Acton's new car!

We got a new car! Thank you to all who helped to make this happen, we were really in a tight situation. Now we are cruzin' around in our dream car! It is a 2002 Honda Accord EX. Happy Holidays!

A Sweet Halloween

Aurelia was a cupcake this Halloween thanks to Allison's savvy sewing swiftness.


We had a full night of fun visiting all of the shops at the University Village where we participated in the candy crazed sidewalks just in time before the candy ran out.

Later, we went to one of the Ravenna neighborhood's to find the best candy of the evening, only chocolate bars, yumm. Aurelia figured out the process of filling up her bag with loot quickly and soon became a natural, holding out her bag and smilling with her big cupcake smile for the homeowners to wilt over with "awwww". Allison really did a great job on the costume, everyone we met knew what Aurelia was and was surprised at the tailorship of the cake work. We are storing the costume to give to Aurelia when she is 20.

Thanks to Grandma Robyn for sending the orange tutu! Aurelia found it to be quite tres chic and danced around the house being a ghoulish ballerina.

Parks & Recreation

Seattle is full of AMAZING parks! I try to take Aurelia to a new one each week. Its good for both of us to get out and explore. We rate them based on the number and height of slides, whether the swings have a big chain or small chain (this makes a difference in the amount of pushing I have to do), toddler friendly climbing structures, beauty and cleanliness.
Here is a picture list of our favorites!
1. Magnusen Park (huge play structure, beach and park w/ducks)















































2. Matthews Beach (play structures and beach, and we can bike there)














3. Meridian Park (great play structures and grassy lawn w/apple trees)













































4. Madison Park (not that great for Toddlers, but has a delicious bakery nearby)














5. Golden Gardens (for the beach)














We visited the most amazing park 2 weekends ago up in Kenmore (about 20 min from where we live at the top of the lake). Orb took Aurelia and I fell asleep in the car - when I woke up 45 min later, they were still gone. I went to go find them and this is what I found :

This picture really doesn't do it justice. I even had fun playing and climbing around! Needless to say, Aurelia was completely exhausted and glassy-eyed after an hour and a half. We will be back!








The air is definitely getting cooler, but the sun is still shining, so we are out and about enjoying it until we have to hibernate inside for 5 months.

Something designy

Here are a few of my favorite design blogs for any of you needing color/decorating inspiration or would just like to view some artsy/not so artsy stuff:
Mostest Favorite: Design Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com/
with a fun DIY idea section and great Before & Afters
Great Design: http://decor8blog.com/
Fun Stationary: http://www.papayablog.com/
For those of us still living in apts (there's hope): http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/
The most beautiful Letterpress company: http://www.elumdesigns.com/shop/
Random assortment: http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/
And fun hilarity on cakes: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

I hope you find some inspiration. Please let me know if you come upon any great design blogs and leave a comment with the address.

Right place for Dahlias

Today, Aurelia and I visited Volunteer Park. This is one of my favorite parks in the city. Not only is it beautiful but it contains the Asian Art Museum (free on the first Thurs and Sat of the month), the Conservatory (perfect to visit in the dead of winter for color therapy) and the Dahlia garden. This garden contains the most magnificent floral blooms in all shades and varieties. Today we happened upon the caretaker of the garden who was pruning the plants. We were in the right place at the right time to bring home 6 bouquet fulls of clipped blossoms...otherwise they were just going to be thrown away. Here are some pictures!

Vacation O-lala!

One week is not enough at the farm...
peaches... blackberries, petanque, farm food...
Ridgely, Mother Trucker's, Yuba River...
Friends (Kyle and Jen + one K, Justin and Kayla and Lucy)...
and Family...Good times until next summer!

Some Photoshop Fun!

I couldn't help myself....
Aurelia really likes to ride her rocking horse and yesterday she got her first "My Little Pony".
Isn't this every little girls dream? A life size "My Little Pony"!
Today, Aurelia emptied out her book basket and climbed on in. She barely fit but was oh so happy.
I don't think she would be as smiley in this situation... Weeeeeeeeeee!

Here are some photos from this last week and weekend!
1) Aurelia's new hairdo (peanut butter is an amazing hair gel substitute!)
2) We got to celebrate the wedding of Ian and Karin Hamilton. It was beautiful and wonderful and a nice night out for us sans Aurelia. Orb was honored to be an usher.
3) Aurelia had so much fun that she was all tuckered out when we found her at Angus and Clare's. Thanks you two for watching her!
4) We got to watch the Blue Angels fly overhead on Sunday doing their sky acrobatics as part of Seattle's Seafair celebration.

Let the blogging begin!

I think it is about time we finally set this up! I'm excited to start!

Highlights from the summer so far:
1) Lots of visitors!
Going to the San Juan Islands with Zeno & Erin
Raspberry picking with all the Jantos clan
Getting all 3 little cousins together :)

2) Lots of sunshine
It has been the driest, hottest summer yet in my 3 years of living here. Right now we are melting in triple digits - but that just means we get to play in the kiddie pool all day or head to the lake every afternoon. Aurelia is already a sand castle whiz.
3) Lots of walking (and climbing and everything else)
Aurelia officially started walking in May and has been on the go ever since!! Now she is into climbing (onto the couch, onto chairs, onto the dishwasher door, on to the dining room table) and turning nobs, opening and closing doors, walking up and down stairs, sorting and re-sorting the spice rack, hiding her toys in strange places, unlatching her diaper and running around naked
4) Lots of talking
All that reading and talking to her is beginning to pay off. Most of the jabbering accompanied by finger pointing is still unrecognizable, but every now and again she'll say a real word!

First official word: Bubble (first used to describe the airplanes so frequently overhead)
Others: Hi (to EVERYONE esp in the grocery store), Row, Row, Row (first three words of the song), duck/dog (not quite sure which), ball, turtle, hot, water, moooo, meow, ...there must be more...
5)Lots of work
This pertains to Orb (not me so much). Orb is thriving and making huge strides towards graduating this next year (yipeee!) He has several published papers under his belt already and was honored this spring at a conference for having a stellar poster presentation. I am really proud of him.
6) Travel
We get to go down to CA to visit the family, hang out on the farm, let Aurelia explore, relax, swim in the river. We are looking forward to a great time!

More to come!