Below are a few photos from our hike!
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Family Hike
A few weeks ago, it was still oddly warm for November, so we headed out on a Sunday family hike. We haven't done a ton of hiking with little man, and didn't know how long he would last, so we didn't go far. We headed over to the Dishman Hills Nature area and did a quick 1.5 mile hike before letting L play on the nearby playground for a while.
Below are a few photos from our hike!
Below are a few photos from our hike!
Monday, November 28, 2016
Merry and Bright!
While everyone is out battling the craziness that is Black Friday, our family heads up north to GreenBluff to cut down our Christmas Tree! It's the most fun tradition that Kevin and I started before we got married and now that we have L it's even better!
This year was especially fun because L brought along his own little saw to "help" daddy. He was so cute marching through the trees determined to find the best one!
Below are photos from this year's trip and links to past trips are here and here.
We've tried out a few places in the past, but we returned to Hansen's Tree Farm this year because it really is the best! They keep a fire burning to keep you warm when you come back from cutting down your tree. And there is the sweetest little shop where the little ones get to pick an ornament off the tree for free! Along with hot cocoa and candy canes. I think it's officially our favorite tree farm and I don't see us straying from here in the future.
This year was especially fun because L brought along his own little saw to "help" daddy. He was so cute marching through the trees determined to find the best one!
Below are photos from this year's trip and links to past trips are here and here.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Thanksgiving 2016
Another awesome holiday in the books! Thanksgiving 2016 has come and gone, and it was full of fun. We woke up early Thursday morning and I made homemade pumpkin waffles with Cinnamon Butter. They were delicious!
Next up was our local Turkey Trot at Manito Park. There were a ton of people this year and L did such a great job. He even got out a little bit and walked some of it himself. We also ended up taking a quick pit stop on the swings before continuing on.
After the turkey trot we headed over to my parents house to start feasting! Cocktails flowed and the food was plentiful and we were all sufficiently stuffed by 5PM. After dinner we headed downstairs to kickoff the first holiday movie of the season!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
2016 Holiday Bucket List
It's the most wonderful time of the year! And I'm counting down the days until all of the holiday fun begins. Below is our 2016 Top 10 Holiday Bucket List!
2. Put up all of our holiday decor
4. Christmas Tree Elegance (one of these years I might actually win something!)
5. Coeur d' Alene Holiday Lights Cruise to the North Pole (tickets are purchased)
7. Gonzaga Prep Alumni Santa Pancake breakfast (this will be a first this year)
7. Visit to see Santa Claus
8. Holiday Movie Marathon (begins on Thanksgiving!)
9. Christmas Eve Carols in the Park
10. Build a Snowman
Friday, November 11, 2016
Mommy & Me Date Night: Daniel Tiger Live!
One of my favorite memories from being a kid was getting all dressed up and going to see a live show with my parents. Whether it was the Nutcracker at Christmas or some other broadway play or show that came to town, whenever we got the change to go, it felt like such a special treat!
My parents would dress my little sister and I up and we'd head down to the Convention Center (now the INB Performing Arts Center) to see the show! It's something I still really enjoy, and Kevin and I most recently got to see the Newsies when they came through town!
L is just beginning to reach an age where we can start to take him to events like this (depending on what the show is) and I could not wait to take him to his first show. So when Daniel Tiger Live! came to town, I immediately purchased tickets. L and I headed out for a mommy/son date night and other than the fact that he's got a pretty narly cold, it was so much fun!
Daniel Tiger Live was at the Martin Woldson 'Fox' Theater downtown and it was buzzing with kiddos of all ages. We grabbed a chocolate chip cookie for L, wine for me and headed to our seats. For the first 45 minutes he was obsessed! And then, just like that he looked at me and said "All done. Byebye." After explaining to him if we left, we couldn't come back in, he assured me it was time to go and we headed out.
It was then on to Part II of our date night. I wanted to end the night with a little treat, so we headed to our neighborhood bistro for hot cocoa and french fries. It was the best first Mommy/Son date night, even with him feeling not 100%.
I can't wait for more of these fun little adventures with my favorite little man!
My parents would dress my little sister and I up and we'd head down to the Convention Center (now the INB Performing Arts Center) to see the show! It's something I still really enjoy, and Kevin and I most recently got to see the Newsies when they came through town!
L is just beginning to reach an age where we can start to take him to events like this (depending on what the show is) and I could not wait to take him to his first show. So when Daniel Tiger Live! came to town, I immediately purchased tickets. L and I headed out for a mommy/son date night and other than the fact that he's got a pretty narly cold, it was so much fun!
Daniel Tiger Live was at the Martin Woldson 'Fox' Theater downtown and it was buzzing with kiddos of all ages. We grabbed a chocolate chip cookie for L, wine for me and headed to our seats. For the first 45 minutes he was obsessed! And then, just like that he looked at me and said "All done. Byebye." After explaining to him if we left, we couldn't come back in, he assured me it was time to go and we headed out.
It was then on to Part II of our date night. I wanted to end the night with a little treat, so we headed to our neighborhood bistro for hot cocoa and french fries. It was the best first Mommy/Son date night, even with him feeling not 100%.
I can't wait for more of these fun little adventures with my favorite little man!
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Halloween 2016
Halloween this year was the BEST! Little man was really able to get into it this year since he's quite the fan of "nanee" (candy) on the few occasions he gets it. Once he figured out that Halloween was all about pumpkins and free candy, he was game.
He also had plenty of chances to collect lots and lots of candy in the weekend leading up to the big day!
Friday evening we went to his school's Halloween carnival where they had plenty of toddler friendly carnival games, including "go fish!" Each little one got a prize at each of the stations and when they left the toddler room they got to pick out a prize. We also tried our hand at the cake walk (but didn't win!)
Saturday morning he had kindermusik where he got to dress up in his costume and enjoy Halloween themed cookies and sing Halloween themed songs. By Saturday morning he was quite the fan of this particular holiday.
We had even more fun when he got to visit my office and go trick or treating around the office from my coworkers....he ran from desk to desk yelling "allloweeeen" "more nanee!!! (candy) and "pumpkin nannee."
By the time we got to the main event he was a pro! Knocking on people's doors, yelling "elloooo alloweeen" "more nanneee pease" (more candy please) and "pumpin nanee, pumpin, nannee."
We may still need to work on our "thank you's" but we at least have the please down haha!
We took him out trick-or-treating with our friends, and they made the cutest little shark and turtle combo you ever did see.
All in all it was a great Halloween! Now if only we could convince the kid that the "nanee's" all gone ;0)
He also had plenty of chances to collect lots and lots of candy in the weekend leading up to the big day!
Friday evening we went to his school's Halloween carnival where they had plenty of toddler friendly carnival games, including "go fish!" Each little one got a prize at each of the stations and when they left the toddler room they got to pick out a prize. We also tried our hand at the cake walk (but didn't win!)
Saturday morning he had kindermusik where he got to dress up in his costume and enjoy Halloween themed cookies and sing Halloween themed songs. By Saturday morning he was quite the fan of this particular holiday.
We had even more fun when he got to visit my office and go trick or treating around the office from my coworkers....he ran from desk to desk yelling "allloweeeen" "more nanee!!! (candy) and "pumpkin nannee."
By the time we got to the main event he was a pro! Knocking on people's doors, yelling "elloooo alloweeen" "more nanneee pease" (more candy please) and "pumpin nanee, pumpin, nannee."
We may still need to work on our "thank you's" but we at least have the please down haha!
We took him out trick-or-treating with our friends, and they made the cutest little shark and turtle combo you ever did see.
All in all it was a great Halloween! Now if only we could convince the kid that the "nanee's" all gone ;0)
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Family Photos Through The Years
Posting our most recent family photo session the other day made me rather nostalgic and I started looking through all the professional photos we've taken the past few years.
It's so fun to look though these and makes me so so happy we've taken the time to do a yearly photo.
Each year I try and pick a new season to take the photos in so we have something different to look back on through out the years. Here are my favorites starting with our first "official" family photo we took for our engagement photos!
Photo by Ifong Chen 2012
It's so fun to look though these and makes me so so happy we've taken the time to do a yearly photo.
Each year I try and pick a new season to take the photos in so we have something different to look back on through out the years. Here are my favorites starting with our first "official" family photo we took for our engagement photos!
Photo by Ifong Chen 2011
Photo by Ifong Chen 2012
Photo by Molly Johnston 2013
Photo by Jennifer DeBarros 2014
Photo by Jennifer DeBarros 2015
Photo by Kathryn Bradley 2016
