Mason at age 3, is still a tall, “well-built” boy–pretty big for his age, actually.

• Height–39″ (90th percentile)–he grew 2 inches since his 2 year check up
• Weight–37 lbs (90th percentile)–he gained 4 lbs since his 2 year check up

Ellie at age 1, is very tall for her age, but more on the lean side. We call her our little string bean:)

• Height–31.5″ (100th percentile)–she grew 1 1/2 inches since her 9 month check up
• Weight–22 lbs (75th percentile)–she gained 2 1/2 lbs since her 9 month check up

We are very lucky to have such healthy growing kids!

Logan created this cool slideshow on iMovie from our video taken on Kauai last month. Check it out! PS: If the sound no longer works, it may be because YouTube blocked the song….they do that sometimes!

Your first year of life has flown by so fast! Though it seems like only yesterday you were born, it’s hard to imagine our family without you a part of it. You are the source of so much sunshine and smiles and your Daddy, big brother and I love you sooo much!  It’s been so much fun watching you grow and seeing your personality develop. You are a strong willed little girl with a great sense of adventure and curiosity and we have no doubt you can do anything you put your mind to! While you are our little “Miss Independent” you also love and need your mommy and daddy and want to be just like your big brother Mason. We love your smiles and cuddles and can’t wait to see how you grow and change in the next year. Happy birthday Ellie Belly!

Love, Mommy, Daddy & Mason

PS: Here’s a photo from your first “real” birthday to show how much you’ve grown and changed in just one year!

NOTE TO BIRCH BLOG FANS: There are more photos of Ellie’s 1st Birthday located on our blog—just click on the link at right for “Online Photo Albums”

We can hardly believe you’re already 3 years old. It doesn’t seem that long ago that you were born and I held you in my arms for the very first time. From the day you were born you’ve brought so much love and joy to your daddy and I and we are so proud of the smart, curious, funny and caring little boy you’ve become. You amaze us daily with your insights, imagination and intelligence and your sense of humor and charm (not to mention your beautiful blue eyes!) makes us smile even when you’re supposed to be in trouble! We hope your 3rd birthday was fun for you and we look forward to watching you learn, explore and grow in the coming year! Happy birthday buddy!

Love, Mom and Dad

PS: Here’s a little photo tribute to all the special birthdays we’ve shared with you over the years….

NOTE TO BIRCH BLOG FANS: There are more photos of Mason’s 3rd Birthday located on our blog—just click on the link at right for “Online Photo Albums”

Welcome to the world little guy–Mason Thomas Birch Born on January 28, 2006 / 8 lbs, 0 oz, 21 3/4″

Mason’s 1st Birthday

Mason’s 2nd Birthday

Mason’s 3rd Birthday

ALOHA! We just returned from 10 glorious days on the garden isle–Kauai–and I don’t mean to brag but it really was heaven on earth! We soaked up every moment of sunshine and even enjoyed the passing rain showers Kauai is known for. It sure beats the heck out of the sub-zero temps we were experiencing in Anchorage for the two weeks prior to our trip! Logan’s parents, Pam and Chris, rented a condo at Nihi Kai Villas on sunny Poipu Beach, Kauai’s south shore and it was wonderful being able to walk to the beach and watch sunsets every night from our lanai. There was a protected swimming area and a park with a playground just a few minutes walk from our condo so it was the perfect location for kids. Also, the adults were able to enjoy a run most mornings alongside the ocean–there is a path that goes from Poipu past the Grand Hyatt Resort (which is an amazing place in itself!) and the views were incredible. It was a great way to start the day. Pam and I even got in some beachside yoga one morning, which was fun!

Aside from our daily routine of running, getting iced coffees, hitting the beach or pool with the kids for a few hours, before heading back to the condo for the kids naps (we usually read and whale watched off the balcony during this time…) and enjoying mai tai’s at sunset, we also took a few little excursions (see captions below photos). It was an amazing trip and one we’d love to do again sometime….soon!

Just wanted to share a few pictures, highlights and funny stories from our time there. You can see more photos by clicking on the Online Albums link at right.

  From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

The month of December came and went so fast that I haven’t had time to update everyone on all the fun we had over the holidays. It was Ellie’s first Christmas and with Mason going on 3 now, he was SUPER excited about everything that had to do with Christmas–especially Santa and his reindeer! We started the Christmas season with a trip to the PAC (Alaska Performing Arts Center) on November 28, with Logan’s parents, Pam and Chris and sister, Tali, to watch the Nutcracker, something Mason had been anticipating for almost a month. We had downloaded the Nutcracker songs and Mason, Ellie and I spent countless hours re-inacting the sword-fighting scene with the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Mason was the Mouse King, I was the Nutcracker Prince and Ellie played Clara of course:) Mason LOVED the performance but fell asleep in Act 2, not surprising given that it was quiet, dark and naptime! Afterwards we had dinner with Tali and Carter at their place downtown, then headed back to Town Square where we got to pet Santa’s reindeer. It was a pretty magical day.

From November Fun

From November Fun

Then on Dec. 6th we went to Bells to pick out our Christmas tree and take photos with the big man in red himself. Mason was all smiles on his lap and wasn’t afraid in the least to get right up on Santa’s knee and ask for what every 2 year old asks for…..the “Kung Fu Panda” movie. We have no idea how he became so infatuated with it but that’s all he’d been able to talk about in the months leading up to Christmas! Ellie wasn’t so sure about Santa but we managed to get one shot before she burst into tears:) Once home, we got busy decorating and spent the first few weeks in December baking, watching Christmas movies and even making a few holiday crafts–some paper ornaments for the tree. 

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

Logan’s birthday was on Dec. 14 so we had a little party at our place on the 12th, after shipping the kids off to overnight at Grandma and Grandpa’s. It was a fun evening and Logan proved he can still party with the best of them at 29!

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

Santa made an unexpected visit one evening but he was riding on a firetruck instead of a sleigh. Hard to imagine what could be more exciting for an almost 3 year old than Santa on a firetruck! Plus there were candycanes and a slide off the truck…too cool! Mason was in heaven:)

From December 2008

From December 2008

Then on the 19th, because we were leaving the next morning to head to Washington, we had a Christmas gift exchange with Logan’s family, and gave the kids our gifts–mostly clothes for Ellie but also a dolly with a stroller/carseat/crib/diaper bag set. Mason’s main gift from us was an art easel and art supplies which he’s been having fun with!

On Dec. 20th we left for an 8 day trip down to Washington to spend Christmas with my family. We arrived mid-day on a Saturday, just a few hours before the “huge” winter storm hit the Pacific NW. We lucked out actually because most flights were cancelled in and out of Sea-Tac Saturday evening through Sunday or Monday. The island got a ton of snow and fortunately we didn’t have to go anywhere so we stayed put at my mom and Jack’s house in Langley Sunday until Wednesday (Christmas Eve). We built two snowmen, had a few good snowball fights, walked to Langley, visited with my dad, and enjoyed lots of Christmas cookies. I also enjoyed running on the treadmill and we played around at the middle school gym one afternoon. My stepdad, Jack, is the Assistant Principal / Athletic Director and has keys to all the PE equipment so the kids had a ball with that!

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

On Christmas Eve, we visited my friend, Jeunai, who had recently had a baby girl, then headed to Bellevue to Jack’s sister, Marie’s house. Santa (aka Grandpa Jack) made an appearance and Mason was so excited. He also had fun playing with all of his little cousins–there are a couple of 4 year old boys he’s buddies with. Ellie was so cute in her red Christmas dress and both kids hung in there like champs even though it was kind of a late night. They both fell asleep in the car on the way home but woke up to put out cookies and milk for Santa. 

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

Christmas Day we stayed at my mom’s all day and had a wonderful breakfast and dinner. My Gram, Dad and Sandra, and brother Jon and his girlfriend Jaimee and her daughter, Makayla, were there and it was nice having everyone together in one place–it made for a much more relaxing day! Also, my brother announced that he and Jaimee are engaged, so that was exciting. 

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

The day after Christmas, Logan’s cousins, Russ and Katie, and my friend, Karen, came over for dinner and we all had fun visiting and playing with the kids.

From December 2008

From December 2008

Then that Saturday, the 27th we headed into Seattle for a Christmas party with my dad’s side of the family at my Grandma and Grandpa Crutchfield’s house. It was fun seeing all my aunts, uncles and cousins and many of my cousins have had kids now so it’s a BIG group!

From December 2008

Following the party, we checked into a hotel downtown Seattle. We had a room with the kids and my mom and Jack were right next door. We went out to dinner at the Taphouse Grill with friends, Katherine, Jon, Jeremy and Sheri and it was really fun catching up and enjoying our last night in Washington downtown. Plus it made it so much nicer the next morning to sleep in, enjoy a great breakfast buffet at the hotel, shop and walk around downtown Seattle a bit before heading to the airport around 12 pm. It was the perfect trip–busy but not too busy to make it enjoyable!

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

From December 2008

We’ve been back in AK now since the 28th and are finally unpacked and settled back into a regular routine after all the Christmas craziness. We’ve had sub-zero highs most days since our return so we’ve been pretty much staying indoors but that’s okay because we’re leaving for HAWAII on Saturday. A-L_O_H_A!  We’ll be there with Logan’s parents and the kids on the island of Kauai–Poipu Beach. I can’t wait!

From January 2009

From January 2009

From January 2009

Now about that title….”All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.” Well, it just so happens that Ellie’s two front teeth (top) peeked through just before Christmas so now she’s got 4! She’s a little firecracker and getting more fun by the day. She took her first real steps on Dec. 27th at Great Grandma and Grandpa Crutchfield’s house and while she’s not walking unassisted yet, she’s ALMOST THERE! Hard to believe our baby is already 11 months old. I’m also working on weaning her, slowly. First step was to cut out all night feedings. It had been getting BAD and she was waking up 3-4 times every night to nurse. It only took one night of ignoring her cries for 45 minutes or so and since then she’s been sleeping all night. Who knew it could be that easy? I don’t know why I hadn’t figured it out earlier! Oh well. I’m a much happier and better-rested mommy, that’s all that matters.

From December 2008

That’s all for now, I’ll try to be better about sending shorter, more frequent updates in the new year. Happy 2009!

Well, here we are likely in the worst recession most of us will ever see and I’m only making it worse! Being in the banking business and having studied economics in college, I am very well aware of the power of consumer spending. Which also means I know the impact of changing behaviors, even something as small as putting a sticker on the back of a Christmas card and writing in a free blog, you repeat a few small cost cutting measures like that, multiply by 300 million and, oh crap, you lost half of your 401(k)! Unfortunately, the economics stuff also taught me that people will generally act in their own self interest when they think they alone can’t make an impact, so here we are.

To finish up the economics lecture, our economy is still great up here, business is good and housing is holding. Although, check back next year if oil is at $12 a barrel. I do work at a bank but consider myself extremely lucky to work at the strongest, large bank in the country right now, in the only state that is not in recession. 

Now on to the important stuff, my top five stock picks for 2009. – Just kidding.  In 2008 our little Birch tree grew another branch when Eliana Lynn Birch was born February 2. And just a quick note to those we don’t talk to much, her full name is pronounced “Ellie-anna” and we usually just call her Ellie. Ellie is now 10 months old and becoming quite a little firecracker, and not just because of her red hair. Ellie has quickly picked up the art of wrestling with Mason and I when I get home from work, and I can say with certainty she is tougher than he at the same age. Although in Mason’s defense, he didn’t have the benefit Ellie has of constantly being attacked by swords, pillows, race cars and legos by an active, 2 year old sibling. Even though Ellie likes to rumble with the boys and enjoys a good bout of growling, there is no question she is a momma’s girl. I always could get Mason to calm down, but Ellie will not deal with me when she is pissed and I can already hear the doors slamming in about 13 years. Even though daddy is not her fist choice when she is cranky, I think I might have a little tomboy in the making! As you can see from all the pictures, she is beautiful and has definitely captured all of our hearts, even Mason. 

From December 2008

As for Mason, he is now a little man. Even though he won’t be three until January 28, he absolutely amazes us everyday with his intelligence, understanding and wit. We continue to wait for it all to start rolling downhill into the “terrible twos”, but as long as we make sure he is well rested and fed, he is actually very reasonable – “No Mason, it would not be a good idea to eat ice cream and candy canes for dinner and stay up all night long. Why? Well, if you do that you will be too tired to eat candy canes and ice cream tomorrow!” (I didn’t say there wasn’t any bribery). He is very excited about Christmas, which makes the season that much more exciting for us all. Mason will start going to pre-school in February, just two days a week for a couple of hours, but it will be a good opportunity for him to spend some time with other kids and start to learn about what it means to be in the classroom. I will say he is “cautiously optimistic”  about going to pre-school, intrigued by snack time, the teacher and crafts, but likes to tell us he is “a little shy at first with the kids”, he will be fine. 

From October ’08

Heather is mom and wife of the year, not sure if you saw the announcement. I’m not really how sure how she keeps it all together, with two active kids ages 10 months and 2 and a husband who could probably stand to do a bit more to help out, but she does. Not only does she maintain, she excels. We have got two healthy, happy kids and I don’t think any husband or family could ask for a better wife and mother as her. Heather’s days are busy just taking care of the kids, but she is still able to get out often and make trips to Fred Meyer, meet friends for play dates and head to the library, zoo or gym -what a mom!

From October ’08

As for other fun 2008 highlights. At the end of February, I made my 4th annual hockey trip to Las Vegas with my work team, always a fun time when 15 adults act like children for four days. In April we went with the family down to Palm Springs and spent time with my grandma Carolyn and my parents. The highlight of that trip was Mason and Ellie’s first trip to Disneyland, a very fun time. In June Heather had a girls trip to California for her friend Shoshana’s wedding. That was followed by a great fourth of July trip with Jack and Sue to Chelan. They rented a nice home on the lake and a ski boat.  Back in Alaska, my parents bought a family cabin on Big Lake and most weekends were spent there working on projects, including a nice deck my dad and I banged out in a day and a half! In October, we traveled back to Washington, where Heather and the kids stayed while I went to the east coast for work for a few days. Luckily, the huskies were not in town when we were in Seattle. This Christmas, we will be on Whidbey Island, and from the looks of the forecast, it sounds like we WILL have a white Christmas. 

From July 2008

Well, I’m tired of typing and you are tired of reading, so lets end this. If, for some reason, that was not enough there are plenty of posts on here going into more details and a plethora of family photos and a few videos (mostly dated right now) that can be found by clicking on the links on the right side of the page. 

From the Birch Family with Love

Hoping your holiday is bright

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

  From November Fun

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on things I’m thankful for and share some photos from yesterday’s family fun!

I feel so fortunate to have 2 happy, healthy kids who light up my life and a husband that supports me and always puts family first. I also have a loving extended family–parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins—and incredible group of friends! I thank God for all that he provides for me and my family and am just so thankful to be leading the life I lead:)

Today we are going to the Nutcracker ballet downtown and Mason is so excited–I think we all are! I’ll post some photos from that soon, but for now, here are a few Thanksgiving Day photos…we met for a short ski at Service, followed by some sledding and a wonderful dinner at Logan’s parents house. It was a great day!

From November Fun

From November Fun

From November Fun

From November Fun

From November Fun

From November Fun