little black journal

The main event!  We drove down to Portland a couple of days before Christmas to settle in with the fam and enjoy some downtime.  We unloaded our car and then got right down to business – cards and the hand slap game and lots of cousin love.

Isaac was always up early, eager to explore the house and grab some Bina snuggles.

I know, Bina – that’s how I feel, too, when Isaac wants to play before I’ve had my coffee.

We made our usual pilgrimage to Powells for books and PDX vibes.

I tell you, row upon row of beautifully-illustrated books and Isaac beelines for the carousel of Paw Patrol paperbacks.

And an intro to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We finished our book shopping and then went back to the house to settle into the couch and watch Elf.

The BEST.

Isaac and I popped over to the playground late afternoon to get some residual wiggles out.

When the lawn decorations match your sweater…

I liked being the last one to bed while we were there, relishing the quiet and the fire and the glow of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve!  Isaac was up very very early and was very very loud, so I tossed him in the car, not sure exactly where we headed.  We ended up finding a cozy table by the window at Grand Central Bakery on Hawthorne.  Buddy got a cinnamon roll, I got a latte, and everyone back at the house got to grab some extra Z’s.  We all won.

A woman walked by and said, “A cinnamon roll in your pajamas on Christmas Eve?  Life doesn’t get any better than that!”  Right, Bud?

We got back to the house, threw some real clothes on Isaac, and then headed right back out with Shane and Juliette to catch the 11am showing of Moana 2.  Isaac’s first movie!

Loved it.

The afternoon was lazy and lovely.

(Can you guess who won Uno?)

Morning rain brought an afternoon rainbow.

We gathered in the living room after dinner for our annual viewing of The Polar Express.  On my list of top five holiday traditions, for sure.

We’re ready for you, Santa!

Isaac was up first on Christmas morning and I tried to stoke excitement with the missing cookies and the half-eaten carrot, but he really wasn’t grasping the concept.  “Why did Santa bring me a carrot?”

But oh, the presents.

All the kids are up!  Showtime!

The next hour was filled with the sounds of wrapping paper being ripped, delighted exclamations and effusive thank you’s.

The only thing on Juliette’s wish list was a four-pack of holiday mini Squish-mallows.  I initially didn’t take her very seriously when she said she wanted them, but then I saw the look of disappointment on her face when I told her they were sold out on Amazon.  I put a watch on them and they popped back up a week before Christmas – I’m so glad I snagged them.  How many more years of stuffy love does she really have ahead of her?

And Isaac’s main ask was for a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy.

Nailed it.

My dad sat in his usual chair and got his usual gift of beer and chocolate.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Isaac had picked out this book from Powell’s a couple of days earlier and saw us buying it, but still couldn’t believe his eyes when he unwrapped it that morning.  Three year olds are the best.

Gifts opened.  Kids thrilled.  Mission accomplished.

The rest of the morning was quiet and wonderful.  The kids played with their gifts.  I drank coffee and finished my book.  All was merry and bright.

Dinner was our usual country ham, with a side of mac and cheese a la Morgan.  Sugar cookies and apple crisp for dessert.  Thanks to Mitch and Kathryn for continuing to be the most gracious of hosts.  I know we all make for a very full house.

We headed home the day after Christmas, to tackle a couple of house projects and cozy in with the kids.

Isaac and Shane became fast fans of The Outdoor Boys, a YouTube channel filled with videos of a guy that camps in extreme weather.  Random but wholesome viewing.  Isaac’s plea all weekend was, “Watch snow camping, Daddy?  Snow camping?”

I took the kids down to the Menashee House for one last feast of holiday lights.  Shane is of the opinion that Christmas decorations should be taken down the day after Christmas – fresh start, don’t overplay the magic, yadda yadda.  I say, keep the twinkle coming.  Till New Years Day, at least, though really the full month of January is fair game.

I had something come up at work and needed to head into the office on December 30th.  Isaac was at school and Juliette asked if she could spend the day with me downtown.  I welcomed the company, as I was none too thrilled about having to give up a day with my girl.  She marched up the stairs to my building like a boss.

We cut out early and spent the afternoon roaming downtown, lunching and shopping.

It felt like one of our annual getaways – way to rekindle my love of our city, Juliette!

She makes everything new and beautiful and fun.

Shane and Juliette headed to the slopes on New Years Eve for a ski day and so Isaac and I were left to rustle up our own mini-adventure.

“Bye, sister!”  Those are heart hands he’s making…

While those two skied, Isaac and I hit up Costco and then ran circles around the Juanita Bay playground in Kirkland.

Like, literal circles.  I think he went down this slide 25 times.

The dock here is huge and amazing and perfect for tossing rocks.

And hunting for bears.

Post-playground, we warmed up at Zoka Coffee.

And then a nap by the Christmas tree, as we knew its days were numbered.  Sometimes I lament that I can’t downhill ski with Shane and Juliette, but…this might be better.

One of Isaac’s preschool buddies had a New Years Eve dance party that evening, complete with a disco ball, and we popped in for an hour to bust a move or two.

We returned home around dinnertime to get our own party started.  Games and snacks and laughs with the Rusts and Jordan.

It was a mellow evening, complete with a 9 pm New Years toast, but that’s how we roll now.  I’m not mad about it.

Cheers, Bud!

(Isaac got real into the toast thing.)

Happy 2025, friends.

December was full of all the holiday things as we fully leaned into the Schnell Family Twinkle-Fest 2024.  Early mornings were spent playing by the Christmas tree, wondering which ornament would be Isaac’s favorite du jour…

We leaned into time with our chosen family as well, gathering on Black Friday to devour a spread of Thanksgiving leftovers.  Jack’s turkey congee was so good for the soul.

We visited the Christmas market at Seattle Center while Shane’s mom was still here.  Lights and hot cocoa and a carousel (that the kids rode twice, no less) and a visit with Santa, from whom Isaac decisively requested a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy (I took notes).

Juliette says she’s too old for the carousel, but agreed to ride “just to show Isaac how to hold on”.

The Christmas Ship is another favorite ritual on our holiday calendar and since we missed the ship’s November docking at Alki Beach, we drove over to Seward Park to catch their Lake Washington show.  We perched on a log, wrapped a fleece blanket around our shoulders, and listened to the carolers’ voices ring out over the water.

Want to talk about twinkle?  The annual Menashee House display was unveiled on December 1st in all it’s brightly colored glory.

We visited our other favorite neighborhood displays, like the yard with 40 inflatables, and the house with a projection of a cookie-eating Santa in the window.  I love how this time of year turns even our run-of-the-mill drive home from daycare into a wonder-filled event, ripe with holiday magic.

Shane’s mom headed back to Minnesota in early December and we missed her the moment she left, but are so thankful that we were able to ring in the holiday season with her.

Juliette participated in her school’s annual craft fair on a Saturday, selling handmade bracelets and decorated mini-trees.  It was such a festive event, the cafeteria brimming with creativity and pride.  Juliette’s wares were a hit and she turned a good profit, though she reminded me that “it’s not about the money, Mommy”.

Juliette decorated a gingerbread house…

And Isaac ate said decorations…

There was a father-daughter pickleball game under Alki’s evening lights…

And Nancy, La Verne and I skipped town on a Friday for our annual getaway.  We hot-tubbed in Port Townsend and browsed cute bookshops and feasted at Finistere, then cozied up at La V’s Marrowstone house for movies and dessert.

We made it back to Seattle in time to watch the kids’ December piano recital.  Juliette practiced, practiced, practiced beforehand but was a ball of nerves when we walked in the church.  I sat with her onstage for a quick little rehearsal prior to showtime and watched her shoulders relax as she made it through the most challenging bars of The Beach.  She got this.

Nailed it.

My most favorite holiday tradition is our family brunch with the Chens and Rusts, where we eat and exchange gifts and be merry together.  Pickles the Bassett Hound loves it, too – don’t let those droopy eyes fool you!

Does this boy need a puppy for Christmas?!

This gang gives the most thoughtful gifts; each little surprise is emblematic of just how well we know and love each other.

(The Chens know the way to Isaac’s heart, for sure!)

Juliette and I kicked off her winter break with our Christmas tree slumber party.  I think I fell asleep well before she did, but I woke up in the wee hours of the night and found her snoozing peacefully.

Isaac joined us early the next morning…

And then I took him to our neighborhood Santa while Juliette was kicking the soccer ball around with some friends.  Isaac hopped right up onto the couch and these two had a nice little chat and then suddenly Isaac was right on Saint Nick’s lap, cheesing for a photo.

This time around, Isaac’s one Christmas request was for a candy cane.  You got it, Buddy!

Gosh, I love the Saturday before Christmas.  Most the to-do’s are done, we have two weeks of break stretching out in front of us, the house is cozy with anticipation and the sound of Elf or The Grinch playing in the background.  It’s such a good day for a blanket nest.

(Are you cozy, Juliette?)

Next stop, Portland!

A November photo blitz!  There were morning coffee shop dates…

Afternoon cruises around the neighborhood…

And evening dinners with Grandma and Grandpa.

I voted…

And then I spent election night, plus several nights after, huddled in Isaac’s bed fort under a pile of blankets, grieving and praying and finding comfort in tiny little wonders.

Our family spent a Sunday in Madison Park, meandering through the bakery and the toy store and the playground.  I forgot how lovely this corner of Seattle is.

Juliette played a lot of soccer, often in the rain.  Thank goodness for those late afternoon games where Isaac was able to nap in the stroller – this left me with one free hand for my umbrella, the other for my mug of tea.

Shane’s mom came to visit toward the end of the month and we awaited her arrival with much anticipation.  “Shhhh…  She’s almost here, Mommy!”

Made it.  Let the baking and crafting begin!

I took the day off work on Thanksgiving Eve to spend some extra time with Juliette and to finish my last-minute grocery shopping.  We made an event of dropping off Isaac at school that morning, then walking home with our latte / hot chocolate.

Preschool’s out!  Let the mini-break begin!

Thanksgiving was all I wanted it to be.  Quiet and cozy, filled with food and snuggles.  Everyone chipped in with meal prep – even Isaac pulled stool up to the kitchen counter, eager to egg-wash our breakfast croissants.

But he couldn’t wait for them to bake, so he tucked into the muffin Shane had picked up on their early-morning walk to Starbucks.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was enormously exciting.  “Bluey!  Mickey Mouse!  Minion!  PAW PATROL!!!”

Sous-chef…

And a quick bubbly break.

And then a cuddle break.  I have worked very hard to dial in low-stress holiday cooking.

Finishing touches…

And WE DID IT!

It was such a good meal, filled with gratitude and laughter and potatoes.  Those potatoes.

Isaac found the cranberry sauce to be a bit tart, but I thought it was perfect.

Bellies full, we threw the pans in the sink to soak and headed down to Alki to catch the last of the day’s rays.

A November beach day is such a treat, beanies and all.

Back home, we pulled the Christmas tree out of our storage closet, turned on the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, and poured some egg nog.  Things got real festive real fast.

Nice try, little rascal!

And to all a GOOD NIGHT…

October!  Juliette and I came back from Savannah to a couple of open-armed boys.  Isaac was asleep by the time our plane landed, but his reunion with Sister the next morning was exuberant.

The rest of the month was fairly quiet – we stayed close to home, enjoyed our Fall rituals.  Juliette rocked the school Move-A-Thon and ran 22 laps around the school parking lot in just under 20 minutes!

Shane turned another year older on the 19th and while he didn’t get the Southern fine dining birthday experience that I enjoyed with Juliette, he did get a new pair of flannel pajama pants.  We’ll call it even?

We spent our Saturdays on the soccer field, cheering on Juliette in between our own sideline shenanigans.

And we spent our Sundays at our favorite parks, soaking in the autumnal colors.  Volunteer Park is an October must – Juliette’s hair matches the leaves!

My girl is such a champ, eager every time to climb the 100+ steps to the top of the water tower.

(Her hair goes well with brick tones, too…)

Goodness, how I love a good Fall romp with these kids.

Playground pay-off for letting Mom take 200 photos under the trees…

Isaac is so fun at the playground these days, independent and just the right amount of adventurous.  Spread those wings, Buddy…

Now someone buy these kids a hot chocolate or something!

(Done.)

Juliette and I brewed a couple of cocoas and picked up Isaac a little early on a Friday for a walk through Camp Long.

This little grove is a slice of Fall magic.

“Wait, Juliette!  WAIT!”  This boy does not like to bring up the rear.

Can we talk for a minute about how good he looks in the flannel that his Auntie bought him last year?

These walls push the limits of Isaac’s climbing skills (and my nerves), but Juliette is an excellent backstop.

My parents came to town at the end of month and settled right into our day-to-day.

And oh, the Halloween festivities!  The neighborhood was decked out with pumpkins and skeletons and giant spiders.  Isaac and I relished our evening “Spooky Walks”.

Isaac would hold the flashlight from the stroller, illuminating our way, and then yell “MOOKY!” (spooky) every time he saw a skeleton or ghost.

We ate croissants and carved pumpkins with the Chens on a gray Saturday morning.

Get it, girl.

And then…the costumes!  I bring you Mario (upside-down mustache and all) and his beloved Princess Peach.

I was thrilled to find that Isaac’s blue jumpsuit came with a built-in belly.

Who’s that creeping out of our house?

Juliette cringed a little…

But Isaac had nothing but pure adoration for his buddy Luigi.  Way to be the fun dad, Shane.

We spent the Friday before Halloween at Juliette’s school for the Monster Mash, which was festive and loud and chaotic, but also a wonderful chance for me to get some sunset Peach pics.

Halloween itself was WET.  We pushed through and trick-or-treated anyway, because that’s what Seattle kids do, but the rain was relentless.

Isaac really got the hang of trick-or-treating this year and wanted to hang as late as the big kids.  I couldn’t say no.

Eventually though, we called it and headed home to turn on the fireplace, put Harry Potter on the TV, and take inventory.  Soggy bags of M&Ms were discarded, but there were still plenty of plastic-wrapped sweets to go around.  HAPPY OCTOBER.

We’re in the thick of Autumn – it’s raining outside as I type and the kids are watching Coco in the background, snuggled under a pile of blankets.  Summer is a distant memory…  But I’m leaning into the change of seasons, finding some comfort in the way we’ve settled into our Fall schedule and thankful for the sun breaks that graced much of September and October.

We spent a September Saturday up in Duvall, running through fields of sunflowers.  We paid our entry fee to Lora Lee’s and went through the gate, expecting to see acres of gold.  Instead, we found a patch of dahlias, which were beautiful, but not quite what we’d imagined.  We followed the signs to the sunflower maze, hopes held high.

And then there they were, just past the corn.  ENTER!

I’d imagined the sunflowers would be several feet tall, but I’m so glad these were minis, given that Isaac took off like a lightning bolt and I counted on being able to keep an eye on his blond bobbing head from a distance.

Top day.

Shane’s mom was with us for nearly two weeks in September and joined us for donut runs and soccer games and morning walks to school.  And lots of evening games of Hearts, once Isaac went to bed.

She celebrated her birthday with us, with drinks at Salty’s…

And apple pie at home.

We still spend as many golden hours as possible outside, at Alki or Lincoln Park.

I spy…a couple of runners.

Isaac is enamored with the barrage of skeletons and inflatable ghosts that have popped up around the neighborhood this month.  He calls them “mookies”, which is his pronunciation of “spookies” and we love an evening spooky hunt.

We found ourselves with a wide-open Sunday a couple of weeks ago and felt very much in need of a family reconnect after a hectic month, so we shoved aside our to-do list and boarded a ferry for Vashon Island.

We found the smallest, sweetest pumpkin patch at the south end of the island and loaded up our wheelbarrow with a pumpkin for each of us.

Score, Buddy!

Smile, Isaac!

Or…don’t, you little goofball.

I know, this just keeps going, but the pumpkin patch photo ops!

Post-pumpkins, we grabbed some treats at Vashon Coffee Roasters and headed to KVI Beach to get some sun and look for shells.

The weather was so good that day.  Some of us shed our sweaters.  One of us took off our pants.

Juliette and I read our books while Isaac brewed shell soup.

Our final stop was Dragon’s Head Cider – this place is heaven on earth on a sunny afternoon.  Hammocks and orchards and Adirondack chairs and crisp, cold drinks…we made ourselves right at home.

Isaac is far from “easy” these days, but we are finding ourselves with some several-minute stretches where we can sit back and watch the kids play without having to worry that Isaac’s going to hurt himself or run away or eat something unsavory.  It feels good.

I favored the Kinsgston Black, but Isaac thought my Columbia Crabapple was particularly nice on the nose.

A dream, I tell you.  Huge shout-out to Shane for being the mini-adventure mastermind – we drove back to the ferry sun-kissed and happy and reminded of just how much we all like each other.  Island time does a family good.

Happy Autumn, friends.

It’s Fall!  Like full-swing Fall.  But I’ve got a cache of August snaps I just finished going through, so here’s one last glimpse of summer…

I took a few extra days off after we returned from Neskowin to tackle some house projects and spend some extra time with Juliette.  It was bliss – I crossed a handful of longstanding items off my to-do list and relished my afternoons with my best girl.  We drank boba and watercolored and strolled Alki together.  Turns out Seattle is an ideal place to take a summer vacation.

We took a Saturday spin on the West Seattle water taxi to grab a waterfront lunch with my dad.  Public transportation at its best.

Shane and I took the kids to the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary in Renton to visit their goats and llamas and bunnies.  This place was wonderful – they give a home to neglected or unwanted barnyard animals and we had the best time doling out lettuce leaves and carrot sticks.

We spent a weekend on Bainbridge Island for one of Juliette’s soccer tournaments, but the weather was decidedly un-summery.  It rained and rained and rained and we shivered through her Friday afternoon game.

Thankfully, our AirBnB was warm and comfy and the perfect place to enjoy a post-game nap.

And the Harbour Public House!  There is no cozier place to enjoy a cup of beer and a bowl of chowder on a drizzly evening.

It stopped raining just as we were leaving the restaurant and we all felt a little giddy at the break in the weather.

My word, though – Saturday morning was even wetter.  The girls pushed through.  Isaac and I hunkered down in the tent.

And then enjoyed coffee and macarons at Coquette Bake Shop.

The sun came out just as the girls finished warming up for their third and final game.  They ended the tournament 0 for 3, but they kept their heads up and learned a bunch.

It felt nice to take it slow on Sunday morning.  Couch snuggles and cars.

Isaac was smitten with this little recycling truck he’d found in the house’s toy bin and had a very hard time saying goodbye.  Finally, though, he gave it one last kiss, murmured “I love you, truck”, and walked away.  Parting is such sweet sorrow.

And Poulsbo donuts make things brighter.

We took a short walk along the Poulsbo waterfront and I made a mental note to do some more exploring around here, when we have more time and less rain.

We capped off our weekend with brunch in Gig Harbor.  And SUN!

Labor Day weekend was quiet – we decided to spend the last weekend of summer break close to home and ventured no farther than Jefferson Park when we felt a bit antsy.  It scratched the itch – new grass to run around on!  Bigger slides on the playground!

And dandelions as far as the eye could see.

Shane’s mom came to town the day after Labor Day and folded right into our family hub-bub.  We loved having her around – cheers to Grandma time!

Ah, summer.  It’s so hard to see you go.  So long, spray parks…

And spontaneous evening sprinkler runs.

We loved our sunny drives in the big blue car (though Isaac may insist we keep these up through Fall)…

And especially our front yard water fights.

Dump truck car washes…

And beach ball shenanigans.

What a beautiful season, in so many ways.  But on with the business of September.  And school!  Juliette started fifth grade and I realized as I was snapping these pics that we were memorializing her last first day of elementary grade.  Our walks down the street to our neighborhood school suddenly feel numbered.

Although I suppose in a couple of years Isaac will be a sporting a backpack and we’ll do this all over again!  That makes me feel equal parts comforted and exhausted.

“One more hug, Juliette!”

And then, with a final wave goodbye, summer break officially came to a close.  Bring on the pumpkins.

By Thursday the kids and I were feeling ready to mix up our beach routine, so we hopped in the car and headed north for a mini-adventure, just the three of us.  As we drove down country roads en route to Blue Heron Dairy, Life is A Highway (Isaac’s pick) and I Will Always Love You (Juliette’s pick) piped through the speakers.  We sang, like really SANG, Isaac always a couple of words behind Juliette me.  The road trip vibes were strong that morning.

We rolled up to Blue Heron just as they opened and spent an hour sitting in tractor seats and feeding goats and patting the resident donkeys.

Such friendly little dudes!

Such slobbery little dudes…

Once we’d fed all the animals and given our hands a thorough washing, we walked/ran to the candy store for a treat.

Isaac was thrilled with his Super Mario Pez dispenser.  Juliette went for the Mambas.

It was a short drive to Tillamook Creamery from Blue Heron.  When in dairy country…

Our stint at Tillamook was short, as the free cheese samples couldn’t compete with the well-stocked candy store at Blue Heron, so we did just a quick tour and then popped across the street for green smoothies and a cinnamon roll.

Next stop: the Garibaldi Train Depot for a ride on the old-timey rails.  The 30-minute ride from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach was scenic and sweet and the perfect way to do some seated sight-seeing.

Isaac bounced from Juliette’s lap to mine and back again.  Turns our seated sight-seeing isn’t so much his style.

My word, kiddos.  Laying it on THICK, these two.

We had a short layover at Rockaway before we needed to catch the train back to our car, so we briefly hit the playground and the beach.

Get those wiggles out, Isaac!

I’m certain there were moments on this day when Isaac whined or wouldn’t listen, but I can’t remember them.  I just remember how much damn fun the three of us had together.

We thought about calling it a day after the train ride and heading back to the house for Isaac’s afternoon nap, but he fell asleep in the car just two minutes into our drive, so we let him doze and slowly moseyed over to Oceanside Beach for one last stop, figuring he’d be ready to go again by the time we got there and parked.  He was still pretty groggy when I lifted him from his carseat, but Sister offered to give him a carry, because she’s the best.

We explored the tunnel and collected a few rocks…

And then once Isaac had wiped the last sleepies from his eyes, it was time to twirl.  Juliette made a game of spinning at top speed, arms stretched wide, until she was so dizzy she collapsed in the sand.  Isaac followed suit and they fell again and again, the sound of their laughter mingling with the waves.

Juliette and I made our own sand-shard jigsaw puzzle and then Isaac stomped on it and now I remember there was definitely crying and whining from both my kids that afternoon, but it passed quickly.

Holding a grudge just isn’t in this girl’s DNA.

We eventually brushed the sand from our feet and headed back, eager to see the rest of our crew.  Morgan welcomed Isaac with open arms and let him help with dinner prep.

We drove down the beach that evening for a fire and s’mores.  It felt good to have everyone together.

We savored our treats and then the kids went for a run, because they’re unstoppable.

Isaac ran up and down the sides of this sandpit, at one point collapsing just over the edge so that all we could see were his little legs sticking straight up in the air, kicking as he struggled to roll onto his back.  We laughed a lot.

The Isaac Henry Show, coming soon to a beach near you…

Friday was our last day there, and Shane took the day off.  It was nice to have him with us for our morning walk.

Oh, Buddy.  These beach-run smiles are the stuff of my dreams.

Once again, Isaac couldn’t resist the frigid water, and once again, his shorts were soaked.  We rolled with it.

When Shane asked how I wanted to spend our last day there, I couldn’t think of a better place than our favorite stretch of beach, so he dashed back to the house for our beach chairs and snacks while I continued to roam with the kids.

Flipping through these pictures, I see image after image of Juliette leaning over so she can show or tell Isaac something.  ISAAC HENRY, YOU ARE SO LUCKY.  Often it feels like he has no idea how big he struck the sister jackpot, but someday it’ll sink it.  I know it.

The rest of our crew trickled down to join and us and we spend the afternoon reading and splashing and eating and lounging.  All my favorite things.

This driftwood fort was a good find.  No bears in here, either, though!

Juliette wrote our initials on the doorway with a piece of charred wood.  Love Wuz Here.

I had been promising the kids ice cream all week and finally made good on my offer.

One last game of tag for the road…  We love you, Morgan.

We went back to the house to gather our things and say our good-byes.  Juliette sniffled a little as we pulled away – what a good week, filled with laughter and play and rest and beauty and family.  Neskowin has our hearts.

Tuesday!  Isaac and I happily settled into a morning routine of walk -> coffee -> beach while Shane got his work day started and Juliette slept in.

Donut zoomies…

That morning was sunny and gorgeous, so we stretched out our beach time and headed to the south rock faces to do some exploring.

Isaac Henry, you’re too much sometimes.

As we drew near to end of the beach and saw the smattering of little caves in the rocks, our little stroll morphed into a full-fledged bear hunt.

Here we go, Bud!

Isaac gasped when we reached the first cave, then put on his scariest face, growled his most threatening growl, and yelled, “No thank you, Bear!”  Small but mighty, this boy.

Hello?

We didn’t find any bears, but the search was awfully exciting.  Time to head back.

The beach is still a pants-optional zone.

We splashed in the waves for a bit, Isaac’s little legs skittering over the surf.  He played chase with the water and squealed with glee each time it caught it up to him.

Detour for sea anemones…

And then we hoofed it back up the hill, Isaac giggling while I struggled to catch my breath.  Buddy is heavy and that climb is steep!

Morning cozies…

Afternoon backyard games…

And an evening in Pacific City, because the sand hill was calling.

Isaac started his climb up the dune with such vigor…

But then needed a little help.

And then a little more help.  Sister is a STUD.

Made it!

We all collapsed in the sand at the top, wanting to just chill for awhile and take in the view, but guess who popped up after 30 seconds and wanted to run around?

Down we went.

We tried again to sit and view-soak, but Issac Must. Keep. Moving.

Eventually I buried a little stick in the sand and Isaac made a game of trying to find it.  We did this over and over.  Whatever works!

Again, the waves beckoned and the kids answered.

WE DID IT!  I think we finally tuckered him out.

We spent the rest of the evening back at the house, eating and drinking and playing games.

Wheelbarrow shenanigans.  We laughed a lot that night.

Good night, sun.

On Wednesday, Juliette joined us on our morning walk.

Errrr…jog, I mean.  Keep it moving, Isaac said.

Just as I was about to suggest we head back, Isaac fell in the water and completely soaked all of his clothes.  Whoops.

Thank goodness for the dry sweatshirt I found in the stroller!

Blackberry pitstop.

And then our quietest day of the week – I helped Kathryn with a house project while the kids played in the backyard.  Isaac and I took an epic nap.  There was some evening pickleball and a pizza run.  It was slow and wonderful and gave me all the energy I needed for a Thursday adventure with the kids.  Up next!

It’s the first day of Fall, which means I’ve got a slew of Summer photos to post before we’re all in the thick of sipping our pumpkin spice lattes.  Here we go:

We decided to forego our annual Summer trips to Idaho and to Minnesota and to Hood River this year, because of busy schedules and Shane’s limited vacation days, but I’d be damned if we didn’t mark my favorite season with some sort of family getaway, so we asked my brother if we could crash at their beach house for a few days in August.  We hadn’t been to Neskowin since the summer I was pregnant with Isaac, so it felt like it was time to introduce our boy to that magical stretch of the Oregon Coast.  First though, a night in Portland to break up the trip and to enjoy the city we’ve seen too little of these past few years.  Iced coffee!  Books!  It was vay-cay time.

Of course he found the one Super Mario book on the paperback carousel.  Powell’s has something for everyone!

We ate dinner at Mitch’s and then settled into our downtown hotel – I had a free Hilton night that was set to expire, so we figured we’d make use of it and lean into urban life (with a heated pool to boot).  Sunday dawned bright and sunny.  Brunch time!

Screen Door was bustling and cute; Juliette’s lemon curd pancakes were perfection.

While Shane went back to the hotel to grab the car, the kids and I did a walk-about of the Pearl.  I do love me those Brewery Blocks…

We made it to Neskowin mid-afternoon and Juliette settled right into her little reading nook.

But I quickly got the beach itch and rallied the crew to head down to the sand.  No time to waste!

You’d think the whole “they’re growing up so fast” thing would wane over time, but El is 16 and still growing up so fast.

We spent the whole afternoon playing our hearts out, and it felt so good.  Sand pails and baseball bats and frisbees, oh my.

Sporting goods are fun and all, but the waves always win.

Settle in, Bud.  Welcome to home for the next few days!

The house’s earliest risers convened on the couch Monday morning while I sipped my first cup of coffee.

And then we booked it down to the market for my second cup of coffee.  Isaac drank his weight in hot chocolate.

I love these coastal misty mornings.

We spent the rest of Monday morning getting settled, running to the store for milk and yogurt and a few other essentials…

And then once that afternoon sun popped out, we staked out a spot at what came to be our favorite little stretch of sand, on the shallow waterway near Proposal Rock.

We paddled and splashed for hours, slowly watching the tide rise.

Isaac is the kind of kid that generally manages to live his best life wherever he goes, but truly, the I think the beach is his very best life.

Uncle Mitch shows NO MERCY.

And Morgan’s even more ruthless.

Isaac’s a good sport, though.

Juliette found a use for the hole in the bottom of our sandcastle cup…

And then we toasted to her creativity.

This was the first of many “bear hunts” that occurred over the course of the week.  This beach has so many fun nooks and crannies to explore.

BEAR!  RUUUUUUNNNN!

We shook out our towels, wiped the sand from between out toes, and then golden hour was enjoyed from the deck.  Cold wine with a side of Hotwheels.

Happy Vacation, Buddy.

THREE!  We made it!  Buddy Boy had a birthday a couple of weeks ago and is fully leaning into big-kid status.  The latest developments:

No more diapers!  We’ve had a plastic potty sitting in our hall bathroom for several months, ready and waiting for Isaac when he felt inclined to use it, but then we let him take the lead.  He decided in late May that he was done with his Huggies and after a few short days of jelly bean rewards for each pee on the potty, he fully had it down.  He has ditched diapers even at bedtime, which is wonderful, minus the occasional 2am shouts of, “MOMMY!  I HAVE TO GO PEEEEEEEEE!”

He’s still all about his cars, all day, every day, but we’re testing out a few new hobbies.  Biking, maybe?

Dress-up is a hit – he helps himself to whatever miscellaneous accessories he finds laying around the house.

Also, he’s forever finding ways to repurpose his own clothes, putting his face through the hole of his shirts or underwear so they’re a makeshift lion’s mane.

Books!  Books are a hit, particularly as a stalling mechanism when it’s time to get on pajamas and get ready for bed.

He clearly knows he’s milking it.

He might have a future in track?  He loves running laps at the neighborhood middle school while Juliette does soccer drills with her dad.

Oh goodness, and the tattoo obsession.  He got a sheet of Toy Story temp tattoos at a birthday party and was forlorn when they eventually washed off.  I bought another package and use them as incentives in lieu of lollipops.  Life is a chorus of pleas for “More Buzz!  More Woody!”

When he wears long sleeves, he insists on his sleeves being pushed up, so that Buzz and Woody “can see”.

Public transit and morning bus rides continue to be a source of excitement.  Juliette joined us a couple of times in the summer, getting off at Isaac’s stop and then walking home.  My kids’ up-for-anything attitudes can’t be beat.

There was much hand-wringing over Isaac’s first haircut, as I wondered if he was capable of sitting still for a stranger, but now he’s a pro and handles the clippers like a champ.

The sleep 411:  Naptime continues to be the best.  Love, love, love the mid-day snuggles.

And I especially love when sister is given the all-clear to burst into the room for a post-nap tickle session.

(I’m a very scary tickle monster.)

Bedtime, though!  I’m spending less evenings sitting in the chair until Isaac falls asleep, but there’s a whole big rigamarole in getting him settled, part of which is a flashlight sweep behind his crib to check for wolves.  We both declare, “No wolves!” and then I tuck him in, and then he tells me he needs to go the bathroom, and then he gets out of bed and back into bed and I turn on the hall light per his request and finally make my exit with calls of, “Isaac, can you hear me?  I’m just in the other room!  You’re safe, Buddy!”  And he responds with a sullen, “Ok…” and all is quiet.  For about five minutes, until he yells, “MOMMY?  NO WOLVES!”  and I tell him he’s right and then he says, “CLOSE MY EYES?!” and I say, “Yes, child, for the love of God, close your eyes!  I love you VERY MUCH.”  And then we’re done.  Phew.

Couch snaps:

Sister snaps (with freshly-shorn hair…):

And bath snaps:

The light this child brings to our lives…the way he exclaims, “I missed-ed you, Mommy!” each time I walk in the door, even if I was just taking out the garbage.  The way he’ll put a hand on each of my cheeks and whisper, “You’re my best fwiend.”  To be clear, he’s very generous in his use of “best friend”, bequeathing the title even upon his favorite Hotwheels, but it still gets me every time.  The other day I picked him up from daycare and he looked right up at me and said, “I yike your hair, Mommy!”  Million bucks, he’ll make you feel like.

I spent an extra-long time doing books and bedtime on the eve of Isaac’s third birthday.  We were at an AirBnB on Bainbridge Island for a soccer tournament and he had a tough time settling down, but I leaned into it and savored the snuggles and silly chatter.  I sang to him and he giggled and then finally, he slept.  My big little boy.

We spent Isaac’s actual birthday watching his sister play soccer, but when we got home on Sunday afternoon I pulled out the streamers and Juliette and I dashed to the store for a cake and that magical evening was all about him.

We invited my parents over for burgers and watermelon and then let Isaac loose on his stack of gifts.

A tractor flashlight, to look for wolves, of course…

A puppy from sister…

And a remote control Mario Kart, as he’s lately smitten with “Red Mario and Green Mario”.

Gosh, he was pumped about that little RC car.

Cake time!  I asked Isaac what kind of cake he wanted and he shouted “Pink!” and I made it so.

It was such a sweet evening, our little gang.  Isaac was on cloud nine.  But get ready to have your mind completely blown, Bud…  You dad picked up a surprise for you…

TA-DA!!!  Facebook Marketplace score of the year…

Isaac hopped right in and put the pedal to the metal.  We all ran for our lives.  This thing has oomph!

We let him cruise down to the sidewalk and it quickly became clear that he needed a crash course in Driver’s Ed.

Cue Sister, who happily folded her long legs into the front seat to show him the ropes.

My gosh, these kids.  I could not love them more.

Happy Birthday, Isaac.  Thank you for filling our home with joy and noise and matchbox cars and unbounded love.  It’s been awhile since I’ve tucked you into the Ergo and sang You Are My Sunshine as we sauntered through the neighborhood, your head heavy on my chest.  Suddenly I’m watching you speed down the street and I can hardly keep up.  But you’re still my sunshine, for ever and ever, Amen.