Cousins Camp in Seattle

We had a fantastic time visiting Grandma and Grandpa Marquardson in Seattle. It was the first ever cousins camp!! Dallin at age 4 was the oldest cousin. Add in Billy, 2, Cambry (2), Thad (11 mo) and Bobby (5 mo) made for an adventure. We'll just say that someone was always napping, needing a diaper change, or crying :) Maybe cousins camp will start up again in a couple more years (mom?).

Highlights of the trip included: Bellevue Arts & Crafts festival with cool crafts projects for kids, Ferry boat ride to Bainbridge island, hanging out on Alki beach on a PERFECT Seattle warm summer night, picnicing at Coulon park, Remlinger Farms and going on the roller coaster with Cambry like five times, Shannon flying in from London and being so excited to see everyone until the realities of little kids set in (Hi Shan!), dressing up in Grandmas costume box, trying out many different healthy pancake recipes, and enjoying each other. I just wished we lived closer. This Houston, So. Cal, Bay Area, London, Seattle thing is just no good!

Thad

Thad & Grandpa Marquardson at Coulon Park

Shannon with sleeping Bobby

The sisters: Carrie, Shannon, Marissa, and Katie

Thad is into everything as captured here (notice Dallin "I prefer Batman." That shirt comes off these days only for washing)

With Evan in school and finals, the boys and I had a nice long visit. It even rained!! Just looking at these pictures makes me smile and feel a little homesick.

Thanks mom and dad.

Big Sur Camping

This past weekend our little family headed to beautiful Big Sur to camp. Here we are on the last day for a family self portrait:

We stayed at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and had a river-side campsite. It was magical to listen to the river every night. Now if only that "white noise" had worked in keeping the baby asleep :)

We feasted on smores, cobbler and the most amazing PB&J bread we found at this amazing restaurant called Nepenthe. Notice the amazing view from our table!

I guess Dallin didn't appreciate the cool pb&j sandwich..

The beaches were absolutely stunning. We did a brief hike out to the waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer park just a few miles from our campsite.

Here's the waterfall falling onto Dallin

Some shots around camp. Isn't Thad soo darling?!

All weekend Dallin kept saying with cocoa in hand "Mommy! Cheers!"

Cheers to a fantastic weekend! Everyone is already asking when we go again.

Thad is one!!

My sweet baby is one!!

It was super hot in the bay area so we hit yummy frozen yogurt for Thad's birthday treat. Grandma and Grandpa Gilstrap came in for the celebration and what a celebration. So much happens this first precious year; I really felt like celebrating.

Thad loves just about all food, but especially carrots and yogurt. He squeals with delight when you race crawl down the hallway. When he's excited, like before mealtime or when we stroll up to the park, he opens and closes his fingers. He often puts his chin down and looks up at you just past his eyebrows before he nuzzles into your neck. He likes falling asleep with his pacifier. He's crawling around like crazy, pinching his little fingers into everything, and walking along while holding onto furniture.

Thad, we love you sooooo much. Happy Birthday pal!!!!!!!!!!!!