Us // Ring that Bell

Saturday was our day for a date.

Note: not a date night. Date night can be overrated, I think. I mean, dinner and a movie? How boring!

So, we had a date day! Or to be more accurate, an afternoon date. That's because for this date, we wanted to do something adventurous, something we had never tried before, something we had to try in daylight.

We finally climbed the pinnacle at REI.

I suppose it is a slight lie to say it was completely new to us, because Jacob did take a rock climbing class years ago when he was an undergrad at Utah State. But it had been a while!

And me, well, I have done some very spur of the moment bouldering when it was required of me on certain day hikes, but really that is about it. And one time I scurried up the haystack on top of Mt. Si, only to freak out on the way down (my great pal, Brian King, saved me by going down first and basically giving me his hands to step on until we reached a safe spot - never will forget that!)

Anyway...we wanted to try climbing - being roped up and all that. I made Jacob go first...

Then, it was my turn!

About 3/4 of the way up my route, I decided to look down.

Oops.

All of a sudden I had a flashback to the time I stood on top of a wobbly tree (50 foot high, that is) and had to swing my arms and jump for a trapeze - it was one of those trust-building camps I was attending with my adventure/outdoor therapy class in grad school. It was awesome - and SUCH the BIGGEST adrenaline rush as my knees shook and I tried to balance on the wobbly tree enough to jump for the trapeze. Anyway...FLASHBACK and that adrenaline started pumping through me again!

I could feel myself tense up slightly, so I took a couple of deep breathes. My problem isn't climbing up - it's just when I look down and realize how far I've made it up that takes me by surprise!

So, I pulled myself together and looked up.

I noticed there was a big bell at the top and all of a sudden I had a new wave of determination come over me: I wanted to ring that bell - I wanted all the people shopping the Anniversary Sale to hear that bell ring and note that someone made it to the top!

So I did it! I put my trust in "T" the awesome girl below who was holding that rope tied to my waste (or something like that) and I rang that bell and then belayed down the pinnacle.

High Fives all around!

We each did a couple of routes.

We had SUCH a wonderful time on our date!

Nothing like a little adrenaline rush and some cheering for each other that makes for a nice afternoon out.

We stopped in Ballard on our way home and brought some Vietnamese food home to share with our kidlets. If you like Thai Sandwiches - check out the Monkey Bridge. The food rocked!

We kind of rocked, too!

pun fully intended!

Hooray for fun dates and a bit of adventure!

Outings // Carkeek Park + The Bubble Man

On Friday we found ourselves at the beach near our house.

I know we will GREATLY miss having the beach so close by when it comes time for us to leave Seattle (one day).

Anyway...

It was a rather blustery day,

but no one minded the breeze - because the sun was out!

and guess who else was out?

The Bubble Man.

He did lots of bubbles for his eager crowd of infants and tots, and a few other little games of entertainment as well. He said he didn't have any pictures of "Catching the Rainbow" so I did him a favor and snapped a few. (note: I snapped these while holding my big heavy camera in one hand and a wiggly Aspen in the other, so bear with me!)

I will send them his way and see what he thinks!

This photo just cracked me up.

p.s. do you love her new wellies or what? I had the hardest time finding some to fit her petite tiny feet yet - I finally found a size 3 from this random company in the UK. cute!

And this one just made me smile.

The weekend was relaxing.

We did a lap around greenlake

and hit up the park, as well.

We also hit up U-Village

the train table

and a sale at the GAP

I got Sawyer's birthday invitation sent off to my lab to print,

and also finished designing his coop preschool's "yearbook". I can hardly believe the boy will be 3 next month!

whew!

Oh.

and we finally bought seeds for our garden!

I know, it's a little late to plant,

so be it.

We're gonna give it a go!

The week is off to a great start -

at Nature School this morning we walked in the wetlands at Magnuson Park and saw some cute fuzzy little ducklings,

tadpoles, and frogs.

Fresh air is always good.

Here's to a wonderful new week!

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day Weekend.

There was a lot of splish splashing at family swim time

(and floating down a lazy river, which was perfectly lazy and just what I needed!)

I got my semiannual haircut - and with it, a little head massage

(I do love Habitude/Aveda Salons)

oh.

and I finally ordered those Hunter boots I've been wanting to wear to tromp around in the mud and at the beach for quite sometime.

Not to mention...

my kids saw their first Disney "princess" movie.

(Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!)

Sawyer has been pretending to be a horse named Max ever since.

Aspen hummed, sang and twirled along (who knew it would start so young?)

This morning there was...

A perfectly delicious breakfast made by Daddy

The cutest little hands traced on a homemade card from the kids

A perfectly designed card by Daddy

A gift certificate for Jamba Juice (I told him not to get anything)

and Fresh Flowers on the table, too.

There was a lovely church service

and a luncheon for all the ladies afterward

plenty of great conversation

and then a nap for me after church

even though the kids missed theirs because we stayed too long at the luncheon.

And then, there was home made Brooklyn-style pizza, and

a stroll on the UW Campus,

where Daddy attempted to take some pictures of

me and my babies.

It was a very challenging task

But he did get some.

Trying to get a photo with a 1 & 2 year old is

DIFFICULT.

(I think Daddy now appreciates the job I do photographing young families with children who run away from the camera, just a hint more than before).

Thanks, Jacob. For getting me in the picture!

It is the only thing I want, every Mother's Day...

just a few photos of me and my children.

They (along with their Daddy) are truly my Dream Come True.

There is so much more I could say about this day, about my own mother and the women in my life who have touched me so very deeply. Bearing children perhaps makes a woman a mother in the technical sense...but being a mother is so much more...and some of the women in my life who have touched me the most have never born a child, yet they possess some of the most tender, mothering hearts I have ever known.

My heart goes out to those who don't feel like celebrating today.

Someday, your time will come. I truly believe it will.

Happy Mother's Day