New rental house

Big news...On May 9th we are moving! We are renting out our house and moving to a house in the Admiral District in West Seattle about three miles away from our current home. The new house is a few blocks from Luca' school. We are looking forward to being able to be more apart of the school community and the walk-ability of this area in West Seattle. I am really glad that we are not selling our house. I have found out from this process so far that I am not ready for that:) All the work John has done to make it so beautiful lays tribute to the fact that we already have renters for our house! Admiral or Bust!

 The front yard

 The living room

 The dining room

The kitchen

Luca's 6th birthday

We celebrated Luca's birthday with a friends lego park/open swim pool party two Sundays ago. This last week was spring break in Seattle Schools so the kids were on break. John and I had our normal work schedules, but were able to have a family day on one of the days to celebrate Luca turning six!

We went on a tour of the Great Harvest Bread Company and saw how they made bread. Then went down to Alki beach and gave Luca his ezyroller birthday gift. We spent a while down at Alki letting him try it out.

Then we had rest time for the kids and I got to go running! Grandma Martha and Grandpa Don came over and did a little science project, Cozy Nana sent for the birthday with Luca. Then we went to the old spaghetti factory for dinner and a park downtown. It was a beautiful sunny day in Seattle and as a family.

I am grateful that we could celebrate Luca's life together. He has grown in tremendous and amazing ways, far exceeding at six what I thought might ever be possible on the day he was born. I am so grateful for who he is, the character he possess, his determination, humor, energy, enthusiasm for everything in life, and his love for people. 

Being his mom has been the most exhausting, challenging and rewarding work I have ever been a part of. I am excited to see what this year holds for him. What he will learn and how he will grow. Luca and Juliette have really been bonding this year too. It is a joy to watch their relationship grow. 

The next day Aunt Mari came over to celebrate Luca's birthday and we all sang songs the the banjo! It was magical! 

Happy Birthday Luca

Luca is turning six on April 15th so to celebrate we went to the park and swimming! What a blast! Luca had such a great time and is so lucky to have so many wonderful friends surrounding him! We missed those who couldn't be there and are very grateful to all those who have loved and supported him (and us) these last long and meaningful 6 years! What a celebration! Wishing all the cousins could have been there too.
You can see Luca's big smile at the park! It was even bigger (if that is possible in the pool) Luca loves to be in the water!

Easter Egg Hunt

 This is from last Friday at Preschool, dying Easter Eggs

The kids and Pela got to go on an Easter Egg hunt at the PlayGarden last sat. The church next door planned the event and it was a lot of fun. The PlayGarden also had two goslings hatched this week so that was a neat to witness! Juliette now LOVES the PlayGarden and we are all so glad! She is happy to go to preschool on Mondays and Fridays and it is often her high from the day! She was so excited to have an Easter Egg hunt at "her" school! We love the PlayGarden!

Juliette's three year old stats

Juliette had her three year check up yesterday (6 weeks late) but at least we made it happen:)

She is in the 99.5% for height at 41.54 inches or 105.5 cm
And 88% for weight at 36 1/2 pounds, 16.60 kg in weight

I have to remind myself daily that she is three since she looks older although her behavior also reminds me that she is three. She continues to make us laugh, brings us joy and keeps us always on our toes!
We love you Juliette!

 Juliette, why is your face purple?, "I was making Preston laugh" When do kids stop coloring on themselves?

 Juliette's first braid. Frozen has helped with the motivation. Betsy, thank you for the countless braids you let me do in your sweet wispy hair...it has prepared me well for Juliette's:) Miss you Bets!

Reflections on casts

I (Katie) work in the Children's Ministry department at Bethany. On Tuesday am, I get to set up the program for the MOPS program at Bethany. I float between classrooms, greeting moms, and children. This morning starting like any other, checking on classrooms, bringing materials to teachers, and greeting moms. I brought a volunteer to a classroom of toddlers and stayed for a few mins. until the regular teacher arrived. One mom of twin boys entered the classrooms to drop off. She set down one of her sons. After a few a minute or two she told us that her other son had broken his leg sitting on her sister's lap going down the slide (people don't do that) anyway. I hadn't noticed his full length cast under his long pants. She said he was adjusting fine to the cast and that it was going to be on for another 3 weeks. She was relaxed about the whole thing.
Then she passed her son to me. He was sad to see mom go and was crying for a few mins. It was so strange how "normal" it felt to hold a toddler with a cast on...like, ya, that is what I remember. I connected to his positioning and it just "felt" so normal to hold him. It was the weirdest positive, and also negative nostalgic experience. It made me want to hold more babies with casts but also reminded me of a very hard time in Luca's (and ours) lives. And the horrible casting experience.
Luca was in casts almost exclusively up until he was 2 years old. I am grateful that he doesn't need to be in casts anymore. I am so thankful that he does not have to have surgery this year! What a gift to see both of my kids running around day after day! What a incredible gift!

Luca living life with casts

Above are two pictures of his feet early on! Thank you Dr. Mosca, all those casts and surgeries!

 Nothing is slowing this kid down!

Luca and a husky puppy

We visited Tia in her new house in Issaquah today. Luca had so much fun meeting her new husky puppy named Hazel. He walked her around the yard. He loved holding on her leash. It was the first time I have ever seen Luca bond with a dog and it was pretty tender! He asked Tia if he could take Hazel home. Of course, not... but Luca asked on the way home when we could get a husky puppy (we are not getting a dog).
Tia has another puppy named Callie that Juliette prefers.
Here is the photo evidence: