Sandcastles in November

Who says sandcastles are just for sun and summer?!  Carmen, Max and I took advantage of a beautiful Seattle day (still cold, hence the hat and coat, but beautiful nonetheless) and went to the beach to build sandcastles.  Carmen was thrilled to shovel the sand and have mommy's help creating 'houses' that she decorated with sticks and rocks.  Max was thrilled to get some fresh air and do what he does best, snooze.

A smile for a Monday

Weekend Whirlwind

We had a great long holiday weekend but it went by in a blur.  Jimmy took a few days off from work and we tried to take advantage of our extra time together. We visited the Children's museum where Carmen loved driving the Metro bus and shopping in the mini grocery store, Jimmy slaved away in the kitchen and produced a delicious Thanksgiving meal, I did a little Black Friday shopping, we watched some football, Carmen had a playdate, I had a coffee date, we had good friends over for dinner, we started decorating for Christmas and got the Dicken's Village up, which is always a big job, and ended the weekend with a second Thanksgiving.  It was a whirlwind but fun-filled extended weekend that we were happy to spend together as a family.

Fill 'er up!



Making sure I have everything on my list.



Chef Carmen.

 

19 lb turkey, Jimmy's prize possession
besides his mustachace for Movember.

Turkey comatose.



Where's Carmen? 



Supporting team Purple & Gold.





ipad and icecream--the perfect combo.

 

Thankful

 



Two months

Happy two months to you today, Maxy. It's funny but sometimes I can't fathom where two months have gone and other times it feels like you've been here a long, long time as you are now seamlessly integrated into our lives.  Life would certainly not be the same without you.  While we'd get a bit more sleep, there would certainly be something missing...the way you give a huge smile after you are done eating or when I sing to you, the joy Carmen gets out of being a big sister and helping bring your diapers, 'shirts' and wiping away your bubbles and, of course, decorating you with stickers, the way you snuggle up after a feeding, the way you get your rings stuck around your wrist and grunt to get them off when you are in your gym, the way you now love bath time and floating in the warm water. It's the little things you do that make this time so special--your gentle coos, your funny expressions and the way you fill our hearts with so much love. Happy two months to our little man! 

Toddlers Creed

I thought this was fitting as Carmen's new favorite saying is:  'No! Mine!'  Ah...the life of an almost two year old...

Toddlers Creed

 

If it's mine it's mine,
if it's yours it's mine,
if I like it is mine,
if I can take it from you it is mine,
if I am playing with something ALL of the pieces are mine,
if I think it is mine it is,
if I saw it first it's mine,
if I had it then put it down it is still mine,
if you had it then you put it down it is now mine,
if it looks like the one I have at home it is mine,
if it is broken it is yours

Carmen's latest art project