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Ben's dad, Kerry, and step-mom, Lana came out on saturday for a visit. Ben took Kara with him to pick them up from the airport. She was so excited to go, and even more excited when they all arrived home together. She loved showing off by spelling words and reciting the pledge of allegiance for them. Here is a picture of the girls "helping" me make a cheesecake. Ben made a blueberry glaze for it that turned out really good. Especially since he didn't really know what he was doing, he just threw it together.
We let Lana take a nap, since she was up since 1AM getting ready to leave. While she slept, we watched Tropic Thunder. It was pretty funny. We took them to dinner at Ben's favorite mexican restaurant, La Palma. Then we came home and watched Kara's new movie, UP, and had the cheesecake.
Sunday we decided to go to the NW trek, since everyone usually likes going there when they visit us. It was raining the whole time, but not too cold. We didn't mind the rain too much, except I forgot to change my shoes I had thrown on to run to the store. I meant to change into boots, but forgot, so I was walking through puddles and rain with slip-on ballet flats and no socks. Here we are watching a beaver show off.
Ben got a picture of the mountain lions since they are not always out on exhibit, so we don't see them as often as the other animals. Kerry and Lana said one of them looked like she had recently given birth. I can't tell those things, but if anyone would know, it'd be those two.
After NW trek, we went home and had the roast Ben started the previous night. He made up a really good recipe that everyone seems to love. It was tasty as usual. Kiersten, Lana, and I took naps while the guys watched football. Then we watched Transformers 2. It was an okay movie. That evening, we all watched old movies of the girls when they were babies. They were pretty fun to watch and remember all the silly and adorable things they did, and how cute and little they were.Monday morning, Papa helped the girls ride their bikes around the block several times. He is always such a great sport about playing with them and letting them do whatever they want. Lana made us all a delicious breakfast, and of course we had to have her make some baked beans. Ben made sure I took note of all the ingredients for the beans, and I was supposed to watch her make them, but she had them already done and cooking in the crock pot by the time we woke up. They are much earlier risers than we are. Lana took Kara and me shopping for clothes, and she is just too generous. I kept trying to tell her I was just letting her get me one thing, but she kept taking everything I so much as looked at, and handing it to the cashier. She took the receipt and ripped all the tags off everything on the drive home so I wouldn't know the amount to reimburse her. She also insisted on getting Kara anything she wanted, and got a stuffed toy for Kiersten too. It was fun shopping with her, even though I now have to think of a good way to pay her back.
Kerry and Ben stayed home from shopping. They played in the backyard with Kiersten. It is so cute to hear her say, "papa! where are you?"
After we got back from shopping, Ben grilled some steaks for all of us, and we had Lana's baked beans. It was a tasty dinner. All of us girls took naps again while the guys watched more football. the girls played with Papa and Grams the rest of the evening and got just spoiled with love and attention. Here is Kiersten perusing a toy catalog waiting for us to come home from the store. I asked Kara to look through the toys r us book, and circle the things she would like to ask santa for. She circled all but 6 items, which she crossed out, so I will have to go through it with her again to find out what things she would most like to ask santa for.
They flew out early tuesday morning, and we all miss them already. Kara has a list of things planned out that she wants to do with them the next time we go to Idaho for a visit.
Yesterday was a pretty fun and busy day for us. In the morning, Kara had her first dentist appt. It went very well. She loved all the attention she was getting, and she had no cavities. I took the girls to lunch at McDonald's because we have a whole bunch of coupons for free items there that will be expiring soon. I let them play for a long time so they would get tired and take naps. After nap time, we drove up to meet Ben at work in Tukwila. We went to dinner at spaghetti factory with Kelly and her hubby and baby. After dinner, we headed down to Kent to take the girls to Disney on Ice. It was the worlds of fantasy themed one. It was really fun. I thought they would like it, but I didn't know how much they would love it. Here they are waiting for the show to begin.
I was worried that Kiersten might act the way she does at the movies, but she loved every second. She kept saying, "wow!" and waving to the characters and saying hi. One of the highlights for me was when Donald duck came skating out, and she excitedly said, "Donny!" and pointed out at him. She was really cute clapping and watching the entire 2 hour show.
Ben bought this crown for Kara. He got Kiersten an Ariel necklace.
I like this profile shot of Kiersten watching the cars driving around on the ice.
This Tinkerbelle hat came with some cotton candy Ben got the girls. Now Kara has something to wear to crazy hat day at school next week. I've been wondering what I would send for her. None of her hats are very crazy.
Lightning McQeen and Mater both got lots of applause when they came driving out.
under the sea. this was one of the most lively and colorful scenes.
I thought they would be just skating around, but there were lots of great lifts, jumps, and spins. It was very impressive. This is Ariel and Eric.
baby Simba and his parents at the beginning of Lion King.
Ben and I were both surprised how much of each story they were able to get in. We also were impressed by pumbaa.
some of the fairies in pixie hollow. Kara kept asking the whole time when she would see Tinkerbelle. This was definitely her favorite part of the show.
Tinkerbelle flying around. She even landed on the ice in her skates.
The grand finale. The main Disney characters came back out at the end of Tinkerbelle's story.
We have been sick around here for the last few weeks, so we haven't been out doing too much. Kiersten and I have both been sick twice now, and I think Ben is starting to get his second round of it. The only one who has stayed healthy is Kara. I think that's strange because Kiersten got a flu shot, but Kara didn't get one because her pediatricians office ran out before I could get her in. She did puke in the bathtub yesterday, but that was not because of being sick. she was just grossed out by Kiersten licking some snot that was running out of her nose. She didn't get much of it before I was right there with a kleenex, but it was enough for Kara to blow chunks. Then after I had them out of the puke water and cleaned up, she brought it up again, and the thought made her puke a little more, at least in the toilet that time. She was fine the rest of the day, and still has no runny nose or cough of her own thankfully. I guess she just has a low tolerance for yucky stuff.Here's a yucky-nose picture of my poor little Kiersten.
at least little kids can still have fun and be happy when they're sick.
Kara making funny faces this morning before school.
this is one of her favorite things to do. She really thinks she is so hilarious.
also, I think she just likes getting her picture taken and will come up with any reason to be photographed.
and here she is looking "lovely" (the word she used as she made this pose)
The girls were so cute on halloween this year. Kara wanted to be a witch, so we dressed Kiersten as a black kitty.
scary vampire teeth
We went to a halloween party thrown by some of Ben's coworkers. Kelly's baby had the same costume as Kiersten. They were 2 cute little kittens.
Kara playing with some of the other kids. They all had so much fun.
They loved this decoration, but were also scared of it. All the kids spent lots of time turning it on, and the shutting the door when they got scared.
Ben and I dressed up this year too.
Kiersten interrupting photos, by taking off her diaper.
In the store this outfit looked like a cute outfit, but not overly sexy. I guess all the other ones were way worse. But when I put it on, I decided I should layer under it so I wouldn't look like some skanky mom trick or treating with my kids.
Kara loves this year's costume. She got to wear it to school the day before. I thought it was funny that at her school, there were 2 witches, 2 pirates, 2 tinkerbelles, and 2 chickens. There were a few other kids that didn't have the same costume as anyone else.
Kiersten made such a cute kitty. She even let me paint her face, and happily, is no longer afraid of her costume.
Here she is playing with a shoelace while waiting to go trick or treating. I sent Kara out with Ben first to the the further away houses. Then they came back and we all went around in our neighborhood. Both of the girls thought it was fun to answer the door and hold the candy bowl for the other trick or treaters.
Kiersten trying to sneak some sweets. Too bad she doesn't know how to open them.
action shot
of course they loved the houses that were most decorated.
we take turns going to the door with them and waiting on the sidewalk.
Kiersten with her aunt Katie.
we played lots of games. Here is Kiersten hanging out at the game table in her warm jammies. Look how long her hair is getting.
friday after shopping the sales, and after Ben came home from work, we went to see the zoolights at point defiance zoo. The girls loved it and so did the adults.
We always spend a lot of time inside the aquarium. I love how Kiersten waves to the fish and giggles at them.
both of the girls had glow batons. of course, the first thing they did with them was sword fight.
if was lots of fun, even though it was pretty cold.
