Preschool

This past week, Georgia officially finished her first year of preschool.  Despite having a cold just about every two weeks the year really flew by.  I remember her doctors asking how I thought Georgia would do without me, at school or on a play date.  They knew I was always with her but I knew Georgia was just fine.  I'll never forget the first day of school, we started two weeks after everyone else due to a bad cold.  Georgia didn't know anyone, yet there wasn't a hesitant bone in her body, she walked right in and was thrilled to see a name tag with her name on it.  She walked into the classroom and didn't look back, not even to say goodbye, she couldn't wait to get started.
There was a never a day that Georgia didn't want to go to school, often asking on her off days when she'd get to go back.  It's become clear that Georgia doesn't know a stranger, she has no hesitation walking up to a child, saying hi and starting to play.  She is friendly and kind and very social, she follows rules and has fun and finally, likes to get messy!  Between dress-up, play-doh, painting, the climber, music and story time I think Georgia enjoyed it all but was best know for her "trick."  At the end of the day the teacher and students would sit in a circle and sing a little song for each kid, it went, Hello Georgia, how are you, do a trick for us and we'll clap for you..."  then the child would go to the middle of the circle and do anything they wanted, some did a twirl, some a karate move, some declined to go to the middle but Georgia, she most often made an attempt at a cartwheel that often ended in a flip.  If she went over she would stand up, all smiles, thrilled that she'd gone all the way over and say, "I'm OK!"
I am so proud of her, my heart literally aches with pride, for who she is and all that she is able to do.  I am so grateful that this is what is happening in her life, just as it should be.

 Preschool Picture

Happily playing at school

All smiles

Goofball

After we got home on her last day, I grabbed the camera and brought it outside, Georgia was happy to document the day and even suggested that she sit in the poses below.  When I look at these pictures I realize how much Georgia has changed, she's not a baby anymore, she looks so grown up.

Folk Life Festival

On Monday we hit up Folk Life Festival, I have to admit, I'm not much of a festival goer but we had a great time.  We found a spot in front of the kids stage, listened to three kid bands while Georgia danced and Leo napped.  Georgia had her face painted, we at lunch and headed home, it was a great way to spend a nice day in the city!

"Sleep" over

Last weekend Lauren and Georgia had their very first sleepover at our house!  Lauren was packed the night before and Georgia and I debated who was more excited to have her stay at our house.  There was lots of playing in the backyard, pizza making, s'more roasting, several outfit changes, giggling, but not a whole lot of sleep.  When it was time for bed we snuggled into Georgia's bed and I read the girls a story, I then got them tucked in and turned on the sound machine.  Lauren looked at me, "what's that noise auntie?"  I told her it was a sound machine, that she could relax to the sound of a running stream... she asked, "how do we turn it off?"  Our house is loud so I was afraid that if the sound machine wasn't' running the girls wouldn't stay asleep.  I suggested changing the sound, everyone agreed.  "Ah, the sound of the ocean, that's relaxing" I said.  The girls got snuggled in, I turned off the light then Lauren said, "there are sharks in the ocean..."  Georgia chimed in, "no Lauren, just think about starfish..." "there are whales in the ocean too" she responded.  We finally settled on the ocean being a nice place and I told the girls it was time to go to sleep.  I then heard Georgia say, Lauren, my mom scratches my back and snuggles me when I go to sleep, do you want me to scratch your back?"  After a short back scratch I moved between the girls, I was then told by both of them that they didn't need me in there and I could go out... I stayed.  Finally the girls were asleep, it only took about an hour.
At 3:15am I heard two little voices in the hallway, they were giggling, up and ready to start the day... I told them that it was the middle of the night and they needed to go back to bed.
Despite having little sleep it was so fun to have Lauren here, she and Georgia are like sisters, bickering and loving each other just the same.  We look forward to many more sleep overs, hopefully the next one will involve a little more sleep!

Fourteen Months

It's hard to believe that I've only known Leo for fourteen months, he is so a part of what makes us a complete family.  Fourteen months is a big milestone, I think mostly for me.  On the day that Georgia turned 14 months old she had a bone marrow transplant, today, the day that Leo turned 14 months we went to the park and played in the sun.  I can't begin to describe the joy I feel watching Leo zip around and just be, free to do whatever he chooses.  I didn't spend the day feeling sad, I felt grateful, that my amazing children are mine, they are uniquely perfect in their own way and nothing brings could make me happier.
Leo, you are full of energy and smiles, I'd say your favorite things are being outside and playing in the water. You literally bang on the sliding glass door asking to go outside, when it's time to come in you usually go kicking and screaming.  You love playing in the little pool outside and it's hard to get you out of the bath.
You're fast, with just about a month of solid walking under your belt you are becoming more courageous and have started running.  You're sturdy on your feet and love your freedom.
Sleeping has definitely improved and that makes everyone happy.  You are a healthy, growing boy with a good appetite.  Keep going my boy, the world is waiting for you.

Happy 14 months my sweet boy

 Ironically I discovered this wine today, The Ross Andrew Winery generously hosted an auction for 

Georgia and our family over three years ago and for the first time I sipped on what 

I would describe as the perfect summer wine!

Ready for Takeoff

For as long as I've known Brian he has been flying, one of our first dates was in a small airplane.  He has worked hard over the years to move his career forward, he was a flight instructor, flew freight out of Boeing Field and for the last eight years has flown for SkyWest.  While at SkyWest, Brian was been based in Fresno, Salt Lake City, Denver, Portland and Minneapolis, always commuting to his base to support our desire to live in the Northwest.  When Georgia was in the hospital Brian was able to take leave but given the length of her treatment and recovery he was working during much of it.  Brian is an incredible pilot, patient, focused and safe, he loves flying, but to be able to do his job and do it well during such a stressful time is a true testament to his ability.
In March, Brian was called to interview with Alaska Airlines, the chance to move to a major airline had arrived and we knew this was a big deal.  He studied and prepped, organized his letters of recommendation and went through two days of interviews.  The kids and I were at Costco when he called, I said, "So?" and after a pause he said, "I got it!"  On Monday Brian started the nearly three months of training that Alaska requires.  We knew that he would find out where he would be based within the first day or two.  He'd heard that most new hires are based in Anchorage but were keeping our fingers crossed for something a little closer.  Shortly after training started on the first day I got a text, I got Seattle!  Brian being base in Seattle is huge for our family, it means more time together, more normalcy all while continuing to move his career forward.
Cheers to you Brian, your hard work has paid off and we are so proud of you!

 Early on I had faith in Brian's piloting skills... 

or must have been really smitten to have gotten in that tiny airplane!

 Shortly after he'd been offered the First Officer position with Alaska

The picture we sent to daddy to say congrats!

 Leo sporting his new Alaska Airlines t-shirt and playing with his new airplane

Georgia woke up right after Brian left for his first day of training, she wanted to send him a video...

Little Surfer

Brian has always had a love of surfing, he's the die-hard who will brave the Washington waters just to catch a wave.  We aren't close to surfable waters and with busy schedules surfing doesn't happen very often.  Brian is always trying to convince me that we should move to po-dunk-nowhere in Washington to be near the surf.. I'm not very excited about this idea.  He recently borrowed a friends stand up paddle board when he came home he was rinsing it off and you'd never guess who was interested... I think Brian is already planning future surf adventures.