LIFE

We've made homemade chapstick using my Dad's beeswax and it turned out awesome. We have a super secret family recipe (that was googled on the internet recently) and I can't lie, Burt's Bees better watch his back because our stuff is so smooth and soft. My Dad has about five hives or so, so we knew we had to do something with the wax. We're still arguing about the name for our chapstick, but the product is universally loved. Here is Big D, pouring some lip balm into containers:

This girl is obsessed with Big Hero 6. She wants to watch NOTHING else after her tub at bedtime.

Nick loves that she's so snuggly still.

We all fight to see who she wants to snuggle with most (I ALWAYS WIN!).

The world's most terrible post-church photo shoot.

Seriously, not one good photo.

Just a whole lotta weirdness.

Aaaaaaaand it keeps getting weirder.

Okay, there's a little bit of cute mixed in.

Why she is obsessed with rocks I will never know.

So weird.

A girl and her giant carrot stick.

My gal.

Just some buns in a tub.

Evie got sick awhile back and it was so sad. It was so strange to see my wild, bouncy, crazy child all quiet and sleepy. 

How does one discipline this face?

That crooked smile is my life.

Costco Member since birth.

Sassy since birth.

Firm Mini-Retreat

Smart, Connell, Childers & Verhulp has two firm retreats a year. A mini retreat in September and a longer one in February. This September, we went to Alderbrook Resort (outside of Seattle) and it was so beautiful. Also, no children were involved which is sort of fantastic.

We met in Seattle for a Mariners game.

I made Nick walk around the ENTIRE ballpark before I committed to lunch. I had to make sure I viewed every possible option! (I decided on a pulled-pork sandwich & sweet potato fries ... and everyone was jealous of my choice while they were eating hot dogs!)

It was really fun and the weather was beautiful.

Dinner at Tom Douglas' Dahlia Lounge. My dad spent his entire weekend eating mussles. LITERALLY ATE NOTHING ELSE. I spent my entire weekend eating period. LIKE A PIGLET.

Alderbrook Resort is so beautiful!

Sunset dinner. It's so fun to get to do these things with my parents. Minus the fact that my babysitters are unavailable for the weekend.

A terrible picture of me.

Marcus and Ashley. 

Also, I didn't get pictures of anyone else, so I feel sort of bad. Nick has some on his phone I'm sure, but that would require me to not be lazy ... and that's never going to happen.

On the hunt for huckleberry jam!

Ferry.

Beignets at the Dahlia Bakery WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE (and your pant size).

School and Haircuts

Weird first day of preschool smile.

Weird first day of preschool pose.

Seriously, she was such a weirdo that morning.

"Mom, we should probably get a picture of my Hello Kitty backpack."

While Ev was off at school, Anna and I went to get her a haircut. Her mullet was out of control and had to be fixed STAT. We went to this tacky place called "Monkey-Dooz." If that doesn't tell you how tacky it is ... I don't know what will.

She was happy once they gave her a sucker.

Looking so old and fresh!

Too cool for school.

Unhappy that there was only one sucker.

My toddler!

Anna is probably in the cutest phase of her life right now. It makes it slightly hard to discipline her when she acts like a rabid cat. Seriously, she rolls around on the ground foaming at the mouth if she can't have her way.

I remember when Evie wore this dress I felt like she was so big. Anna, however, still seems so small to me (probably because I treat her like a baby because ... she is my baby).

Cute but crazy.

This girl... will do great things.

If I could describe her in one word, it would probably be ... NORMAL?

Mariners hat, Seahawks dress, unicorn pants, gold medal - WORKIN' IT.

Looks like Anna is eating a piece of cardboard here and I'm going to be honest, it might as well be. This child has been found to eat worse.

It is very exhausting to do underdogs for three little girls at a time. They all scream "UNDERDOG! IT'S MY TURN! MOOOOOOM!" until I rush over. I literally had pit stains after this swing session from running from one girl to the next.

Waiting for an underdog.

Nutella toast face.

Ev - you are so awkward.

Squeeze town, USA.

Looking normal! Way to go, Ev!

Aaaaaaand, we're back to being weird.

Ev insists on wearing her Hello Kitty ears to school everyday.

Spider-Girl.

Cute smile Ev!

My gal.

Seriously, she's my best friend.

And we're off!