kate is eight.

(so what? i wanted something rhymey, but "katie turns eighty" didn't work!)


a still-groggy katie eating her b-day breakfast.


katie with her birthday posse.


the cake.


making a wish.


opening presents.


austin and megs.


hard to believe, but this may have been the last party that these guys will be the "babies" at.

this year katie decided to raise money for PAWS of bremerton, a local animal welfare organization. this is also the organization that helped us re-home our kitty, mosely, shortly after moving to WA. she raised $61.00 to donate to this deserving organization. i am so pleased with the fact that she has a cause she is passionate about (that happens to be the same as her mama's!)

wow it's been over a month since my last blog post. sorry to all 3 or so of you regular readers out there LOL as always, thanks for reading! (and if you REALLY want to make my day, feel free to comment!)

celebrating sammy.

sunday was my baby's 4th birthday. he is the sweetest, funniest, cutest boy ever. (i may be slightly biased, though.) we celebrated with family and a couple friends at what sam probably considers the "funnest place on earth", chuck e. cheese :)


big bro, little bro.


gabs and sam, lovin' the ride.


i thought this was *adorable*....austin leading preston around. preston grabbed his finger and wouldn't let go :)


feeding the ticket-muncher.


grammy/sammy.


sam opening a present and ignoring the giant mouse, while ella gives him a high-five.


sweet card from gabby (sophie helped her with it!)


modeling his new jacket.


gettin' some benji-lovin'.


cuppy-cake time!


lovely pic, i know, but somehow it was the only one i managed to get with katie and soph-ball in it.


the littlest party-goers, enjoying their cupcakes (or frosting, in benji's case).


sam and mommy ♥

thanks for looking!

lucky number 7.

last month my middle babe turned 7. having a birthday so close to christmas (just over a month after) results in having a pretty hard time shopping for her sometimes. being a minimalist-at-heart, i hate having to buy "stuff" for the sake of giving SOMETHING. this post gave me an idea, that i suggested to katie: "how 'bout we ask your friends to bring donations for the animal shelter instead of presents to your party?" honestly, i fully expected for her to shoot down that idea, but instead she loved it. at first she was a little hesitant ("i REALLY want to....but i also like getting presents".....i reassured her that she would still be getting presents from mommy and daddy.) so we celebrated with a ton of her friends at Chuck E. Cheese and everyone brought donations in her honor for the Kitsap Humane Society.




waiting at the desk for her donation receipt.


saying hi to some of the residents.


visiting a kitty in their new "cattery".

she raised $115.13 in the end. quite an accomplishment for a 7-year-old!

thanks for looking!

our chuck-e-cheese-o-rama.

today i met up with a bunch of girlfriends and their kiddos to hang out at chuck e. cheese....a great way to kill an afternoon, i must say! we were proabably there a good 4+ hours.....


sam rollin' with his homie chuck e. (whom he kept calling "mickey mouse" LOL)


hamster much?


our lil' gamer girlz :)


aw, dimi offered to play air hockey with sam.....


but then he ditched her halfway through the game and his bro had to fill in for him.


sam goes for a ride in the jeep.....


while gabby chooses a more "eco-friendly" ride. (as the creepy clock stares on...)


our whole gang together! thanks ladies for the fun afternoon!