was so much fun. The kids laughed, smiled, and played the entire time we were there. I can honestly say they slept like champs that night. I added this top photo so you guys could see John (in the photo on the wall) as a kiddo :)

Snow Day

2011-01-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

We love the snow and we were extrememly excited and shocked that the school district did not cancel school. The street was full of kiddos running around throwing snow at each other as they waited for the bus. We are hoping for one more good snow before Spring :)

Soccer 2010

2011-01-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

We ended another successful soccer season with a pizza party. These boys have played soccer together since they were 5. They all go to the same school and all live within 2-3 miles of each, with 4 of the teammates living in the same neighborhood. It's an awesome experience and I love to watch them grow every year. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Yep, she loves the camera!

2011-01-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

She is what she does now when I pull out my camera. I'll take a silly face over a mad face any day. By the way, I love this face!

Halloween 2010

2011-01-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

This was the first year that all three kiddos voiced their preference for Costumes. Blaise wanted to be a Pokemon Trainer, Addi a Princess and Ethan a Pirate. How fitting for all three. I had to add this first picture of Addi, it's a look we get often when she is not happy. I'm sure she will look back at this photo when she is older and smile :)

New Deck

2011-01-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to have a deck this Spring/Summer. I can't wait to sip my sweet tea outside under the sunlight with my feet kicked up and reading a book. I can dream, right? I'm sure I will be running around chasing little kiddos with my sweet tea in my hand, that's the realistic version of my dream :) Ahhh, what would our world be like if we couldn't dream. Thanks John, for getting this project started, can't wait until the finished product.

Doing The Puyallup!

2011-01-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

We always look forward to the Puyallup fair every year, and this year was no different. The kiddos are at the age now where they get excited about the Fair and it's so fun to watch their excitement. We are already looking forward to next year! Oh yeah, the last picture of Blaise is where he could not take the smell of the animals in the buildings.

Soccer Days!

2010-12-13T10:08:00.000-08:00

Blaise really had a blast this past year with Soccer. This will be his fifth year to play and he gets better every year! It's fun to watch him on the field as he runs around and works with his teammates! I am already looking forward to next year :)

More of My Sidekick!

2010-12-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I laughed out loud for several minutes when I found this picture on my hard drive. We were at my Sister's house this summer and I told him to look at the camera and this is the face that followed. I love this face, I will always cherish it!

Finally

2010-11-10T23:12:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to take some photos of my son and he did not frown or run from the camera. I was doing a Senior Photo Session and I caught him climbing through the structures at Gas Works Park. He was totally in his element so maybe this is a good start. I love my Big Boy!

Modeling Products

2010-11-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

It's so easy to grab Addi & Ethan when A fellow Photographer or myself needs pictures of products for a company. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when they get bigger, I guess start doing product shots for different clothing lines, etc. Here they are in full force; Addi being a ham for the camera and Ethan moving, looking, investigating, jumping, etc. Blaise is still refusing to model products but I'm thinking he is starting to at least warm up to the idea.

Random Snapshot

2010-09-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

I love when I go through various files that I have not opened, and find hidden treasures. This photo was taken on a day that I had an indoor session and my kiddos wanted to be silly and play on the background paper. Blaise wanted to pose everyone and of course he was front and center. Addi was making sure she was posing and I really can't explain what Ethan was in the process of doing. I'm sure it was right before a burst of energy to run and tackle Blaise.

2010 Family Vacation-Oregon Coast, Part V

2010-09-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here are the beach pictures from vacation. It was so cold but we refused not to visit the beach and explore the sand. We had a blast and they all wanted to build sandcastles and play in the water. I stepped in the water once and I could not feel my toes for an hour. John thought this was funny.....hmmmm. I included yet another picture of John's addiction to his crackberry, I mean blackberry.

2010 Family Vacation-Oregon Coast, Part IV

2010-09-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

On a rainy evening, we ventured out to the town's Arcade. This arcade was beyond huge and provided everyone with tons of fun. There were games for everyone and the air bumper cars were the best! The last picture is for good measure, John showing his true addition to his crackberry, I mean blackberry.

2010 Family Vacation-Oregon Coast, Part III

2010-09-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

We went to the Air Museum, which seemed to be one of the favorites for the kiddos. They were fascinated the entire time and were full of questions. I have to say, it was definitely a learning experience. If you are planning a vacation to the Oregon Coast, especially around Seaside, this is a must :)

Tillamook Tour

2010-09-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here are the rest of the pictures from our Tillamook Cheese Factory. What a fun experience and a great learning experience for our kiddos. Did I mention that we also were able to eat ice cream at the factory, yum yum!

2010 Family Vacation-Oregon Coast, Part II

2010-09-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun exploring the Oregon Coast; we would occasionally pull over and gaze at the ocean and what seemed to remind us of how small we are in this wonderful world. I'm also including pictures from our tour to the Tilamook Cheese Factory. It was really neat for us to see the process of cheese making and then to be able to sample various types of cheese. I was in pure heaven!

2010 Family Vacation-Oregon Coast

2010-09-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Something about water is very calming to me; the sound of the waves, the undisturbed flow of the water, and the overall awe of what has been created. The first sights of the ocean sent an instant calm through my body and it never left the entire vacation. I will be seeking the water year after year, that is if I can get away with it :) I have to blog about our vacation during the next couple of days due to all the pictures.

Princess Camp

2010-09-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

This was the first year that Addi participated in Princess Camp, and I have to admit she was totally in her element. They were able to dress up daily in princess clothing, meet various Princess characters, arts & crafts, dancing, etc. They even put on a little dance for us at the end of the camp :) Sadly for her it only lasted a week, she is anticipating next years week of being a princess.

Visiting a Local Beach

2010-09-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

Our neighbor invited us to join her and her FAB Great Dane at a local Beach this summer. And yes, I know I'm so far behind on my family blog, I'm just now downloading pictures from my, "other," camera. This was the first time we were able to view low tide up close. We saw clams, and other sea creatures up close and it was amazing. Thanks Nikole for opening up our eyes to a local treasure that we will surely visit again.

Yes My Little Model Can Work The Camera!

2010-09-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Anytime I need product shots I take my precious little girl with me and she works it, and I mean she loves the camera. What a blessing for me :) What memories we will have of our little Sunshine when she gets older. Now if I could get my 2 boys to love the camera.....hmmm.

4 year pictures

2010-07-06T12:30:00.001-07:00

I was able to finally get some four year pictures of Addi, I thought it would take forever for the sun to shine and spring/summer to arrive. Addi, thanks for being such a good sport and loving the camera, it makes me smile almost as much as you do :)

John's Birthday Bash

2010-06-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

We started a tradition last year of having a cookout for John's birthday, and we now look forward to this yearly event! We always have way too much fun and eat way too much food. We have met some really great friends here in the NW and look forward to fun times in the future!

Addi's Birthday Breakfast

2010-06-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

When it's their birthday, they get to pick their choice of restaurant! On Addi's birthday, she wanted to eat at the buttered biscuit in Sumner, YUMMY! They have the best cornbread, and I mean the BeSt! What a great morning it was!

My Birthday Surprise

2010-06-07T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have to give my husband tons of credit; he flew my Sister in for a visit as a surprise Birthday Gift. What a lucky girl I am! He treated me to Japanese Food and then pulled off the ultimate surprise. I can't begin to tell you how thankful and grateful I am for such a wonderful husband. God truly blessed me that June night as he prepared both of us for a blind date! I love you John, and thank you for being you and for all that I am because of you!

My Little Pose Pal!

2010-06-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have to say it is so nice to grab Addi when I need to do a product shot. She is so fond of the camera and will give me the cutest faces and we always end up laughing by the end of the shoot. Thanks my little Addi, for being such a great sport!

My Sis Leaves the South to Visit the Pacific Northwest

2010-05-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

For my birthday this year my husband flew my sister to the Northwest for a surprise visit. I have to say, I've never been so surprised and happy in the same single moment. I miss my family and friends back in the South, so this was a HUGE treat. We took her to some of our favorite spots in Seattle; Pike Place Market, Ferry Boat Ride, Lunch at Ivars sitting outside by the water, and Snoqualmie Falls. I was hoping she would fall in love with WA and ship the rest of the family up for an extended stay, maybe next time :)

What a Super Star!

2010-05-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

I love it that my little girl loves the camera; gives me a lot of practice with my photography, and also gives her lots of memories! She is such a ham and definitely adds a unique spark to our family.

Out With Friends

2010-05-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our friend's birthdays by going to a great pizza place, The Rock! It's always fun for us to get out with adults and have some fun without changing diapers, or worrying about our little kiddos painting on walls :) Thanks for the fun night Adrienne and Percy!

Addi's 4th Birthday Party

2010-05-12T16:11:00.000-07:00

We had Addi's 4th birthday party at our house during my turn to host our weekly playgroup. The kiddos had a blast and Addi was a princess for a day. She picked out her cake and had only one request for her party, "I want a pink one." I even made her pink princess punch :) I have to smile when color is involved, because for a while it's all about pink and purple.

Wow, It's Been A While!

2010-05-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Losing so many of our latest family photos during the last computer crash, I neglected posting on our family blog. I am now emotionally over the computer crash and moving on :) Here are some photos I took yesterday while goofing off with my camera. Looking at the second photo, you will understand why Blaise is not in many photos lately, he gets frustrated and then gets angry when the lens is pointed at him. I'm hoping this aversion to my camera will ease, but in the meantime I will let him off the hook.

A few more...

2010-03-04T12:17:00.001-08:00

Thought I would add a few more from our promo shoot. I wish I could get my 8 year old to love the camera, think of all the great shots I could get of all three of my kiddos, *sigh.*

Addi & Ethan

2010-03-03T12:32:00.001-08:00

A fellow photographer friend and I took my youngest 2 out to an open field to do promo shots for an upcoming Easter Photo Event. We were able to get some great shots and I'm so proud of Addi for being such a great poser. I only wish Blaise, my 8 year old would enjoy pictures. He would rather sit in a bath of ice cubes before doing a photo shoot. Maybe he will grow out of this stage eventually :)

Rainy Days

2010-03-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Since we have learned that we can't beat the rain here in the wonderful state of Washington, we have decided to make the best of it. Below is one of the things we occasionally do when we can't go outside. We take a bowl and fill it with warm water and dish soap. I then find some spare change and I let the kiddos scrub the change with some old toothbrushes. I know it may seem silly to some of you, but it kept them entertained for over an hour. They loved it! Of course my 8 year old chooses to play Club Penguin on the Internet from time to time when the rain conquers all.

Ethan

2010-02-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

The weather here in Washington is predictably rainy during the winter months so I've waited to do Ethan's 2 year pictures until now. I'm only 2 months behind :) He is at the age where he says, "no," and will turn his back when the camera is in his view. Whew, what a fun session. I'm so happy to have these memories, I'm thinking we will look back at them and smile one day!

Visiting with my Southern Friends

2010-02-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

What a great visit I had with my college friends. I miss hanging out with them and was extremely sad when the night was over. We laughed, talked and ate some great appetizers. It's times like this when I'm around good friends and family that I get homesick. I'm already looking forward to the next time I can see them.

My Sister

2010-02-02T13:57:00.001-08:00

My Sister and I have taken many photos over the years, but this has to be one of my favorites. I am going to get it printed and find a good home for it in my house!

Christmas Vacation In the South Part III

2010-02-01T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Christmas at my parent's house. It was fun, loud, and filled with lots of yummy food! This is a time where we all get to spend the day together and catch up on the latest news. My sister and two brothers and all of our children running around like they ate a pound of sugar.

The big "2"

2010-01-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

My youngest turned 2 while we were visiting my family during the Holidays so we made a mini celebration and he was able to enjoy his mini cake. He is so much fun, and just watching him makes me smile!

Christmas Vacation In the South Part II

2010-01-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures from another family get-together in which there were 40+ people in attendance. What a wonderful time and it was great visiting with all of our relatives. Did I mention that the potluck style meal was INCREDIBLE. John and I were talking about how that meal was one of the best meals that we have had in a VERY long time. There is no place like the South.

Christmas Vacation In the South Part I

2010-01-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some random photos from my Grandmother's House as we celebrated Christmas together as a family. It was so nice to spend time with everyone, and always food was the central focus :). We can't wait to go back!

P R E C I O U S!

2010-01-20T20:07:00.000-08:00

I have to say my heart dropped when I walked into the room and say Addi with my niece and nephew sleeping soundly together. How sweet is this picture. Made me miss my family even more and to think of all the slumber parties we could have if we were all close. They were on each others heels the whole time we were there, literally!

El Porton

2010-01-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

We were all excited to eat at El Porton, one of our favorite's. They have the best chips and salsa, among other things :). We had so much fun visiting with our favorite people and was able to do it all at once. This will definitely have to be a tradition every year we go back to the South. Thanks El Porton, you made us proud!

Huey's and Pottery Barn Outlet

2010-01-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

This was day two in Memphis, we ate at John's favorite restaurant(Huey's) and was able to visit my favorite store (Pottery Barn). Addi had to wear my nephew's boots and Ethan had a rough day! I have to say Huey's made me smile because they added a new item to their menu; Fried Dill Pickles, yum yum!

Trip to the South

2010-01-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

Our trip to the South was highlighted by our favorite places to eat! The day we arrived, John was gracious enough to let me eat at McAllisters. They have the best sweet tea and their California Veggie wrap and Titanic Spuds are GREAT! Here are a few pictures from that night, including Addi and Jules feeling the need to dress as Princesses!

Laundry Mat Shoot

2010-01-10T20:27:00.000-08:00

I was going through some of my photo folders and remembered that I had not posted any of the Laundry Mat photos. My kiddos were ready for this day... I think :) They are so much fun lately, I don't want time to go by too fast.

Annual Boy's Christmas Party

2010-01-09T12:28:00.001-08:00

Blaise had his annual Christmas Party with all of his friends this year and again, it was so much fun. Addi even had a friend over this year. It is so neat to watch all of these boys grow, I can remember like yesterday when this group was in Kindergarten!

Final Thanksgiving Post 09

2010-01-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

I guess I should conclude my Thanksgiving post so I can wrap up 2009 and start on 2010. Here is a family picture from our vacation at Mt. Rainier. I can't wait to see if we decide to return to the same spot or if we decide to try a new adventure! I guess we will wait and see.

Thanksgiving at Mt. Rainier Part 1

2009-12-15T22:32:00.000-08:00

We decided to spend Thanksgiving doing something fun this year. We decided to go to Alta Vista Resort at Mt. Rainier, which turned out to be a fun place. My favorite part was the wood burning fireplace, I loved hearing the crackle of the fire while I slept.

They had a pool that was heated, which the kiddos loved! Hopefully next year it will be surrounded by snow.

Blaise and Addi's room was in the upstairs loft, they thought it was cool to have their own space.

John tending to the fire, such a man's job :)

This is where Ethan spent most of his time; up and down, down and up the stairs. Hopefully next year he will not find them so fascinating.

Halloween 09 II

2009-12-11T15:37:00.001-08:00

I have one more post after this one and I will be done posting about our 09 Halloween. This year was a lot of fun; Blaise was into being a SWAT guy, Addi wanted to be a Pirate and Ethan had the chosen hand-me-down pumpkin. The picture below may be one of my favorites of Blaise, it shows his true personality....tons of fun!

Halloween 09

2009-12-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

This was our annual Halloween trip to our local Pumpkin Patch. The kiddos get so excited because they get to go up and down the pumpkin patch and pick out their own pumpkin. It's always the same story; Blaise wants the biggest pumpkin, Addi wants the most unique pumpkin and Ethan grabs the pumpkin closest to him. John and I try to get a couple of pumpkins that will be flat on the front so that it will be easy for us to carve.

This is the monster truck ride that always frightens everyone until they actually ride and then they want to go again. You are guaranteed to get muddy.

Poor Neglected Blog

2009-12-09T14:04:00.001-08:00

I have to say once my computer crashed and I had to scramble to save all of my pictures, I began to neglect my family blog. I need to get back on track and do a better job. One of my New Year's Resolutions will be to do a better job of posting. With this being said, I guess I will start somewhere and post a picture I snapped not too long ago of my three kiddos. For some reason they all lined up against the wall and I remember Ethan saying, "cheese." I couldn't believe it. I ran to grab my camera just before he took off running again. Now if I can get Blaise to stop looking like he is scared to death in pictures, we will be on the right track.

A & E

2009-09-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

I snapped this photo while we were doing our photo event shoot a while back. I think it is so sweet when my kiddos hold hands and help each other out. Each one is special in their own way :)

Ethan

2009-09-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ethan did our Little Rascals Event Shoot and was such a little ham. He was a busy little boy but proved to complete the task with no problems :) I will have to think of some sort of event so Blaise can model.... OK, maybe I'm being a little ambitious.

My little Model

2009-09-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Addi was our little Photo Shoot Model for our Tea Party Event this last weekend. She had so much fun and was excited for her reward at the end of the day ( chocolate cupcake ). It was a lot of fun watching her, but more fun looking back at the pictures and what great memories she will have.

Blaise's Coming Home Party

2009-08-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Blaise requested a party this year to celebrate his coming home. After he arrived home from spending the summer with his Dad, we invited his friends over and they had a huge balloon fight followed by a giant chocolate chip cookie cake. John, Addi and Ethan joined in as well. Actually I think John had as much fun as the boys.

The Best PB&J Maker in the NW

2009-08-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

Blaise comes home one afternoon and wants to make his little brother and sister supper. He then proceeds to tell me that he will be making them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He was so funny as he made his first EVER sandwich for his younger siblings. He is such a caring, kind and loving child. He sliced the sandwich, set it on a plate with a napkin and then made sure they had something to drink as well. What a wonderful thing to watch.

Father's Day

2009-08-27T12:56:00.001-07:00

I have to do a better job of keeping my family blog updated. This is something I really want to stay on top of. These pictures are from Father's Day, and I know that was a while back, but better late than never. Blaise painted John a shirt at school and then made himself one to match. They had a night out at Gamebreakers so they wore their matching shirts. Blaise was so proud when John walked down the stairs in the shirt he had made.

Fun Times

2009-08-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

A fellow photographer friend showed me this cool spot in Tacoma to take Urban photos, so we met up and did a session with Addi. She was the perfect little poser and had a blast. Thanks Kamieo for showing me such an awesome spot!

New Floors

2009-08-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Our new floors are in and we are extremely satisfied. I still can't believe what was under our carpet when we pulled it up. At least we now know what is on our floor and we can clean it as needed. No hidden dust or allergens, and that makes me a happy camper!

ahhh, my Husband is a Sweetheart

2009-08-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

My husband walked in yesterday with my favorite flowers (stargazer lilies) from Pike Place Market. He then hands me a note that says, "Happy 62!!... months since we met." What a nice surprise. I'm so fortunate and blessed at the same time. Thanks John, you know how to make me smile, and I'm so thankful for you.

Happy Birthday Catey!

2009-08-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Last night Erin and I took Catey to Mama Stortini's for her birthday. I looked forward to hanging out with good friends and eating a great meal. After being in Mommy mode for a while, it was nice to switch gears. Happy (Early) Birthday Catey, I hope you have a great day and week, you deserve it!

Trip to Sunrise

2009-07-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Sunrise a while back and I fell instantly in love. You know how you feel in awe at certain places or you just feel like this is where you belong. We would have stayed longer if the mosquitoes were not feasting on our limbs for lunch. We plan on going back for a hiking/picnic trip very soon.I'm still amazed we have places like this close to our house. Just a 30/40 minute drive from house, and we are in heaven, literally.
Mount Rainier is amazing up close.
As usual, Ethan was on the go and never stopped the entire time we were there. I don't even think the mosquitoes could keep up with him.

That had this cool visitors center that was a site to see.

And... look at these hiking trails

Here is another view of the trails. Good thing we have backpack carriers, this is where we are going hiking in 2 weekends. This time we will know to take insect repellent!

A Long Haul

2009-07-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

I wish I had grabbed my camera at first site of this huge piece of wood or limb or whatever you want to call it. It all started with a knock on the door, followed by several boys yelping in excitement at what they had brought Blaise. How they brought this piece of wood from the bottom of a huge hill and down the street to our house is beyond me. I had a neighbor to later tell me he saw, "the boys," dragging it down the street. Blaise is loving to build, saw, drill, and measure right now, so they were all in heaven in our backyard with their safety glasses on. Oh the imaginations and innocence of childhood!

First Day of Pre-School

2009-07-03T10:03:00.001-07:00

Addi started her first day of Pre-School 2 weeks ago and is loving it! I know you are thinking pre-school in the summer, but the local Montessori School does a year round curriculum. She goes 2 mornings a week for 2 1/2 hours. Once she gets settled in I'm sure she will be bossing around the little boys. As I type this, I'm realizing that she is growing so fast. Where does the time go?

Addi...

2009-07-01T09:22:00.001-07:00

Every time I have my camera out, Addi always says, "take my picture." This is just one of those times. I'm just glad that I have one child that does not run from the camera, I have to chase and bribe the others.

How Thoughtful!

2009-06-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

My husband brings me flowers from Pike Place Market every year for my birthday, but this year he surprised me with flowers on our, "I met you 5 years ago today," day. How thoughtful. Again, I'm so thankful for everything in my life, especially my husband!

I love a challenge

2009-06-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am now on a mission to get a picture of all three of my kiddos, all standing at least together and looking at the camera. Below, Ethan initially did his usual, "run," when he saw the camera. He stopped long enough to smile at me as if to say, "You're not going to get me this time Mom."Here they are all standing together, but Addi and Blaise were past their two minute mark of patience. *Sigh* One day!

My Mini Garden

2009-06-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have really enjoyed the Mini Garden my friend and neighbor Jennifer made for me. Because we were uncertain if we were moving back to TN. or not, I did not want to make a big garden of vegetables this year. Well, word has it that we are not moving back, so luckily I have a pot that grows enough lettuce for John & I to enjoy a fresh salad. The tomato plant in the middle should take off once we have nice, sunny weather. If you have never experienced a salad made from fresh lettuce, you really don't know what you are missing. It is a huge difference in taste and texture. Next year, I hope to do a lot of vegetables as well as strawberries and maybe a raspberry bush.

Blaise's B-day Party

2009-06-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

Blaise wanted nothing other than a sleepover this year for his Birthday. So, being the nice Mom & Dad that we are, we said, "OK." We told him he could invite 8 friends for the sleepover, and he quickly asked if he could invite more since there would be some friends that would not be able to make it. Well, lets just say all 12 boys showed up and we had a house full of 8 year olds.Blaise wanted, "Kirby," cupcakes which is a Wii character and happens to be pink. It was his birthday, so Kirby cupcakes were on the menu. I will not comment on my Kirby skills, lets just say they resembled Kirby.
After taking all 12 children to the movies (Thanks Erin and Jennifer A. for helping) our neighbor came over and juggled fire. It was really neat, and the boys loved it. Blaise held the extinguisher in case the fire got out of hand ;)

We moved our dining room table against a wall and all the boys lined up their sleeping bags and played with Lego's until around midnight.

John made his famous chocolate chip pancakes the following morning and then we sent them outside for a water balloon war.

As you can tell, Ethan is outside in his pj pants and whacking the boys with Addi's shovel.

Visit from Parents

2009-06-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures from my parents visit. We had so much fun and the kiddos were terribly upset when their visit ended. We hope they come back soon! Pop-Pop teaching Addi how to fish, she and Blaise both caught a trout.
A snapshot Riding the pony was a big highlight

Addi is a pro with the pony ride

While they were here visiting, we went to Old McDebbie's farm and had a blast. We went on a nature trail that included an eye spy hunt. Random tree trunks are always a big hit.

Addi holding a baby kitten

Ethan enjoying alone time with Pop-Pop

They had their farm animals running around freely so Addi and Blaise fed them food they bought out of a dispenser, pretty neat.

John spent a great deal of time chasing Ethan, it has become a regular activity around our house.

Addi staying close

Ethan is not sure what is going on, but he did take a moment to glance at the goat before he took off running again.

Feeding the animals was a lot of fun

We spent a lot of time in our backyard finding bugs, rocks, etc.

We had a great visit and hope they come back and visit VERY soon.

Spring Family Pics 09

2009-06-22T12:55:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures from our family photos last weekend. As always, Ethan was busy, busy, but we managed to get some decent shots.

Happy Birthday Blaise!

2009-06-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my oldest is 8 today. I can remember like it was yesterday cradling him in my arms at the hospital in MS. I was such a nervous Mom, so scared I was going to do something wrong or that his cries meant more than just a cry. He is so special to me; he has a tender heart and is full of life. With each passing year I realize that my babies are not babies anymore, but growing children. I still cherish every moment and realize that I am so very lucky to have 3 wonderful children and a husband that I adore.Blaise always takes time with his siblings; he is explaining to Addi that the pond has Coy swimming in it.
Can you tell he is just oozing with enthusiasm to have his picture taken.

Addi 3 year pictures

2009-06-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to taking Addi's 3 year pictures. I have a few more locations and outfits to try out so I will post them soon. I have to do a better job of blogging my family events/happenings. I just downloaded pictures of my parents visit from Memorial Day. I will post those pictures next. I'm such a slacker at times ;).I love Addi's eyes, she has learned how to do great things with them. She can flutter them, she can roll them, she can wink, squint, smile, and spy with them.
She just had to have pictures with her new umbrella. Now when she gets new clothing or accessories, she thinks she has to have pictures with them.
This is John's favorite picture. She is such a Daddy's girl, really, it is beyond words.

Hair Affair

2009-06-04T12:56:00.001-07:00

Loretta came by last weekend to do that magic that she does to my hair and Addi and Blaise took advantage of having a stylist in the house. Addi got curls and Blaise got a much needed cut. They are both like me; getting anything done to my hair relaxes me. Addi was in a trance and Blaise was almost asleep. Good to know that some of my genes were passed down!

Outside Fun

2009-06-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Since the weather has decided to warm up a bit here in the NW, we have had so much fun outside. This particular day we set up the kiddy pool and added a little finger paint.Blaise had a friend over and they decided to have a fingerpaint war.
Addi and Ethan wanted to join in the fun.

Sweet Little Addi!

Birthday Girl Turns 3

2009-05-14T21:57:00.000-07:00

Oh My, I can't believe that Addi is 3. She missed being born on my birthday by 3 days, it was a tight race. Every year we take our children somewhere special to eat for their birthday. They always choose Rainforest Cafe, which is real treat for us all. Addi was so excited to watch all the animals, fish, and butterflies. John was explaining the statue of Atlantis to Blaise, he was full of questions.

I was just thankful to grab a picture of Ethan while he was remotely still.

Below was Addi's favorite animal to watch; she loved the way he beat his chest and made funny sounds.

My Special Cake

2009-04-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

My birthday was last week and my dear husband was out of town playing golf in the vineyards in San Francisco. OK, well maybe his out of town trip was work related and he just happened to have a free morning the day of my special day in which he took that opportunity to play golf. Now I feel better; I've shared, you've listened and now I can move on. In all seriousness, sometimes the timing of events is not always favorable but we manage and move on. I wanted to do something special for my birthday so we went and the kiddos picked out this cake for me. Even though it was leaning and on the verge of toppling over, it was sweet that they thought the fairy cake was appropriate for Mom. So, the kiddos and I sat on the floor and gobbled up this cute and yummy cake as they sang Happy Birthday. What a sweet memory. Thanks for the precious cake/cupcake plate Alisha & Jen, I love it!

Soccer Time

2009-04-28T22:11:00.001-07:00

Addi had her first soccer practice this past weekend. It went, umm, OK. There was a fair amount of players on her team and only a fraction of that amount in Soccer Balls. Needless to say, everytime she went to kick, grab, or run after a ball, she was not fast enough. That started the slight frown, and after the fourth or fifth failed attempt to grab a ball, the hands went on her hips. She was frustrated by then and all she wanted to do cling to me; which is very rare for Addi. I'm hoping for a slight adjustment to the whole process this coming weekend when she has her second practice.Oh and Stephanie, before you say anything, I know she is not wearing soccer shoes; she wanted to wear her chucks ;)

She will be bossing everyone on the court before long, just wait!

Lisa's Shower

2009-04-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit behind on my personal blog, I need to make it a priority to update on a regular basis. With that being said, here are a few pictures of a recent shower we had for Lisa. By the way, Lisa is the one at the bottom of the stairs, isn't she cute pregnant! I love my playgroup, it is so nice to have such a great support group for being a Mommy. I had a friend from the South that wanted to know what exactly is a playgroup. We get together every Wednesday at alternating houses and let our kiddos play. As stay at home Moms, it is an outlet for us, and a time for our children to play and engage socially. We have been meeting for about 2 years and I have greatly benefited from the friendships and support.

I made cupcakes for the shower, here is one that survived the carrier crash. Way to go Adrienne :)

We had the shower at the Rock, hence the sign below. The had great pizza and the vegetarian calzone was very tasty. I love it when restaurants offer a variety of vegetarian dishes.

Family Pictures III

2009-04-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am finished editing all of our family photos so here are the last two in the folder. I love the picture below of my crew; it was the end of a long morning for them. Typical Ethan was making sure he had me in sight, he's got it bad for Mom! I would not have it any other way.....OK, maybe I would like to run upstairs or to the mailbox without him crying due to my absence.

At the end of pictures, they found the sweetest dog that held their attention longer than I would have anticipated. Where was the dog when I was trying to get decent shots? Seeing this dog makes me miss having a dog; I love dogs. I love the way they love you no matter what, and they are always glad to see you. They love to cuddle and follow you around, but most of all they make you feel needed. I think we all need that feeling every once in a while. Maybe my husband will get the hint and start scouting out dogs for Christmas. He should have plenty of time if he starts now :)

family Pictures II

2009-04-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

I have needed a profile picture for my website for some time now, so I gave John my camera while we were taking pictures of everyone and told him to take several shots. I think he did a great job, minus the gas pole that was growing out of the top of my head. Good thing I know how to use the clone tool in Photoshop. Thanks John

Here are some other pictures from Thursday, I just love Downtown Sumner.

Pictures

2009-04-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

We tried to taking pictures of all three of our children yesterday, but Ethan was a handful. I am working on a picture of all three, so hopefully I can get that one posted this evening or tomorrow. Here is one of Addi and Blaise that seemed so sweet to me. Addi is always by Blaise's side, and adores him beyond words!

Growing Up

2009-04-13T21:14:00.001-07:00

I'm looking at this picture and can't believe how Blaise is growing up so fast. I can remember like yesterday chasing him around in his diapers and getting up with him through the night; he never slept through the night until he was 2. He still keeps me up at night talking in his sleep, I wonder who he gets that from?

I was in the back yard playing around with my camera and he wanted to, "strike a pose." He is always having fun and making everyone smile, he is a sunshine!

Indoor Play Park

2009-04-09T21:36:00.001-07:00

In attempt to deal with Mother Nature lately, we have found various activities to attend during the week. Of course we have been battling various illnesses, so these pictures are of my healthy Addi & Ethan 2 weeks ago. They open up this gym two days a week and let the children go wild. They fill the gym with slides, balls, wagons, cars/trucks, and all sorts of other items. It really is a haven for small children.

Not really sure what Addi was doing in the picture below, but Ethan was running around behind her.

Addi decides her way of sharing the black truck was to push Ethan around until he decided he'd had enough.

Every time we go to this gym, Addi finds some poor soul to boss around. She had this little guy following her around in his car for about 10 minutes. All I heard her say is, " Speed up, Come on now." Poor guy.

Here she was telling him how to use the controls on the steering wheel.

For some reason I could not get Ethan to sit straight in this car. He wanted to display the, "lean." My fellow Southerners can appreciate this.

Here was Addi showing Ethan how to mow the floor of the gym.

Another shot of Ethan still trying to figure out the horn.

Baby Shower

2009-03-29T20:49:00.001-07:00

We had a surprise baby shower for my friend Molly last weekend. She was surprised, (I think), to find us all waiting for her inside the restaurant. The food was great, the company, even better, and Molly went home with a vehicle full of gifts...Yeah, Molly!

Earrings by Wendy

2009-03-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

My good friend Wendy who lives in Memphis makes her own jewelry and just finished her website. She is super excited, as she should be! She paid our family a visit not long ago and I was able to view her earrings first hand! They are super cute and very reasonably priced. She made me several pair while she was here and I've worn them everywhere I go. The best part about the whole deal; she offers free shipping and handling. Seriously, check out her site here and see for yourself. While you are there, let her know that I sent ya!

For those of you that can't see the highlighted link, her website is:
www.jewelrybywendyonline.com

Our Youngest

2009-03-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in the floor yesterday playing around with my camera while Ethan and Addi played together upstairs. It is so hard for me to take snapshots of Ethan lately; he is just so busy. I figured I would take pictures of him in action and actually was able to snap a few of him sitting down. He is growing so fast, but is still the one that likes to snuggle and be held. He is such the baby around the house.

Saturday Night..

2009-03-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on Saturday night...what a great party just for girls. Below is a picture of my friends Catey & Erin. I first met Erin when we first moved to the Northwest. We were at a MOMS Club activity at the Bonney Lake library. We discovered that both of our husbands were about the same height; 6 foot 6 inches. We talked non-stop for an hour about how difficult it was to shop for clothes for our husbands, the inability to own certain types of vehicles, and the indentions in furniture (couches in particular) that our husbands leave due to their size. We still want steel framed couches to handle the size of our husbands!

I met Catey through Erin, close to 2 years ago. Erin had a birthday party for one of her children and Catey was in attendance. I was then invited to join them for, "Hair Day." I must have charmed Catey with my Southern accent! We get together every 6-8 weeks to have our hair transformed by an awesome stylist, Loretta. We have so much fun and it is good to get together and catch up on the latest in life. Catey makes an awesome Corn Chowder, the best buttercream icing I have ever tasted, and she has great hair...I want to be Catey..LOL! Speaking of hair, I think it is about that time again.