From October ‘08

It’s finally here….the night that Mason has been waiting for for months…Halloween Night! He is totally into the Halloween spirit and has been watching for ghosts and witches out the front living room window with his home-made “Halloween Spotting-Scope” for weeks now! We’ve also watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” almost every day for the past two weeks and Mason has almost memorized it verbatim! His favorite scene is when Snoopy dresses up as the “World War One Flying Ace” and pretends he’s flying in an airplane and he laughs whenever Snoopy dances by Schroder’s piano:) 

As you can see by the pictures, we’ve been having lots of fun getting ready for Halloween. We’ve baked pumpkin cookies, carved a pumpkin, made a few Halloween crafts and today we baked pumpkin cranberry bread together! We will be going trick-or-treating tonight at the zoo for the “Zoo Boo” event. They have candy at all of the animal exhibits and Logan’s parents will be coming too so it should be fun! Afterwards, we’re all having dinner at our house followed by a little trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

From October ‘08

From October ‘08

From October ‘08

From October ‘08

From October ‘08

From October ‘08

I’ll post some photos of the kids in their costumes once I get some. Mason is going as a fireman and Ellie as Strawberry Shortcake. I made both costumes (though it didn’t involve any sewing fortunately!) so I’m pretty proud of myself!

Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!

From September 2008

Okay, so my last blog entry was back in August regarding our trip to Lake Chelan in early July so I’m guessing it could be true…I AM the worst blogger in the world! That being said, I’m not giving up because I really want to keep our loved ones updated at least on how our little rug-rats are doing!

When Mason was born I was so good at sending monthly updates, writing down every milestone in his baby book etc. but I find with Ellie, I’m lucky just to take pictures and a little video. I hope that will be enough to preserve the memories but with how fast she’s growing, I feel like I haven’t had an opportunity to really capture in words how truly special and adorable she really is! Being a mom to two has really changed my life and I’m still working out how to best manage being a mommy while making SOME time for myself. For example, how to coordinate naps so I can get out to run an errand, find time to shower or work-out (should I be so lucky!). It’s tough, I will admit, but I know it will only get easier so I’m hanging in there!

At 2 1/2, Mason is a big ball of energy. He has such a friendly and animated personality and entertains his sister and I all day long! He tells some great stories, loves to read, build things with his legos, play with his cars and dress-up in various costumes. Mason has a great attention span (he can sit through a 2 hour movie or 50 page book without losing his focus) and a VERY good imagination! He’s working on his potty training right now and we’ve had some good success over the last month or two. He can stay dry all night and through his naps, but still isn’t telling us he needs to go; we have to take him. So still some work to do, but he’s getting there! We are hoping to get him fully-trained by January and have him start pre-school a few days a week in February.

Mason plays well by himself and is generally helpful with Ellie. I can ask him to bring her toys, talk to his sister or get me things I need and he is happy to help, most of the time. Mason is always telling me “I love Ellie SOOO much,” or “Ahhh, Ellie is so cute!” which I think is a good sign coming from a big brother! Ellie seems to watch everything Mason does and pretty much worships him. She gets a huge smile on her face whenever she sees him or hears his voice and last night, while I was feeding her at the dinner table, she kept pointing to the other room where Mason was playing because she wanted to get down and play with him:)

Ellie is now 8 1/2 months old and getting more and more mobile by the day! At 8 months, she was just getting up on her knees barely, but not crawling or getting into a sitting position. In just a few short weeks, she’s now easily getting up to sitting from her tummy and back down onto her hands and knees. She was primarily scooting backwards, but just two nights ago she crawled!! Just two knee-motions forward but that counts we decided:) She also waves, claps her hands and can say “mama” though it’s usually only when she’s mad! We just lowered her crib last night to make sure she can’t get out, and we’ll be baby-proofing the house again by Halloween I’m sure. It’s hard to believe how quickly they change from helpless infants to independent little movers with personality to boot! Ellie has a pretty easy going disposition and is usually smiling but when she gets mad, look out! It may be related to her auburn colored hair (yep, she’s a redhead!), but we’ll see if her temperament changes over the next few months. She’s a beautiful little girl and everywhere we go, people comment on how cute she is, and what pretty hair and gorgeous blue eyes!

Logan has had a busy and successful year at Wells Fargo, and is now working as a Principal Relationship Manager in the Commerical Banking Group, managing loans, deposits and other banking services for some of the state’s largest corporations and non-profits. He does a great job balancing his work while still making family-time a priority. We recently (in September) enjoyed a bank-paid trip down to Seward on the Alaska Railroad with overnight accommodations as part of a Wells Fargo recognition event for top sales performers in Alaska. It was a lot of fun and we have a few pictures in our September album if you want to check it out. He also got to go on a 4-night customer-sponsored fishing trip in September to the Agoulowak (sp?) river in Southwestern Alaska near Dillingham. It was all-expense paid and included meals and lodging. He had a great time and met lots of other bankers from around the country as well as getting to rub elbows with the company’s big cheeses. Then, in early October, he went on another 4-night trip to the East Coast for some customer meetings in DC, Charlotte, and Philadelphia. While there, he got to attend a Phillies game and brought back some fun memorabilia for the whole family!

What else have we been up to….let’s see…we had a busy summer, traveling to WA in July for a week in Chelan with my mom and Jack and my brother, Jon, then spent a lot of weekends at the Birches new cabin on Big Lake, near Wasilla. It’s just over an hour north of Anchorage so easy to get to for weekend get-aways. The cabin is cozy but the eight of us (Chris, Pam, Tali, Carter, Logan, the kids and I) can sleep comfortably and we’ve really enjoyed the leisurely pace that the cabin offers, including beautiful views of Mt. McKinley, bonfires, great meals and exploring the lake by canoe and jet ski. We’re looking forward to some winter get-aways as well and are hoping a snow machine purchase will be in the cards for this year:)

In early October, we travelled down to Washington again to attend Logan’s college roommate’s wedding. During that same time, I helped host my friend, Jeunai’s baby shower and celebrated my 30th birthday. I met up with a bunch of high school and college friends from the University of Washington on the 5th and some of us took a walking tour of campus before having dinner and drinks at The Ram restaurant and brewery in the University Village. Then on my actual birthday, Oct. 6th, we had a dinner party at my mom and Jack’s house with all of my grandmas, my brother, and my dad and Sandra, too. Later in the week, I did some shopping, met up with some friends for a few dinners and lunches, and saw our good friends, the Hansons. Logan and Mason attended a Seahawks game on the 12th–Mason’s first time at Qwest Field!

After returning from our trip to Washington, I got to celebrate again with my Alaska friends on Saturday the 18th. A bunch of my close friends met Logan and I at the Bear Tooth Theatre (a movie theatre that serves good food and locally-brewed beer), to watch my favorite musical, “Mamma Mia!” Afterwards we all went out dancing and had a great night. It has been really fun seeing everyone and celebrating so many exciting occasions in the past month and I feel lucky to have such great friends and a wonderful family!

Right now we are getting ready for Halloween (Mason is going to be a firefighter and Ellie is an adorable Strawberry Shortcake!), and looking forward to the holidays. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Alaska, and Christmas down in Washington this year. We fly down to Seattle on the 20th and come back to Alaska on the 28th so we are looking forward to hopefully seeing lots of family at our annual Christmas parties! 

Whew! That’s way too much info for a blog entry but I had a lot of ground to cover! Next time it will hopefully be shorter–that is if I don’t wait another 2-3 months to post a blog!

Love to you all,

Heather, Logan, Mason and Ellie

Line One: Birth

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 Family Fun–Fourth of July in Chelan, WA

Heather and Mason watch the 4th of July Parade in Manson, WA

Mason enjoys the water in the pool at Slidewaters waterslide park, Chelan

 

Hi again. Just wanted to ada short blog and some photos from our latest family vacation to Lake Chelan, located in sunny, dry, wonderful Eastern Washington! It did a body good to get some sunshine and R&R for a week after the cloudy, rainy summer we’ve been having here in Anchorage. (Apparently the sun came out the week we were gone but we missed it!)

Anyways, the trip began on June 29th when we all met at the Sea-Tac airport to drive over the pass to the house my mom and stepdad, Jack, had rented for the week on Lake Chelan. Logan and Mason flew down from Anchorage that morning and my mom and Ellie picked them up. Ellie had been staying with my mom and stepdad for the past 3 days while I was in San Clemente, CA attending one of my best friend from high school’s wedding….more on that later! So I flew in from CA and we all drove over the pass together arriving in the evening on the 29th.

The house was perfect for all of us with a bedroom for Logan and I that adjoined to a rec-room with a bunk bed where Mason and Ellie slept–she was in the top bunk of course (just kidding, we brought the Pack-N-Play!). We were right on the lake with a fenced grassy yard, large deck, private dock, swim dock AND a motorboat rented for the week!!

It was SO much fun spending the week with my mom and Jack–especially since the kids LOVE them and are fine having them take care of them so Logan and I got some time to relax and do things just the two of us, like waterskiing, playing mini-golf, etc. Not to mention, most meals were prepared for us….I highly recommend vacationing with the grandparents!!

My brother, his girlfriend, Jaimee, and daughter, Makayla, joined us Wednesday night and stayed until Sunday and we all had fun together, boating, tubing, skiing, going to Slidewaters water slide park and State Park, and enjoying the 4th and 5th of July fireworks. They put on a great show at the lake and it was fun being outside late at night while it’s warm and seeing some brilliant fireworks after so many summers spent in Alaska where it’s not dark enough for a fireworks display–though the ones up here for New Year’s are pretty good!

Ellie and Mason both had a ball and we have the photos to prove it! Thanks mom and Jack for making it a vacation to remember:)

The house my parents rented for the week

View of the lake from the dock out front and swim dock

Mason and I try out tubing for the first time…don’t worry, we went pretty slow:)

Blowing bubbles with Grandma Sue

Ellie loved playing in her pool–age 5 months

Logan catching some much needed R&R–this was our favorite spot!

We took Mason for some ice cream at the city park…we think he got more ON him than IN him!

Logan and I got away for a quick round of “broke-down” mini-golf. The course hadn’t been maintained since I was a kid, which is why it was free but we still had fun! I won, of course:)

 

We took my mom and stepdad out to dinner at Campbells’ pub in downtown Chelan to celebrate her birthday early (it was July 15th), and Ellie’s 5 month birthday (July 2nd)

Mason and I went on just one water slide together at Slidewaters before I traumatized him by letting him go underwater. I felt so bad, but then Uncle Jon miraculously convinced him to go on the big water slides with him, when he was afraid to go on the kiddy slides with me!

Mason swimming in the kids pool at Slidewaters

Going on his favorite froggy slide–I think he went down this one at least 100 times!

Me with my little brother, Jon at Slidewaters

Jaimee chasing Makayla and Mason–Mason loved running free in the front yard and the fence between the house and the lake made it much easier for us to relax!

Sparklers with Mom on the 3rd of July

Good Morning everyone! Grandma Sue and Grandpa Jack took care of the kids in the early mornings so Logan and I could get some extra zzz’s in. The kids were up by 6:30 am every day–too much to do!

Grandpa Jack loved taking care of Ellie

Daddy and Mason sharing a shaved ice on the 4th of July

Mason points out candy at the 4th of July parade in downtown Manson.

Happy Birthday USA!

Feeling patriotic…

“The girls” enjoy the parade in our 4th of July finest

Look at the yummy strawberry/blueberry ice cream cake that Mason and Makayla made with Grandma Sue!

Mommy and Ellie love Lake Chelan

Mason and Uncle Jon in the hot tub at the house

Happy Fourth of July!!

Ellie at 4 months old in her new party dress

Ellie at 5 months old in her 4th of July finest

_______

WOW! I’ve really fallen behind on blogging this summer. My last entry was the end of May and here it is the end of July already. Where has the time gone? I promise to be better going forward but thought some of our loyal blog followers would like an update on how our little love bug has been doing and how she’s grown over the past several months.

Ellie is now almost 6 months old (she will be 6 months on Aug 2) and SUCH A GOOD GIRL! I think we’ve finally figured out her ideal schedule and needs and when she’s rested and fed, there has never been a happier baby on the planet:) She smiles all the time, laughs, yells and jabbers whenever she needs a little attention and definitely tells you when she’s not happy, though thankfully that’s not often! 

Developmentally, she can almost sit alone without support, and is now rolling over constantly from her back to tummy, though she often gets stuck on her tummy and can’t figure out how to get back to her back. She is very strong and can pull a dinner plate off the table in a blink of an eye and stands up while holding on to your hands for over a minute. I think she’ll be an early crawler and walker but I’m hoping the immobile phase lasts awhile longer for my sake! Taking care of two is hard enough as is:) Ellie is also eating solid food now–she’s tried bananas, pears, applesauce, butternut squash, yams and rice cereal and is getting better at taking bottles. She also has mastered drinking out of our water glasses, water bottles, etc and watches everything we eat with longing in her eyes. She is still breast feeding–which I plan to keep up until she’s at least a year and sleeps well on a schedule now, though she isn’t sleeping through the night yet.

Her usual schedule is up at 7 or 7:30 am, down for a nap around 9 or 9:30, then up and ready to go by 10:30 or 11:00 am, which is when I usually try to hustle both kids and myself to get out of the house to run an errand, see friends or do something Mason will enjoy, like going to the library, playground, zoo, etc. Both kids are down for a nap by 2 pm if I’m lucky, and I can get an hour or so of time to myself then. Ellie is usually down for the night by 7:30 or 8:00 pm and sleeps until 7:30 or 8:00 am, with 1-3 feedings between then. I’m usually only woken up once or twice at night so it’s not bad unless I go to bed too late, which i often do….

Anyhow, Ellie is doing great and I’m loving being a mom to two wonderful kids. It’s getting easier by the day, and though at times it’s still VERY difficult, I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else than taking care of my beautiful babies.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Ellie over the past two months. I’ll post another blog after we go to her 6 month check up on August 6th.  At her 4 month check up she was “off the charts” for height at 26 1/2 inches (up 6 inches since birth) and at 90% for weight at 15 lbs, 4 oz (up almost 8 lbs since birth). I’m so happy to have a healthy, growing baby girl!

 

Ellie at 4 months wearing her new leg warmers and shoes–

it’s just too cold for mini-skirts in Alaska!

Ellie and Mason enjoy some morning playtime–4 months old

 

“Daddy’s Girl” on Father’s Day–4 1/2 months old

Ellie practices her standing with big brother, Mason and Grandpa Chris–4 1/2 months old

Ellie rolled from her back to tummy for the 1st time at a park in Tukwila on June 29th–Ellie, Grandma Sue, Logan and Mason were waiting to pick me up at Sea-Tac after a 3 day trip to CA for my friend’s wedding.

Ellie loved the kiddy pool at Lake Chelan–5 months old

 

Ellie and Mason sport the red, white and blue on the 4th of July in Chelan

Below: “All American Girl” Ellie and Grandma Sue at her first parade in Manson, WA on the 4th of July.

Gotta love that sundress and that sweet smile!

Heather here again. Just wanted to share some photos and thoughts on our recent Memorial Day weekend getaway to Seward. We drove down Saturday morning with Logan’s parents, about a two hour drive south from Anchorage, and arrived in Seward by mid-day. Logan’s parents just got a slip in Seward for their 22- foot Osprey fishing boat, after being on the wait list for the last few years, so we were all excited to get the boat in the water and try out life on the docks! The weather on Saturday wasn’t great but it still felt wonderful to be on the water again and Seward is amazing anytime of year! 

It was Eliana’s first boat trip and she did great! She slept in her car seat onboard and down below in the v-berth and even enjoyed being on the back deck despite the wind and cooler temperatures. Seeing her at almost 4 months old on the boat brought back so many memories of Mason on the boat at that age. He has really grown up on the water, going out on the boat several weekends every summer since he was a baby. Now he LOVES being on the water and is always asking when he can go on “his boat.” He can’t wait to try fishing with Logan this year and even has his own Spiderman fishing pole! 

Saturday night we went out to dinner at the Apollo Greek and Italian restaurant in downtown Seward and walked down the beach to visit some friends from Anchorage who had a bonfire and s’more stuff. Mason was all about the chocolate and I had to pry several hershey bars out of his clenched fingers…he kept saying “I love chocolate, Mommy!” It was pretty cute:) We also checked out a really cool new playground that the city of Seward built right on the water. It’s huge and very well done with trex material that looks like wood minus the splinters. Mason had a ball and we got some great photos of him and Ellie on the playground. That night, we stayed at the Hotel Seward in a joint room with Logan’s parents. It was a pretty good set-up with two queen sized beds and a faux fireplace. Mason slept on the floor which was kind of like camping for him and Ellie had her pack n play so we all had plenty of room, though somehow both kids ended up in our bed by morning!

Sunday was much better weather, with sunny skies and highs in the upper 50s or low 60s. We had breakfast at the bakery and got out on the water before 10 am. Fishing wasn’t good at all, but we did enjoy a nice lunch on the boat while in Bulldog Cove and did lots of cruising. We headed back before the weather started to turn and had a nice dinner at Ray’s before driving back to Anchorage. All in all a great opening weekend for the Birches boating season and a memorable Memorial Day weekend!

Heather here again. Just wanted to share some photos and memories from my recent trip down to Washington with Mason and Ellie. We flew down on May 13th and got back home on the 18th so it was a relatively short trip considering the rounds we always make trying to see friends and family. I was anxious to show off Ellie to those that hadn’t had a chance to meet her yet, especially her great grandparents, Grandpa Jack and Uncle Jon. We had a wonderful time seeing everyone and staying at my mom and Jack’s house in Langley and even got some good weather to boot! It was in the mid-80’s on Saturday so we really lucked out!!

Unfortunately, Logan wasn’t able to take (as he would point out, sarcastically I might add) more than his allotted 5 weeks of vacation time per year to come down this time, so I traveled solo with both kids. Fortunately, Logan’s dad, Chris, flew through Seattle on our flight from Anchorage to Seattle so I had help on the first leg of the flight. On the return flight, it was a lot more challenging, especially since I had to hold Ellie on my lap the whole flight while trying to keep Mason in his seat and entertained. We flew back late though, 8 pm, arriving in Anchorage after 10:30 pm, so Ellie slept almost the whole way home and Mason was entertained most of the time with snacks and watching movies on the DigePlayer so I survived! It was also very helpful that my friend, Kai, who lives in Alaska, had her new double stroller shipped to me in WA so I could use it to fly home with the kids. It was a HUGE help in getting both kids through the airport without any problems–thanks a million, Kai!!

Here are a few photos with captions from our trip. It was so nice being down in Washington in the springtime and Mason, Ellie and I had so much fun seeing everyone! We’ll be back down in the fall sometime so hopefully we can see everyone again real soon!

 

Ellie meets her Grandpa Jack for the first time!

Great Grandma, Ellie meets her Great Granddaughter, Ellie

Grandma Sue can always make Eliana smile:)

Ellie got lots of love and kisses from Grandma during our stay

Mason, Ellie and I went to the Woodland Park Zoo with Grandpa Doug and Grandma Sandra. Here’s Mason checking out the new ZooMazium children’s exhibit.

Mason gets ready to hatch out of a dinosaur egg at the ZooMazium

Grandpa Doug and Sandra with Mason and Ellie at the zoo

We had so much fun and saw lots of neat exhibits, including the baby gorilla!

On our way back from the zoo we stopped off for a visit with Great Grandma and Grandpa Crutchfield. Here’s Ellie with her Great Grandma Lillian

Back at Grandma Sue’s house in Langley, the kids have fun lounging around in their jammies!

I love this picture–Ellie looks so adorable in her jammies and look at those cheeks!!

On Friday night, my friends, Katherine, Marita and Karen came up to the island for a visit. We had a backyard BBQ with my mom and Jack and then walked down to Langley to check out the sites that evening. Unfortunately, there was no dessert to be found…..anywhere!

So happy to be at Grandma’s!

Mason loves the Playground in the Park on Whidbey!

Mason practices his swing with Grandpa Jack

Mason even had his own private swimming pool at Grandma & Grandpa’s–unfortunately we forgot his suit!

Great Gram and Ellie

Cousin Grace came up to the island for a visit with her mom, my cousin, Suzi, and brother, Jacob

Me with the double stroller I borrowed from a friend to travel home with the two kids. Watch out–this thing makes wide turns!!

On our last day on Whidbey, Mason helped Grandpa Jack wash the big green van

We stopped off on our way to the airport to visit the Hanson’s who were at Kaley and Sami’s house in the U-District. We got to meet baby Ayla, who just turned one and see Dan, Barb, Kaley, Sami and Jenny too! 

Ellie with Dan and Barb (above)

Ellie with Grandpa Doug at the Hanson’s in Seattle

Me with Kaley, Sami and Jenny

Ellie meets Great Grandpa Don and Great Grandma Joyce in Federal Way

We also stopped by my Aunt Nancy’s in Federal Way and had a backyard BBQ with my cousins Amanda and Melissa. Here they are with Melissa’s son, Dylan, who just turned one. Dylan was opening his birthday gift from Mason and Ellie. He’s such a little cutie pie and it was great seeing my cousins!!

 

Heather here. Just wanted to wish all of you moms out there a belated Happy Mother’s Day! Being a mommy to two now really puts in perspective just how much time, effort and love that mothers give on a daily basis to their children, and I hope all of you moms out there, whether you have a new baby at home or grown kids with children of their own, took some time to relax and celebrate the wonderful gift of being a mom!!

My mother’s day was very special this year because I have two little angels in my life that made it so! Logan also treated me to an evening out at Simon and Seaforts that Saturday night–my request:) It was a great meal and fun to get away for the evening. Thanks Tali and Carter for babysitting!! Then, on Sunday, Mother’s Day, we went for a walk from Westchester Lagoon to Valley of the Moon park and to New Sagaya downtown for some lunch. It was fun being together as a family and a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day!

I had to steal this video from my friend Katie’s YouTube site. It’s a video of Mason and Katie’s daughter, Ella, 16 months old. Mason is giving her kisses and she is laughing….very cute! We’ve always said that Mason and Ella would be a cute couple someday–we’ll have to save this video to show to them when their in high school and really embarrass them:)

Yes it’s true. After going without snow for almost a month and a half (late Feb to early April) we’ve been seeing blizzard after blizzard around here! Fortunately, most of the snow fell while we were in Palm Springs, but just last Friday, April 25th we got a HUGE dumping. In fact, it was the 3rd most snow Anchorage has ever had in a single day, with some areas getting close to two feet!! We had almost 20 inches at our house, but it’s already melted, just 5 days later with warmer weather and rain. Still, it’s been a little frustrating with everyone ready to get started with our short spring and long-awaited summer!! We made the most of the late-season snowfall though–Logan built a snowman and Mason and I got outside to play a bit! I had to carry him since the snow was up to his waist:)

Hopefully this was our last snowfall—bring on the SPRING!!!

Over a foot on top of our fence!