For the Love of Trains!

Aaden loves trains. He talks about them, plays with them, reads about them and probably dreams about them. Last week I decided we should take a trip down to Portland just the two of us (one last time before baby comes). I hate driving and the Everett to Portland trip seems to get longer every time. My solution = take the train! Turns out that mid-week it is relatively inexpensive and a lot more fun!

Kristofer dropped Aaden and I off at the Everett Station Tuesday morning and by mid-afternoon we were in Portland. Happy, fed and not so tired. Plus, Nana and Papa were there to meet us!

We had a great week spending days playing trains at Nana and Papa's, visiting great-grandparents and friends and enjoying the sun. A highlight for Aaden was sleeping in his very own cot/sleeping bag like a big boy. A highlight for me was spending quality time with my parents and some R&R.

Friday, my folks drove us back home and spent the weekend with us. So all, in all...a great week!

Here are a few pictures from the train (I took NONE in Portland, that's how relaxed I was!?)

 Aaden was perfect on the train. Mostly looked at Where's Waldo books, sang songs, played trains, ate lunch and chatted with the nice teacher ladies sitting around us.

 As we arrived in Portland we went over to the "view" side of the train to check out the passing scenery. 

One happy train riding boy!

Auntie Megan's Bday

My brother's wife had a birthday last week. Aaden can't pass up a reason for cake and ice cream, so we had them up for just that. The day was perfect, and Aado was so happy to wake up from his nap and see Auntie Megan's yummy cake ready for the occasion.

"Cheese" Yummy cake!

A little project

I've been in the sewing mood lately. While I haven't put that to good use for anything for my baby, our house or myself...I did make a few things for a girl friend who is having a baby girl!

Okay, I did make this one as an after-thought for my guy. 

Candid Aado

I was cleaning off my camera's memory card today and found some candid shots of the boy and what he's been up to. Most of these were a surprise to me too, since Daddy likes to grab the camera and take some silly shots every now and again.

 Love this, parked all his cars and wanted a picture taken. Looking so much like his daddy at that age!

 "Take a picture of me eating breakfast, smiling"

 Sometimes potty training takes a distraction - Clifford the Big Red Dog!

When it is sunny and you are learning to use the big boy potty...naked is the best! Waiting for his lunch.

Beach Combing

Today started out drizzly and cold. By the afternoon the sun peaked through the clouds and it warmed up a bit. We took full advantage of the hours of sunny/warm weather and took a picnic dinner to Mukilteo Landing. It was gorgeous out there!

Aaden enjoyed watching 4 different trains pass by, 3 different ferries come and go, splashing in the "pond" and getting ice cream.

So glad that we decided to get out of the house, it was great fun hanging out with my boys!

Dirty Jobs

My loving husband pressure washed our house and patio/driveway last weekend. He wanted me to show the aftermath...

Arlington Fly-In

With Uncle Tim being a full-time employee at the Arlington airport now, we made sure to head up to the yearly fly-in to support him. Aaden LOVES airplanes and it is always fun to hang out with Uncle Tim on the job. Kristofer's company, Dynon Avionics is always there too, promoting their products so, double cool!

This year the weather was perfect! We stayed all day and even watched the air show from our special balcony seats at the airport office.

Kristofer was the photographer for the day, here are a few highlights:

 Light-sport airplanes (Dynon's products can go in these)

 Trying to pose with G'pa

 Purrty plane, Aunt Lacey wants this one!

 His view for the air show

 My view for the air show

A beautiful glider doing aerobatics