Hotels and Hiking

I haven't posted in a while...I had a difficult couple of weeks, which I may write about later, when I'm feeling up to it. We've been keeping busy, though! The kids and I went to Yakima with Chad last week. He had some work there so we tagged along to get away for a couple of days. We hung out in the hotel, watched cable, swam in the pool, lounged in the hot tub and ate from those cute little hotel boxes of cereal in the morning. Nick woke me up before 7 am asking, "Is it time to go downstairs and get some of those rainbow cheerios yet?" (fruit loops, something we never have at home!) On the way home, we stopped in the Tri-Cities and had dinner with my friend Kristi and her wonderful family. Gabby had a fabulous time playing with her girls.

Here are my little hotel t.v. zombies...

We spent most of Saturday being lazy and catching up on rest and relaxation. (As nice as it is to get away sometimes, it never seems to be as relaxing as you think it will)

Sunday, we all went on a little hike. The kids love getting out and hiking and exploring in the great outdoors...and I like tagging along and photographing them.

After the hike, we stopped at Alvin's to get our canoe. He's been storing it in his garage but now that he has a wife, he needs more parking space! We took the canoe to The Farm, stopping along the way for take n bake pizza.

Here's Nick's kissy face in the car, waiting for Daddy to get the pizza.

And Gabby at the farm with the new Farm kitty, Black as Night.

My Brown Eyed Boy

Yesterday, Gabby once again told me she'd pose for photos if I gave her a dum dum lollipop. She let me take ONE grumpy photo and then she was finished. She needed to 'rest' so she curled up in bed (and later ended up resting in the family room for the remainder of the day). I think she really was tired...turns out she was up a lot during the night

(I slept through it but Chad was up with her)

So, Nicholas said HE would pose for a dum dum lollipop! I love taking photos of both of them, but when practicing something technical on the camera, she is usually easier because she STAYS in focus. Nick moves closer and further from me, from side to side, jumps around. I swear, this boy has SPRINGS on the soles of his feet. Lately, too, he just doesn't want his photo taken. He is a kick, though, and comes up with the most hilarious little things to say or do. He likes to rhyme words (he calls chad ChadWICK the HICup) and he loves phrases like stinky stinkster, mommy momster, etc. He's also terribly creative. Give him a few pieces of cardboard, string, a stapler, crayons and other odds and ends and he'll make something fabulously imaginative. He's been making lots of books lately too. He even makes little bindings for them. Smart kid.

I love this photo..it's like he has a big thought bubble over his head, filled with all his imaginings.

Gabby did let me take a couple photos later...but as you can see, she still wasn't in much of a photo mood. She's still a pretty little muse though!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

That little phrase perfectly described Gabby yesterday. She was cheerful, happy, sweet and sassy. She posed for photos for me in return for a dum-dum lollipop. It was a fun photo shoot, full of smiles and giggles and funny little Gabbyisms.

Tag continued...

I wanted to share another photo from the game of tag last Sunday. I thought this was a fun shot of Gabby. It really shows her fun and goofy spirit.

A Game of Tag

We took a break from the Superbowl today to get outside and get some fresh air. It was wet and slushy but Chad and the kids enjoyed a rousing game of tag on the playground. They were soaked to the bone by the time we headed home...and found comfort in hot cocoa and popcorn.

I love how Nick is laughing at Chad from his perch on the pole!

Nick and Gabby were both 'it' in this photo...trying to catch Chad.

Here are Nick and Chad thinking they are sneaking up on Gabby...but there she is, laughing at them!

Chad, jumping the slide to avoid being tagged by Nick.

A Girl and her Cat

Gabby loves her kitty, Broken. Yesterday, they snuggled on the couch for a bit before he was ready to go outside and prowl around again. I love this first photo...have you ever seen a cat pose before? He and Gabby have the same funny expression!

Here's both the kids..and the cat...relaxing in front of the tv.

Nick has pink eye...AGAIN. Chad took him to the doctor this morning. Nicholas brought stickers along to give the doctor "I'll give him a sticker if I like what he does". He also brought a camera. At the end of the visit he gave the doctor a sticker and then asked to take his photo.