Category Archives: us

Argggh! Avery’s 6!

Avery turned six on Friday. Six? How is that possible? The math adds up, but… wow, they aren’t kidding when they say “the days are long, but the years are short.” This year Avery lost four teeth, started school, and learned to read and do math. His favorite subjects in school are math, science, and recess. He loves Legos, building, science projects, riding bikes, and camping. You wouldn’t know it from the way he behaves at home, but he is quiet and reserved at school, and follows the rules. He’s athletic, but not that sporty. He loves to build and create, but his coloring and handwriting have a ways to go. Avery is inquisitive, mischievous, silly, and full of energy. He is such a sweet little boy!

Since the day I found out I was having a boy, I’ve been looking forward to throwing a pirate party. I love sailing (even though I don’t get to do it often enough), and Jonathan was in Sea Scouts and rowed on the crew team, so I knew at some point or another, it was bound to happen. Hey, at this rate, with three boys, we may end up having several. When Avery told me he wanted to have a pirate party this year, I was all over it! I started pinning things on Pinterest, and before long we were constructing cardboard pirate ships and painting a plank. Not to toot my own horn, but I think the party came together quite nicely – and the weather even cooperated!

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Captain Avery
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The snacks
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Cupcakes!
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They started the party out by getting tattoos, pirate gear, and making treasure maps
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Dalton
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Brianna
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Brooklyn
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Then it was time for a little “pin the tail on the croc”
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Next up: snacks and cake
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Then we snapped a quick group shot outside
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Before making the kids walk the plank (with style)
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Dalton
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Hayden
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Benjamin
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Hamza
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Finally it was time for a good ‘ole pirate battle! Arrggh!
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Mayhem!
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Avery with three of his buddies from kindergarden, Adam, Gideon & Hamza
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Lindsay & Silas
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Time to open presents
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Gideon & Avery
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Silas walking to Avery
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Some shots of the boys with their mustaches
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Here are a few shots from Avery’s actual birthday, a couple days earlier. I wish I’d gotten a picture of it, but it snowed several inches that morning. Avery must have wished for snow for his birthday.
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Avery brought cookies to school for his birthday. There was one leftover, and he saved it and brought it home for Kieron! How sweet is that?! Melts my heart! Here’s Kieron enjoying it.
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It’s Spring!

Hooray, spring is here! Behold, the last of our winter photos:

Jonathan took the boys tubing at the end of the month. They had a terrific time!
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Having snacks on the back of our new (to us) Subaru.
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This is Kieron’s “displeased face.” We visit the local brewery for family dinners every so often. Sometimes we let the boys order root beer. But the last time we went, Kieron filled up on it and didn’t eat dinner, so this time he wasn’t allowed to order any. He was pretty ticked off.
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Making noodles with Kieron… he ate them!
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At another Brewery, this time in Capitol Hill.
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Invites went out for Avery’s birthday party
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Here’s the boys playing in the kitchen one morning
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Some cute pics from movie night
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Kieron’s a natural at the guitar
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Silas Turns One!

March 1st was Silas’ birthday. It’s difficult to believe a whole year has come and gone since the morning we checked in at the birthing center and announced “we’re here to have a baby!”

At one year old, Silas is a cheerful little guy. He’s pretty easy going, and generally happy. He likes to stick with Mommy, and lights up whenever Daddy or one of his brothers show up. He likes clapping and dancing to music, rolling cars along the ground, and helping Kieron in his kitchen. He loves bath time and eating. And speaking of eating, he likes almost everything. Fruits, veggies, meat, fish, grains – basically what we eat, he eats. Even some pretty strong flavors like marinated vegetables and saag paneer. Words he uses include: hey, mama, dada, a-eee (Avery), more, uh (uh-oh).

It’s especially cute to see Silas’ interaction with his brothers. Of course he thinks they’re both great. Kieron is starting to get a taste of sibling rivalry now that Silas isn’t just a baby anymore. Sometimes he’ll grab a toy from Silas, but he’s very protective. If he sees Silas start to do anything slightly dangerous (like reach for a cord or small toy), he immediately tells me or tries to stop him. With Avery at school most of the day, he is now elevated to “cool older brother” status, and he loves this role. When he comes home in the afternoon, he give Silas a special “hello,” and in return, Silas squeals and giggles. It’s so interesting to observe all the differences in their interactions with each other. Kieron is more of a peer to each of his brothers, while Silas and Avery have a different dynamic with five years between them.

Silas had his well baby check last week. He hasn’t grown much – 19lbs, 3oz, 29″, head is 17.52″. He’s gained less than a pound in the last three months, and hasn’t stretched out any, so he’s dropped on the growth charts. No concern there though, he’s an active little guy.

A few days before his birthday, Silas took his first steps. We all got to see it! We were all in the playroom when he just let go of the ottoman and took about five steps before dropping down to his knees. He’s still not walking everywhere yet, but practices. He prefers to do it on his own, rather than with help from Mommy or Daddy. Here he is balancing on the morning of his birthday.
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Silas and Kieron had a bath in the “big tub” that morning
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Here they are horsing around in the kitchen.
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Silas likes to love on his big brothers. Here he is giving Kieron a kiss (and a nose honk)!
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Checking out his birthday balloons with Mark
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He prefers to push his little car sideways because it’s easier to control that way. It tips easily that way though.
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Waiting for his cupcakes, “why is everyone singing to me?”
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Make a wish!
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He loves cake! Neither Avery nor Kieron were very interested in their birthday cupcakes, but Silas devoured his.
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All gone!
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I love how he’s trying to lick the frosting off his lip in this picture.
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Opening presents with help from his big brothers. It worked out perfectly – each boy found a different toy they were interested in playing with that night! Avery liked the Fisher-Price record player, Kieron gravitated toward the doggie pull-toy, and Silas was content with his float plane and car keys.

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February Happenings

Wow, I know it’s the shortest month of the year, but February sure zipped by. We had playdates and birthday parties, an Antartica Fair and Book Fair at school, Valentines Day, mid-winter break, and trips to the Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Home Show. Jonathan and I also launched a new and improved website for our photography business. Check it out here.

Here’s Kieron setting a nail at February’s Kid’s Workshop at Home Depot. Nice fine motor skills, little guy!
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We took the boys to the zoo earlier in the month. But first we had to stop at Cafe Vita for some coffee. Here’s Kieron with some of our loot.
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And here he is feeding the Humboldt penguins.
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Avery was especially excited to feed them since he’s been learning about Antarctica at school all month (although technically, this breed isn’t from Antarctica).
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Kieron had a close encounter with a peacock. He didn’t notice it approaching until it was quite close, and startled, he speed walked diagonally away from it. Wish we’d caught it on tape.
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We had some really pretty days in the  middle of the month, so we took a few long walks with the boys to some of the parks.
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Jonathan took a day off over mid-winter break to spend some quality time with the boys. He took Avery and Kieron hiking on Little Si.
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Oh my gosh, how precious is this?!
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Playing in the backyard.
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Our little Si playing peek-a-boo over the couch
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Avery came home from school on Valentines Day with all these stickers (from his Valentines) on his face. He kept them on until bath. Here he is reading the Valentine from us.

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And here’s Kieron enjoying the cookies we made earlier in the day.
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Kieron didn’t really get interested in watching TV until a couple of months ago. He only likes Fireman Sam, cooking shows, Mighty Machines, some Sesame Street, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Caillou. Right now he’s really into “Caillou the Chef.” It’s one eight minute episode he watches on YouTube and never gets tired of. Here he is totally engrossed.
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Avery finished the Lego Space Shuttle!
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The boys watching Fireman Sam.
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Meanwhile Silas plays more peek-a-boo
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Such buddies already
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Last weekend we took the boys to the Home Show in Seattle. Afterward we went to the waterfront for lunch and a nice walk on the pier.
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January Photo Dump

I thought about splitting all these photos into separate posts, but I’m just going to save myself some trouble and share the best pics from January all in one big photo extravaganza. So here goes:

Our three sweetie pies
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1st Saturday of each month at Home Depot = Kids Workshop!
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Sleeping baby picture – so cute!
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Every time we go to Bellevue now, Jonathan says, “you know where we should go? Cupcake Royale!” Of course he gets no complaints from me and the boys.
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Silas has quite the sweet tooth
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Avery’s first tubing excursion with Daddy – he was sooooo excited!
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Building his Lego SpaceShuttle with Daddy
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Who can resist this face?
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Wiggling his loose two front teeth
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Quick, let’s get a picture before they fall out!
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Poor Avery must really want a pet. He decided to adopt a dust bunny from underneath one of our cabinets (totally his own idea). He then built it a Lego home, complete with a hamster wheel, toys, bed, water tank, etc. For the next few days he checked on and took care of the dust bunny. He even found another one for Kieron and built it a home too. It was actually pretty sweet.
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A birthday card he sent to Nicole
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Silas loves eggs!
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Playing in the backyard
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Kieron looks like such a tough guy in this one
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Silas enjoying the swing
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With Daddy – serious face
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Now smiles!
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Now with Mommy
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Mmmm, Avery’s slippers taste good
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Another cute one of Kieron
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Still working on that Space Shuttle…
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As many of you already know, Kieron is, ahem, a picky eater. He has yet to eat a vegetable. I have found a loophole though, this boy loves to juice! His favorite is carrots, kale, chard, tomato, apple & ginger.
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He has to be cut off!
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Nana came to visit one weekend. She brought up a knitting kit for Avery, and he loves it! They made a hat for his stuffed pug over the weekend and even started another.
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Nana also brought a couple of gorillas who sing “The Macarena.” I think these were Jonathan and Ashleigh’s back in the day. Apparently she didn’t need them anymore, so they now stay at our house. The boys thought they were such a hoot!
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And as you can see, Avery lost his two front teeth! One day while he was wrestling with Kieron, his face was drug along the carpet, and out came a tooth. I think Avery paid Kieron a commission for that one. Then he wiggled the other one out two days later at kindergarden.
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And here’s Silas, already trying to reach for the doorknob.
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