More pictures of the girls

We decided to take advantage of the nice weather tonight and take some more pictures of the girls. I have been having so much fun with my new camera Matt bought me, so it's a good thing our girls are beautiful to photograph. Although, I am realizing I can take picture after picture after picture- and get about 2 good shots. Eyes closed, on the verge of crying, looking away, distracted by someone or something are just a few culprits of making it hard to get a good picture.

I haven't gone through any of these pictures in photoshop, but I wanted to post them while I was on the computer. And for you grandparents, aunts, uncles, whoever you are that look at this blog and are waiting for a picture from us....be patient, one is coming! I am wanting to get a good picture of them to get printed off- but I want it to be really good.

August 27

Happy 1st Birthday Audra!

Today is Audie's first birthday. I can't believe it has already been a year. It has been a wonderful year and so cool to see the changes and growth in her. She has such a sweet nature and spirit about her and always content.
Happy Birthday Aud! We love you!

Audie got birthday money in the mail yesterday from Great G's Helen and Vernon. With it she bought this new dress and a couple other outfits. This morning I took the girls out and took a few birthday pictures.

Who is Who?

I thought these two pictures showed a glimpse of the girls same features. The top picture is Audie on our trip to Seattle, and the bottom picture is Corinne when she was a little over a year.

Weekend in Seattle!

Matt has been in Seattle for work the last week. He found out he was going on short notice, and we decided it would be a good idea for me to join him for a few days during the weekend. It was such a nice break for me to get away. The trip was perfect for me. Just long enough to relax a bit, and see some new scenery. Corinne stayed here with Grandma Joyce and some family friends for a few days. There is so much to explain about the trip, but I will try to do it shortly as possible. I uploaded many more pics to facebook. Blogger is much slower with the upload, so take a look at the rest of the pictures on facebook by clicking here

The first day into Seattle, Matt and I visited Pikes Market. I can't explain how amazing this place is...Fresh fish, fresh fruit, flowers, veggies, spices etc. Amazing smells, amazing sights, it was great.

Second day we had an awesome brunch at a place called Salty's, and then walked along Alki Beach.

Monday, my RA from college, Allison, drove in to visit. She is several hours away so it made me feel very special that she took the time to see us. She was such a blessing to be with for a couple of days.

The above and below pictures were taken at the Seattle Aquarium. Audie was a trooper the whole trip. She was agreeable and easy. Below is Allison and me outside the aquarium.

This picture may be too small to really see- so look on facebook for the bigger pic. But in Pikes Market at one of the fish stands, when someone buys fresh fish, they throw it from the ice table back to the guys behind the counter who wrap it up for the person to take home. Well, they threw the fish over my head. I'm talkin' a big fish. I think the guys enjoyed it too much. But what a fun job to have! And a great experience and fun for us.

Alki Beach

This burger is from Red Mill burgers, voted best burger in Seattle many years in a row. I'd say it is one of the best burgers I've ever had. Definitely top 3. (And I'm hard to please!)

Holding a live lobster.

this is one of the vegetable sellers at the market. I wish I could explain what this experience was like. But there is no way I could explain the size, the smells, the people, the atmosphere, etc. I loved Seattle. I loved the "artsy-ness", and the "ecclectic-ness". Such a fun experience.

Great company with Matt, and it was awesome to see Allison again. I'd definitely reccommend Seattle to anyone who hasn't been!

This morning we took the girls downtown to play in a waterfall. I have been playing around with my new camera and photoshop, so here are a few I put together.

Pretty Audie

A Wonderful Wedding Weekend.

PHEW!! What a crazy weekend! Emily and Clayton were married this weekend, and as I type this they are probably boarding their plane to Jamaica! Congratulations Emily and Clayton!

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. The day went pretty smooth. I was the matron of honor, and Corinne was the flower girl. Saturday ended up being a long day for Corinne, and she was pooped. She ended up not wanting to carry her basket down the aisle, but she made it down, walking beside me very timidly. She was absolutely beautiful and I was proud of her for being such a trooper.

We tried hard all day to get a good family picture....but you know how that goes...especially with two tired kiddos.

My mom and Audie's toothy grin

It was a great day. I think after a few naps for us all we will be fully recovered!

As soon as the professional photos are done, I will let you all know and post the link to them. In the meantime, if you want to see more pictures of the wedding, the rehearsal dinner, and emily's bachelorette party,

click here

Golf

Matt's parents and brother Scott were in town this weekend. Saturday morning, the boys went golfing and I joined them for the last 9 holes. It was my first time out, and it was a lot of fun! I think I have the golf fever now.

In other exciting news, Audie is now making her way around on 2 feet! This past week she has really gotten a hold of her balance and walks around most of the time.

Cornrows

Corinne explored her black roots last week cornrows. She's the whitest black girl you've ever seen, huh? I didn't know if she would sit still while I braided her hair, but I put on a movie and she did pretty good. She didn't want me to take her picture afterward, so I didn't get a good shot. But I though her hair turned out cute.

She kept trying to cover it up so I wouldn't be able to take a picture.

Fathers Day

Happy Father's Day!

We love you!

Another busy week! We spent this week preparing for Mom's 60th birthday party (pics to come). The party was a hit and we all had a great time.

The girls are doing well. Corinne has finally refused to wear diapers (the evening we bought a huge box of them from Sams). She has done really well with it. She still amazes us everyday with little things and ideas she comes up with.

Audie is getting braver to let go and try to stand alone. She wants to walk so bad, but doesnt have the balance to do it. We are still hoping she will be walking by August so she can be a flower girl with Corinne in Emily and Clayton's wedding.

The month of May has been quite busy! After having company, we celebrated my birthday- even though it ended up being kind of a dud. Matt and I both had colds, strep maybe? We both had sore throats for several days. The evening of my birthday we went out to eat, and my eye started to water and get goopy- mom insisted that I go to the ER to get it checked out, because Matt was leaving for Seattle the next day, and she didnt want me stuck with an eye infection and 2 kids...alone. So we took a little trip to the ER, they diagnosed me with pink eye, and then spent 2 hours at the pharmacy waiting for my perscription. Happy Birthday Jen!

Matt left for Seattle the next day for a full week. He got to visit Pikes Market, see them throw the fish, sample some good fish....I was totally jealous. He isn't the one who even likes fish! I do! But he brought home a few pounds of Copper River King Salmon over dry ice...it was amazing.

Here are some recent pics of the girls in the dresses Mom brought back from Hawaii.
Check out their cousin Camerons Hawaiian outfit on Leslie's blog.

Not many things in life are better than this.

7:45 am- Corinne asks for breakfast. Dad fixes her 2 pieces of toast

8:30 am- Corinne: "Mom I want a snack"

                  Mom: "no"

9:27 am- Corinne: "Mom I need a snack"

                  Mom: "are you hungry?"

                 Corinne: "Yes"  Mom fixes her a bowl of cereal with strawberries

9:40 am- Corinne: "Mom I'm all done"

                  Mom: "ok"

9:41 am- Corinne: "Mom I need a snack"

                 Mom: "No Corinne you just had a snack. You can have breakfast and then one snack                                   before lunch and you just had your snack. You dont get anything else until                                         lunch."

                 Corinne: "Mom I want lunch"

Snow

Our week of good weather was too good to be true. After living all my life in Kansas I should know by now that the weather is bipolar. My tulips were days away from blooming, my peony bush was sprouting, and my perennials had little pink tips forming on the ends. I can tell my Easter flower enjoyment goodbye. Maybe I will have to splurge and buy some flowers from Dillons to put on the kitchen table...after the snow melts and we return to outdoor life that is.

Weather like this just seems to put me in a funk. Yeah it's pretty, but I've just never been one to enjoy winter. (Especially when it should be spring) I don't really like to play in it- and the snow is so stinkin bright it just hurts my eyes. Matt and Corinne however have been looking forward to this hour for two days. In fact, they are out playing in it as I type this. I will say that it was fun getting Corinne all bundled up and seeing her excitment about the whole deal. 

building a snowman

After Matt did a few circles in this little sled, Corinne took a tumble and face-planted in the snow. I saw that one coming. After that, Matt opted for the straight route.

I am holding out for spring.