Seattle

Last Saturday we left for a four day trip to Seattle to visit the Powell side (Aaron was there for only 1 1/2 days). We had A LOT of fun and it was so great to visit with my Dad and all the family. All my younger cousins have grown up so much and it was fun getting to know each of them! It was really great to see everyone and be in beautiful Seattle! I didn't get any pictures of our big family gatherings Saturday and Sunday because I was busy with kids and catching up, so here are all the photos I was able to get on our flight out, arriving, and our last 2 days there.


Max was pretty excited about flying, and pulling his suitcase. If only that enthusiasm would have lasted the whole flight. :)
Sadie's first flight. She had no idea what was going on. Just tired and cute.
Playing together before the flight. They are becoming real pals...just need to work on sharing. ;)
As I mentioned above, Max's enthusiasm for flying quickly wore off. It was only a 2 hour flight, but it felt so much longer on the way out. They were both so over tired since we had to get up so early. Max screamed for the last 25 min or so. Funny story though- so after the flight I had to use the restroom and found one close to our gate. Aaron waited outside with the kids. There was a small line so I got in the back of it and the women in front of me turned around and our conversation went as follows:
Women: "You were on that flight from Fresno weren't you?"
Me: "Yes, I was."
Women: "Can you believe that child that was screaming?" (Shaking her head in disbelief)
Me: "Actually, that was my child."
Women: (Look of embarrasement) "Oh bless you! We were just talking about what wonderful parents you must be."
Me: (Look of sure I bet that's what you were thinking).
Women: She goes on and on about what a great parent I am.

Haha!! Funny. Also, not funny.
Max took this picture of me. I gave him my camera in a desperate attempt to entertain him. He actually got a decent shot.
Sadie sleeping in the car once we got there.
We stopped at Alki Beach in Seattle soon after we arrived so that we could show Aaron and Dustin the Seattle skyline.
Aaron and Max checking out the water, jelly fish and birds.
They looked so cute for church. This was the only pic I could get of them though.
Sadie and her Daddy.
Aunt Megan and Sadie. As Megan would say, "Can't you see the resemblance?" Haha! Nothing about these two is the same. Ok, well they do both love pancakes.
Sadie is always trying to stand by herself now. She is 10 months old now. I bet she'll be walking by her 1st birthday.
My Grandpa Powell giving the little kids a ride in the wagon attached to his riding lawn mower. The kids all loved it! I loved driving it also and gave several rides myself. I want one to take the kids to school in.
Going for a ride all together.
Max loved all my little cousins and he had plenty of friends to play with the whole time.
On Tuesday we went to the Aquarium in downtown Seattle. Max was in heaven with all the shishy's. It was almost shishy overload for him. It was a really nice aquarium.
Sadie slept through some of it.
They have this really cool, big wall in the entrance and it was filled with fish. Max could have looked at it all day.
Walking to the wall.
My Grandpa Powell, Sadie, Max, Megan and my Dad on the wharf. I've always loved downtown Seattle.

Luckily the flight alone went much better, even without Aaron being there to help. Luckily Megan was able to help me through security and until we boarded the plane. I basically was a performing clown for 2 hours and they were entertained enough and there were no tears. Flying with toddlers and babies is not for the faint of heart! :) I'm glad we were able to go and miss everyone already!!! For those on the Powell side that read this blog, love and miss you all!!

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...HA!!!

Summertime, summertime!! We've been having fun since all the kids in my extended family got out of school a few weeks ago! Swimming, parks, free movies, kids spending the night, and thankfully, not too much heat. It's coming though! Here is a quick recap.
Most of our morning start like this. A little tube time. Sadie is a big fan of TV and Movies! Our recent favorites are Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
Max and Sadie have been enjoying the new backyard courtesy of Grandpa Keough. He and Aaron put down this fake grass while they were here visiting and we love it!!

Yes, Sadie often is topless. She spits food all over herself with each meal and is so hard to get dressed.
Samuel stayed with us for 2 nights a couple weekends ago while his family was gone and boy did these little guys play non stop! Unfortunately, this is what happens after 30 minutes in a room all together. Sadie gets right in the mix too!
Thanks Dad for the Strawberry Pizza tasting!
Yes Max, that's a shishy (fish). We must point this out over and over everytime we see it.

Every Wednesday we go see a free movie at a theater nearby. Max usually lasts about an hour, or until the popcorn runs out. Luckily there is a great little play area and shops outdoors, so that's where we wait for the other kids to join us. Today Samuel and Max were both not that into the movie (hooray!) and so Max had someone to play with outside. Oh, and Sadie takes a nap at Grandma's house while we are gone (she's happy to have a good excuse to not go).



Buddies.
The only problem with being outdoors is Max's extreme phobia of flies. Seriously, he PANICS whenever he sees one. It's sad...and annoying, since we live in the central valley, full of flies.
After every movie on Wednesday, the whole gang comes and swims at my mom's house. Todays grand total- 15 kids!! Yikes!! Today was great. Gradually most of the kids left, and there were just 6 of us in the pool. Max and I swam for 4 hours!! It was great, despite Max and Sam each having a near death experience, and me getting one of the worst Charlie Horses I've EVER had!
Most of the time, in between naps, Sadie just sits and watches everyone in the pool from the patio.
These swim toys are hot commodities in the pool, a constant battle between Max and Sam.
She is too cute!! Sadie LOVES the water!


I love this picture of her!
The best thing about swimming all day and no naps, is that Max falls asleep around 5 or 5:30! He usually sleeps until his normal wake up time...5:45 am!! It's killing me!! He will wake up for an hour or so to eat, but is half asleep while eating and goes right back to bed, so it doesn't count as really being awake.
All he cried for tonight when he woke up was ice cream. He still couldn't be happy while he ate it even. For those of you that know Aaron really well, this is a prime example of how Max is Aaron Jr. :)

Ma and Pa Keough and Auntie Em's Visit

Last weekend Aaron's Mom and Dad, and his sister Emma came out to visit us. We had so much fun with them!! Max and Sadie took right to them, especially Max to Emma. He LOVED to boss her around and tell her to go "nigh-night". Max called them "Ma", "Pa", and "Mm" (or something that sounded a lot like that). We spent our days shopping, swimming, eating, visited Shaver Lake one day and Yosemite another day. I only got pictures of us at Yosemite, but Emma put a lot of cute pics from each day on Facebook. We had such a great time and were so sad to see them go, and we're counting the days to our next visit!


Aaron and Max climbing a rock.
Sadie and Pa.
I love this pic of Emma and Max. They sure are buddies now.


Max just loved all the sticks in Yosemite.
Sadie might have had the back carrier to ride in, but Max had his own nice ride also. :)
Sadie and Dad. Sadie was very content to just sit in this carrier all day.
Pa, Ma Sadie, Aaron, Max and Emma at the entrance to Yosemite.
Our little family at Yosemite.

Beautiful Yosemite!
Pa, Ma and Sadie
Pa and Sadie.
Max, Aaron and Emma out exploring.