I LOVE 7 years!

Happy 7th anniversary to the love of my life!

Today Casey and I are celebrating 7 years of marriage and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! He got up with the kids while I slept in, always a treat! I made us eggs benedict and we had mimosas :) Then we had some play time with the kids, watched some Survivorman, got the kids down for a nap and napped ourselves! Well I was the only one who actually napped, but he was sweet and cuddled with me while I slept for almost 2 hours! Now he is at our favorite Thai restaurant picking up dinner(we skipped lunch altogether) and I can't wait to sit down with him and enjoy it.

Here's a picture of our anniversary breakfast, it was delicious!

Our wedding and each anniversary are what have made Fall my most favorite season! We have been in full swing around here with fall activities, hence the reason for no new blog posts in almost an entire month. We had the start of school, the start of soccer practice for Norah, a very fun visit from one of my best friends and the kids "auntie" Kristy from California, a trip to Portland to celebrate my besties 30th Birthday and our anniversary, we did the Puyallup, and a few other really fun things and here we are at the end of September! It's not gonna slow down around here till November! Next weekend Casey and I head to the Gorge to see Jack Johnson with great friends, the following week it's back to Portland to cheer on my little sis while she runs her 1st full marathon, then just 5 days after that I'll be on a plane to Hawaii and I can hardly believe it! I'm gonna try to blog a bit more between now and then, we'll see if there is time ;)

This is gonna be long, because....

.....a lots been goin' on around here!

First things first, we have a kindergartener!! Last Thursday was Norah's 1st day of school, and she absolutely loves everything about it. I knew she would! We are falling into a new morning routine, no more laying around in jammies till 9 or 10. Up around 7, breakfast, clothes, teeth brushing and hair fixin then Nolan and I walk her to school. She is in class for 2 hrs and 40 min which means Nolan and I get some one on one time and that is so nice. This week she gets to ride the bus from my cousins house and she is beyond excited for that.
Here are some pics from her 1st day.

In front of our house just before leaving

Walkin to school

Waiting to be let in the building for class to start

Let me just say it now, our Labor Day weekend rocked!!! I couldn't be more happier with how it turned out, it really was one of the most perfect weekends. Friday night we had the Martindales and Newgards over, always a great time. We love our friends :)

Saturday Casey and I took the kids on their 1st day hike. We hiked up near Mt. Rainier in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We went to 3 cute little lakes; Pothole Lake, Bertha May Lake and Granite Lake. We hiked a total of 3 miles and the kids did amazing, especially Norah who we didn't hear one complaint out of. Nolan did well too, we did have to carry him for short periods of time but he probably did 70% of the hike on his own 2 feet! The lakes are gorgeous and we are hoping to do an overnite trip up there next summer with the kiddos.

Casey & the kids on the trail

Nolan had to have a stick & rock in hand at all times

Taking a well deserved rest

Cute little waterfall we hiked past

This picture is courtesy of Norah
Bertha May Lake in the background

Nolan is "fishing" and Norah is searching for things in the water

Bertha May

Granite Lake

Fabulous views of Mt. Rainier

Sunday we headed up to Greenlake to register for our 1/2 marathon and pick up our shirts(horrible neon green, BTW) and packets. Then we headed To REI, I got an early birthday present, a new pack for our backpacking trips :) I really needed a new one. My old one is almost 10 yrs old and not fitted very well for me. I love my new pack and can't wait to use it next season. After we left REI we took the kids to The Rainforest Cafe for lunch. If you have little kids and haven't been there it's a must. They loved it! Sunday night the kids headed over to papa's for a sleepover and Casey and I went to bed early in preparation for our run the next morning.

This morning was race day! It was Casey and I's first 1/2 marathon. I was unbelievably nervous, more nervous than I have ever been for a race. The race started a 9am at the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville. We did the race with our besties the Newgards, and I think we all had a great time! It wasn't nearly as bad as I had built it up to be in my head and in the end I was very glad that I decided to do it. Before the race I said that this would be my 1st and last 1/2 marathon.....I might have changed my mind ;) Congrats to Kory, Tiffany and Casey who all ran fabulous races today, love ya guys!
Me.Casey.Kory.Tiffany