We have been having awesome weather this month! Matt pulled out the pool to entertain the girls and dogs a couple of weekends ago. He ingeniously used the slide as a water slide to create maximum fun for all :) I love how big a kick the girls get out of doing these little activities and also the increased likelihood of naps that come with being outdoors all day!
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| Even Lani played with the water slide |
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| Ella had some naked time to help combat the diaper rash she has been dealing with. |
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| Trying to climb the couch. |
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| Post church park time and sisterly love |
The days are starting to have a little more sun after work and we have been taking advantage by staying outside as long as possible. The girls love to see their neighbors and Madeline especially loves to play with the other babies on the street!
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| Eleanor, Madeline, and Wren |
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| Sunday brunch at Parkhouse Eatery |
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| Ella is so proud of her new slide skills! |
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| So tired |
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| Oh so tired |
On the 7th, Matt and I were blessed with our first kid free overnight since Eleanor's birth! Madeline has not really wanted to go spend the night away from her sister much, so we went from a monthly weekend night to ourselves to two kids at home constantly when Ella came into our lives. I dropped the girls at my mom's Saturday afternoon with a mixed feelings of excitement and worry (mostly worry that one or both of my crazy kids would be up all night being obnoxious), but by the time we made our dinner reservation at Banker's Hill Bar and Restaurant, I was completely ok with the girls being gone! Matt and i had a great dinner, walked down the street to a little wine bar and both got a full night's sleep . . . it was so amazing. Of course, we still managed to be out of bed by 7am (oh well) but we used the morning to take care of some little organizing things we have been needing to get to around the house. Thanks Grandma T and GrandKarl for giving us some free time!
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| Ella loves the swing at school! |
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| Ella and Madi playing when Matt picks them up at school |
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| Sister love! |
After our weekend of calm, I worked a crazy week with night time meetings and felt like I was all over the place! Somehow even Valentine's day snuck up on me. Luckily we had plenty of juice boxes at home to send with Madeline for her school party and I had the opportunity to make cards out of supplies we had at home while teaching the Elementary Science Academy on Wednesday!
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| Valentine's Butterflies |
The girls and I had a four day weekend for President's day this year. We spent Friday morning at Sea World, followed by lunch with Daddy, naps and errands. On Saturday, Matt golfed in the morning while the girls and I went to Madeline's dance class, I worked out, dropped the dogs off for at the Golden Paw for a weekend away (they both did so well), and then we did some light cleaning up around the house to get ready for the Portland Howes. I am still in shock over how awesome Madeline and Eleanor were while I did dishes and vacuumed. They played in the playroom with very little need for me for almost two hours! Afterwards it took me half an hour to pick up every single toy that had been taken out, but the self entertainment was so worth it! I am so lucky that the girls get along and actually play together.
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| Taking a break from walking |
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| Turtle time |
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| Captivated by the fish and turtles |
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| Otter pop time! (the girls would eat these hourly if I let them) |
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| Backyard playing |
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| Playing picnic |
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| This is what happens when your mom is a science teacher and dry ice shows up in your grocery deliveries . . . |
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| Loving the relaxed morning of playing |
Jeff, Cat, Graham, and Emery arrived about an hour after Matt got home from golfing. They all bunked in the playroom for the weekend. We had a wonderful dinner out at the Station with our neighbors Susan, Kyle, and Wren Saturday night (yep 6 adults and 5 kids, it was awesome)! On Sunday, the San Diego Howes had a relaxing morning together while the Portland Howes slept in. We went to Balboa Park for lunch and a walk. The park was crazy full. Matt and I forget that it is harder to go places in the afternoons, we are so used to showing up at the zoo or parks or wherever by 10 am! We had fun anyways, with lunch at the old globe pub and a visit to the botanical gardens and the koi pond. On Sunday night, the extended Howe family (Barrons and Heather plus Grandma Sue and Gramps) came over to see the house and go tot dinner. We managed to get all of us set up at Filippi's and the kids even got some presents to open! Grandma Sue made the girls and Graham fabulous new blankets which Madeline immediately wanted to bring to school for naps so she could show hers off to her friends. We had a leisurely Monday together, enjoying the gorgeous weather and the backyard before sending the Portland Howes off to Grandma and Gramps while we met up with the Sheas since they were in town this weekend too. After even more time at the park and playing with friends along with another dinner out with 8 kids (8!!!!), we were all exhausted and bedtime Monday came very early.
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| Playroom full of beds |
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| Graham's breakfast and the girls' morning snack |
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| Ella was so tuckered out |
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| Madeline explaining what was on the menu to all of us |
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| Cousin lunch |
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| Howe girls! |
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| Howe cousins (there seem to be some resemblance there . . the Howe genes for head and size are strong) |
