Friends + Popcicles = Summer Fun

Ethan, Aidan, Claire and Max stay dry and cool after playing in the sprinkler.

Claire and Aidan

Max is all about his mom. Thanks for a fun play date Anna!

Girls night out in Seattle

Top: Julia, Thu, Kim

Bottom: Molly, Diana, Annie, Nellie

Congratulations to Annie for getting engaged!!!

It was far too much fun to catch up with all these lovely ladies in Seattle. They make smart and beautiful look effortless. Thanks Nellie for hosting.

E is for Ethan

Ethan tuned two July 5th. We had a nice family gathering for him at the beach were I grew up. Since I was busy catching up with family, not many photos were taken. In honor of Ethan's two year mark in life, here's a look candid look at Ethan from birth to two years old.

Pictured above is Ethan's first meeting with Aidan in his first 24 hours. I love it that they are holding hand. I remember Aidan saying let go because Ethan had such a tight grip on his hands. Aidan was two years old at the time. He is normally bouncing off the wall with lots of energy. Nothing is more calming than a sleeping baby. It's nice to see how the boys balance each other.

An Ethan sandwich.

Those cheeks are Ethan's trade mark. Back to birth weight on day two. I do not know how that happened because my milk did not come in until day three.
His Uncle Brian nick named him Eatin' for good reasons. Ethan has a piece of bread in his hands. This was the only way I was able entice him to hit. I have the rest of the loaf hanging over my head to get him to look up while taking this picture.

Make way - expert crawler on the loose. Yes, that is left over lunch on his left chin. It must be sweet potato puree because he ate it all the time like a desert. What a total cutie!

Our family went for a walk when it started to rain. We hid under this playground until the skies were clear enough to walk the rest of the way home. Ethan thought this cut out was so much fun to hang out of. The cushion platform was an excellent for Ethan to practice his new walking skills.

Ethan is about one almost one and a half in this picture. At the beginning he was very diligent in brushing his teeth. Writing in mommy's journal.

With so many teeth Ethan is up to the challenge of eating corn on the cob.

Hottest toddler on the block, who does not like a guy in uniform. By default of becoming a home owner Kyle became a Mr. Fix Everything. Anything Kyle likes to do, he always has two little guys in his shadow.

Ethan and his brood. I was doing stretches on the floor next to him. So apparently anything mommy can do Ethan can do too...while eating popcorn.

Doesn't this picture scream HELPER? Yup that's my guys making preparing pumpkin seeds for the oven.

Boys and dirt is a match made in heaven for a mother who loves to garden. This picture is of Ethan with his bag full of bulbs and his shovel ready to plant last fall.

This is what two year old love to do best. "Me self" in the words of Ethan. It's goings to be another exciting year with Ethan. He's so independent, willing and able to try nearly anything by himself. His lack of fear is a bit if inspiration to the rest of the family.

What a catch!

This year's trip to Seattle was laden with list of must do's for the kids. It was Ethan's first visit to Seattle and Aidan is finally old enough to participate in more activities. To be a Tran is to fish or love eating it! My brother Thao ( who Aidan calls " Gao Sau") took Aidan on a very memorable fishing trip off of West Seattle where this picture was taken.

My dad is the greatest fisherman I know. This salmon he's holding weighed in at 28 pounds! My mom is a great cook and my dad always brought home fresh ingredients. To this day, I have a hard time buying seafood from the store because no matter how "fresh" the sign may suggest, it's never fresh enough.

What a beauty!

One of the many highlights of Aidan's adventure with Gao Sau was to be able to drive the boat.

Aidan's first catch was on Gao Sau's fishing rod. Believe it or not, Aidan's Spiderman fishing pole that is only as long as he is tall works great. Aidan caught his second flounder on his own rod while we were all in disbelief he caught on to fishing so quickly.

We miss you Seattle

Thanks for a wonderful two week vacation!!! The kids and I were in Seattle for two weeks while Kyle was only able to join us the second. We missed him entirely too much during our days apart.

Thanks to all the friends and family who came out to join us on mini daycations. I was touched by all your hospitality and patience as my boys threw gravel into gardens ( sorry Chris and John), jumped on your furniture and made you run around looking for a diaper (you're a trooper aunt Diana).

There was also lots to celebrate in Seattle. Ethan celebrated his second birthday on the beach with his cousins. Never mind that there were thirty people to help him blow out his candle, Ethan was busy throwing all the rocks back into the pacific. Aidan caught his first flounder off the shore of West Seattle with the best skyline view of the city in the presence of Uncle Thao who is a true fisherman and artist at heart.

Instead of doing one massive blog I will dedicate the following blogs however many it takes to capture the good times we shared all our friends and family in Seattle.

Like-a-Bike

I feel out of sorts yet really happy. It's rather unusual for me to take long breaks between keeping in contact with friends and family. It's not my style and I know all of you are not use to the distance. Kyle, Aidan, Ethan and I are having the time of our life enjoying every day as a family of four in our new home, summer travels and keeping up with Aidan and Ethan's every stage of development.

It's days like yesterday afternoon that make me wish we all lived on the same block as we walked down the street with both boys on bikes. It was a bitter sweet moment as a parent to think that our baby Ethan ( don't let him hear me call him that) is growing up. Yesterday we did the hand off of Aidan's Like-a-Bike. Aidan received the bike when we were living in Zurich as a big brother present from Ethan. Ethan has had his eyes on the bike for months. Of all the play things that we purchased over the years the Like-a-Bike was worth every penny for all the ease it brought in and a round town as well as during our travels. Kyle lowered the seat and Ethan hopped on. I held my breathe hoping he would be of the right height fearing the melt to come if Ethan fell short of being able to reach the ground with his feet. With his red helmet on he waited ever so patiently dancing around while Kyle to adjust the seat. Once he hopped on Ethan never got off until we we almost back home from the ride. The bike requires a little coordination which come with practice but somehow I think watching Aidan for the past two years was all the practice Ethan needed. Kyle and I were so proud that when given the choice for us to carry the bike up and down slopes Ethan said "no, do it self". Ethan road the Like-a-Bike with such with such pride. We are excited for Ethan to make his own scratches one the bike.

Ethan in the sink

Love the eggplant tattoo on his forearm.