Valentine's Day is fast approaching. A party of toddlers and favorite moms awaits tomorrow afternoon...a guarantee of sugary treats and lemonade dressed up as a cocktail...with women who are quickly becoming dear friends.
The romance department also holds big things for Daniel and I. Tomorrow night the stage will be set for some intense...drum roll, please...packing! We are flying off to my beloved Evergreen State for much needed R & R with just our little family and then loads of friends and family, too. The best of both worlds!
You see, since having Nora, we have spent every single day of Daniel's vacation with family...not a single night on our own since our "babymoon" in Mexico (April 2010)...that's almost two years ago (yes, I'm counting). So, this time, for a few precious days, it is just the three of us, nestling into our own groove...running around in our underwear.
*Now don't get me wrong, our families are incredible...but I am a traveler at heart...prior to marriage and baby, I used my passport every single vacation from teaching. Visiting my parents, as much as I love them, never was or ever will be a "vacation." I feel hollow without the thrill of travel. My new married passport is naked of stamps...my restless soul aches for adventure and cobblestone paths and sidewalk cafes and foreign tongues. So, Seattle can luckily serve up a mellow dose of what I crave...and they just signed gay marriage into law (so even more reason to celebrate).
We're both excited to pitch the pac-n-play in our Seattle apartment and frolic about with reckless abandon. Yes, that means I don't have to wear a bra and and we can watch oodles of cable-tv once Nora's asleep. We are a wild and crazy pair of love birds.
In the meantime, here are some of our latest adventures.
We hosted our first Superbowl Party with Nora's pals, Ruby & Noah...and their fabulous parents, of course. 5 of the 6 adults in attendance just wanted to eat and watch commercials...so it made for a relaxing afternoon watching the toddlers, snacking, and ignoring football.


Fun in her dad's fedora.

Pulling her doll around in a wagon. (Thanks, Vera, the doll is a huge hit around here.)

Riding her new tricycle.



Playing at the aquarium with Zach and Shane. (Fish, schmish...the best part of the excursion is playing on the sidewalk and railing.)


Petting rays.
Enjoying the carousel and hang time at the park.

Our little monkey.

By the 5th time, she loosened up a bit.

At first, a very contemplative rider.