Solo coffee Monday shopping sans enfants and dreaming of Vancouver

September 8, 2014

Oh wow, it happened again.  I got to drop the kids off at school and then they just waved, went inside and that is our morning until I pick them up this afternoon.  How weird and wonderful and somewhat lonely-making is school?  So today I have the task of cleaning out my ‘attic’ according to […]

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whistler with kids in the summer riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and canoeing the River of Golden Dreams

Getting stuck in a Whistler Gondola and Finding my youth on the River of Golden Dreams

September 7, 2014

Oh Whistler.  You are always a bundle of fun every time we visit, but I think this summer was the best visit yet.  (We’ve been a bunch of times now and even forgot that we visited when the guys were one.  That’s what happens when you have twins.  The first two years are definitely a […]

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First day of….

September 4, 2014

the gateway to the rest of their life and beyond and the culmination of babyhood FOREVER!!!! At least that’s how the first day of kindergarten feels with all the pre-kindergarten activities we’ve had.  Popsicle playdates.  Meetings.  Go-see-the-classrooms.  Jumpstarts.  All before the real first day ever seemed like it was on the horizon. And then too […]

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Oh you can’t go to the Oregon Coast without stopping at the Tillamook Cheese Factory

September 3, 2014

You just can’t. Years ago I remember telling my husband we needed to stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory when we went to the Oregon Coast for our honeymoon, because they have delicious cheese samples and we had a really fun visit sampling cheese, watching the factory go about its business and eating ice cream.  […]

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Cabin shopping on a Monday when I should be buying for back to school

September 1, 2014

I guess it’s the 11th hour and I haven’t bought the perfect lunchbag or my guys’ first day of school outfit, but my inbox is full of a couple winter sales and I can’t help but look forward to this winter because I’m so excited about our cabin project.  (And I’m trying to avoid thinking […]

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Northwest Summer Love

August 31, 2014

Why have I ever wasted a drop of summer traveling away from the northwest? It is so gorgeous here and we found this out with this year’s summer staycation. From Oregon beaches, To local Seattle sights, Vancouver sunrises and sunsets, and bakeries sprinkled gloriously in between. Dare I say we start school next week? How […]

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I run because I want my 80-year-old self to know I gave it my all

August 28, 2014

One day I’ll be thankful for the hours I’ve put in running, but I’m going to give my legs a little break for a couple of weeks. I just survived my 2nd half marathon in Vancouver at the Lululemon Seawheeze and it is such a gorgeous run.  I just got too sweaty that I couldn’t […]

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Green and Blue shopping on a Monday

August 26, 2014

One night at a Sounders game I overheard a Sounders newbie saying “did Xbox give out free shirts tonight? Everyone in the stadium is wearing one!” Sure enough, we are a city that breathes blue and green and I’m slowly starting to embrace it. The family finally convinced me I needed a Sounders shirt, but […]

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We don’t like Portland, do we? (a trip to Portland, Oregon with our kids)

August 25, 2014

Well that’s what Sigi Shmid asked us at the last Sounders Camper Appreciation Day (one of the big reasons why we love Sounders Soccer Camps) and although we don’t like Portland when it comes to soccer, we have so much fun in Portland every time we visit we can’t help but love the city.  We […]

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Octonauts and the Cold and Rainy Pool Birthday Adventure

August 20, 2014

I’ve always been stressed out about having park parties for my kids because we live in Seattle and there is always a slight chance of rain no matter how sunny a stretch of weather we get.  I don’t know why I didn’t apply this train of thought to having an outdoor POOL party but suddenly […]

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Just in case you’re looking ahead for your Seattle weekend with kids on a Monday

August 18, 2014

Waking up to sun in my eyes this Monday was definitely not the worst thing in the world, but Monday is Monday and after a weekend of hiking, good food, indulging and friends, it was still a little hard to wake up. Luckily for us in Seattle, there are many fabulous things to look forward […]

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looking for puffins at cannon beach with kids

Looking for Puffins in Oregon (Our Impromptu Oregon trip with kids part 2!)

The hubby and I honeymooned through Oregon on a drive from British Columbia to California just over 12 years ago and we couldn’t believe that after all this time living in Seattle, we haven’t been back to the coast. And then my friend Jamie heard me whining at a mom’s night that I hadn’t seen […]

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A secret river spot and three of my faves

August 15, 2014

Somewhere in Coquitlam, a river runs through it, and I wouldn’t have known about a sweet spot to hang out in it if it weren’t for these two who are celebrating a handful and a bit of years today. It seems like it was just yesterday. But then this seems like yesterday too. We’re so […]

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Impromptu Oregon Coast Adventure (Part 1)

August 13, 2014

I’d like to think our recent trip to the Oregon Coast was totally impromptu but as with most trips I have dreamed up in my head, this one was in the making for a while.  The only problem was we didn’t book far enough ahead, so the hotels I thought we’d stay at were all […]

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Supermoon inspired shopping and easing into back to school on a Monday

August 11, 2014

Seeing as we haven’t had clouds in the sky forever, we had great views of the supermoon last night at the Seattle Sounders game and even though I couldn’t help but sneak a few last minute purchases during the horrible first half from the Gap friends and family sale (Did anyone score anything amazing? I […]

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We’re still good for Remlinger Farms (Carnation, WA)

August 9, 2014

We missed our annual Remlinger Farms visit in last year and I thought this year might be our last because a lot of the rides seem like they are meant for younger kids.  Remlinger Farms is a lovely little amusement park and farm market in Carnation Washington, about an hour away from Seattle.  It’s such […]

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kids haircut at Gene juarez

Spa Day with my Boys (Gene Juarez at Uvillage, Seattle)

August 6, 2014

I have to admit I let out a little joyous squeal when I received an email inviting me to come visit Gene Juarez in Uvillage, Seattle with my guys for haircuts. I have enjoyed many haircuts/colors/mani-pedis at Gene Juarez( and even at their Academy) over the years so of course, this one was a no-brainer.  But […]

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delicious bakery in vancouver bc

Scenes from a Northwest Summer

August 3, 2014

How. Hot. Can. It. Get??  Is this really Seattle?  Is this really what a Northwest Summer looks like? Have you been loving this crazy weather as much as we have? I swear the few people in Seattle who actually OWN umbrellas are using them to shield them from the sun.  This is a conundrum.  Do […]

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Seafair in Seattle

July 31, 2014

In a few hours the Blue Angels will start their practice laps and this is probably the first year I won’t curse them because they always fly during nap time and in the early days with twins, there is nothing worse than hours of house-shaking noise RIGHT during naps.  Over the years we’ve loved Seafair for […]

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seattle sounders with kids

You might want to check out the Sounders if you’re in Seattle when there’s a game (visiting Seattle with kids)

July 30, 2014

Even after four years of going to Seattle Sounders games, I have no problem admitting I don’t really understand soccer.  From what I can see, it’s not just about getting to the goal and scoring with your team-there seems to be a little bit of soap opera stuff mixed in with guys falling down pretending […]

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