My Little Dumplings

Dumplings for dinner !!!

After a totally rockin' first day at school Ethan helped make dinner. I started to pull all the ingredients out of the fridge when Aidan said, mom Ethan and I want to help. Help is always a tricky request because it's hard to gage how much "help" I will actually have. I looked at the clock and it was only 5:15pm. There was time to kill before Kyle waltz in the door so I said "boys, grab your stools and listen carefully." Aidan said " I need to go wash my hands. Ethan come on, we have to wash our hands before we cook." I knew at that moment that this lesson was going to be a good one.

Ethan loved playing with the stuffing and took the approach of a pro as if he has made dumplings many times before ( with play dough). Never mind the eggs that holds all the corners together, Ethan found a short cut of smash all the part together until they looked like a wadded ball.

Ethan was on a roll. He wore a totally serious face like a mad won ton chef.

Surprisingly they were able to share one cutting board without a fight.

Aidan followed my every word of instruction. I think he liked all the different textures, smooth won ton wrapper, squishy filling and slimy egg.

The perfect dumpling.

Kyle caught this fantastic shot of Ethan in the process of washing our hands for dinner. We were all too busy cooking to notice Ethan's pants falling down. What a cute toosh!

Ethan goes to school

Ethan had an awesome start to the school year. He was so excited once I handed him the red lunch box, Ethan took off running and stopped at the front entrance of the building to give it a long stare.

A stair case to the left of the door looked interesting so we took a little detour to investigate.

Nola joined us. School is better when you have a friend there. Nola and Ethan play together at the gym's childcare program. Also Nola's brother Luca and Aidan are friends. Nola's father will be coaching Aidan and Luca's soccer team this year so we will be seeing a lot of their family this year. Yeah!

Ethan is making a pouring sound which sound which I can almost hear when I look at this picture. It's so fun to see his imagination come to life. Ethan has a sound for all his play actions. The funniest is when he pretends to snore because it's really loud and no one in our family snores. Makes me wonder where he gets it from.

I love this facility because there is ample room to be agile. Notice all the natural lighting. Ethan's four hour time here is split into three play spaces. There's another room of this size with different play stations and an age appropriate play ground outside with an alternate large play area inside for bad weather days. When the teacher described some of their activities for the year like painting with balloons, my eyes lit up like a two year old. I want to play too.

There was no way Ethan was going to get away without a picture with mom. Fours hours to fit in all our family errands. I will either be busy doing stuff for the boys or busy missing them.

Got Milk?

Aidan asks us questions all day long. I love his inquisitiveness. We try our best to always be honest no matter the question. Here's the situation of this morning that goes in the books as the start of many awkward honest answers.

Our family was standing around in the kitchen. I pulled whole grain waffles out of the freezer to stick them in the toaster. Kyle had one arm wrapped around me ready to embrace on our "good day" kiss with the arm reaching for his keys and wallet. Ethan had his head in the pantry looking for pretzels for breakfast. Aidan came to us mid way in the process of getting dressed. Gripping his chest he asked " What is this?"

Kyle: "That is your nipple"
Aidan: " does it have milk inside?"
Kyle: "Only mommy had milk inside."
Aidan turns to me and continues "mommy, remember when I was a little baby and I got to drink from you?"

Kyle takes this opportunity to exit the conversation and scoot out the door. " I'll let mom tackle these questions."

Thu answers to Aidan: " Yes, I do remember. Then you turned one and became too big to drink from mommy."
Aidan " Ethan too?"
Thu: " Yes, Ethan too."
Aidan " Mom, why doesn't dad have milk?"
Thu: " That is because the mom's are the ones who carry the babies and so our bodies we built to have to milk"

Here I am thinking , this conversation has to end, it's getting too deep for me to glaze over with four year old appropriate answers.

Then Aidan asks another stooper " Mom, does dad stuck on your nipples?"
Stunned as I flip off the coffee machine. Then, a "DING" - saved by the toaster bell. I turned around with two hot waffles in my hand being mindful not to ignore Aidan's question I replied
" Yes, but not for milk. Now, would you like butter or maple syrup with your waffle this morning?"

"BUTTAAAH" Ethan screamed.
I walked to the table and swept them in another chapter of " The Twits."

Happy Anniversary Darling

Kyle and I were actually married in at the court house in Seattle a month after he prosed. The elopement only happened because Kyle had accepted an offer abroad. Since we did not want to spend a year of engagement apart, we thought we would get the paper work out of the way and plan a totally awesome wedding for the following year. Two weeks later we found out that we were expecting Aidan. In our case order never mattered. I believe what happened was meant to be.

Our secret to staying married is quite simple. Those who sleep together stay together. We try to as best as we can to go to bed at the same time. ( with a few exceptions such as when Ethan was three months old and I was so exhausted at the end of the day Kyle graciously tucked me into bed before putting the boys to bed) Here is the start of our family. I love the detail in this picture. Kyle's look of love. The orchids in my hair, I would wear flowers in my hair every day if I could. And me holding Aidan's hand to include him in on the first dance.

Hurricane winds hit the golf course site were we were expected to say our vows over looking the green. Our secret to passing the hard issues in our marriage is a bit of a joke to say we already weathered the storm. By the time we hit our first year anniversary we had already moved abroad, adjusted to a being married and had our first child together.

What it really comes down to is lots of good coffee helps us stay married:) I love you bumpkin'.

Pike Place Market

Every trip to Seattle is made complete when we have consumed large bowls of Pho and made our visit to Pike Place Market. The second best job I have ever had in my life next to what fills my days of motherhood now, was when I worked for an organic farm for one summer at Pike Place Market. I love the market best first thing in the morning. The fun part for me was to see how the market unfolds before the streets are filled with tourist.

Just say CHEESE!


Post Alley is one of my favrite Seattle streets. It's very short yet has lots of character.

What a lovely place to chat the day away on these bright table and chairs.

If my sisters and I had a Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) Shop, some version of this sign would be fitting for us.

Ethan is delighted to be in front on a pig. Aidan looks so unhappy because he does not get to be first. I'm overjoyed to be captured in a photo with my babies while Kyle rights the crowd to snap this shot. I love family vacations!!!

A little smirk came from Aidan when we did a retake of just him.

Faitfully, everytime we visit Pike Place I pay a tribute to the first Starbucks on the face of this planet.

Aidan is getting the word on the money ball. It's a tennis ball with a lit on half the ball to hold money and pay change between the guys in front and behind the counters. They make a show of it for the tourist in addition to throwing sea food in the air.

Can you see Pup Pup in Ethan's hand? Yup, I was so worried the whole walk through Pike Place that he would drop Pup Pup on the dirty floor because Pup Pup was given a bath the night before. But Ethan held a good grip on his friend the entire time.

Kyle and I usually fight for the last nap pea pod. Makes my mouth water just looking at this picture.

Hot dad alert.

Is it crazy that I had to have this exact strand from Pike Place in my kitchen?

I love everything beautiful. Aidan and these gorgeous flowers from the market makes me smile ear to ear.

James Royce

These boys are ready for an adveture at the park.

James Royce's wild side. He give's the like a bike a try.

Why did the parks people build an entire play ground when they could have just stopped after installing the water foutain? This is where James, Aidan and Ethan hung out while we were at the park.

You can't tell in this picture because Vanetta looks so fabulous, but's James will a BIG brother. Vanetta and I grew up together. This was our first get together with our kids. James, Aidan and Ethan got along famously. Thanks James for sharing your toys. You will be an awesome BIG brother in deed.

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!