2015 Photo Challenge: Week 3

I'm still plugging away at the March photo challenge put forth by the Mamas with Cameras photo group and am really enjoying myself. I've done well sticking with my 50mm prime lens and have gotten a few cases of the giggles while contorting myself to get shots framed as I want them. I think I've created a new mashup... yoga + photography = yotography!

What was in front of my lens this week? Take a peek!

Lemon Drop

Shoe tying cooperation

Neighborhood Watchcat

Cherry Blossoms

Good morning, Seattle

Coming in for landing

Taking some time to stop and smell the daffodils

Soaked in Seattle

Originally, I thought of calling this post "Soggy in Seattle", but that didn't accurately convey how wet it has been around here lately. We have gotten hammered with rain storms over the past few days.... and the passes have gotten enough snow to make the skiers and snowboarders cheer with joy. (Snoqualmie Pass got 30 inches of new snow this weekend... crazy!!)

During a break in the weather, my mom and I decided to take the kids to Bitterlake Park to burn off some of their "we've been stuck inside for too many days and are about ready to start climbing the walls" energy. (Back story: Eric went to VA for 5 days to visit his brother, who at the end of last year, moved from Eastern WA to VA thanks to a promotion at work. Eric was supposed to fly out last Thursday, but a storm on the East Coast caused Dulles Airport to close... hence, cancelling Eric's flight. So, he rescheduled his travel and departed on Saturday instead. To keep me company and lend a hand get a grandchildren fix, my mom came up for a few days.

And now, getting back to our regularly scheduled program...

We took the kids to Bitterlake to burn off said "we've had a lot of rain" energey. They had a great time playing on the various pieces of climbing equipment, but the massive rain left many pieces of the play structures quite slippery... and the slides were boasting rather impressive puddles at their bases. I decided that pants could dry, so what was the harm in a little water getting on the kids, really? (Little did I know what was in our near future...)

Annika flying high

Conor having fun

"Look at me, Mama!"

Nana (aka Nanook of the North)

Annika in "jail"

Conor, the fellow jailbird

Annika running laps... sort of

"Help!! Unstuck me!!"
(Yes, I did help him, but not after snapping a few quick photos to capture the moment.
What're you missing here is the flapping of his hands and free foot. Now don't go calling CPS
quite yet... he was all of 2 inches off of the ground and in no danger at any point.)

After the second or third fall on the slippery equipment, that "protect your young, you dope" instinct kicked in and I was struck with the idea of having the kids run around on the massive lawns and ball fields instead of risking life, limb, and concussion in the playground. I challenged the kids to run hither and thither and they happily (and repeatedly) complied... especially when running through a group of birds was possible. (I'm sure the Canada geese were ready to call their union due to our children.... but decided to fly away after chasing Annika in return did little to change her idea of entertainment.)

At one point during the "hey kids -- run over there" game, Annika and Conor discovered the world's largest puddle. (It was so big, they called it a pool until I corrected them... even then, they weren't sure it wasn't a pool...)

They had a marvelous time splashing, wading, and making general merriment in the pool puddle. Even after Conor took a header smack dab into the water, they continued to show off their love of water and splashing. After a few more splashes and subsequently realizing they were, indeed, getting cold, we ushered them to my van so we could get home ricky-tick to get them in a warm bath. 

My plan of burning off their excess energy worked! Both kids wound up napping that day. Bonus!!!

Annika and Conor in the puddle

Run, kiddos, run!

Impact in 3 - 2- 1

Impact

And, spit

Big sister lending a helping hand

"Conor, we're leaving now!! Out of the puddle!"
 

Fun at Bitterlake

As I've said before, we have had a marvelously beautiful summer this year. Recently, I took the kids to Bitterlake Park to burn off some energy and enjoy the morning sunshine.

We had the playground to ourselves, which is always a perk; it makes it much easier to keep track of the kids and know their whereabouts at any given moment. And, of course, as soon as we get to the play area, one kiddo heads 180 degrees from where the other one goes. These are the times I really do need eyes in the back of my head!

Both kids had a fantastic time playing and exploring the play equipment. They went up and down (and up and down) the slides, across the monkey bars, across the wobbly bridge, on the merry-go-round, and much more. I loved watching our kids play because this was one of the days they found a perfect balance between independent play and playing as a two-some.

Love how he wears his hat at a rakish angle ... he's so stylish!

Annika mastering the monkey bars

Conor after his journey down the twisty slide

Annika flying around the merry-go-round

Conor in jail ... OK, not really .... just at the top of the climbing structure

Annika swinging on the rings

I've realized that her feet weren't on the ground in any of these
pictures .... that's a pretty accurate representation of the day!

Someone had looped the swings around the upper bars, making the swings too
high for the kids to sit on; that didn't stop Conor from having his fun, though!

11 years and counting

On Saturday, Eric and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. It stuns me to think how much time has flown by since we said "I do" and how much our lives have changed over the past 11 years. I never anticipated finding so many new ways to fall in love with Eric, but seem to discover a new way just about every day.

To celebrate our day, we had eggs benedict for breakfast (oh yeah, baby!). It might not sound like much, but that is my absolute favorite breakfast and such a decadent dish. We even pulled out a bottle of champagne and made mimosas (with cranberry juice ... we didn't have any O.J.) To make breakfast even more special, I served the mimosas in the toasting flutes we used at our wedding reception. The kids wanted fancy glasses, too, so we let them use some apéritif glasses we had in the cupboard. We were quite the group of fine diners, let me tell you!

After breakfast, we bundled up and took a walk to the nearest Starbucks and enjoyed some beverages; shockingly, the kids said they were hungry, so split a chocolate doughnut as an extra treat. On the way home, we stopped by one of the kids' favorite playgrounds. Because it was a cold, rainy day, we had the entire place to ourselves. The kids had a great time burning off some excess doughnut-induced energy!

Conor enjoying his mid-morning refreshment

If her mouth wasn't full of doughnut, Annika would have said "YUM!"