A 5K, then downtown - May 2010

We all participated in a 5K yesterday at the UW Bothell. Travis finished in 24min. and 55 seconds. Mom, Ella, Keira, Carol, Avery, and Ashley finished in about 50 minutes:) After the run/walk we went to the breakfast and had a snack. Then we spotted a bouncy house and the girls had a great time bouncing around. They managed to hold their own pretty well with three older boys too. There was only one sad moment when one of the boys accidentally got a little close to Keira when she was down which afforded us the opportunity to head out even though we'd be calling at the girls for a while already that it was time to go. Avery took the pictures of Keira and Ella and mom at the 5K.

The Griffeth's invited us to join them downtown for a ferry ride and a roam around Pike Place which we did in the afternoon. We enjoyed honey sticks and chocolate pasta from the market and got some of our favorite honey there too - fireweed honey yum! Then we made the 3:00 ferry to Bremerton where the girls enjoyed trying to make the arcades work and taking the elevator to the top to see the great view. Then we rode back and had Ivar's for dinner before going home. What a great day! Keira is doing the sign for fish in her stroller down at Pike Place. Avery convinced Ella and Keira that the sun's reflection in the water was sparkles from the Barbie movie "Diamond Castle." And Keira screamed her famous super high pitched scream after she had to get off of the carousel ride, poor kid.

Mother's Day - May 2010

Best Mother’s Day ever. Today was a special day because I got my first homemade gift from Ella. A decorated pot that she made at Shorecrest playschool:) Also the best day because I’d forgotten that Ella would sing today in church with the primary kids. I got a little teary eyed when she did. I remember for years (5 to be exact) wondering when I would have a child sing on Mother’s Day. She did a great job. She smiled and knew almost all of the words. I was so proud. She went up with her friend Aubrey and they sat in the seats behind everyone at first, because I imagine it looked like fun, but were re-directed by brother Card to the front. Keira was a bit sad that she couldn’t join Ella and kept saying ‘up’ when Ella headed to the front to sing. But she enjoyed the performance from afar. Ella wanted to sing the hymns today in the worst way but didn’t know the tunes to them. Except for the last one which was ‘Love at Home.’ Ella is quite familiar with this hymn and was excited to sing it. She is familiar with it because mom sings it to keep her sanity whenever the girls are both screaming:) It often calms them down. I was laughing inside when she got excited because she knew it.

That's the spot! - April 2010

Today Travis asked me to massage a sore neck for him and I think I asked Ella if she would do it for me:) She said no (to dad), you do mine:) But she said it so sweetly that we couldn't help but chuckle. Then as Travis rubbed her neck she said "oh yeah, that's the spot" with a smile.

April 2010 Keira Birthday

Popcorn? - April 2010

Ella and Keira are dancing along with Jack Black on Yo Gabba Gabba as I type, but at midnight last night poor little Ella was up sick for nearly 4 hours before resting again. I have been up since then trying to clean up everything. After cleaning out Ella's sick bowl a few times I figured it would be good to have an extra clean one ready for her right away in case she needed it so I brought up a second bowl for her. When I set the spare bowl on a table nearby she looked at it and asked if we were having popcorn!...in between throwing up episodes she asked this!...Obviously, I couldn't help but laugh.

Tulip festival or bust!...or both! - April 2010

We went to the Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon last weekend with the Griffeth's. Travis went up early with Justin and ran in a 5 mile run. Ella's friend Avery and her mom and sister rode up with us. Unfortunately we didn't see the guys finish because we had to stop a couple of times to take care of Keira who got car sick. When the rest of us girls finally met up with the guys, Ella kept asking dad if he won. Then we toured the Roozengard tulip fields which were absolutely beautiful and afterward we fought our way through traffic to eat at Reverie BBQ where Keira "christened" the carpet of this gospel background music playing restaurant. Good times.

Happy Easter! - April 2010

This morning Ella and Keira participated in the Doug Allen Sportsfield Easter Egg "hunt." Check out the pictures below. Ella found her friend Avery. They strategized to hit the high concentrated egg areas first. Keira went to a separate field for two year olds.

This evening when Travis was gone to the priesthood conference session, I spent time playing blocks with the girls after which I found a small block in each of my slippers when I went to put them back on. Ella's cunning impressed me. Then, I made egg salad sandwiches (from the dyed Easter eggs) for dinner. That's what the girls get when dad isn't around:) And I wasn't sure if they would eat them or not. Well, not suprisingly I guess, neither one of them liked it. But Ella at least tried it when I asked her. As they were rounding up eating the rest of their dinner Ella's mind focused on her promised Easter candy from the hunt. I let Ella have her candy, but told Keira she had to try the egg salad sandwich before having candy. After a good scream and mom ignorning her tantrum, Ella calmed her down and held up Keira's fork for her to try it and she did! I was touched even though Keira spit out most of it after letting Ella feed her.