Seattle Temple Trip

Last Sunday both Jack and Liz asked me about going to the temple.  "Please, can we go Mommy?"  Well, who can possibly refuse a request to go to the temple?  It was Steve's last week before he starts work again tomorrow (can I hear a hallelujah!) so we took advantage of a small (tiny) break in the weather to go to the Seattle temple. 

Jack's wink! 

Charlotte, the wisest of our three, decided not to walk on the grass, and her dry feet thanked her!  Jack and Liz... not so much.

 At this point we actually went inside the temple.  There is a little waiting room in the very front  where the kids could go in and sit reverently.  They really loved that part.  It didn't last too long (way too wiggly) but Liz just couldn't get over the fact that she had been INSIDE of a temple.

If you go WAY back to 2009, there is a picture of Lizzy hugging and kissing this statue... she's grown a bit.  We tried to recreate it with Charlotte, but she thought the statue was creepy and was absolutely terrified of the daddy statue behind her.  We didn't take that picture.  

It took a few minutes for the kids to decide they actually wanted to take pictures... (Mom, don't look at how badly I've hemmed those pants, just pretend it isn't there!)

I just liked this one because it is a good picture of my new haircut...  

I loved getting them each individually in front of the temple...  Liz probably enjoyed her photo shoot the most, she agonized over what dress she should wear!  She ended up picking my favorite...

Jack had to be bribed in order to smile... but he did!

Couldn't decide which one was better...  clearly, Charlotte is cuter in the first one, but both Jack's constipated face (top) and his half fish face (bottom) are pretty great too... 

She is getting so big!

Daddy and his girls...

Can I brag about this insanely handsome man for a second?  He is actually wearing the suit he wore the day we met.  He has recently lost 45 pounds.  45 pounds people!  He has worked so hard!

Tip... toe... tip... toe... I told them to be careful by the fountain.  This is what that looked like...

Grandma, this is your flower.  The one that never made it to you.  Pretty sure the petals were sprinkled to make something more beautiful.  But here it is, know that it is yours!

Charlotte's new passion is walking (on paths, not on grass).  She goes crazy when I mention the word 'walk' or 'shoes'.  Hmmm... she reminds me a bit of Elmer in that way, only less stinky and drooly...  generally. But cuter, certainly.

My Beautiful Babies!

Where are the cookies?!

After taking the fun candids, I decided that the light was too good to NOT take some great group shots... but the kids would rather play.  So I did what any good mom would do: I bribed them with cookies.  They were good for a while...

 Even if Charlotte was less than impressed...

 And Jack had to give her a good tickle under the armpit...

 Then I decided that we needed a new backdrop.  "Over to the fence," I said.  The kids protested (whined).  "Come on," I said, "There is a cookie in it for you!" They immediately obeyed me.  Fabulous!

 "What are you doing," I questioned.  "Looking for the cookies!  You SAID there was a cookie in it for us!" Liz began banging on the fence and you can see Jack's hand all clenched up in anger at the apparent lack of cookies...

 "Where are the cookies mom?!"  Oops, guess I hadn't meant my words to be taken quite like that...

 They weren't too excited to finish pictures after that, but they tried anyway...

A few cookies later and all was well again...

3 of the most beautiful Sillies on the planet

Some of my favorite shots of one of the first sunny, not cold days of the year.  The kids took full advantage of the sunlight!  They say the skies are always bluer in Seattle and, now that I say how rare they are I have to agree.  (By the way, Liz loves to pose for the camera.)

Portrait of a young girl on a slide

Just a little insight into Charlotte's new found ability to use the slide.  She can go completely independently but her style lacks a certain finesse as of yet...  She can't pull her right leg up to go down straight, so she just goes down in a sort of quasi-split that makes her face plant every. single. time.  And she loves it. Pain is nothing next to adventure! (Sorry the pictures are wonky)

 Liz getting her first major award!  She is a super reader!

 The kids dressed up as people from biblical times for the Christmas parade to promote the Nativity festival.  Liz put on a happy face (for us at least).

 Jack did not! He froze!  It was so cold that both kids were sobbing by the time we walked to the car after the parade.  Note to self: rain boots are not that warm, even if Jack loves them!

 Snow day!  School was cancelled the last day before Christmas break.  I love this shot, she looks so mischievous!

 Jack had fun too, despite some snowballs thrown to the head by... ahem... someone.

 I got in on the fun a bit as well!

 Liz loves the snow.  She also has a pretty good arm.  Good thing she didn't actually hit the camera man!

 Charlotte did not love the snow, but she does love rearranging the kitchen cupboards!

Jack's pre-church nap. I think I want to tattoo this one on my brain forever.  Love this kid in his little suit!