Well, we had a marvelous time at the beach. We rented a big enough house to sleep everyone comfortably. The weather was magnificent. The cousins played together so sweetly. It was idyllic. Telfer and I actually had fun on vacation for the first time since we have had children. The girls slept well together in the same room (they are sharing a room at home too). They were sweet and fun(ny). We also made most of our own meals. I could not eat meat for four days after we came back. Next time we will have to do some vegetarian dinners. 

Proof (Liz took several of these):

My dad turned 60 while we were at the beach. For his birthday, he took our entire family to EVOO, the Cannon Beach Cooking School. Mendy even came up for the evening. My parents have been raving about it for years and it was so fun to experience it all together. And EVOO is just as good as they have said. Telfer and I loved it. 

Two exciting things: While we were at the beach, Nate and Claire found out they will be having a BOY in January. Nate and Alyssa are also expecting baby number FOUR. Alyssa is due in February…so exciting. As soon as we got home I ran out and did a little baby boy shopping for baby Hanson. I literally could not help myself. 

Eden and Cora and I are going to have a book club at the beach. We are all reading The Tale of Despereaux by Kate diCamillo and will retreat to somewhere around town to talk about it. How fun is that?

Also, here is a picture of Jane with pigtails. I about passed out from the cuteness. She took them out in about 30 seconds. She will be two in three weeks. Can you believe it? 

And, here is a picture of Cate in the same dress at about the same age:

I am not sure what I am doing. I haven't blogged for two weeks, totally procrastinating, and then suddenly, the day before we leave for Cannon Beach for a week, I am sitting here during naptime, the only quiet time I have to get things done and I am thinking, I MUST WRITE ON THE BLOG. I also haven't showered in two days and I have worked out both days so I am not looking the best. My point being: there are so many more basic things I should be doing instead of posting. But here we go!

Here's what we have been up to:

Elizabeth turned 30 and the nuclear family celebrated in Seattle for the weekend. Alyssa had not yet visited Elizabeth's neighborhood nor seen her apartment so it was especially fun introducing her to Liz's favorite spots. Alyssa and I spent the night with my parents in a downtown hotel room and I will say how strange it is to sleep with your parents and sister in a room when you are 34 years old. 

We brunched at Oddfellows, took the Duck tour, consumed Top Pot donuts and did a little shopping. My dad was so nice about the shopping though! Dad EVEN bought a pair of TOMS shoes at Nordstrom's. I about fell off my chair. On Sunday we went to Elizabeth's church in the morning (wonderful) and soon after went our separate ways. We had such a good time together.

Last Thursday afternoon Telfer rented a boat and took our family and Sherry and Maresa and the kids out for a two-hour boat ride at a Marina close to Olympia. We saw seals and crabs and the air is so fresh and the scenary so beautiful. I can't believe I live here. I also think I could get quite used to riding on boats. It was so fun! Cate and Jane are slightly scary – speed doesn't deter them – why sit in the seat or on Mama's lap when you can lurch around the boat?

On Monday we went up to Seattle for our usual Top Pot Donuts + Aquarium run and we stopped by the new Seattle ferris wheel for a ride. Somehow we timed it just right and waited in line a mere 10 minutes. The girls loved it. 

And now we are getting ready for a week at the beach with my family. We are renting a big house and it will be a beachy time. I had to make a run for more sunscreen and about 300 other things. Getting ready for a vacation like this where you're planning to make most of your own food is a lot of…well, work. So hopefully we can feel like we are on vacation once we are there? That is the hope!

This is Cate at the farmer's market on Friday. Oh look, she's eating an apple. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.  Well, not the first time she's had an apple but the first time she actually bit into it and ate it whole without her mother having to peel it and slice it very thinly. Go Cate. We celebrated with a gingerbread girl cookie.

Jane is having a few monumentous (a made-up word that we overuse because we think we are funny) moments lately. On Saturday she actually sat still long enough to paint with her sister (with lots of supervision). And then on Sunday we converted her high chair into a toddler chair. Now we can all sit at the table together with a girl on each end.

Telfer took these pictures on Saturday and I think they are so great. This is Jane when Daddy takes away her binkie:

And now this is Jane when Daddy gives the binkie back:

And one last thing. Telfer worked last night and so I had my perfect dinner (Telfer doesn't like tomatoes or olives. Oh Telfer, how much you miss):

I am not sure where last week went but on Saturday and Sunday last weekend I spent some good time with two of my dearest friends, RaChelle and Anna. We crashed Elizabeth's wonderful apartment on Capitol Hill in Seattle and we basically ate and walked our way through Seattle. Seriously! 

We have been planning this for months and we had such a good time together. Here we are in the garden at Poppy. I have been wanting to go to dinner there ever since I went to happy hour. 

This is me and my dinner thali. Lots of little bites. They discourage sharing but next time I am going to be brave and share. Not that I had trouble eating it myself….

We also read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed and had a mini bookclub. I highly recommend the book and reading it with others. There's a lot to discuss.

This is the view from Elizabeth's apartment. Such a beautiful time in Seattle with my beautiful friends.