Sounders Game

 Sounders games are so much fun! I wish we could fit season tickets into our schedule, but alas, we are too busy for that. So, needless to say, we really enjoy the games we do get to see in Seattle. We lucked out on the weather for this game and missed the rain! 

Scarves up Seattle!

Weekend Visit

 Jonny, Amanda and Bennett were in town for a day while Jon finished up the last bit of his training with Alaska. While Jon was in class, Amanda and Bennett came for visit! We got to catch up with Auntie Amanda and snuggle baby B for few hours. If only the visit were longer and Jonny was there too!

Go Dawgs!

 Every Wednesday at both of our schools, is College Day. Staff and students are encouraged to wear college attire. One Wednesday we all dressed in UW purple without meaning to match. Go UW!

Dance Costumes

Leila's dance costume arrived in March. It is not her favorite. I think she looks pretty dang cute! She is warming up to it...slowly, but surely. Her class is tapping to the song Happy from Despicable Me and Leila thinks black and white isn't happy enough. Silly girl! This is a longer tap number than previous years so I am excited to see it during the recital!

Sidewalk Art

Before a match one Sunday, Leila and I decorated the driveway with green and blue. They won! We are sure it had everything to do with our amazing sidewalk art!

SCT ~ Goodnight Moon

 We always enjoy our visits to Seattle Children's Theatre. It's the best way to spend a Sunday morning! This last month we saw Goodnight Moon. It was a very imaginative telling of the classic book by Margaret Wise Brown...one of our family's favorite books for sure. 

Jeans! What?!?! /Green Friday

 Leila hates jeans! We aren't supposed to say HATE in our house, but there really isn't another word that conveys her true emotion about jeans. However, that all changed in March! I found her a pair of jeans that has a soft, sweats-like waistband. I about fell over when she said she did, indeed, like them and that she wanted to wear them the next day to school. Where did my child go?!?! We had to get a picture of her in her jeans that morning and then that afternoon we had to get a pic of the Taverns sporting their Sounders gear. We love GREEN FRIDAYs (and they're so much cooler than Blue Fridays!)

Hanging with Laura

Leila was watching the weather in March. She was on the lookout for a sunny day so she could wear her sun bonnet to school...just like Laura would have done on the prairie. She finally got her wish. 

School STEM Fair

 The end of February was the due date for Leila's STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) project. She was ready to share her project and results with the school judges. Some of the high school robotics club students came over to judge the elementary projects along with our school staff. Leila was chosen to represent our school at the district level STEM Fair in April! She won a blue ribbon for her work and her ability to describe the steps of her project. We are so proud of this kiddo! 

Schoolyard Fun

 When we are blessed with winter sunshine, we try to hit up a park or the local schoolyard. This winter seemed warmer than most, so we we had a few weekends of sunshine to enjoy at the school near our house. Most times we have the playground to ourselves...which is really nice!

I love my girl. Even just sitting on the slide being silly is a wonderful time!

Judy's New Clothes

 I learned how to crochet this winter. Once I got the hang of it, I decided to try to crochet a hat. A little easier said than done! What was meant to be a hat for a human head ended up being the perfect size for Judy! Win, win for her! Leila was in love with it! Shh! Don't tell her it was a mistake. 

Judy also scored some new pjs. I had ordered Leila some tomten jammies and when they arrived, I discovered that we were sent only the bottoms. So, after a phone call and a fix, we were sent a new set and they didn't even want the extra pants back. Hmmm...what to do with them? I decided to try my hand at converting them into Judy-sized jammies. 

I couldn't have been happier with how they turned out! I surprised myself!

 I dressed Judy in them while Leila was sleeping and she woke up to a surprise. She was tickled to have matching tomten jams with Judy! 

Saturday at the Zoo

 One of Leila and my favorite places to spend an afternoon while Chris is working is the Pt. Defiance Zoo. It's just the perfect size! Big enough that there are plenty of animals to see yet not too big where you are exhausted when you leave. 

AG Store ~ Trip 2

 We couldn't help ourselves! We visited the AG Store again in February, barely a month after our first ever visit. Chris was busy at school, so we took a road trip to Lynwood. Leila picked out special pink dresses for herself and the girls. 

This time, we ate in the AG Cafe! That was a great time! The dolls get their own high chairs and place setting. You even get to take the cup and saucer home for free! 

Leila and I had a great time discussing the conversation cards while we waited for our lunch. Leila's answer for this card was Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby and Laura Ingalls Wilder (I know, that's four, but she couldn't whittle it down to three!). 

A Morning at Two Theatres

 Leila really looks forward to helping Chris with the set each year. Chris and her went into school one morning. She was able to spend a few hours with the big kids and got to help paint some important pieces. 

 Later, I picked her up and we headed to see PLU's production of Charlotte's Web (one of my favorite books!). It was a great show!

 Leila and a few other children were selected from the audience to be part of the show. They got to be goslings. 

Mother Goose and two of her goslings. 

Valentine's Day

Rather than pass out cheap cards and candy, I suggested that we make perler bead hearts for Leila's classmates. She loved the idea! She asked me if I would help since she had quite a lot to make. We spent time over the weekends leading up to Valentine's Day crafting at the kitchen table. It was so much fun to choose a classmate, decide on colors for him/her and then try to make an original design. I really thought it was more meaningful for Leila, as we spent a great deal of time making sure that the colors and designs fit each classmate. We just might have to do this again in the future!

Supporters' Shield

 Christopher's co-worker, Ray, is a member of the ECS (Emerald City Supporters). The ECS leads the parades and cheers at the Sounders games. One of the benefits of being as ECS member is being able to host the MLS Supporters' Shield. Yes, Ray got to bring it home and show it off! Not only did Ray make sure that Chris was going to be at school that day so he could see it, but he also drove it over to my school so Leila and I could see it too! What a guy!! It may not look it, but this sucker is the real deal! It is super heavy!! 

Leila's Babies

Leila asked if I could make Judy a hat to match hers and Betty's. I didn't have any more of the Christmas fabric that I had used, so after a trip to the fabric store, I made all three girls new hats. These are reversible, with pink calico on the other side. 

Daddy Daughter Dance

 Leila and Chris went to their third Daddy Daughter Dance the weekend before Valentine's Day. This is always a wonderful evening for the two of them! This year was no exception. They dressed to the nines, danced the night away and finished the evening with a frosty from Wendy's. That is the perfect date for Leila!

How did old Mom spend her night without these two? I put on my sweats, hit the Starbucks drive-thru for a chai tea, came home, wrapped myself in my fleece blanket and watched Downton Abbey. Relaxing.