Pumpkin Patch Visit - 2012

It wasn't really planned, but since the weather was nice and we had an hour to kill while we were last in Chehalis, we stopped by Willie T's Pumpkin Patch near my parent's house.  We have been there in the years past and they kids had a lot of fun searching for pumpkins. The weather had been so nice (now it is back to pouring down rain) that we didn't need boots or coats and kept the girls in their party outfits.  Now that the rain has started again, who knows whether we'll make it to a pumpkin patch near home this year, so I am glad this trip worked out!

Backyard Beauties!

90 years young...

 

Happy 90th Birthday, Papa Bob!

 

Grandma Wanda hosted a fun afternoon birthday party in honor of Grandpa's 90th birthday!  It was wonderful to be together and celebrate this amazing milestone.  At 90 years young, my grandfather may not move as fast as he once did or even recall things as quickly as in his younger years, but boy is he still one sharp man.   I love getting to visit with him and listen to stories of his travels, childhood, or life experiences.  He has a wonderful sense of humor, calling me
'Erin-Bearin-Bigfoot' (having big feet, which I do, is a Swanson trait), and telling me I am his 'favortie oldest grandaughter', Julianna being his 'favortie youngest grandaughter'. 

 Taylor and Clara giving Papa his gift from his great-grandkids - a picture that they posed for.

 

 

All the girls playing dress up in the fun dresses G.G. bought for them.   

~ The birthday boy ~

 

The kids having fun with the balloons! 

Issaquah Salmon Days, 2012

This year the weather was perfect for Salmon Days in Issaquah.  Attending the festival has become sort of a tradition for our family since the weekend usually coincides with my birthday.  This year we attended but only for a few hours because it ended up being a crazy busy weekend. 

The timing ended up being perfect since we went early on Saturday right as the parade was finishing up.  This meant that when we got there the lines for all the fun kid stuff were not yet too out of control.  Right away, Clara got to make a toy with tools (a fish that swims by magnet in a fish bowl), both girls got to bounce in the Bounce House and we got on the favorite little train. 

The girls even had some fun playing on the big toy in "Train Park".

We found a quick bite for lunch and then Mama quickly narrowed in on the Bohem's ice cream bar for dessert.  We all shared a bite or two and then hopped back on the tram back home.  Just being the four of us, instead of my whole extended family that have gone in years past, we were able get a lot more done quickly, but admittedly, it did feel like something was missing.  Hopefully the whole Stevens' clan will be back up next year to join us. 

Mama's Birthday!!

 

Boy did I get spoiled this year for my birthday! Early in my "birthday week" one of my best gal pals & I went to see Madonna. I've been a fan for as long as I can remember and this was our first time catching her show. It was definitely a night to remember!

 

The day before my birthday, my wonderful Aunt forced me to take some "Mama Time" and watched the girls all afternoon while I went and had my hair done and enjoyed a quiet lunch by myself (spicy Thai).  AMAZING!!

 

Kevin came home from work early on my birthday and made an amazing meal of curry halibut, spiced carrots and a spring roll.  How lucky am I!?!

After dinner the girls were excited to sing and help me enjoy my birthday dessert. 

And they had lots of fun gifts.  Kevin helped them each pick out something.  From Janie I received an Eric Church album and from Clara, a beautiful hounds tooth scarf. 

 

They also went together and selected a fun Princess Cupcake game for me (Not really a shock since Clara has been eyeing this game since selecting a birthday gift for a friend weeks ago), but it ended up being a perfect selection because we really did have a lot of fun playing the game as a family!

 

To top off the night, my dear friend Cindy came down and watched the girls that evening so that my sweetie and I could have a well-needed date night!  We had some yummy drinks and dessert at Lot.#3 in Bellevue.  It was a perfect selection! 

 

What a happy birthday I had, even if it meant turning THIRTY-THREE!!

Minnie {Janie} Mouse

Our Janie is a big fan of Minnie Mouse!  She likes to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney channel, she adored Mickey & Minnie when we visited Disneyland and now, much like Clara's attraction to the Disney princesses, Janie can spot a Minnie a mile away.  It was so much fun to plan this party for her and see her light up anytime I found something  Minnie or even with red and white polka dots.  By the time her birthday party day came, Janie had been aware that there would be a Minnie party for her for several weeks.  She knew there would be candy, her Grandmas (favorite people in the world to her right now) and lots of Minnie stuff. 

The weekend before the party, we attended Logan's 6th Birthday (Janie's birthday Buddy) and he had a bounce house at his Pirate party.  The whole week after, Janie went on and on about "bouncing at my Minnie Paw-tee."  Good think Christy & Cory offered for us to borrow the bounce house so that Janie indeed got to bounce at her "Minnie Paw-tee."

 

{I know, I know... there have been a lot of photo collages lately and that is really for a few reasons: 1) I have a lot of photos I want to share 2) I FINALLY figured out how enlarge the photos on the blog 3) Blogger keeps indicating I am near my photo limit when I upload so I hope to avoid reaching that soon.}

It was really special that most of our family and closest friends were able to celebrate Janie turning TWO!  We were so thrilled to be able to spend most of the day in our newly re-landscaped back yard.  The weather was perfect and it was nice to be able to finally utilize the space we (mainly Kevin) worked so hard to create all summer long.

 

The Michael Mouse Family!

 

 

Such a happy lil' gal who had a blast at her party!

 

Little DAWGS make a big Woof!

{Fun Photos}

Janie's Special Day!

To celebrate Janie's second birthday, we decided to celebrate the same way we celebrated Clara's 2nd birthday.  We started off by surprising her when she woke up with donuts!  We let her open her gift from Clara, a set of Mickey & Minnie Mouse dolls.

Later in the afternoon we picked Daddy up from work and spent a fun afternoon at the Seattle Aquarium.  Clara and Janie both found delight in watching the fish in the first few tanks, they both were a little timid about touching creatures in the tide pools and they both had a blast playing on the sea creature felt board.  It really was a fun way to celebrate. 

 

When we left the aquarium the weather was still so beautiful we did not want to leave the waterfront and wandered onto the pier and then out to The Fisherman's Wharf for a dinner on the deck.  We all enjoyed a yummy fish dinner and Mommy & Daddy enjoyed a celebratory beverage.  We capped off the meal with the birthday song for our sweet baby girl and a HUGE portion of strawberry shortcake!

 

After dinner we promised the girls a ride on the carousel before we headed home, which they loved!  The evening was going so well that we made an last minute decision to push back bed time and ride the new Seattle Great Wheel before we headed home.  Janie kept pointing to it through dinner letting us know each time it started spinning and she seemed really intrigued.  Having been on the London Eye, Kevin & I were not sure how much we would enjoy this much smaller version, but decided to give it a go...  SO glad we did!  Clara & Janie loved our cozy little ride capsul which and the view at dusk was beautiful. 

I am so glad that we made the most of our sweet little girls' birthday and created some wonderful family memories!

Evie-Buns

 

Our Evie-Buns is now full grown and has quite a bit of spunk!  She love to flit around upstairs, jumping over toys, running down the hall with a quick hop turn as she bounds out into the bonus room.  She is really a beautiful bunny with nice type, but so far she is a little less mellow that we had hoped.  She finally will come up to Kevin or Clara on her own to be pet, but has learned that Janie and I are the ones that will try and pick her up and runs away if we reach for her.  She loves to be pet on the nose and then as she relaxes, she'll let us rub the top or her head and between her ears.  The poor baby spends more time in her cage right now than I had hoped, but it is more for her own safety as Janie wants to chase her constantly!

 

Huffington Post

Clara's photo was included in the Huffington Post online magazine recently.  We participated in the photo shoot in our neighborhood with several other families and Clara's shot was selected.  In case you are worried, no, a cougar was not present during the photo.  Just lots of fun playing the park on a nice sunny, fall afternoon!  Go here to read the rest of the article which really has nothing to do with cougars in the PNW.