Christmastime and the living's easy.

We celebrated Christmas a week early with my Sister and her lovely family. There was a lot of squealing, shrieking and jumping going on. I think it's an understatement to say that Stella and Seren have fun together!

For Christmas day, we drove down to Vancouver to spend time with my in laws. It was a week full of relaxation, eating, drinking and being merry. I'm so thankful to have married in to such an amazing and loving family and I look forward to many many more holidays spent at their house!

Stella's first year of Preschool - the Waldorf experience

Picking Stella's first school was quite a challenge. I had so many concerns. Mainly, I was concerned that the caregivers wouldn't CARE enough about her. I mean, let's be honest, I don't have a job that I need to report to. I don't HAVE to send my child to preschool. She could stay home with me where I know she's safe and happy and loved. But she was ready for school. She wanted to make more friends, do more crafts and run outside and play more.

We finally decided on Waldorf School for Stella and we have found that it fits perfectly with our parenting style and our idea of what we want for her. It's very nurturing and allows the children to lead much of the learning and play. I have found that the teachers are her Waldorf School are incredibly caring – very motherly – and that they care about her as if she were their own child. It's so comforting to know that she's in capable and loving hands!

Since starting school, she has grown so much: emotionally, physically, mentally. She has become much more aware of her body and has pushed the limits because of this - she can jump higher, balance better and takes much bigger risks than ever before. This is frightening sometimes for a Mom like me, though I've enjoyed watching how much she is enjoying her newfound talents.

Halloween on the Island

Nick and I escorted our Stella Snow White and Olive Purple Teddy Bear along with Batgirl Seren and Skeleton Stone downtown Bainbridge Island to ask strangers for candy. Luckily, the island's delicious specialty ice cream shop was handing out free scoops of ice cream to trick-or-treaters, so we made our way down the main drag (which is about a 5 minute walk from our house) and enjoyed the evening filled with happy little kids all dressed up in their halloween costumes. I really love living here!

Olive's 1st Birthday Cake Smash

So, Olive turned one! We didn't do anything crazy. We aren't big on outrageous birthday parties for the kids, but what we ARE big on is getting photos of them! One of the things I really wanted to do to commemorate Olive's first birthday was to get some smash cake photos taken.

Naturally, I ordered the world's most expensive (and beautiful) allergy-free cake from a local gluten free bakery. And then I stuck the birthday girl in front of it and watched as she very carefully (and not very messily) dismantled most of it. After a few minutes, I let Stella in on the action.... because I had promised her that I would.

Then, Nick and I spent the next few days eating the remainder of the most expensive cake we have ever bought. It was delicious!

Butterflies and ballet.

Stella has a new obsession: butterflies.

It turns out that the Pacific Science Center has a butterfly exhibit.

It's a room filled with thousands of butterflies. Some of them land on you as you walk by.

It's like a dream come true... for Stella.

Stella's second favorite thing (right behind butterflies) is ballet.

She had her first "performance" today.  It was at a retirement center. 

The people who live there and watched the performance loved it, and so
did the girls. I surprised Stella with pink daisies after the performance :) 

My Mom used to love watching Jess and I dance and I just knew she was proud of us. 

I hope Stella knows one day how proud I am of her. 

Yes, these are photos from LAST YEAR.

By Liv

I know you are thinking it. Don't lie. But who really cares if I post pictures that are two months old? I mean, the kids are STILL cute and STILL funny and we are STILL doing basically the same things, so no harm done, right? Right.

 First off, I'm Mom of the year for this little stunt: I booked an all-expenses-paid trip for our family to build Gingerbread houses through the local Children's Museum. It was super fun and we didn't have to clean up the mess!

 She was pretty excited to eat it. (I didn't want to burst her bubble, but we never did end up eating it!)

 Auntie Marcea stopped by to say, "hi" and Olive was overly thrilled.

 Our Christmas tree did not compare to Oma & Papa's.

 (And had much less gifts underneath it...)

 I met up with my friends in Hillsboro. I sure miss those girls!

 While at Oma & Papa's for the Holiday, we had a lot of dance parties.

 Papa & Olive. Strike a pose.

 On Christmas morning, Stella woke up to a TON of gifts from Santa. She was thrilled!

 Donning her mermaid costume on Christmas day. 

 The Hernandez-Tostenrudes.

 Stella's new best friend (compliments of Oma). We now need a bigger house...

 A few weeks after Christmas, we took a weekend trip to Sequim to see my Sister and her babies. They live on a farm with acreage, so we naturally needed to take the girls outside to...

 ...scream

 Olive Chapa and her blue blue eyes. Just like her Daddy.

 Olive spends the majority of her life wrapped to my back. It's the only way I can get anything done!

And she obviously don't mind one bit :) 

 I wish my Mom were here to see this! All of her Grandbabies in one tub. Heaven.

 Nick and Stella have a new hobby: putting together Lego sets. Stella loves it!