Zoo Lights

Monday night we went to dinner and Zoo Lights with the Linns! It was a cool and dry evening - we enjoyed looking at all the lights and sipping on hot chocolate. The pictures don't do the lights justice, but it was the best we could get. It was so fun taking the kids. Whenever Brooks sees Christmas lights he immediately yells "yites, yites" (still working on the "L" pronunciation). We had a great evening!

2nd Annual Brew & Baking Day

We had our 2nd annual Brew & Baking day with the Linns this past weekend. The guys brewed an IPA, which they named a "B"PA in honor of the "babies" that we will both be welcoming this next year. And Brittney and I made a ton of sugar cookies! All the while, the kids had a great time playing and getting into trouble :)

Santa!!

This past weekend we got to see Santa! Brooks was very shy and wanted me to sit next to him at first. He wouldn't look at the camera, and kept looking at the floor. Finally we coaxed him with a candy cane to look at us for a quick picture! This Santa is great - he is at The Barn Nursery in Tumwater every weekend ~ he gives out candy canes and toothbrushes :)

Happy 6th Anniversary!

On Saturday Garrett and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary! Wow, how time has flown by. It's amazing to think in that time we've lived in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Olympia...had college graduations...got a dog...had a baby...and now we are having another baby! It's been an amazing ride so far ~ I can't wait to see what else is in store for us! I feel extremely lucky and blessed ~ I truly love having Garrett by my side.

We celebrated by having a night away at the Alderbrook on Hood Canal ~ it was gorgeous ~ all decorated for Christmas - I couldn't have been happier!

Cheers to many more wonderful memories together!

SNOW!!!

Yay for snow! It snowed all of Sunday afternoon and most of Monday - we were so excited! We had a lot fun playing outside with Brooks and Oly - they both love it.

Bring on the holidays!!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/Zys7EYmP7RTBTZuW?cmpid=ey_fb_self

Check out this link to see a funny video we put together. Excited for the holidays!!!

Garrett's Birthday

This past Wednesday was Garrett's birthday ~ we spent several days celebrating with family and friends! Here are some pictures from our dinner out with our parents.

Brooks was quite entertained by it all, until some big flames came....he wasn't sure what to think...

He immediately lunged over to me - poor little guy.... it was so cute

And Garrett's favorite part of it all - the infamous birthday hat made an appearance! This hat has been around for several years now - showing up at everyone's birthday. It has traveled far and wide, but somehow had never made it to Garrett's birthday, so needless to say it was long overdue and he needed to experience the wonderful embarrassment that we've all endured!

Happy Birthday Garrett! I love you sooooo much! Cheers to being the same age for the next month :)

Baby Shower!

My best friend Brittney threw me the most wonderful baby shower this past weekend! I felt so loved by all my family and dear friends. I can't thank Brittney enough for making it such a special day for me!

Brittney & me

We had to take a "belly" shot together - she is 9 weeks and I am 29. We took this same picture together during our last pregnancies at my baby shower - but back then we were only 7 weeks apart.

My good friend Melissa and Brooks! She flew up from San Francisco for the weekend ~ it was so wonderful having you here Melissa - I miss you!!!!

Halloween

We had a fantastic Halloween! After trick-or-treating at the Grandparent's houses, we had the Linns over for dinner. We took the kids out in our neighborhood to trick-or-treat for the first time. We weren't sure what they would think of it all, but after the first house, they knew exactly what to do - it was so cute!

They loved being pulled around the neighborhood in the wagon.

They were hilarious knocking on people's doors - they would even try to open the handle themselves! At one house, the woman opened the door just a little, and then went to grab her bowl of candy - both kids proceeded to push the door open themselves :)

Preschool Halloween Party

Yesterday we had a fun party at preschool. The kids got to dress up, have special treats, do a parade to the office, and play some games!

Tali and Brooks playing with some leaves before class - "leaves" were the class theme for the day

Ladybug Tali enjoying some treats!

"Hasselbeck" Brooks enjoying some jello jigglers!

Playing some games at the end of class!

Fall Baking Day

This past weekend Cheryl and I had our "fall baking day". We started on Friday and worked all day Saturday. It was so much fun, and of course we had our little helper!

Apple butter, pumpkin truffles, cranberry baklava, pumpkin whoopie pies, cowgirl cookies, chex mix, and struesel topped pumpkin bread!

Our assistant - frosting a whoopie pie

"Doing" the dishes, with Oly's supervision

Pumpkins

This week we carved our pumpkins ~ Brooks wasn't so sure what to think about all the seeds, but he did have fun putting the "Mr. Potato Head Pirate" pieces on his pumpkin. Happy Halloween everyone!

Field Trip to the Pumpking Patch!

Today we took a field trip to Schilter Family Farms with our preschool. The kids had a wonderful time! They did a hay maze, got to pet a lot of animals, go on a hay ride, and pick out a pumpkin.

Checking out the pigs - right before this, Brooks had stuck his finger up one of their noses :)

Goin' for a hay ride!

Tali & Brooks

It was the perfect Fall morning!