Halloween with Lila

I had no idea that Halloween would actually be this fun. Elizabeth has loved putting on her puppy dog costume this week although it sort of has started to get old. I was not sure what she would actually do for Halloween night and didn't really have any plans except having Lila over and perhaps just seeing other kids come to the door.
The girls were great sports and thrilled to get their costumes on. We went to four houses where they both actually carried their bags and said 'Trick or Treat'. Elizabeth had a lollipop for the first time which she called a 'juice' and deemed as 'dis is good momma'.
The houses were a bit overwhelming but both girls still made it to the door and said their lines. We kept telling them 'look at the happy monsters they are just laughing'. Not sure what sort of questions will be asked about this in the days to follow.
Just as fun was answering the door and seeing the other kids costumes. They would both just stare down the street after the kids left. I am sure it is all so freakin' odd in their little heads.
Yep like I said odd.

What is Halloween??

Halloween from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

It all goes by so fast

After 26 months of breastfeeding it is now over. I have been somewhat eagerly awaiting this day and we have slowly stopped only doing naptime and bedtime nursing for quite a while. Last Thursday I told her the 'milk' was all gone. She sort of accepted this fact and kept saying 'boobs is sick' and then she would pat pat my boob with this longing expression.

After bath each night she still asks 'mama milk' and when I say it's all gone she then banishes me from the room saying 'daddy reads book'. So I sit here blogging while they giggle over her books and Jeff gives her the last kisses of the day. I know I can't have a four year old breastfeeding, I know I want my body back but I miss what has ended and I look forward to again being allowed to give those last kisses of the day.

Alice Turns Three

We celebrated Alice's 3rd birthday this weekend. Elizabeth proved she finally loves cake and now asks at any gathering of friends 'me want cake at party'.


Despite both living in Seattle, Katie and I actually got to know each other 10 years ago in Thailand and I have not stopped laughing yet. When we parted ways I remember telling her that we were going to have to be best friends once I got home. Luckily she listened.

Katie is the consummate hostess and can truly make everyone in a room feel welcome and engaged. Even between contractions, taking breaths while pushing her daughter into the world, Katie would exhale and introduce the nurse or offer someone a snack. I love that I shared that day with her and will certainly be at birthdays for years to come.

A new camera was purchased so we could catch these gorgeous spontaneous smiles.

This is what you get when you ask her to smile.

Natural smile.... yep camera was worth the price. Oh and above you will notice our chalk kids. Our driveway often looks like there was a school full of children that were drawn where they fell.

Let the Sun Shine

Had the best sunny weekend ever. Managed to get to the Zoo, Ballard Market and quite a few park visits. What you see here is how we play hide and go seek. I run somewhere, cover my eyes (aka hiding) and she seeks. It is fun for all.









Notice the matching stylish sunglasses.
























She loves the 'dizzy'. I get nauseated just watching her go round and round.








See ya'll next time.

Hello!

Hi my name is 'ebisbis'. I like talking about potty and poop. I went for a walk with mom and dad and I pretend to poop just like above. It is so much fun. When I go poop in my diaper I have to see it every time and I say 'me see me poop, me poop'. Sometimes it is really stinky and me mom makes a funny face.
At night I sit on my potty and eat my 'two vimens' (vitamins). Then I walk over to the tub and sometimes I go pee pee on the floor. Sometimes I also pee pee in the tub. I don't go pee pee in that potty. Nope not me.

Run of Hope

This weekend we met up with a bunch of friends at the Run of Hope for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research. Fun to catch up with some great families that I have not seen in quite a while. Elizabeth did her part by sleeping through the entire run.
Maria and I actually staffed the First Aid tent together and had relaxing morning sipping coffee and catching up. Marie did have to be reminded that it is ONLY a 5K... IV fluids, ice for cooling are not needed. She has typically been the nurse for Ironman's. Not quite the same folks at this event.

A Day at the Park

Went to the park with the gang yesterday and we were quite the force there. Six kids under age three, one child navigating with a bag on her head, much adorable PDA, enough picnic food for a village and four mom's wishing someone had remembered the cocktails.

Grandma and Pops Visit

Grandma and Pops came to visit again this weekend. We were actually pretty lax with the picture taking however got at least a back shot of them at the market.
Once we heard they were heading out we immediately began planning a weekend of house projects. Last spring we did phase one of the garden and had a decent crop this summer despite the cool temperatures. This past week we ended up paving around the raised bends. It looks great! Dad says they are coming in January next time as inside house projects are not quite as labor intensive. Hmmm... I'm thinking maybe an entire basement needs painting.

The best sound in the world.

Bath Time from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

Dinner under the Sukkah

Jeff built our first Sukkah this year. It is really a great tradition but not sure the weather will hold for many outside meals.

A Crazy Day at the Beach

The weather was nuts today. Pouring rain on a run, sun during nap time and then some late afternoon winds which brought out all the windsurfers. Fun to watch. Elizabeth and Jeff made their way out on a very shaky dock. Some large waves swept up and they made a quick exit.

Elizabeth was sporting her sunglasses with mom as we walked on water.
This is her latest pose she likes to strike. She puts those hands on her hips and gives you 'the look'.

Lovely New Year.. Eventually

We had a great day together as a family. Well mostly great. Elizabeth tends to get overwhelmed when things are a bit chaotic which was the case for a portion of the kids service. She came home exhausted and LOST it.
There was just no consoling her.
Eventually she went down for a nap and woke up as our lovely child again. Two is such an interesting age. I suppose they all are.

Elizabeth and I spent Labor Day with Maeve. We have already made two trips to the park and right now they are both tucked in for a lovely little nap. I'm spending a brief moment posting these photos and then I plan to join them in their slumber. I'm not sure that I'll give Maeve back when her mom comes to get her after work. Isn't she sooo snugly!! She has these awesome dimples that you could just get lost in.

In the van on the way home the other day Elizabeth said "Momma I'm happy". My life is good.

Camping and Birthday again

It has been a summer of fun with seven or so weekend away but things may be winding down soon but not quite yet. We went camping yet again this weekend but this time headed south and met up with Scott, Carolina, Lucia and Oscar. Met them again in Gifford Pinchot National Forest but this year we had little Oscar as an addition. Elizabeth constantly wanted to hug our cute new friend.
There was mountain biking, hiking and a bit o' road biking. Elizabeth was not willing to cooperate here and wanted out to get in the waterfall.
The highlight was the girls and their dolls. There was much nursing, patting and hugging their babies. So fun to watch them giggling together. I love that our girls will grow up together on many a Westie trip.
We managed to yet again celebrate Elizabeth's birthday with more cake and a Princess Two hat made by Carolina.

The HA HAs

We were in Vancouver this past weekend and the highlight for Elizabeth were these statues that she called the "HA HAs". She asked about them constantly wanting to visit them again, walk around them, talk about if they were sleeping now, etc. She was really fascinated and loved them more than the park or even the train ride.
While putting her to bed tonight she looked up at me with this huge silly grin with her eyes squished shut. I asked her with a giggle 'What are you doing'. She answered "I'm the HA HAs momma".

Elizabeth Eats Cake

Elizabeth is two. She is a funniest little kid ever and loves to make a joke. She saw me react to a spider recently and it must have left an impression cause this weekend on our way back from Vancouver she hollered from the back "Momma a bug in me car seat". I look back saying 'what bug' and she starts laughing "No bug momma, bug at home" and then she belly laughs

This smile is after opening her first presents and playing with her doll furniture and new daddy built architecture model style dollhouse.She spent quite a bit of time dancing in her new 'Toot Toot'.
She woke up this morning asking to ride 'me new red bike'.

And finally Elizabeth eats cake. They had a little party for her at school with all the kids wearing hats and singing Happy Birthday in Chinese then English. So odd to hear her say things in Chinese! As far as cake goes... she is not a sweets person. She likes fruit but at most parties she says no to cake. This was actually one of the first times she participated in the cake eating. Of course the frosting had to be scraped off.