A visit to The Children's Museum !

Goin Fishin

Sneaking away

She's a bird

Playin with strings

Little Artist

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Today I took the kids to the Childrens Museum in Tacoma! It was so much fun, for me and the kids. I went with my friend Holly and her 2 kids that are the same ages as Norah and Nolan. The theme at the museum this time was Native American stuff. So they had all kinds of neat stuff for the kids to play with, watch, dress up in and paint. The kids just love this place and I highly recommend it for the winter months when the kids get a little cabin fever !

NICU Winter Cocktail Party !!!

On Saturday night Casey and I got to go out by ourselves (Thanks Grandma Jamie)! We went to a cocktail party hosted by a friend from my work. Since we didn't get together with work friends this year during Christmastime we decided to do a winter cocktail party instead, and what a fun idea! We had the best time. There was tons of good food, drinks and company. We spent most of the night dancing, which always makes for a fun and entertaining time (and sore thighs the next day:)). It even snowed while we were there making it even more festive. Thanks so much to Dana and Scott for letting their house be abused by all of us NICU girls and our partners.

Princess Party

Sara, the birthday girl!

Princess table

Pretty princess cake (Homemade by Sara's Grandma) !

Each little princess had their very own place setting.

My little princess :)

This weekend Norah got to go to her friend Sara's 4th Birthday party! It was tons of fun for the little girls, they all got to play princess dress up. There was an unbelievable amount of dress up clothes, shoes, jewelry and crowns. The girls went on a princess parade and had the best homemade cake and ice cream.

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Happy 4th Birthday Sara! Thanks for inviting us.

Check Up

Yesterday Nolan had his one year check up, and besides the cold he's trying to get over he's in perfect health. He is also growing well, he weighed in at 24 pounds and was about 32 in long! I figure in 6 months or so he be catching up to Norah, in pounds anyways :) In other news Norah is also sick, she has the same cold he does only worse, and I think I'm coming down with it too. So the only one who escaped this bug is Casey, as usual. He has some kind of super immune system, but that's good he can take care of all us sickies.

Cake !

"I'm not quite sure what this thing is, I guess I'll touch it and see!"

"I guess I need to taste it too."

"Boy was that fun, and tasty!!"

"And there's chocolate cake inside, yummy."

"Now I'm gonna try my hat too, it's not very good."

"Oh, it's squishy!"

"I've succeeded, I beat the cake! Now it's time for a bath mom."

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Nolan's cake eating was by far my favorite part of his 1st birthday party! He thoroughly destroyed it. I actually had to stop him because he had cake so far shoved up his nose I thought he was going to inhale it into his lungs. After he finished I stripped him down and tossed him in the bath, the tub looked like a mudslide had occurred in there when he was done. Thanks to everyone who was at his party and helped share the special day with us! On a side note, thanks to everyone for the kind words, thoughts and prayers for our family about our kitty. We appreciate it.

A sad day :(

This morning we found our cat Manny by the side of the road, he had been hit by a car and died. After such a happy day yesterday, today is the complete opposite. We are so upset and will miss our kitty terribly. Manny was the coolest cat, he was actually really more like a dog. He played fetch and liked his belly rubbed. He would lay on the couch sprawled out on his back for hours. And, he was constantly sneaking in Norah and Nolan's rooms and bringing us their socks to play fetch with. We'll miss you Man!

Dear Nolan,

Here's how your birthday started.

Just a minute after you were born :)

9 lbs 6 oz, what a big boy!

Our first family photo.

Nice and clean after your first bath.

You & Manny

You & Norah, one of Mommy's favorite pictures.

Sittin in the Bumbo, you loved that thing!

Precious baby boy, sound asleep.

Loving eating.

Enjoying a nap in the car.

Today you turned one! Yay! You are absolutely the sweetest little thing in my life. You continue to amaze your Daddy and I every day with all the new things you do. Even though you are our 2nd born, all your firsts are as equally amazing to us as your big sisters were. This last year has been filled with so many fun times and memories that I truly don't know where to start when describing them. Some of the things you loved this year were your big sister :) and she loves you so much too. You love, love, love the bath and swimming lessons. You love to eat and that makes mommy happy. You are just starting to walk, and that makes mommy a little scared. I cherish our quiet times together in the morning and before naps and bedtime when it's just me and you, and I didn't even mind getting up with you in the middle of the night when you hadn't quite started to sleep through yet. I love all the hugs and kisses you give, especially the ones that are just for mommy. One year ago today you made our family complete and I can't wait to see what your 2nd year will bring us.
I love you,
Mommy

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Birthday party pictures coming soon :)

Happy 2009 !!!!

Happy New Year! Thanks to Casey's mom we were able to go out last night with some of our good friends and family! And we even go to sleep in this morning, that was a treat. We are looking forward to 2009 and all the fun times and new memories we will make!