Tiffany and Paul came along and brought a cake for my Mama :)
Grandpa Wil couldn't be there but Grandma Mardine, Brent, Tiffany, Paul, Stephen, the babies and I made it and we had a great time.
Paul is a natural with the babes.
The view from my Grandparent's house
The reason we decided go to Seattle at this particular time of the year is because I was going to be a bridesmaid in my best friend Megan's wedding! Unfortunately, as mentioned in a previous post, Megan's step dad David passed away a few weeks before the wedding. On the 15th, we attended David's memorial service. It was very sad but the place was filled with people whose lives David touched.
This is sand castle built by Dorrie's neighbors that was dedicated to David.
We spent some time over and Dave and Vicki's house. Esme had fun playing with her cousins and Reid and was definitely giving the boys a run for their money!
She fell in love with the Swing and literally spent HOURS swinging on it. We tried to coax her off of it several times but no such luck!
Mommy and Noah had a swing, too!
We spent an evening with Grandpa John and Grandma Gale. They couldn't believe how much Esme was grown and they were very excited to meet their first Grandson!
Mommy and the babies went to Natasha's baby shower and had a really nice time. Noah was good practice for the mommy to be!
Grandpa Gordy was soooo excited to meet little Noah! He already has grand plans for fishing trips with the little man. Of course he was excited to see Miss Esme, too! Here is a picture of Grandpa's first cuddle with Noah.
The next day, we took a trip to Seattle. Bradley and Katrina, Mommy's cousins, were up from Sacramento and wanted to see the sights. So Great Grandma Mardine, Grandma Julie, Papa Brent, Mommy, Daddy, Katrina, Bradley and the babies set off for the Emerald City!
We went up the Space Needle
Esme was going through a very independent stage (and has been ever since!) and didn't want to hold hands. When you held her hand she would go completely limp like a rag doll. At one point she thought I was going to hold her hand, went limp and banged her head on the floor of the space needle! She let out a very loud wail and everyone turned to look at her! She got a lump on her noggin but was otherwise ok :)
Handsome Noah
Brad and Stephen
The rest of the group went off to the EMP but our little family headed back north as the babes were getting restless.
Our next visit of the trip was with Auntie Peggy and Uncle Donnie. We love spending time with them- they are two of our favorite people! Noah even scored a cute little train outfit! They are always surrounded by babies and were very excited to meet Noah for the first time!
July 20 was the rehearsal for Megan and Justin's wedding. It was the first time that I had been to Kerry park and I was blown away by what an amazing location it was for a wedding ceremony. It had the most beautiful views of Seattle!
Noah and Stephen attended the rehearsal with me but Esme stayed with Grandma Julie. This is because we were going out for dinner afterwards and I didn't want Esme to cause too much of a scene. She is a good girl but doesn't like sitting still for long periods of time- pretty standard for a 1.5 year old!
After the rehearsal we went to Bucca Di Beppo's on Queen Anne. It was all you can eat and it was yummy!
Noah and the Bride
Noah and the Groom. Justin told me that Noah was false advertising for babies because he is so well behaved!
Noah got passed around a lot that night- no one can resist a cute, chubby little boy!
The day after the rehearsal, we had a girls night out at the Pink Door at Pike Place. It was a quiet one but we had a lovely dinner and a nice chat. Because Megan didn't get a bachelorette party, Julie brought along the penis cake she had ordered and some decorations for Megan to wear!
While I was with Meg and co, Esme, Daddy and Noah went to dinner with the Kennedy clan. They went to all you can eat seafood.
Once again, Esme didn't want to sit still for long. Someone left a wheelbarrow in the parking lot so cousin Bradley took her for a spin!
That night, Jamers had a going away party! He isn't going very far- only to Capital Hill in Seattle- but it is a big move for him! I felt a little like an old woman at a high school kegger but had fun catching up with old friends. Michelle, James, Stephanie and I had fun laughing and making fun of some of the younger, less mature guests :)
The next big event was the WEDDING!
I arrived at the Four Seasons Seattle at about 11 am to start getting ready. We had our hair and makeup professionally done and spent the morning laughing and drinking mimosas! I had a fiasco with my dress. It didn't fit my chest the day before the wedding but luckily my friend Michelle's mom is a seamstress and fixed it for me. It ended up being WAY too big but at least it went on!
Megan gave all of her girls beautiful earrings and necklaces for being a part of her wedding. She also gave us each a frame with pictures from the past- very cool.
When Megan was finally ready we were all in awe- she looked absolutely stunning!!! Dorrie, her mom, also looked amazing! We had some pictures by the pool at the hotel and then made our way, by limo, to Kerry park.
After the wedding it was picture time and then it was time to PARTAY! The kids stayed with Grandma Julie because it was a child free wedding- that means mommy and daddy were able to have some grown up fun! The reception was at Ray's Boathouse and it was absolutely perfect. The food was good, the beer was flowing and the company was to die for. It was a brilliant wedding and I am honored to have been a part of it!
Views from the reception
The beautiful bride and groom
Megan's step dad, David, had a surprise waiting for Megan and Justin after the wedding. He had a London Black Cab pick them up and take them to the hotel! Very sweet and special!
That night was my first night away from Noah. We stayed at Megan and Justin's apartment but Mommy missed her babies so much we were up at 530 and back at Grandma Julie's before 7! That is pretty early, especially after a late night!
The next day, we had a BBQ at Grandpa John and Grandma Gale's house. Noah got to meet his Aunties Rosa, Christine and Maria, cousin Chloe, Great Grandma Billie, Great Uncle Jack, Great Uncle Tom, and some of mommy's cousins for the very first time!
It was a very hot day so the kids played in the paddling pool. Mommy didn't pack swim suits so naked it was!
Grandpa is surrounded by women (1 daughter, 3 step daughters, a wife and two granddaughters) so he was happy to finally have a boy around!
Aunt Rosa painted Esme's toes for the first time
We also had a BBQ at GG Wil and GG Mardine's house. Grandma Michelle and her boyfriend Brad came to meet baby Noah and see Esme. Hours before the BBQ, disaster struck. I was brushing Esme's. She usually cries, even if I am gentle, and this time she held her breath, passed out and face planted the patio (where I was brushing her hair). It all happened so quickly I didn't even have time to try and catch her. She split her lip open really badly. It is a good thing mommy isn't squeamish because there was blood everywhere! Lips heal quickly so after much debate, we decided not to go to the hospital and let it heal on its own. She also scraped her chin really badly! It wasn't a good day for Miss Esme because she also followed grandma into the RV and got hit above the eyebrow with the sharp part of the door. Poor baby!
My damaged baby:(
To take her mind off of the pain, we played in the sprinkler and ate chocolate :)
We had a nice visit with Grandma Michelle and Brad. They brought Esme and Noah some very cute outfits! Esme got the cutest pair of black and pink DC shoes, too!
Mommy's good friends Michelle and Greg moved out to Whidbey Island so we took a day trip out to see their house. Tiffany and Stephanie came with us, too!
We took a beautiful ferry ride out there
Stephanie missed the boat so we waited for her on the other side. We found a little sand pit for Esme to play in while we waited. There were all sorts of toys there.
Michelle and Greg's house has beautiful views! We had a little BBQ and the kids had a chance to play together. Avery and Esme are 4.5 months apart and Noah and Kenley are about 2 weeks apart. Michelle and I were due two days apart but she had Kenley a little early. It was really cute to see the kids play together. Avery is very mild mannered and Esme gave her lessons on how to be naughty!
Avery and Esme were playing with the magnet board on the deck. One of my favorite Avery quotes from this visit was "Ezzy, I show you." She was showing Esme how to shove the magnets through the cracks on the deck. I am sure Greg had fun crawling under the deck to get them :)
Greg took Stephen out to see the local brewery. Greg and Michelle are thinking about buying it and running it! Stephen really likes Greg and was glad to spend some time with him. Back at the house, Kenley and Noah were falling in love and making plans for the future ;)
Back on the mainland, we met up with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Vicki again. Esme met some more of her cousins and had fun playing with them :)
Noah got to meet Aunt Heidi, too. Esme had fun pulling Logan around in the wagon and visa versa!
The next day we went to the Imagine Chidren's Museum with Jordon, Melyssa and Madyson. We had fun exploring all of the exhibits!
Esme and Madyson
The visit was much too short but we were glad all of the kids finally got to meet. Hopefully it won't be too long before we can all get together again!
That night, it was Papa Franz's turn to meet Noah and visit with Esme. Papa treated us to dinner at Tampicos. He was smitten with the babies!
Note: Esme isn't struggling because it is papa holding her, she just doesn't like to be held! I also took some pics of Noah and Papa but they are on my old phone. I need to find it and download them!
On July 28 Esme and Noah got their FIRST HAIRCUTS! I had planned of getting their hair cut at a cool kids hair place but there were no appointments available when we turned up. We had family pictures that day so I was desperate. We ended up going to a supercuts!
Noah Before
Noah was a good sport- mostly because he didn't realize what was going on. At four months he had sooo much hair- we just couldn't put if off any longer!
In progress
We didn't want to cut the length off of Esme's hair but the sides were about two inches longer than the back was. We just evened it up so that it was all one length. She was not pleased...
It may not have been their favorite experience, but it paid off! Family pictures turned out beautifully!
Noah after
Esme After
As always, Holly was brilliant and took some really great shots. Here are a few favorites
Esme and Noah got to spend a lot of time with Grandma Julie on this trip-they have a really special bond. Thanks to Grandma Julie and Papa Brent for babysitting and looking after the babes during wedding festivities and a few other occasions- you guys are the best! xx
