Extra Babies!

I remember the minute I found out that these two precious nieces of mine were going to be big sisters. My plane had just landed in Seattle in January, and as I turned on my phone to text Matt, the first thing I saw was this picture. I actually gasped, with no one but Adele to celebrate with. Matt's sister Stephanie is having a baby boy in August! It is such happy news! The cousin clan is growing!

Steph and Cheri brought the twins to visit us for a week in late February. There is nothing cuter than THREE baby girls interacting together at this age. They're like kittens, with bigger smiles and smaller claws.

Emmy loved the piano.

We took a long walk to the library, the donut shop, and the park one day. 

I love how much Piper hates the swing, and how much Adele enjoys it.

Josh was happy to have the attention of his Grandma Cheri all week. She finished reading The Three Musketeers with him, and gave him all the snuggles he's been missing from me since Adele came along. And yes, that is a Harry Potter wand he's holding.

We walked to frozen yogurt, and played lots of games at home. Josh still hadn't started public school yet, so these were some of his last days at home. I find Settlers of Catan to be a pretty educational game for his age.

We took Grandma Cheri to Ellenos and Beecher's at Pike Place Market. Those first couple months, we had so many visitors wanting to do touristy things that I definitely got my fill of Pike Place. We had to take a little break after that.

You know you've been playing hard when two of your kids fall asleep in your arms in the same day. It was magical for me. Adele even fell asleep on me at church, which never happens.

Steph took her girls to a friend's house for a couple days, but Adele was very happy to have them back for group bath time. Seriously, there is nothing cuter.

We really love visitors. We really love showing off this city. We really love our family and friends. And it's getting warmer and more beautiful here by the day. Come visit us! And if you've already been here, come again! 

Madsen Boys

I'm the second child and the second girl in my family. But my dad has affectionately called me his "first son" since I was a little tomboy, strutting around in my basketball shorts, racing him on quad runners, building campfires, and abhorring my sister's cheerleading uniform. We were good buddies, my dad and me. He finally got a REAL boy on his fourth child, and named him Steven. I like to think we three kind of became the Madsen boy gang for a few years there.

Over Valentine's Day, I got a long weekend with all my favorite guys. Steven and Buck arrived first from Salt Lake.

I thoroughly enjoy walking around town with three kids, a dog, and a man wearing a baby. Even though he is my brother, we get a lot of looks and sometimes comments about our cute, busy family.

Adele was attached to Steven from the second he walked in the door. She needed to be touching him at all times. He fell asleep on the couch, and when I piled up a barrier of pillows to keep Adele away, she wailed in agony until she struggled to the top of the pile to lay right on his face.

February in Seattle was amazing this year. Flowers started blooming so early, and Josh wore shorts and flip flops regularly. So different from our last five Februaries.

My dad got to town the next day from Redding. We found a burger place on our walk and he was just enchanted with the walkability of our neighborhood. He chose to live on a big, private country lot, but I'm pretty sure he would love life if he could walk to dinner every night.

I took them to Burgundian another day and discovered some delicious chicken and waffles.

Above and below are two of my new favorite pictures.

My high school buddy Alexe came over later to reminisce with us over chicken noodle soup. (Sometimes I think our lives kind of revolve around food.)

I just love catching photos of my dad's happy face. Church is more fun when I get to watch him wrestle with Adele.

That day, I took my Madsen boys to Pike Place Market for some tourist time.

In the afternoon, we caught the ferry to Bainbridge Island. Steven stayed home to finish some homework, but I don't think he really missed out. Aside from the cool pictures and the view of the city from the boat, it was really just a long, tired afternoon. Lots of walking in the cold with children, and hardly any restaurants open to feed us. But Mora's ice cream was really yummy. Maybe we'll try again in the summer.

We were pretty pooped on the way home, but I never regret exploring a new place. Seattle is a beautiful city, day or night.

We're glad these crazies made the long drive to see our new home. I hate that I didn't get a picture with my five favorite boys and me. They'll just have to come back.