A Big Splash of Summer!

Wow, 2011 has been a fabulous year!  I can't believe how fast it flew by and how beautiful it was.  I'm wishing everyone a happy new year and a wonderful start to 2012!

We had all kinds of fun adventures in 2011 {I realize I have not blogged about many of them.  I will remedy that soon!  One of my new resolutions!}  But here is a taste of our gorgeous, fantastic Seattle summer.  We enjoyed SO many parks, lakes, and beaches with all my fun new friends in my mom's group.  Enjoy this splash of summer to brighten up your winter blues! 

For the majority of the summer, Brooke was pretty content to sit with me on the blanket or towel and enjoy the sun and all the company.  But towards the end, she was scooting towards the water like a little seal!  It was hilarious!  She would go right into the water if I didn't swoop in and grab her! 

Sometimes I let her get in the water, and then she was a wet, sandy, happy mess!

I love these pics of Natalie looking so happy!

We had a fairly cold, rainy summer and we had to cancel a whole bunch of playdates due to weather.  But we still had some sunny, mild, gorgeous days to make up for it!

My favorite places to take the kids are by FAR the lake beaches.  I never got to swim in lakes growing up, and they are perfect for young kids!  No waves, calm and clean, and with beautiful scenery all around!

Fun in the sprinklers!

Riding in cars with boys!  Haha!  Kirsten and Blair... so cute!

We spent time at the Seattle waterfront on the Puget Sound...

We had ice cream bars and popsicles...

Visited a fire truck...

Rode the rides at the Evergreen State Fair...

{Both girls LOVE all the rides, even Natalie!  At 2 years old Kirsten was scared of fast rides, but Natalie is fearless with them!}

And did LOTS of swimming!  All my kids are water babies and would go swimming every single day if they could.  Kirsten has taken two sessions of swimming lessons, but she hasn't passed any of them since she's still scared to put her face in the water.  She loves to be in the water and swim with her arm floats on!  Now she needs to learn to put her face in! 

We had a great time at some summer birthday parties...

And hung out with great friends at my favorite Puget Sound beach... Golden Gardens!

And visited Snoqualmie Falls!  We loved our summer!!!

Fun Finds: Christopher Pop-In-Kins!

I have always loved the Elf on the Shelf idea, with one major problem. . . he's CREEPY!  He has that old-fashioned doll look that really scares the hebejebes out of me.  I can't stand the thought of that little guy "always watching." 

A few of my friends told me they had a different elf named Christopher Pop-In Kins who was actually cute and not creepy.  And as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted one for my kids!  Christopher Pop-In-Kins is totally adorable!  He's posable, so you can put him wherever you want and he'll stay put.  You can hide him in a different place every day and have the kids look for him.  I love it!

 Christopher Pop-In-Kins comes with a storage case and a beautiful, hard-bound book that tells the story of Santa's very first children's elf, who visits boys and girls during the holiday season.  The story is wonderful and really gets kids excited, and they can go to sleep hoping Christopher will choose to appear at their house.  And the next morning, he magically appears!

The book suggests having Christopher arrive right after Thanksgiving, so he can keep an eye on the kids for the whole month until Christmas morning.  I didn't receive mine until pretty close to Christmas, but I can't wait to get him out next year and read his story to my kids!  It will become a wonderful tradition in our home, and I'm looking forward to starting it.  You can buy your own Christopher Pop-In-Kins on Amazon and start the tradition in your own home too!

Princess Dance Camp!

Since I have three little girls, you can bet I'm getting a little tired of girly and frilly and doing hair and matching accessories.  But one thing I have never gotten tired of is watching them in dance classes!  It's definitely one of my favorite things about having girls!  Over the summer Kirsten did a whole Princess dance camp where they focused on a different Disney princess each class, complete with costumes, a dance routine, a story, and a craft.  It was A-DORABLE!!!  And about time I posted the pictures of my little princess!

We have Ariel...

{These pictures crack me up.  Poor Natalie wanted SO badly to dress up and dance too!  But you have to be 3!  Next summer they can do the camp together!}

Princess Aurora...

Cinderella...

{Awwww}

Jasmine... {I thought this costume was so cute!}

Cute little princess!  She totally loved it!