31

I turned 31 today! Jeff's parents watched Madeleine on Friday so we could go hiking and then out to dinner in Seattle. We ate yummy sushi and then had a dessert at a little wine bar we like near the arboretum. It was great to have some time together!

On Saturday we woke up and hit the road, heading East for some wine tasting and leaving Madeleine with my parents for the night. Thanks mom & dad!

Jeff's mom likes wine tasting as much as Jeff & I do so we decided this would be something fun to do while they visited. Greg isn't into wine but he enjoyed the drive and just hanging out for the w/e. Jeff's mom actually has a friend that lives in Yakima so we visited her and had dinner at her amazing restaurant on Saturday night. Yum!

At one of our favorite wineries, Tapteil Winery...beautiful views!

We usually visit Yakima during barrel tasting and never when the fruit is still on the vine.

Another favorite, Terra Blanca

At the end of the day, just being silly

Jeff could have killed me for making him sit here and get a picture taken - ha!

At Cafe Melange with Julie's highschool friend!

A new favorite winery - Wilridge Winery in Yakima. They also own the "Tasting Room" in Post Alley at Pike's Place Market but the actual winery is in Yakima. The wine was so yummy and the winery was so darling...just a cute little tasting room with beautiful views. They serve yummy little bites like cheese, meats and Theo chocolate! It was our last stop before heading home and a fantastic way to end our trip!

Little Si Hike!

Jeff took me on a birthday hike to little Si! 2+ miles up and the outlook was great! We enjoyed the view with a yummy lunch that Jeff packed. Thanks to Jeff's parents for watching Madeleine so we could enjoy a hike together...it's been a long time since we've been hiking. And thanks to Jeff for planning such a special day!

We didn't drink the wine...it was the last thing we wanted after the hike but a nice thought ;-)

GG & Grandma JJ's Visit!

Jeff's family arrived earlier this week for a visit! We are so excited to have them here! Madeleine warmed right up to GG & Grandma JJ!

We started their visit off with a bbq at home...we served yummy bbq'd oysters and halibut!

Greg was freezing during our bbq. He cozied up to the grill to stay warm (it really wasn't cold but he is used to the Texas heat!)

Today we headed over to Bainbridge Island and we had a beautiful day for it! The weather was amazing! In the 80's and not a cloud in the sky!

Madeleine loves the ferry! She enjoyed walking around, looking out the window at all the boats and sitting with her grandma!

We stopped by a really neat toy store on Bainbridge Island. Madeleine was the only one who scored anything...she walked away with a new book and a new baby doll! She loves her new Asian baby doll! All her other babies are blonde with blue eyes so I decided she needed something different. This little baby doll was so cute!

BIG kisses for baby!

Madeleine & Mommy visit Alki Beach!

Madeleine and I visited Alki Beach today! I've been wanting to go walking over there all summer and time has flown by and I finally made it over today. I MISS West Seattle so much. Lots of wonderful memories there.

It was a bit cloudy today but we still had fun! Madeleine had a GREAT time. She loved looking out at the water and seeing all the boats and birds. We played on the beach a bit, played at a playground and then hit my very favorite grocery store (Met Market) for some goodies and some yummy lunch! We then took lunch to Jeff's office and ate with him! Madeleine LOVES visiting Jeff at work and ran all around....barely taking time to eat anything. She cried for dada all the way home.


I've always wondered who lives here

Shortest slide ever

M drives the boat!

I LOVE this photo! Madeleine just loves seeing her dada!

Kathryn Comes for a Visit!

Kathryn came over for a visit on Saturday and she sure is getting big! Raymont, my brother, Sharyn and my mom were all there as well but Kathryn is the star of the show at the moment! She is such a cutie pie! We just love her....or maybe just Jeff & I love her because Madeleine is still warming up to her. She didn't like it when my mom, Jeff or I held Kathryn. She tolerated Jeff and my mom holding her but I wasn't aloud to. That's all going to have to change when I start watching her one day a week. Should be interesting! ;-)

Madeleine likes Kathryn when no one is holding Kathryn. She gave her cousin lots of kisses!

Pee Pee in the Potty!

Madeleine went pee pee in the potty yesterday! But, Jeff and I are not getting too excited yet. She's been showing some signs that she knows when she is going potty so we bought her a little princess potty chair. She likes to sit on it but we've had a few occasions where she'll sit on it and then stand up, walk away and then go pee (or poop!).

Yesterday, after I changed her diaper, she then walked over to the potty and pointed. So, I asked her if she had to go again and then I took off her diaper and realized that she had just gone but put her on the potty anyhow. She then peed a little bit! I tried to get all excited and show her what a good girl she was for going in the potty but she just looked at me like I was crazy. I don't think she truly grasps the whole idea yet but it's a start!

Sailing with the boys!

Jeff had a night out with the boys! Bryce, Rob, Bryan and Jeff went sailing! They took off from Pier 66 and sailed through Elliott Bay. Since it was a boys night, I wasn't there to take anymore pictures but Jeff at least took some. Sounds like they enjoyed the views, had a few beers and got caught up on life!

All signs point to teething...

We've had a bit of a rough week with Madeleine. She's had a slight fever, runny nose, FUSSY FUSSY attitude and some sleepless nights. We were wondering if she was teething but she never lets us look in her mouth so we couldn't tell. Finally, today she opened up that mouth and I saw at least 3, maybe all 4 of her cuspid teeth coming in. Looks like the second molars are next and that will be it for baby teeth! We've had a long break without any teething so hopefully this round gets over quickly!

Jeff & I are actually super happy that she is teething. Madeleine is usually a happy, sleep-through-the-night kind of child so when that changes, we both start to worry. At least we have some kind of reasoning now behind the attitude and getting up at night this week. Not to say that Madeleine is perfect when she isn't teething, but she doesn't act like this! My goodness! I'll be excited to see my smiling, happy baby again! Hopefully this is all done before GG and Grandma JJ arrive next week from Texas. Fingers crossed!

Last few days...

I took Madeleine to a free music class at the community center last week! She had a lot of fun! Madeleine was more interested in watching the other kids or taking the instruments apart rather than actually playing them.

Then we headed over to Shannon's & Taylor's house for dinner. The kids had fun together and we all enjoyed hanging out and having some adult time!

Madeleine is usually the one going in for the kiss but this time Taylor decided to move in and Madeleine wasn't having it!

Future Fire Lady!

Choo Choo!

Madeleine's latest obsession is trains. She loves to say "choo choo" and read books about trains. She cannot go bed unless her book "choo choo" is in the crib with her. So, Jeff and I took her to the Snoqualmie Train Depot for a train ride on Saturday!

The restored train station is about a 5 minute drive from our house and the train ride goes from Snoqualmie Falls to North Bend and back. About a 70 minute ride round trip. We all enjoyed the ride and the beautiful views. Madeleine and I had a good time waving to all the cars as they waited for the train to pass by! The view at the end was the highlight - see picture below. Afterwards we enjoyed an ice-cream cone and are looking forward to riding the Santa train this December!