Cheese Please

No doubt about it, Blake and Lauren are partners in crime these days.  They bicker quite a bit and I'm constantly wondering why I didn't buy two of everything in the same color.  But when they are plotting against me they are best buddies. Yesterday they thought it would be fun to "sneak" some food.  Blake, like most normal children, went with the fresh baked cookies and hid behind our couch.  Lauren went with cheese and brought it upstairs to show me. 

Finally, a playdate!

Between summer travel and runny noses, we hadn't seen Alison and Georgia since July!  It was really great to see them today.  Lauren talks about GG constantly, and when Grammy and Pa went to see her the other day, Lauren thought she was going too.  She ran to my car and waited at her door.  When I told her we weren't going she burst into tears.  Today was a long over due reunion for these two little ladies.

 

 while trying to get a picture of this trio, I said "hey, look at your Aunt".  I was trying to get Georgia to look at me...can you tell where Alison was standing?? 

Blake (and his fabulous hair) was headed out for soccer, but stuck around long enough for a few pics.

 Still against the rules...but Lauren couldn't help herself!

 

For some reason, jumping in our playroom is a huge form of entertainment.  Georgia used to be a bit more tentative, but not anymore!

 

My Little Swimmer

Blake has been taking swimming lessons at Tiger Mountain Aquatics for a couple of years now. Every time we go there Lauren wants to get in the pool. I have avoided the mom/tot classes until now. I spoke with the owner and she said if we brought Lauren to the mom/tot class she could see what Lauren might be ready for. So on Wednesday, we hopped in the pool and Lauren swam circles around the babies. There was an opening in the level one class that morning as well, so we had her try that lesson too. She was amazing! She stayed in the pool for the full lesson and was all smiles the whole time. She also came home and took a 1.5 hour nap! I'm so proud of her and so happy I won't have to get in the pool for lessons :) Here is a little video of her first official swimming lesson.

Good morning sunshine!

  I told Lauren she could wake Blake up the other morning and this is what I found when I went to check on them.  LOVE! 

The Children's Garden

Last Wednesday Blake had his last "first day" at The Children's Garden. I remember on his first day of school in the 3's class, some of the moms had a "kleenex and mimosas" party. You could pick depending on your mood. I was in the mimosa crowd (of course!). I knew Blake was ready for school and in really great hands.  As I headed off to our little mommy get together I was far more sad than on Blake's first day at The Children's Garden. Luckily, our host mommy was prepared with plenty of Baileys and coffee for our 1:00 mommy meeting! (for the record, I had straight coffee, I swear!)

 The kids ran into their class room with out missing a beat. It's as if we'd only been gone a week or so. There are many rites of passage reserved for the 5's class, I'm so excited to see how this year unfolds.

 That's me in the center...if you couldn't tell! (Circa 1979)

Blake September, 2012

Someone else thought she was ready for school too!

Waiting for their big brothers to get out of school.

Tap & Ballet Class

I remember being at Little Gym with Blake when I was newly pregnant. I saw a bunch of little girls going into their tap class and it occurred to me I wouldn't be doing any of that girly stuff because I was positive we would have two boys. I still have days where I pinch myself that I get to take Lauren to all of the girly stuff! Today she started her tap/ballet class at Emerald City Dance. (If you are wondering if two year olds really need to take tap/ballet classes, the answer is YES! :)  She loved it.  It was so fun to see her out there tapping and twirling.

 

 

If you are thinking "wow, she took a lot of pictures", you don't know the half of it.  I could easily turn this into the ballet/tap/gymnastics blog :)

"Nastics"

Today Lauren had her first official gymnastics class! Lauren wasn't really into soccer....at all. In fact, if her cousin wasn't going to be there, she didn't want to go. But I think we've found her passion! Lauren loved every second of her class and didn't want to leave at the end. She also REALLY enjoyed being the teacher's pet. She helped with many of the demonstrations and waited for a round of applause from the class at the end of each one.

Y

Lauren and her friend Addy

Pediatric Cancer Awareness

Alison told me September is pediatric cancer awareness month.  I thought it would be the perfect time to write about a few people in our community who are personally making a difference. 

First, my friend, Betsy Warme.  She is running her first marathon in October and raising funds to benefit the Ben Towne Foundation.  I'm very impressed Bets - I can't run around our block :) If you are interested in making a donation, her website is https://bentownefoundation.myetap.org/fundraiser/portlandmarathon/team.do?participationRef=3790.0.79019506  100% of your donations go directly to research.

Second, Callie's Coffee.  A seven year old girl in our community dreamt of doing something to help kids with pediatric cancer like her friend, Ben.  With the help of her parents, friends, and community, she did it.  You can now purchase Callie's Coffee, which directly benefits the Ben Towne Foundation.  Callie, you are one amazing girl! (Even if you aren't able to purchase coffee at this time, this story is worth watching.)  http://calliescoffee.com/

Lastly, Dr. Jensen. The Ben Towne Foundation was instrumental in moving Dr. Jensen and his research to the Northwest. His goal is to completely change the way kids with cancer are treated.

' The research received a big boost in January, thanks to a $5 million gift from Seattle’s Ben Towne Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, named for a Laurel Heights boy who died in 2008 at age 3 after a battle with cancer. “We have advanced in our work from treating mice to preparing for clinical trials at Seattle Children’s Hospital, thanks in large part to the generous philanthropic support of this community,” says Jensen. The new therapy is pending FDA approval; trials are anticipated to begin this fall.'  http://seattlemag.com/article/smart-cancer-treatment-kids

This month, pediatric cancer awareness month, take time to be thankful.  Next time you are at your wits end or think you've encountered a crisis, take a breath and be grateful.

Husky Game Day

I guess it's really that time of year again.  Summer seemed to go so quickly this year, but I know a couple of people....one in particular, who is REALLY excited football season is here again.  If you ask Blake if he's a Coug or Husky he'll say "Mom, you know I'm a Husky".  If you ask Lauren, she says "Huk-e".  I'm clearly out numbered.  Chad and Blake headed off to the game this evening, Lauren was a little out of sorts that she didn't get to go too.

Today was also "buy Blake some new ski gear" day.  He really likes his new poles.