Stretching it out.

I'm a lover of birthdays.
Every year.
Even though it means I'm getting older, I love everything about them. And another year older means another year to celebrate with those I love.

And I don't just like to celebrate for a day. I think I may have picked up this characteristic from my Auntie, but I prefer to have about a week long celebration.

I mean, really...it's better that way.

It started with mom coming to visit (and for the record Charlotte is quite smitten with her Grammie)

And a delicious dinner out with my main squeeze. Such a treat, and so appreciated.



Followed the next night by a gorgeous wedding downtown...



And a Sunday spent with our little buddies at the most darling farm/pumpkin patch ever.



Picture baby goats, chickens, ducks, pigs, ponies...all available for viewing and many for petting. Charlotte was in amazement.












If you know my daughter...you know these words aren't exactly what I'd use to describe her these days...



But we entered anyway.
I kept a close watch...don't worry little duckies.


We lucked out with a gorgeous Northwest fall afternoon...



And attempted another group shot.


I could just hear the kiddos thinking, "Nice try mom's. Never.gonna.happen."




And the perfect way to round out my birthday fun? A dinner gathering with my girls...cozied up together in our family room, chatting, sipping wine, eating and catching up.




Yay for birthdays. Yay for another year. 32, let's make it a good one.

Harvest happiness.

The other day I bought a book as a gift. (Secretly I have leafed through the pages and am now wishing the store had two of these books in stock and that I would have purchased them both.)
It's a little book all about developing and discovering a sense of wonder for your family through the seasons. Ways of creating a slower pace involving activities that are connected to the seasons and rhythm of the year.

I love it.
This is what I want for my family.
For my girl.

I want her to know that October means crunchy leaves, and pumpkin patches, and bundling up. I want her to recognize the smell of the muddy ground after a rain and how as it gets darker earlier, we hunker down at home. I want to embrace all that there is to love about the changing seasons.

Lucky for us, we've got some good friends who purchased an amazing house just over the mountains where this most-favorite-of-all-seasons was in full effect.

And we were happy.

We spent the weekend enjoying crisp morning walks...

Miss Addie Mae has taken a note from Madonna as of recently and really strikes a pose!

and the most darling little Harvest Festival I've ever encountered!

The only downside to the weekend was that my little angel-baby-not-always-an-angel-toddler slept horribly. As in, the worst she has slept since the earliest infant days.

But here is a testiment to a true friend. Instead of pointing out the fact that I'm certain I kept Teresa and her family up all night as well...she just joined me at 5:30 a.m. with her babe, smiled a knowing smile, and we started our day. And 4 cups of coffee later, we were good to go.

There is such comfort in a friendship like that.

While we waited in line for a horse and buggy ride, Charlotte made some new friends of her own. Just plopped right down on their laps in the middle of their conversation. They thought it was hysterical, and I thought it was darling. I love her growing independence.

It was a harvest happy October weekend. Thank you Terry!!

Let us put our minds together
and see what kind of life
we can make for our children.
-Sitting Bull

Bachelorette.

The other weekend we celebrated our girl. We said good-bye to husbands and boyfriends, kiddos and pets, responsiblities and to-do lists and we celebrated. An entire dedicated to girlfriends and laughter. Big time celebration folks.

There are certain things we are good at: wine tasting and picture taking being two of them.

And dancing. We are also REALLY good at dancing. Especially on buses and with poles...

and of the interpretive variety...

It's good to know too, that we are are still really good at the ol' sorority pose.

It was another one of those special days. One where I look around and pause for a moment, feeling so thankful that these crazy, beautiful, creative women are in my life.

Quite simply, they are the best.

The Maids.

Walla Walla girls.

As I sat down to blog tonight and looked through all these pictures, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. We've all been together for so long now, and how many wild nights have there been?! Countless. But give us another reason to celebrate and live it up and we're all over it. Michelle's upcoming wedding was the perfect excuse to cherish these friendships and celebrate not only Brad and Michelle, but all of us and the unstoppable bond we have created together.

And to end our incredible day...an evening of karaoke at Rockbox where private rooms allow for favorite songs to be sung back to back, no stopping to wait for that horrible solo from the weird guy in the corner...just us. Singing to our hearts content. What a dream.

This picture has to be my favorite of the entire day...

I only wish I knew what song this was?!

Happy Bachelorette Michelle! We love you and are so happy for you and Brad. Cheers to always celebrating like this.

xoxo

A budding musician??

Be still my heart.

*Photo's courtesy of my friend Britten.

Life as of lately.

Say what?!
It's October?! My second favorite month of the year (2nd only to December of course, duh.) and I'm just now writing my first post of the month. Poor showing I know. But we've been busy, life has been good, we've been embracing the fall that is upon us.
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Mr. Max turned 3. For some reason, he's the only one in this family that we seem to remember to get the red plate out for. He's special like that.

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These two darling 1 year olds hold a very special place in my heart. We celebrated their birth and this exciting first year. Charlotte can't wait for all the fun adventures to come with these two.

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She's always been a messy eater, but lately it's taken on a whole new force. The food becomes an actual hair mask, caked into her scalp. The avocado/baked pasta one was the best. Maybe she read somewhere that it contains a lot of vitamins to help her hair grow more?

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As of the last two weeks, she's moved to the Pooh Room (I know right?! Pooh Room for a toddler's room? Could they not think of something less, uh, pooie?) Regardless of the name though, Charlotte's new room has been amazing. She is back with all her best friends and she is thriving and loving it. She runs to her buddies each morning and gives them big hugs, they have Circle Time, Arts and Crafts, gym time, outside time, story time...it has been such a blessing.

Because if I have to be away from her during the day, at least I know she is having a good time, and that she's happy. It helps to know that.

She is growing into such a fun little person...it is a joy to witness her wonder and curiousity.

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Speaking of curiousity, she's into everything. We got a toilet latch this weekend. Welcome to toddler-hood.

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She's found a new favorite friend...Uncle Paul. He's over quite often, and he always comes with delicious treats in hand. The girls got a sweet tooth just like her mama.

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If she could, she'd be outside all day long. We are spending as much time as we can in the backyard while we still have these lovely fall days and before the rain fully sets in.

She thought my mums needed some deadheading.

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We went to the Northgate Community Center with our PEPS friends for a little "Wear 'em Out". It's interesting as she grows into her own little person, the things she feels comfortable with and the things she doesn't. It took her a good 30 minutes before she'd leave my side, but when she finally did- she had a blast!

We go to music classes on Monday evenings though and she is a total ham...running around the room, hopping in everyone's laps, bopping up and down to the singing. It's a journey this parenthood thing. Just when you think you know how they'll react to a situation, they can surprise you. Just when you think sleeping through the night is a given, she'll have a random couple nights of constant wake ups.

And just when you think you couldn't possibly love her more...the sun rises and another day begins, and you realize that yep...in fact you do love her more today than yesterday. It's wild how big a love it is.

Happy fall friends. Hope you are gettin' cozy!