ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS ice bucket challenge has certainly gone viral, I see multiple posts daily on Facebook taking the challenge to raise awareness and funding for ALS research.  I went to college with Steve Gleason, he lived in the fraternity across the street and was close with several of my sorority sisters.  I have watched his battle and have been in awe of Team Gleason and what they are doing to change the life and treatment for those battling ALS.
Today, Georgia was nominated by her cousin Lauren to take the challenge... challenge accepted!  It was 65 degrees, we told her she could wait until it warmed up a bit, but Georgia was adamant that she wanted to do it right away!

Go Cougs, No White Flags!

To find out more about Team Gleason and how you can support finding a cure for ALS check out the Team Gleason website:

http://www.teamgleason.org/

Seventeen Months

I'm nearly a week late on this update, in my defense I have been running around after a very active little boy! Leo, 17 months old, wow!  It is so fun to be able to watch you grow, we are experiencing so many firsts with you, when Georgia was 17 months, she'd just started walking, was bald and very immune compromised.  You are running, climbing, flailing and generally don't like to sit still, I'm taking you tomorrow for your third haircut and I giggle when I see dirt on the side of your mouth.
You're all boy, you get so excited when you see big trucks, love loud machinery, think it's hilarious to show me where your nose is by sticking your fingers up it and when you don't get your way you can throw quite a tantrum.
I call you the clean up crew, after any meal, once you're out of your highchair you crawl up onto any open chair at the table and finish whatever food has been left.  I have to believe you do this because you think you're all grown up, by the amount of food you take in at your chair, I can't believe you are actually still hungry.  One morning I was sitting, eating breakfast and you climbed up onto a chair, then the table and took my spoon and proceeded to finish my cereal, all smiles.
Your vocabulary continues to grow, beep-beep for trucks, hock for hot, na-knock for knock-knock.. those jokes happen often here.
You love to give big hugs, squeezing tight and kisses, complete with smacking lips.  You do your best to keep up with your sister and all the things she can do.  You love to be tickled, your giggle is priceless.
Most importantly you are happy and healthy.  We recently had blood work done and I am happy to report that everything looks normal, even down to those baby monocytes!  I wasn't worried but certainly welcomed the confirmation that you are healthy and thriving.
I love you my boy!

 A rare moment, sitting still

 Cereal thief!

I can't decide who is happier about your love of paddle boarding

Summer fun on the South Sound

We just got home from a fun-filled few days at Nana and Bawdy's house down on the South Sound.  Between the kiddie pool, ocean, boat, paddle board and beach we certainly packed in the fun.  We saw friends and cousins, enjoyed the summer weather and squeezed in some relaxation between activities.  Thanks for a great time, Nana & Bawdy!

It was a beautiful day for a ferry ride

 Holden, Landon & Georgia, the only way to capture these three.. in motion

 Leo thought Landon was pretty awesome

 The kids had a blast when the tide went out, at first the mud was tiptoed in, then it became a game of how dirty you could get. 

 Sister to the rescue, Leo was stuck in the mud!

 My, we've come a long way!

 Leo was trying to have the full boating experience.. not to worry, it was empty

 Georgia dressed Nana for dinner, any guess on what her favorite color is?

 Throwing rocks

 Mama and baby seal

 The kids and I went tubing, they both loved it!

 S'mores

 Leo's new favorite hobby, he sat perfectly still and enjoyed the ride

Leo was so relaxed on his second ride that he fell asleep, sitting up.  The kid that doesn't sleep was lulled by the ocean, I took him inside, laid him down and he slept for three hours.  I'm now considering investing in a paddle board!

One tired sailor

Anna & Georgia, the bobsie twins

 Brian's last ski behind the Freedom before it was sold

Goodbye Freedom, thanks for all of the adventures!