The twins are twenty!

My youngest siblings are no longer teenagers.
That is so hard to say.

As the oldest it's so hard to admit to myself that they no longer need me to make them breakfast or help them open the gallon of milk. They are both off at different colleges on different adventures and as much as it breaks my heart that I can't be there for them when it's hard or stressful, the truth is they don't need me for that. They are growing up, they can do all their own homework and everything. It's hard to step out of that role but I am so proud of them and who they are working to become.

So as I step into the role of sending delicious care packages and encouraging texts instead they make it easier because I know how awesome they are & how capable of doing whatever they aim for.

Love you guys and hope your birthday is awesome! Miss you tons!

Happy Birthday!!!

Erika invades Seattle.3

For our last day together we wanted to show Erika the non-city side of Seattle.

We hiked a 4 mile trail, Rattlesnake Ridge. Holy Moly it was gorgeous. We truly had beautiful weather the whole weekend but today it also gave us clear skies to see the whole view. It was definately the best view we've seen since we've been out here. So of course we stopped for lunch while starring out into it.

Good ol' Erika of course fell and twisted her ankle pretty bad. I think she hobbled the last mile mostly laughing and saying "it would be me", the day before she ran into a sharp corner. That girl :)

Another reason this hike rocked is because at the bottom there was a lake,

You could wade out into it pretty far and it was the perfect treat for our feet.

We headed to Fremont for dinner to grab burgers and truffle oil fries (I know amazing!)

and to check out the troll.Erika barely got away :)

It was really fantastic to have her visit us! I haven't had a good chunk of time alone with her since I was in high school! It was such a blessing that she was able to come out and that we had such nice weather. I loved getting to know her better again and to see her at her best.

I learned she's less of a picky eater now, had better taste in music,

is still accident prone, and still loud

:)

Plus it was really amazing to watch her and Joshua together. He was such a trooper all weekend and literally never complained but instead put up with Erika and I's complaining! Saint! But really, it's cool to see that they have a relationship too and that my old family really is meshing in with my new. Makes me all smiley!

Josh finally warmed up to the frame :)

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our adventures!

now we have to rest up because my college friend Michael will be here this weekend! Craziness!!!

Erika invades Seattle.2

Erika LOVES the zoo so I snagged cheap zoo tickets for Saturday and we spent all afternoon there! Wow we have a really cool zoo. They habitats for the animals were so cool! Plus the animals were all roaming around while we were there which is much better than when they just nap and hide.

We fed the birds, but the very colorful ones were smarter and would just grab your seed and fly off with it.

we found dippin dots- which really rocks

Erika and her elephants!

I asked Erika what she wanted to pack for our lunches, she said carrots haha. So we got the big ones

They had an elephant poo paper making station, hubs and I just watched :)

This is the route we walked all day! We almost walked 9 miles on Saturday!

We rehydrated with ice cream and iced coffee on the way there and back

Resting at Greenlake before the walk back home

We headed over to Ballard for amazing mexican food

and on the way back we showed her Gasworks!

We take everyone here, and always will it rocks!

It was a very full, very fun day. We were all very worn out though!

Check out Part 1 , Part 3 to come...

the Twins are NINTEEN

My youngest siblings are 19 today! (o my goodness, I need a few deep breaths)
I remember sneaking into my parents room while they were napping so I could hold them standing up (my parents said I had to sit-I was only 4 so naturally I disagreed), playing gymnastics in our basement and Colton trying to pick up a pillow bigger than him and falling over, Erika and I would always play school and she would beg for me to make up homework for her- Now they just ran off to college- Colton is studying computer science & Erika is studying nursing.
We think about them all the time and wonder what they are up to.
We miss them oodles but are so glad that they are finding their way in college and hopefully having a blast.

so HAPPY BIRTHDAY my twins

I hope you have a fantabulous day full of laughter, cake, and wishes

Joshua & I are thinking of you!!!

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