Port Angeles...Part 2

We spent the morning at Sarah and Patrick's house. They made us a delicious breakfast of yeast pancakes (crepe-like). I've never had them before but I did get the recipe to try. Anyway, we had a good time just hanging out and letting the kids play. We also did a quick photo shoot.
5 kids under 3=Crazy!

Leah (1 mo), Lily (3 in July), Will (1), Nora (6 mo), Ethan (3 at the end of the month)

The Lovejoy Family

Pop and Grandma with 5 of their 8 grand kids.

Here are some of the kids playing outside.








We had lunch with them and quickly said our good-byes. We had to get to the ferry at the right time and we were running close on time. We had a great visit with them and it would have been nice to stay longer.
We caught a different ferry back to Seattle. This one took us right into the Seattle harbor. The views were amazing and we just watched the Seattle skyline get closer and closer.

Ocean and mountain view

Pop and Ethan having a snack on the ferry.

Seattle skyline.

After we got settled into our hotel (which is also in the harbor area), we walked to Pike Place Market and around there for a while before finding a place to eat dinner. After dinner we walked back to our hotel to get rested for a full day out tomorrow.

He's sitting on a pig in front of Pike Place Fish, where they throw the fish around.

Nora enjoyed her ride through the market.

An excited Ethan!

Both kids have been great travelers! I'm one lucky mama!

Port Angeles Trip

Friday evening my parents, children and I flew out to Seattle (and drove on to Port Angeles) to see my sister, Sarah and her family. She just had baby #3, Leah, last month. I haven't been out here before so I was really excited to see them and this part of the country. Ethan has had fun playing with his cousins, Lily (almost 3), Will (15 mo), and baby Leah.

To get from Seattle to Port Angeles, a ferry ride is necessary. And this was not like any ferry I've ever seen before. It's a ship! It holds hundreds of cars, has a restaurant and a passenger area to get out of your vehicle and look out at the water. It was about a 40 minute ride. It was really fun and Ethan enjoyed watching all the sailboats.

The dock for the ferry.

Pop & Ethan by the water before going on the ferry. It was apparently bright...

The 3 of us on the ferry.

Nora enjoyed the view too!

After the ferry, it was a little over an hour drive to Port Angeles. The kids warmed up to each other quickly and played well together.

Ethan and Will, checking out the elephant.

Ethan and Lily (6 weeks apart)

I'm hoping to get a better group shot tomorrow...we'll see how that goes.

Being a good big cousin and helping Leah keep her pacifier in her mouth.

Leah Mae. Born April 7.

Today after nap time, we went up the mountain to Hurricane Ridge (part of the Olympic mountains). The weather this weekend has been very nice and the view was beautiful.

View from the top.

Ethan, Nora and I.

Sarah, Will, Patrick and Lily (Leah was there, but sleeping)

What a cute couple!

Ethan and Mr. Bear

Nora and Ethan

She was having a good time :).

They were having a great time and could have played a lot longer in the snow!

We've had a great trip so far. I'll be posting more on the rest of out trip later. Really wishing Jared could have come, but work needed him :).

3 Year and 6 Month Check-ups

We went in this morning for both kids well child check-ups. We are about a month early for Ethan's 3 year, but it was no big deal and much easier to do them both at the same time! Both kids are healthy and doing great!



Trying to get them both to look at my phone...fail.

Nora got 2 shots (4 vaccines) today and Ethan got 1 and should be finished until kindergarten. Both did just fine, and Ethan was easily distracted by an extra band aid, stickers and suckers.



A little better...

Nora's stats:
17 lbs 4 oz- 75% 27 in long- 95%

Ethan's stats:
30.5 lbs- 40% 36 1/4 in tall- 30%

And about Nora's head (flat head). The doctor said it looks much better, is rounding out nicely and has no further concerns! Yay! No helmets for this girl!
Praising God for 2 wonderfully healthy, happy kids!

Weekend in Salem

Just as the title suggests...we spent the weekend in Salem. Saturday morning all the grandparents were busy with things at church and Jared and Alex went golfing, so Abby and I took the kids for a walk and to the park.




Abby and Ethan playing on the monkey bars.




Nora and Max chilling on the blanket

Saturday evening we met up with the Collier side for the 'Collier Family Shin-Dig'. It was a nice get together and there was plenty of room for the kids to run and play. I'm in a little bit of denial here since Ethan is one of the older kids. How did that happen?!? There have been several babies born in the Collier extended family in the last year.




Aunt Doss showing Nora off to Grandma Collier and Aunt Deb


Getting a little cuddle time with Nora


Jared showing off his form in a friendly game of HORSE


Quick! Take a picture! Grandpa and Grandma Karen with Ethan and Nora


Ethan sharing with his cousin, Landon.


They both look a bit ornery...



Shooting some hoops with Grandpa!

After the 'Shin-Dig' we headed back to my parents house for bath and bed!



Getting ready with Grandma Terri, for her fist bath in a big bathtub!


She seemed to do just fine! And, yes, I played with those bath toys when I was little too (they're vintage!)

Six Months

How has it been six months already?!?  Nora is 6 months old today, and so much fun!

She is sitting up by herself. (With a crash pillow close by, just in case)
She is 'talking' a lot.  She says 'Dada' and I'm pretty sure I've heard a 'Mama' a time or two.
She got her first tooth yesterday! (Lower left incisor) :)
Smiles and laughs all the time.  Ethan can make her smile almost every time he talks to her.
She is becoming very 'grabby'!  She wants anything in your hand or your hair, or your nose, or your neck!
Her usual bedtime is between 8:30 and 9 pm, and usual wake-up time is between 6:30 and 7 am.  (I'm hoping this stretches to 7-7:30 someday)
She is nursing 4 times a day.
She is eating cereal for breakfast and baby food for dinner. (And we'll add in lunch sometime soon)
So far she has had...peas, green beans, sweet potatoes and carrots.  (All made by me and my handy dandy magic bullet.)
She is a very happy baby and is content most of the time.  She gets the most fussy when she is sleepy.

Her 6 mo check-up is on Monday, so I will post her stats after that!  Until then, here are more pictures from our 6 month photo shoot in the yard!  Oh and, I could not get this girl to smile!  I tried and tried and looked like a fool and she wouldn't crack one.  So, here's the serious side of Nora :).  (I think it was sensory overload)

Getting a feel for the grass

She likes her tongue!

We love you sweet Nora!  Happy 1/2 Year!

Pancakes and Puffs

Ethan absolutely loves pancakes and thinks that Jared needs to make them every weekend we are home.  We usually oblige since it's not too difficult and a nice Saturday morning treat.  He usually wants a Mickey Mouse shaped one, but this week, Jared was creative...

He has been writing his name a lot lately, so he thought this was pretty cool!

On Saturday evening, when I picked Nora up from the nursery at church (we've been attending the Saturday service lately) they told me 'she had snack with us!'  Nora hasn't had any 'snacks' yet.  I wasn't sure if she just sat at the table with them or actually had some.  (Either way, no big deal).  I just thought, if she's getting puffs at church, I should give her some at home and see how she does with them.  She did really well picking it up and getting it to her mouth.  I was impressed...