Late Summer and Fall begins

Late August and September brought some calmer times in our house.  The kids were beginning to settle into our old house.  It helped with all our furniture, clothes, dishes, and most importantly TOYS arrived 9 weeks from when the left Breda (thanks to an ill-timed dock workers strike/slow down).  It also helped the kids started a real preschool in July.  We had some make-shift day care to get us there but we made it.  My parents were a HUGE help to us and we will always be greatful to them for dropping their lives and taking care of the kids for 5 weeks.

While Sylvie started hiding from the camera, Archie started sticking his tongue out in ALL photo opportunities! :)  That is our boy.

And here are the best buddies!  Archie was so happy to get to see Isaac again and we were so happy to hang out with out with Chris and Robyn and Isaac's little sister Nora.  They are good friends and another reason we are happy to be back in Seattle.

The kids enjoying a hot chocolate together.  Another good playdate!

In the late summer we were able to go to a wedding of Ellyn and Tim.  Ellyn is the daughter of a good friend who I have worked with for years, Chris.  I am now back working with him in Seattle.  He and his wife Lauri, Ellyn, & Tim, were kind enough to invite us to their special day.  We had a great time.  It was the kids' first wedding.  The loved the dancing and running around.  It was a beautiful day.

A sunny day out at the cafe! Sylvie is no longer a toddler...a big 3 now!

Our funny boy!

Fun in the sunshine running around in superhero costumes!  They are loving the long days and warm sun.  A great time to be back in Seattle and in our house.

Our big kids starting...their favorite thing to do is rough house and tumble around with one another.  Usually ends in tears but they have a lot of fun and are definitely best buddies.

The never ending tumbling!

At the summer wedding!  The kids wore hats and sunglasses.  

In August we spent a great afternoon at one of our dear friend's birthday party.  It was a superhero party and most everyone dressed the parts.  This photo is after a long day playing and now time for the ice cream.

The boys dressed up in their outfits.  This marks a 10+ year friendship with John and the crew.  I remember the first summer I met him and celebrated his 40th 10 years earlier.  And now we are (mostly) married and have children.  Times have changed a lot and all for the better for all of us.  We are a lucky crowd.

Katie and Toddler Jack

A great day a Lincoln Park in West Seattle skipping rocks while the ferries come and go.  It was a beautiful quiet morning.

Another day at Alki beach playing in the sand

Playing at U-village while our favorite band Caspar Baby Pants played for a free summer concert.  The kids loved playing in the water feature.

And then September rolled in. The kids started a new preschool at a local church school near our house.  It was a great change and the kids were instantly happy there.  There is a lot of space and really nice kids and teachers.  It has a full school at it much like our Breda school.  So we think the kids just felt more at home once they started.  This is when our lives started to feel a little more normal and settled.  We finally had a window into our life in Seattle.  Happy to see them so happy.

A Little Late in Posting

I have been a little tardy in getting my posting since we have been here.  REALLY tardy.  
In July we were very lucky to have the Dalleys come and stay with us.  It was the first time Sylvie met them and the first visit Archie will remember.  The kids had a wonderful time playing and we really enjoyed time with Jane and Paul.  We hadn't seen one another in 3 1/2 years.

The Dalley, Campbell, Archie and Sylvie went for a short stay in the mountains.  I stayed in the city as I had just started my new job.  I am sad I missed out because they had such a good time.
On the way up to the cabin, the group stopped to pick raspberries at a local farm.  
Sylvie and Greta were two cutie pies!

View of the river from the cabin

While in Seattle we spent a great time at the parks and cafes around Seattle.  The paddling pools were a big hit.  

Sylvie decided she was not into photos anymore.  So most from this stage to several months later she turn away.

Another photo from the stop on the way to the cabin in the woods

Cousin Eve

Archie in his favorite hat

Cousin Theodore

Cousin Greta

Little Sylvie, almost 2!

Fun at the aquarium

We celebrated Theodore's and Sylvie's birthday while the Dalleys were with us.  It was a special way to cap off their visit.

Great time with the Dalleys.  It would be another 7 months before we would see them again.  We hope that the kids will grow up with fond memories of their cousins.  They are close enough in age to still play and have fun. 

The kids had a tough summer adjusting to all the changes.  There was so much change in such a short amount of time.  They really had a hard time leaving their home, school, and friends.  They cried everyday asking me to take them back to Breda or asking when we would be going back.  That lasted 3 months and it broke my heart.  So having the Dalleys visit us was a great way to get thru some of the unsettling times.