Thanksgiving & Photo shoots

Traditionally, we have traveled to Virginia every year to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  We've only missed 3 of the past 11 years that we have known each other- when we were in Scotland, for Knox's birth and for Isla's birth.  So, since we weren't there last year we were extra excited to be there this year!

Plane tickets seem to have skyrocketed in price lately so to offset some of the cost we flew out to Virginia early and stayed a little late- 10 days in all. It was a really nice visit and we got to spend lots of time with family and also lots of time with each other sans children.  All in all it was very relaxing!

Both of my brothers and their wives live in Richmond so we spent most of time hanging out with them and my parents. Knox & Isla loved all the attention and new toys at Mana & Grandpa's house- they were definitely a little sad to come home.

Knox doing puzzles with Grandpa

Aunt Liz convincing Knox to eat collards on Thanksgiving- he was skeptical…so was I...

Isla needed no convincing to eat :) 

Isla with Aunt Val

swinging at Great-Grandma Charlotte's house

Is used to swing on these swings when I was a kid!

It was Kyle's birthday while we were in Virginia too.  I won't mention how old he turned (34) but it was fun to celebrate him with Knox & Isla.   We opened presents and had an ice cream cake. Knox learned that adults don't get "toys" but mostly clothes. He was disappointed but still loved helping open Kyle's gifts.  And thanks to built-in babysitters, Kyle & I got to go to a nice dinner by ourselves to celebrate as well!

the birthday boy

Knox was as excited as Kyle for the cake!

Isla did her share of damage to the cake :) 

Isla with the smaller of my parent's dogs- Maggie

Sucker break with Aunt Val!

Horsing around outside

matching Phish tshirts with Uncle Jonathan

 I recently did a few photo shoots for friends for their holiday cards. I am always so thankful for an opportunity to practice my photography. Both of these shoots were definitely a challenge- multiple children is tough but practice, practice, practice is the goal! Here are some of my favorite images from the two shoots:

We head out to Spokane next week for the Christmas holiday! Can't believe that it is that time already. Merry Christmas everyone!!

-Stacie

It's been three years...

Well, it has been three years since Kyle & I took the plunge into parenthood.  It has been better than we expected and much harder than we expected too.  Knox is a sweet little boy and he has made parenting much easier for us than it could have been.  Time will tell if the same thing can be said of Isla but I have a funny feeling that she may give us a bit of a harder time :)

Celebrating Knox's birthday this year was so fun because he was so excited.  My Dad came into town for the weekend to help us celebrate and Knox really loved having his grandpa here!  The Sales are big on family traditions, so every year we go to Cheesecake Factory for Knox's birthday since that is where we ate when I was in labor with him. To celebrate Knox's actual birthday, we opened gifts first (of course) and then went and got donuts and took Knox to his little tee ball practice.

Knox hyped for presents!

his first remote control car

Fireman Knox!

Isla is a climber so she did this all by herself...

Knox & Grandpa at Sportball

After nap time Knox had his big birthday party.  There is a place close to our house called 'Kiddie Acres' and it is a vintage children's amusement park. And I am using the word vintage to be kind here, it literally is from the 70s and is quite rickety looking but the kids always have a blast there.  Knox was very excited to have his party at Kiddie Acres and all his little friends seemed to have a really good time too. Even Isla got to ride a few rides! 

Knox with Mr. Mike on the carousel

Isla loved the carousel 

Knox, Finley & Sadie on the Ferris Wheel

Isla & Sadie riding the cars

So cute!

Can you tell Isla has an excitable personality?!

My Dad, Hilary & Kyle hanging out

the birthday spread

Cupcakes & Pizza- what 3 year old doesn't love that? 

Grandpa & Isla

the Birthday Boy

Knox sharing his cupcake with Isla

waiting for the train to start

the whole fam

It really was a special day for all of us.  Knox has such a sweet little heart it was so fun to get to spend all day celebrating how much we love him. We are blessed!

-Stacie

Halloween!

My little Lion & Scarecrow

Well, another Halloween has come and gone. As you well know, Halloween is my favorite holiday.  For numerous reasons, mostly who doesn't love a holiday that revolves around two of my favorite things- candy and fall?!  It is a match made in heaven if you ask me.  Well of course, the Halloween gods did not shine on me this year. Last year, I was in the hospital with a very new baby so I didn't get to go trick-or-treating with Knox. This year, Knox was old enough to be very excited about the whole process. And wouldn't you know that he woke up on Thursday morning with the first stomach bug that he has ever had! Yes, both Knox & Isla were sick all day on Thursday! And with a fever of 103 Knox still managed to go trick-or-treating.  Albeit he was a very slow and sedate version of himself. It was very disappointing to say the least.  But that is how she goes. If there is anything I have learned from having children is to hold onto your expectations very loosely.

Can you tell Isla had been crying?!

For comparisons sake here is Knox as the Lion 2 years ago :)

Our whole street has a tradition of getting together early to take pictures and then all trick-or-treat together.  Kyle & I weren't aware that EVERYONE dresses up- whoops! We'll do better next year!

the neighborhood crew

Trick-or-treating action- Keep up the fluids Knox! haha!

Kyle handing out the goods

All in all, we made it through the day and it was borderline successful. Here's hoping that next year goes better. I would say "how could it be any worse" but that would only be asking for it!

-Stacie