Anniversary Celebration in Seattle

So ten years ago on our honeymoon we swore we'd come back here for our ten year anniversary:

Big sigh.....that was the best vacation ever. Three kids later and we couldn't go there. Instead we went here:

 You may or may not know this about me but I love baseball. I love the Mariners and I love the Blue Jays so we went to the Blue Jays vs. Mariners game. Twice!!! We made our way down to Seattle slowly. As in stopping and shopping wherever we wanted to. It's so weird when you're "kidless". Things are so quiet, calm and you can do what you want. We still stopped in Target but I didn't have to buy anything from the dollar spot. I still did but it was because I wanted to and not b/c I had children down on their knees begging me to buy something. We were staying in Bellevue so we checked out the shopping there. It was great! Not great sales or anything but so pretty and lots of restaurants to eat in. Oh yeah, we actually sat down in a restaurant and ate!!! We avoid eating in restaurants b/c it is just too hard and really not that enjoyable. But back to the shopping it was just fun and relaxing. The only thing I bought was for the girls but I tried really hard to buy something for myself.
After a bit of shopping it was off to the Hilton Bellevue. I don't have any pictures from our camera but here's some:

I even brought my bathing suit to swim but there just wasn't time. When we checked in I mentioned to the girl that it was our tenth anniversary and she upgraded us to executive level which meant free evening cocktails and free breakfast!
Shortly after check in we wanted to get over to Safeco so off we went again. The crowd at the game was mostly Blue Jays fans and the atmosphere was awesome! We were up against Felix Hernandez but the Jays managed to get him on an off night and won 7-2. It was totally a home game for the Blue Jays. They got the loudest cheers and were giving the loudest boo's. The next day we also went to another game but it wasn't quite the same atmosphere as the nights before. Still lots of Jays fans but it was more 50-50. They somehow managed to blow a 7 run lead but that's the Jays we know. I'm happy b/c I also love the Mariners so it was a win-win for me. The day game we had even closer seats but we were in the sun for most of the game and it was extremely hot.

Hello Jose (Bautista and Reyes) and Colby. We were so close we could almost have a conversation with them.
Getting home from the game was tricky. There was so much traffic and we crawled along for over an hour until about the outlets on I-5. We still managed to squeeze in some shopping before getting home too. As we were crossing the border and the border guard asked about what goods we had Dan was saying "We have $4..." the guard said "Okay, bye" and waved us through before we had a chance to say how much we had spent.
Thanks to Dan's parents for looking after our 3 girls two days and one night. Let me tell ya, 3 is alot of kids. The other day Cassidy was getting left out and I said to Dan "We should have another just so Cassidy has a partner in crime". (Totally joking. Y'all know how tired I am right? And old?) Dan gave me the wickedest glare!!! Hilarious. He's so right, I'd do the same thing if he said that to me.

 

6 years and 10 years

First the 6- Alexis turned 6 on July 31st. When I got pregnant with her I just knew I was going to have a July baby, but my due date wasn't until August 8. And then she came on that last day in July- right smack dab in the middle of the summer.  She is the easiest of my kids but unfortunately for me & Dan, still not easy. She has a great sense of humor, is easy going but super feisty. And so with it!!! She'll say things to me and Dan and we're like "Damn, she noticed."

 

 

 Just days before I had her.

 Only a couple days old here. And from that moment on, she was never alone....

 BFF's!!!

 Still BFF's.

 Always BFF's.

 And even closer than ever.

 And then she became "middle child"!!!

 But now she gets to be lil sis and big sis. Which means she gets to be the boss of someone!

Words cannot do justice how much we love this little face.

And now for the 10....our anniversary is today. It gets overshadowed by that little Lexie and her birthday. We usually celebrate on a random day when we can get babysitting. (We're ALWAYS open to anyone looking after our kids you know...) Dan and I have been married 10 years!!! Are we even old enough to be married that long??? How is it possible? Well, here we are, married for 10 years. And loving it still. It keeps getting better and better. Looking back to that magical day ten years ago.

Stay tuned for the honeymoon pics. We talked about how we'd go back to the same resort for our 10 year anniversary. Ha ha! Joke's on us. We're going to Disney for our 10 year.

 

July has been awesome.

Okay, so I've been too busy being a fancy mom to blog. Yup, that's right, I'm a fancy mom. Not physically, although I do have more time to comb my hair and put a touch of makeup on. But I had my nanny!!!! Monday to Wednesday, but still, it's been awesome. There I was, with a nanny and not working. Woah, who am I??? So I've been doing the Grouse Grind once a week. One of those times was even on my own! The other times were with my fabulous work friends. Then there's the gym. I'm going to Steve Nash about 4 times a week. My favourite is still the Zumba class. Here are some other things I've been doing on my own:
-going to the bathroom
-grocery shopping
-cleaning (just a little bit)
-running errands
-going shopping for clothes for me!

But my time on my own is over. Our nanny is off for the next month. I'm a little sad. I love love love my girls but they are so full of energy and it's nice to just have down time.
Here are some pictures of the last month or so. They seem to center around Lexie b/c she had kindergarten graduation and we had her party already.

 Alexis with her kindergarten teacher

Birthday girl! (Just a little early....)

 At Kerrisdale Play Palace

 

Lexie loves pandas so I attempted panda cupcakes. I couldn't find chocolat discs for behind the pandas eyes.

 

Father's Day with the family.

 

Of course July isn't totally over but I can't help but looking forward to August. It's Disney for us!!!!! Dan keeps trying to cancel it but I'm stubborn. Can someone please tell my husband how awesome Disney is??!!! I still have fantastic memories from when I went in grade 4. And then again when I was an adult.

Woo hoo it's June!

I better be careful about how excited I am it's June b/c two of my little ones were conceived in June!!!! Ha, just kidding. That door is closed, that ship has sailed, blah blah blah we have enough kids so we're done. Plus did I tell ya I'm going to Disneyland this summer!!! I mean, we're all going to Disneyland and I'm pretty excited about it. We're driving which sounds kinda hellish and may be brutal but still I'm excited. It means we get to go to the beach too and possibly Sea World in San Diego. If you know me, you know I LOVE planning vacations. Tripadvisor is my best friend right now.

Olivia- my difficult child. I'm reading a couple books on how to help with her behaviour. She's been lucky with her teachers this year. They've been so flexible, patient and kind. She's enjoying school so much more this year. Still best buds with a boy we'll call A. So Olivia had her first communion in April. When Cassidy got baptized at 4 months, Olivia was wearing the green dress Lexie is wearing in the picture and Lexie was wearing the dress Cassidy is wearing. I just love seeing the clothes get passed down to each girl. When Cassidy's clothes get too small and I have to pack them away forever, I may get a little teary.

Alexis- is it inappropriate that her favourite song right now is "Bottoms Up" and she sings things like "tell security we 'bout to tear this club up?" Or that the other day as we're having dinner she sings "fill my glass up a little more"  as she holds out her glass (like Nicky Minaj)??? Yes?? Umm...it can't be helped. My kids find songs on youtube. We tried banning youtube but they would come home talking about songs and other stuff from school anyways. So now we're trying to teach them about appropriate and inappropriate and what to ignore etc It's all so tricky. Don't judge us.

Cassidy- is so busy!!! she makes me feel old. She is the most affectionate of my 3 girls. Everyday she says "I love you" to me! She also tells me I'm cute daily as well. She still naps! She can miss a nap here and there but boy does she want to nap.

 

 

Me- I'm hitting the gym once a week for a zumba class!!! It's a start, don't laugh. I always feel happy for summer but this school year I've had an amazing class. Most of us were together last year through the daily stomping, growling, threats and chair throwing. This year I have many of the same students and it's been pretty amazing. I will be sad to see them move on but so proud of their accomplishments. Like my little dude who was barely verbal when he started with me and now speaks in sentences. Or my little girl who was so smart to begin with and has become more well spoken and confident.
Happy June everyone!!!!! Here's to sunny sports day, clean classrooms and teary "good-bye for nows"!!!

Happy June everyone!

Catching up through photos

 Playing Barbie and the Popstar.

 Easter egg hunt in our front yard. This was so fun! Olivia was so good about sharing with Cassidy, who was a little slower than her sisters.

 After Easter mass.

 Hangin' out in a dog bed!!!

 Uncle Mike getting the girls all riled up!

 Pillow fight at Uncle Mike's house. Check out my mom's dog Teddy getting right in on the action.

 Lexie hanging out in our backyard practicing for gymnastics.

 Playing on the computer at Uncle Mike's.

More hanging out in the backyard. So thankful for sunny days where little people can get their energy out.