Mexico the 3rd and A Goodbye

Every year, for the last 3 years I get to hop on a 7am flight out of SeaTac

with a quick bounce threw San Francisco and a beautiful landing

in Puerto Vallarta with these two beautiful ladies and my mom.

This year my mom came early with two of her her amazing friends and scored us an awesome room.

Love this tradition 

Me and Molly

The view from our deck was breathtaking every night.

Storms would roll in with these beautiful blue grey clouds and

a lightning show.

Last year was amazing when we got to release one day old turtles to the ocean.

This year we took it to the next level

Around one in the morning we went down to the beach to see if any mamma turtles where laying eggs

It was dark, quiet and  beautiful.

Some of the hotels along the beach have protective hatcheries and staff that watch the beaches at night.

They spend all night collecting freshly laid eggs and moving them to a safe home in the hatchery.

A month or so later the little baby turtle break threw the sand, get gently collected and released to the ocean at sunset.

The person working that night was extremely kind enough to let us  hold a one minute old turtle and humored us when we asked him a thousand questions.

 His hand with a egg found that night.

While we where walking home in a I can't believe it daze we saw him stop on the beach and start stomping around.

We crouched down all sneaky style in the dark and watched...

Within minutes he flashed his flashlight at us and we ran over.

Eggs! 

Beautiful, warm, soft eggs.

The mamma had come, laid her eggs and then quickly returned back the safety of the ocean.

Beautiful eggs, 110 of them.

Miles away at home my little family was having to deal with something much different.

While I was celebrating the amazing process of a new little turtle starting its journey,

My husband and kids where having to say goodbye to our very loved Birdie who passed away while I was gone.

The same amazing bird that walked down the sidewalk 5 years ago and adopted us.

The same bird that loved our dog, yelled at Doug and adored me and my kiddos.

She even went for a road trip this year with us to Montana. 

A year ago we found out she had a tumor and the vet thought she only had weeks.

She showed us how strong a little creature can be a made it over a year.

They said goodbye and tucked her away in a safe place until I got home.

When I got home we decorated  heart shaped rocks for her.

Laid them in the perfect hole we dug for her.

Placed her on them and said our goodbyes.

The kiddos did great.

We where all very sad but it was the perfect closure to an awesome bird.

Me and my girl

{My little ballerina} 

This little ballerina is over the moon.

She has been waiting 3 1/2 years for this week.

The week she gets take ballet lessons and start preschool.

She is a beautiful natural.

Are first full morning together while her brother and sister where at school.

Just me and my little girl.

A few days later was her first day of preschool.

She loved it.

Every minute of it.

Instead of  pie Molly wanted a pink cake.

It was yummy!

My little's are growing up too fast.

First week

 This week started out perfect!
First my mom took the girls for the day/night to go clothes shopping.

While that where trying on tutu's and twirling threw Macy's
Doug and I got Colin all to ourselves.

It worked out perfect.

Some much need time was spent with the future 2nd grader.

We scooped him up in the morning and drove to the museum of flight.

Just the three of us.

It was perfect. 

We walked threw the museum as slow as we wanted.

Reading  signs with interruption from cute little girls wanting to twirl threw the museum.  

Colin was finally able to look at the little model airplanes as long as he wanted.

I saw so many things I've never seen before.

Things that blew my mind.

The faith those pilots had back then.
Faith that piece of wood would get up and go.

The best part of having just him was that he was my little boy again.

Not the amazing, patient, funny big brother that he has become.

just my little dude that loves airplanes, holding my hand, lots of hugs and has the biggest, best smile around.

This guy is pretty darn awesome too.

The next day was his first day of school.

He picked banana cream pie to celebrate that day.

It was soooooo good!

Few days latter came little misses first day.

She was so excited!!

After school she rode the bus home and we tore into her dulce de leche pie.

She was so tired from her first day but loved sharing her pie with friends.

{Side note}

This week Doug and Paisley became even better friends.

Did not think that was possible.

She loves him so much.

 Friday night came and I was finally able to fulfill a dream that I had had all summer.

The dream that everyone comes out and spend the evening together.

Awesome kids, even more awesome moms, some wine, snacks and a card table is all that was needed to fulfill that dream.

I have this quote on my wall

"What will you do today that will make you proud next year?"

Things happen this week that I know will make me proud next year.

Things that I should have done a long time ago.

Things that made Friday and this weekend perfect.

Saturday we spent Doug's birthday with him riding rides and playing in the water.

My best friend took the kiddos for the night so Doug and I could take off and shove our face with sushi and roll home.

Sunday was the icing on the cake.

The kiddo and I got to celebrate a little ladies birthday with her and hang out at this very special place.

There was a bouncy house, yummy food, buggy rides and the best part the amazing grandpa of the birthday girl took my kiddos for a VERY special digger/loader ride.

This was above and beyond.

I can't even put into words how grateful that made me feel.

These are the moments that make me really miss my dad.

He did not have to take my kiddos on the digger.

But he did

 and with a smile.

Such an amazing man.

Thank you

This week Molly starts preschool and both girls start ballet.

And this girl gets to fly away on her annual girls weekend to Mexico.

I know, I suck.
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Last year we got to help release baby turtles.
I wonder what this year will bring?????

peachy saturday

These little army dudes came home with me last Saturday.

I can't believe these are the first to enter our home. 

Watching Doug and Colin battle with rubber bands was hilarious. 

Something I have never done.

Thank god Colin has his dad.

Good morning...

She is patiently waiting for her coffee.

Once the boys battle was over I talked myself into trying to make some peach butter.

Emilie was the perfect helper.

She cleaned and dried all of the jars

And oooo and ahhhed with me over every step.

Yum!

Thank you Washington for being so fantastic!

My little peach showing off all of her hard work.

We where both amazed at how easy it was to peal them using the boiling/cold bath strategy. 

Instant gratification. 

Until this moment Emilie never gave peaches a chance.

She rarely tries a new thing

On Saturday she took a leap of faith and tried some peach butter.

"It's amazing" she said.

Yes it is little lady, yes it is.

Thankfully my amazing friend Molly had a giant pot we could borrow.

Thankfully she just lives up the street.

Ta-Da!

We did it!

This is only half.

The second round of butter was lucky enough to be an beautiful jars handed down to me from my Grammy.

On a completely different subject...

This is my new love.

I love, love, love this cleaner.

I've used it in every room in my house.

the smell is awesome and the quality is fantastic!

That cool little  replenish pod screws onto the bottom and make 3 bottles.

You just add water.

I found mine at Safeway.

time to sleep.

Little dude starts 2nd grade tomorrow.