the weekend

thought i'd share a bit of what we did this weekend. i'm currently cozied up on our bed in front of the fireplace in the living room...yes we have been sleeping in the living room for the last week as we finish fixing and painting our bedroom. and for those of you who have been to our 900 square foot house, you know that it has to be a funny sight. but it proves to be quite a fun set up for all: the tv (aka football) is just a mere foot from tyler's head, it allows me to lay in bed and enjoy the fireplace and for riley the living room is pretty much two couches, bed & two ottomans squished together so she has had quite the jump around fun only a 2 year old could have.

our weekend started off with a rainy friday - so we found entertainment at lowes in the christmas aisle (who knew?) and the jump around fun zone with friends


saturday morning our friends took riley for a few hours to the pumpkin patch so we could make some headway on painting our bedroom


saturday afternoon we had a visit from tylers grandparents in their big "bus" as riley calls it. they are en route to their winter home in arizona, so they had to come get their riley fix! we had a great time having cocktail hour in their RV, dinner in the marina at anthony's and a big sunday morning breakfast in our house. riley was completely fascinated by the steps that automatically came out when you opened the door. she squealed with delight each time!

this afternoon we went to the harvest festival at our church. riley was quite upset about the thought of putting on her "ladybug coat" so daddy dressed up like a ladybug too. what a guy.

happy halloween week!

the difference of 1 year...

october 2008, riley & henry, arlington pumpkin patch

october 2009, riley & henry, edmonds pumpkin patch

boulevard park in the fall & my favorite gal

the pumpkin patch

last thursday i took riley and her friend to the pumpkin patch...

almost 3 feet tall!

riley absolutely loved all the animals - and there were lots! her favorites were the bunnies (she liked watching them drink their water) and the "goats up high"

she also loved getting food out of the machine and feeding the animals

we took a hay ride down to the pumpkin patch...

...where she would not pose for a picture. here she is doing everything "by myself".

and lastly, the hay ride back up to the farm where mommy enjoyed a cup of apple cider and a few cider donut holes. we also picked out a few pumpkins and riley got to pick her own baby pumpkin. she has since carried her baby pumpkin around and even wanted to sleep with it. that girl and her obsessions.

happy october!

our trip to san francisco

we returned home last week from a wonderful trip to san francisco. we had five full days of adult-only conversation and adventures and it was heavenly! riley spent the time at nana's house in seattle with her uncle drew, cousin henry and all her aunties. everyone pitched in and took turns playing and taking care of riley and it made us feel so good that she was being so well loved. thank you to my family!!! we are very grateful!

our main purpose for the trip was for tyler to be the best man in brian's wedding. the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception were divine. it was such a blessing to part of their incredible wedding and get excited about the life they will create together.

we decided to turn our trip into a mini vacation as well since we won't have this opportunity again for a while. a few of our days were spent walking through the city finding the best lunch, tea, dinner, pedicures and window browsing. we also had some wonderful and much needed down time...just time to lounge in our hotel room, nap, sleep in and have no where to be. tyler had a fun day of golf with the boys, we went to a matinee and even went for a mini hike.

we were thrilled to see our little riley again! she truly looked different after just 5 days. we are now fully back into the swing of things although she is still recovering from us being gone (a bit clingy and not sleeping well for a few days...but WELL worth it!)

here are pictures from our trip...enjoy!

the first day of fall

riley and i welcomed the first day of fall last week by starting a parenting education class at bellingham technical college. many many friends have taken the parenting classes and have had nothing but good things to say. we meet every tuesday at the college for 2 1/2 hours. you walk into the portable and just gasp, as it is truly toddler heaven! they have everything: a fish tank, books, dress up clothes, kitchen, wooden blocks, arts & crafts, babies and an entire fenced in backyard with all the outdoor toys imaginable. riley was a bit tentative as we walked in, but as soon as she saw a baby, she ran w/delight and carried the baby with her for the next 2 hours. the time is pretty structured, but lots of the time is set for free play. the best part is the parents split in the end and half the group watches the kids and the other half meet with the instructor and get to chat about our parenting needs/questions/concerns. we look forward to taking this class through the fall, as it will be a great cold/rainy day option!


riley pausing to read her book before we head to class


sponge painting



painting a leaf (and the best part is the parents don't have to do the clean up!)



riley signing her name...everything these days is, "no mommy, my do it"



once we were home and done with lunch & nap we whipped up a big batch of pumpkin cookies for some friends. riley has taken on quite the little mommy's helper role in the kitchen. she loves to cook & bake with me...so this is her helping drop the cookies on the sheet



i also want to pause and remember my friend janice from college. she passed away from sarcoma cancer on tuesday. our hearts are heavy for her husband, family & friends. she was a true light to everyone she came in contact with. we will miss you janice.

fight gone bad

i don't normally like to share pictures of myself working out...but i am very excited to share about participating in my gym's competition this morning. monday thru friday i attend a 6am class at the local crossfit gym, jogo. it's usually the same group of people and the community and support is just amazing. you have to be pretty crazy to want to get up that early (esp in the dead of winter in bellingham!) and do the hardest workouts you ever imagined. so we have a great common bond. some people like to think it's almost cult-like, but that's cool. i don't mind being in a cult with other people who take their health seriously and have fun while doing it :)

crossfit gyms around the country hold their own fight gone bad competition and everyone raises money for the wounded warriors as well as the prostate cancer foundation. i was very nervous to sign up, as this workout is INTENSE. it consists of five exercises (wall ball, sumo-dead lift high pull, box jump, push press & row) done for 1 minute each, with a 1 minute rest in between rounds, for a total of 3 rounds. that's 15 minutes of pure gut and sweat. so anyway, after much peer pressure from my coach and friends at the gym i decided to sign up and was honestly glad i did. enjoy the pictures below and please don't judge me for my funny-i'm working really hard-faces.

my heat - we had fun and decided to accessorize with yellow shades and green arm/leg bands

uncle drew & riley: the best of buds! (and check out all of andrew's hair!!!)

the cutest little man ever, even if he does sport a mullet

our spot on the village green

sumo dead lift high pull - women's weight is 55lbs

box jump - 20 inches

push press - 55lbs

wall ball - you have to squat down, then stand/jump to have your 14lb ball hit that green line, which is at 10 feet

no pictures of me rowing...but i think you get the idea. i felt like i was going to faint and could barely move afterwards, but in a sick and twisted way that is such a great feeling! anyone agree? thanks to my family for all the great cheers and support!!! and p.s.: i got a PR!