Christmas Eve at the Park

Maddie and her daddy. It wasn't that cold out, but you know, you worry when they're babies...

Being silly

And cute

the slide with daddy, first time on the slide!

Really excited about going to the park!

With Papa in the swing

Santa photo

Here it is, the one you've all been waiting for...the Santa pic. Hudson did so well, you can tell he was a little unsure about the whole thing. He kept uttering, "I want a train table, I want a train table, I want a train table..." I'm not sure Santa heard him completely but he did promise Hudson he'd be through Dallas with presents around 11pm on Christmas Eve. Madeline just smiled through the whole experience. I'm doubtful this will be the case next year.

Last day at Junius Heights Montessori

Today was Hudson's last day of school at Junius Heights Montessori. I was a blubbering mess. I truly can not put into words what this experience has meant to me, how wonderful it has been for both Hudson and me, how he's grown up over the last year and half that he's been there, how he's changed, become more independent, gained confidence, made friends and learned so, so much. What an incredibly lucky little boy he was to have spent so many days with such wonderful people. I am heartbroken that our little angel girl won't have this same experience, but I am optimistic that we will find a wonderful school for her in Seattle.

Photos from Hudson's party today:

Hudson with the truly wonderful Sylvie

Maddie and Sylvie

The sandbox. Hudson LOVES the sandbox. We hear about it every day.

Eating with friends.

In the bouncy house. Sidenote: there is a bouncy house on Hudson's Christmas list

Every once in a while you get lucky with a photo like this...

I have been completely consumed with Seattle. There is extreme excitement in the air, yet there is also an abundance of stress right along with it. Everything is happening so fast and yet it isn't happening fast enough.

Thursday night Scott and I were watching Grey's Anatomy (which is filmed in Seattle in case you're not a fan of the show), and as the Seattle skyline appeared on the screen Scott and I both looked at each other and just smiled. Soon, we'll be there. There, where we've wanted to be for quite some time now.  

Yippee! We are so excited! BUT...

Then, there's a teeny, tiny, minute amount of sadness that comes with leaving a city we've called home for so long. We're leaving a house we have loved for more than 6 years, the first home we ever bought, where we started our lives together. We're leaving the city in which we met and fell in love. The city we became a family in, where are children were born. We're leaving countless favorite restaurants and endless shopping (this one is probably more sad for me than Scott). We're leaving a city we know well. The highways, the back roads, the "local" spots that only the "locals" know.

We're officially in "count-down" mode, making lists daily of things we must do before we depart Big D, and yet, in the whirl-wind of it all, we're still finding time to take a little break now and then and just laugh and play with our beautiful children. Somehow those moments, moments of joy and laughter that we don't dare take for granted, make everything seem calm and peaceful, even in the chaos. No matter where we go, as long as we are together, I'll be happy.

Here are some of my favorite moments from this week.

Ok, perhaps not a favorite...but it's honest. It's not always pretty around here.

With daddy on the bumblebee.

One of those moments...

Someone is REALLY into raspberries these days

Her eyes are changing on us. Less blue everyday, more greenish brown.

It's a good day when you score a tennis ball at the park.

One of her first times on the swing. She wasn't really sure what was happening, but I believe that's the start of a smile there. Oh, and she's teething.

Today I am reminded that every single minute with my babies is a precious one. I'm hugging them a little tighter...my heart just aches for those who lost their children today in Connecticut.

This might be the happiest baby ever.
Seriously.