little black journal

It was a three-hour drive from Antelope Canyon to our AirBNB in Sedona, and we boogied, eager to kick back for a bit at our new digs before beginning Part II of our Arizona vacation.

We freshened up and then settled into a beautiful table at Broome and Orchard, reserved courtesy of Shane.

The drinks were tasty, the food was exceptional, and the company couldn’t be beat.  We’d logged so many hours in the car that day, but spirits were high as three days in a new town stretched out in front of us.

We slept like logs on Wednesday and awoke on Thursday ready to carpe diem.  Our explorations started at Indian Gardens Market, where we wolfed down french toast and chilaquiles on their charming patio.

From Indian Gardens, it was a short drive to Slide Rock at Oak Creek Canyon.

This place was like a natural water park, with small pools and rock slides and a lazy river…  It was a bit too chilly to get in the water that day, but Juliette and I did some exploring and rock-hopping.

Shane and Isaac would love this place…we’ll be back.

After Slide Rock, we strolled downtown Sedona, iced chai and iced coffee in hand.  We picked up a little toy for Isaac and Juliette bought an opalite charm at a rock shop.  Good vibes!

We vegged at our condo in the afternoon and then set out for a short hike at Bell Rock before dinner.  The trailhead was just a few minutes from where we were staying and it seemed worth a wander…

Unlike a lot of the forested lake hikes we do in the PNW where the destination is hidden from view until you’re upon it, at this place it was always abundantly clear where we were headed.

Always chatting, us two.

Getting closer…

We made it to this perch and decided it was the perfect place to stop and hydrate.  A gaggle of more adventurous teenage boys scrambled past us and further up the rock, but this sunny seat felt just right for us.

Rather than retrace our steps back to the car, we rounded Bell Rock toward Courthouse Rock to stretch out our finish.

One of those “Is this real life?!” kind of landscapes.  I’ve never been anyplace like it.

We made good time getting back, eager to make our dinner reso.  We stopped for a minute when we spotted a couple of coyotes eyeing us from a distance, but they didn’t bother us and we didn’t bother them.

Beautiful hike.  Highly recommend!

We had dinner at the Mesa Grill, again reaping the benefits of Shane’s good restaurant scouting, and then went back to the condo for a dip in the hot tub before calling it a night.  We had a early trailhead date the next morning!

I spent a long time reading trail reviews, trying to find us a just-hard-enough Friday hike, and settled on Cathedral Rock via Baldwin Trail.  I’d read that the parking lot is often full, so we rallied early, grabbed coffee and muffins from a nearby bakery, and set out from the trailhead at 8am.

Long dusty trails led us into the woods and then near the river, where we stopped for a bit to rest before starting the elevation gain in earnest.

We climbed switchbacks and rock steps, huffing and puffing a bit as the sun rose higher and the day got warmer.

Still, though, she smiled.

A moment to hydrate before the final ascent:

It was a scramble to the top in some places, where we crawled on our hands and knees over sheer, sloping rocks, but WE DID IT.

Well done, Juliette!

We rested in the shade for awhile, reveling in the chance to cool off and catch our breath while taking in the view.

And back to it!

When in doubt, descend on your butt…

Quite the five-miler!  Proud of us for conquering the rock.

We slurped Diet Cokes and wolfed down burritos from a Mexican restaurant across the street from the condo, Facetimed back home to find that brother was goofy as ever, and then lounged poolside for the afternoon.  We’d earned it.

We made a short stop at Chapel of the Holy Cross before dinner, taking in the austere architecture and sunny plaza.

And then pizza and cards at Oak Creek Brewery in Tlaquepaque Village.

The shopping center was beautiful, with gardens and fountains and Spanish-style plazas.  We wandered around and window-shopped for awhile.  I made note of a pottery boutique that was was closed for the day but likely worth a return trip the next morning.

Gosh, what a top day with my top girl.

Saturday was our travel day home, but our afternoon flight left us enough time for breakfast at the Pump House back at Tlaquepaque.

Plus a pop into the pottery shop…

And a creekside sit for reading and Sudoko…

I was eager to get home to our guys, but also reluctant to leave this slice of magic behind.  I fell hard for Sedona, with its dramatic scenery and chill vibes.  I can’t wait to go back.

Now, back to our boys!

It was an easy flight home and we were greeted curbside at the Seattle airport with the biggest of hugs.  Juliette had been such a rockstar travel buddy.  Isaac was healthy and happy.  And SHANE.  Shane had pivoted and swapped his Arizona Spring Break for a staycation with Isaac, complete with trips to the arcade and movie theater and multiple playgrounds.  He administered the middle-of-the-night inhaler treatments and nursed our son back to health.  Total hero, that guy.  It was good to be home.

Always a season behind here, but hey!  Spring Break 2026!  But before I get to the roll of pics featuring me and Juliette gallavanting around Arizona, a note on why Shane and Isaac are not featured in said pics…  Isaac came down with a light cough two days before we were all meant to leave, but I largely set it aside and figured it was nothing worth changing plans over.  We’ve seen so many coughs come and go in our house.  And then the day before our flight, I noticed how rapid his breathing was as he napped on the couch.  This was…different.  It seemed worth heading to Urgent Care, just in case we needed to scoop up an antibiotic prescription before our trip.  An hour after walking through the doors of our neighborhood Urgent Care, we were being rushed to the Emergency Room at Seattle Children’s by ambulance.

Honestly, the call for the ambulance may have been overly cautious on the part of the clinic doctor, but still, Isaac’s breathing was labored and he needed more help than they were primed to offer.  Buddy was incredibly brave (braver than me!) through a barrage of breathing treatments and chest x-rays and vitals checks.

It was a long, long night, but he improved with each passing hour, eventually giggling over his ET-like oxygen sensor while using his bed controls to fake-phone his friends.  We were discharged shortly after midnight with a diagnosis of pre-pneumonia.  He was stable, but in no shape to board a plane in several hours.

So…what to do?  Gosh, I wanted this trip.  I felt like I needed this trip.  Work had been running me ragged and I missed hanging with my kids and I was counting on that sun-break.  Shane wanted this trip, too, but more than that, he wanted me to take a break, and so as we pulled into our driveway at nearly 1:00 am, Isaac snoozing in the backseat, he urged me to go. Take Juliette and GO.

So we did.  Early the next morning, with just a couple of tears, we said goodbye to our guys and got on a plane to Phoenix.

Upon landing, first things first.

We settled into our cutie AirBNB in Tempe and then grabbed dinner in Old Town Scottsdale.

The evening was warm, the sky was brilliant, word from home was that Isaac was in good spirits, and Juliette and I were officially on vay-cay.

We caught up over tacos and margaritas (Jarritos for Juliette) and while this wasn’t the vacation we’d pictured, we both agreed we were going to make the most of it.

Making the most of a Mama-Jules trip meant binge-watching This Is Us late into the night and then sleeping in.  It was nearly lunchtime by the time we’d breakfasted and dressed on Monday.  Shane and I had planned this first leg of our Arizona trip as a total lay-low, where we’d enjoy the pool at the house, kick back, and eat in.  Juliette and I carried forth with that plan, but with a little bonus shopping and a nice meal at The Canal Club.

Tuesday was similarly lazy – I finished my book, we worked on our tans and streamed Gilmore Girls on the patio TV.  I took a nap.  It was glorious.

Still though, I was antsy by mid-afternoon, so we put on real clothes and headed into Phoenix for coffee and pizza.

And then we drove over to the Desert Botanical Garden for an evening stroll among the cacti.

This place was beautiful – local flora at its finest.

Late night hangs with my girl back at the house…

But not TOO late, because we were getting an early start on Wednesday!  This was the point in the trip at which “making the most of it just being the two of us” transitioned from vegging to adventuring.  I’ve been wanting to visit the Antelope Slot Canyons for years but figured it wasn’t in the cards for us, given the four-hour drive time from Tempe.  Then again, if it was just me and my best co-pilot…I booked us an 11am tour.  We were doing it.

We made great time on the long drive north and stopped by Horseshoe Canyon on the way to Antelope.  The path from the parking lot was flat and dusty and I wondered if we were in the right place, but then you get a little closer…

…and see this:

Turns out Arizona has a few tricks up her sleeves!

We hopped back in the car for a short drive through more lifeless landscapes…

Followed our guide down another flat, dusty trail…

And then began our descent into a magical underworld of flowing red rocks.

I cannot overstate how surreal this place was, sculpted by the natural forces of wind and water.  I’ve never seen anything like it.

We stuck with our group but had plenty of time throughout to stop to ooh and ahh.

While I’d seen plenty of pictures of the slot canyons (they inspired my architectural thesis project!), Juliette had no context for what to expect, so it was fun to watch her discover it with completely fresh eyes.

Core memory.

Eventually we emerged from below with the sense that we’d just traversed an alternate universe.  Totally worth the trip.  Next stop: Sedona!

Wednesday in Maui dawned with lazy snuggles before a walk to the market for spam musubi and malasadas.

Isaac’s breakfast came with a side of monster truck.  Lucky boy…

We staked out a couple of chairs at our hotel’s beach that morning and checked out a volleyball from the pool desk.  I settled in with my book while the kids played.

We walked back up to the market for lunch and matcha – we traverse this beach path several times a day, every day, but I don’t mind the back and forth in the least.  There’s no better place to travel by foot…

Swing detour…

And always, the quick photo op.

We debated getting in the car and trying someplace new for dinner, but at the end of day, the poolside picnic won.

Our last full day in Maui!  Rise and shine, Isaac.

Thursday found us back at Makena Beach, this time with lilikoi croissants from Momona Bakery (thanks, Shane!).  Deeeeeeeelicious.

Isaac and I hunted for crabs and minnows while the sun fully rose.  Beachcombing is the perfect way to work up a sweat.

And then, into the water!  Both kids loved swimming in the ocean more this year than they ever have in the past.

The water was extra calm that morning, but Juliette played up the drama of even the smallest approaching waves.  Isaac ate it up.

Tuckered.

From the beach to the pool!

The world is basically his runway.

We made a reservation at one of the hotel restaurants and gussied up just a little for dinner – sometimes it’s nice to eat someplace where shirts and shoes are required.

The kids slurped pasta while Shane and I feasted on fresh fish.  The sun set in the distance, the breeze was warm, I was feeling just a tad blue at the thought of leaving…but more than anything, I was so thankful for those few days in paradise.

Heart rock!

Good night, Maui.

Friday was go-day.  Soak in that morning view, kiddos.

Thankfully, we had time for one last market stroll…

One last spam musubi…

(With a side of acai…)

One last ocean dip…

And one last cannonball.

The wet-haired boy wrapped in a beach towel, worn out and content, is an image I’m freeze-framing in my mind forever.

Juliette made her annual departing wish at the fountain and then we loaded up our bags and said our mahalo’s.

A little tired.  A little sun-kissed.  A lot happy.  Until next year, Maui!

 

Wailea!  We made it!  We couldn’t have been happier to be back at our old stomping grounds, healthy and 100% waterslide-ready.

We ate dinner poolside, because the thought of trading our swimsuits for real clothes felt entirely unappealing.  In this current phase of life, making the most of Maui time means spending as much time as possible in or directly adjacent to water.

On that note, to the beach!

We played a raucous game of tag and splashed in the surf.  I just finished reading a memoir written by a woman who talks about the joy she gets from watching her pack of dogs run unleashed in the wide open desert as they all live into the wildest, most free versions of themselves, and I am definitely not comparing my son to a dog, but I mean…

Run, family, run!

Juliette and Shane worked up a sweat in trying to keep up with Isaac, so they dipped in the ocean for a cooldown.

Buddy and I hung back on the shore.

Gosh, he was amped up.

Can we talk about how this place always rolls out the red carpet for us upon arrival?  This was the best sunset we saw all week.

We watched the last streaks of pink fade to gray from our favorite hot tub, perched above the pools, and then we called it a day.  We’d swam our damn hearts out.

Monday morning started with a stroll through the resort and along the beach path to Island Vintage for coffee and acai.

No one makes a prettier breakfast bowl.

We took our time moseying on back, stopping for some sidewalk air guitar, a few requisite snaps at the Aloha sign, and a quick round of corn hole on the Mariott’s lawn.

And then to the beach, because our daily Wailea ritual goes: breakfast -> beach -> lunch -> pool -> dinner -> beach, and if it ain’t broke, we don’t fix it.  We made the short drive down to Po’olenalena and scored a shady spot with plenty of tree coverage to keep us cool through the morning.  Money.

From one body of water to the next…

We walked up to Island Market for a simple picnic dinner and I wondered for a moment as Isaac asked for a carry if he’d make until sunset.  Buddy was wiped.

Woop!  He’s up!

A top notch treat from Honolulu Cookie Company to cap off a top notch day.

And because the beach always seems to be “on the way” back to the room…

Tuesday dawned with an action figure patio duel.

And a vanilla steamer from the hotel cafe.

The beach du jour was Makena Beach, just a couple of miles south of us.  This is Shane’s seafront of choice, as we’re always able to land a shady spot and there’s a nice mix of rocky zones for exploring and open zones for swimming.

Isaac spent most of the morning digging a giant hole, scooping and tossing and scooping and tossing.

Then jumping!

When this boy puts his mind to something…this crater was large.  I stretched out comfortably at the bottom of it while the kids took turns jumping over me.

Chill, Bud.  You earned it.

We lunched at Maui Brewing and then it was straight to Ululani’s for our most treastured island treat.  Green tea + passion fruit + guava for me, just like every year.  And perfectly sweet + tart + smooth, just like every year.

And then on with the regularly scheduled programming…

We picnicked and sun-setted at Makena Cove and I’m aware of how many times I use the word “favorite” when speaking of Maui, but truly, this tiny little stretch of beach at golden hour is IT.

The kids spun in the sand, arms stretched wide, until they toppled over, dizzy and giggling.  Eventually I joined them and we all landed together in one sandy pile of limbs and laughter.   It was all so unabashedly delightful…I wanted to bottle it up so I could sip from it later.  And maybe I did in fact bring some of that joy back to the mainland; just flipping through these photos now gives me all the warm feels.

Pooped, arms still outstretched…  (Also, Buddy, scoot over!).

Maui recap!  Three months ago we boarded a plane for our favorite island…

That special touchdown kind of feeling – vibes were high.

This year we mixed it up just a tad and booked three nights up in Ka’anapali prior to our requisite stay down in Wailea.  After a quick stop at Costco for the essentials (sparkling water, trail mix, Pocky), we checked into our hotel, quickly traded our travel clothes for swimsuits, then hit the pool, white bellies and all.

And then the beach beckoned.

We laid out our towels on the sand, grabbed poke and chicken strips from a nearby beach cafe, and settled in for a golden hour picnic.

Cheers, Buddy.

I love going to bed our first night in Maui, knowing the long day of travel is behind us and we have several days of sun stretched out before us.  The promise of it all!  But dang it if Shane didn’t wake me up at midnight, asking if I’d packed any Iboprofen, because he felt awful.  Fever and chills and aches all over – Isaac’s cold bug from earlier in the week had found another victim.

SO, on Friday morning while Shane stayed in bed and tried to sleep off his sickness, I took the kids to the beach for a swim.

But first, ACAI.

Napili Bay was gorgeous – soft sand and aqua water and gentle waves.  Our family has a particular allegiance to the beaches at Wailea, but this place was turning out to do juuuuust fine.

Ready, set…

Jump!

We spent the full morning strolling up and down the beach, dipping deeper and deeper as the sun rose higher and higher.

The beach has a way of bringing out the very best in their relationship.  Silly…

And so stinking sweet.

We eventually shook the sand from our towels and headed back to the car.  We made a run into town for cold meds for Shane.  And a black robot for Isaac, because his Spiderman action figure needed someone to duel against.

Post-lunch pool…

And then a drive up to the north shore of the island to check out the Nakalele Blowhole.  It was a rockier trek than I expected to get down to where the water crashed on the rocks, but the kids scampered the terrain like champs.

We sat for awhile on a pair of rocks to watch the spray, but kept our proper distance.

Honestly, this was one of those attractions where the journey to and from was better than the destination.  No complaints!

We all felt like we’d earned a treat after our mini-hike, so I made a hard left when I saw a sign for shave ice.  It was close to dinnertime and I recommended that we be responsible and share rather than overindulge, but…

This thing could have fed a family of six.

Dig in, kids!

Shane was feeling the tiniest bit better that evening and joined us for a walk over the food trucks for dinner, but then it was early to bed for all of us.  We needed to be up early the next morning.

Early as in, rise and shine at 2:30am, kids!  Every year that we go to Maui, we debate making the drive up to Haleakala for sunrise, and every year we decide that we just can’t swing the middle-of-the-night wakeup that it requires.  But since we had an extra day on the island for this trip, and since Shane had snagged a last-minute Saturday morning reservation that granted us access to the mountaintop, we decided this was our year.  Carpe diem.

We ushered the kids from their beds into the car, pajamas and all, and mapped our route.  Isaac slept through most of our two hour drive; we arrived at the top of the mountain by 5am with time to spare.  We put on every bit of warm clothing I’d packed (sweatshirts and the handful of beanies I’d grabbed on our way out the door in Seattle), wrapped ourselves in our hotel blankets, and settled in to wait for the show.  And shortly before 6:00, the sky lightened from black to navy, with the boldest streak of orange right at the horizon.

Unreal.  Totally worth the obscenely early wake-up and the cold-temp shivers.

The kids were such good sports.  Isaac whined a bit about the cold but hung in there with the rest of us. Juliette was supremely validating with her exclamations of, “Wow…wow…WOW” as the sky changed color.

Super troopers.

Now let’s crank up the seat warmers!

We reached the bottom of mountain as the island’s cafes and bakeries were just opening their doors.  We stopped in the charming town of Makawao for coffee and guava-filled malasadas.

While I would have happily napped the afternoon away, the kids had other plans.  Pool time!

And then a trip up to Whaler’s Village for burgers and lemonade.

I was eager to show Shane the turquoise water at Napili Bay, so we hightailed it over the beach for sunset.

So happy to have him back in the land of the living.

Rain showers drove us back to the car before the sun fully set, but Isaac enjoyed watching daylight wane from our patio, all while jamming out to the live band playing 70’s rock covers from the bar below.

On Sunday we packed up our things and said goodbye to Ka’anapali.  We’d had a fun little stint there, minus Shane’s bug, but we were eager to get down to Wailea.

That said, we had several hours until check-in at our next digs, so we took our time heading south, stopping first at Baby Beach for swimming and sand play.

The water here is remains shallow way off-shore.  Isaac kicked around in his floaties and then joined Shane for castle-building while Juliette and I walked out to see just how far the shallows extended.

We moseyed on out and then a turtle swam by, not ten feet in front of us!  Another checkmark on the Maui magic list.

We decided to grab lunch in Paia but then I saw the sign for Leoda’s Pie Shop on the way and figured we shoud probably check it out…reviews raved about their key lime pie and both Juliette and I love a good, tart dessert.

Followed by a Mopsy pizza at Paia Flatbread.  Every time we visit this place I wonder if we should try something new, but that pulled pork pizza is just so good.  The heart wants what it wants…

And then our hearts were set on Wailea.  Next up!

Winter is OVER.  We did it!  We made it through the darkest, coldest months of the year.  With a heap of happy memories, no less.  December, January and February held plenty of sweet, cozy moments indoors.  Couch snuggles:

The joy of new Christmas toys:

The joy of old toys rediscovered:

Lots of hot chocolate:

LEGOS:

And a bit of baking – Juliette’s buttermilk biscuits were a staple during soup season:

We got outside when the weather allowed, for swings:

And pickleball:

Piggy-back rides:

And time with buddies:

Isaac and I upped our coffee shop game and made a point of getting out for a latte and a cocoa most weekends while Juliette was out at soccer or with friends.  To sit across the table from this kid while he chatters and sips is pure joy.

We ventured outside of West Seattle for the occaional mini-adventure.  This water taxi ride to downtown Seattle was the perfect way to pass a few hours on an otherwise lazy weekend.

The new playground near the aquarium was a hit with both kids.  Lots of challenging climbs, even for Juliette.  I do not take for granted that she still loves a fast slide.

Warm piroshy’s post-playground:

A pop into the prettiest home goods store for Juliette’s 2026 calendar:

And a round of drinks at Zeitgeist, my favorite Pioneer Square coffee shop:

(Yes, twinning, and yes, on purpose!)

City kids…I love this series of them strolling Pioneer Square:

Pooped.  Such a good day.

We spent a sunny afternoon out in Kirkland at Juanita Bay Playground and again, found something for everyone.  This two-person swing was the favorite:

And for me?  A waterside stroll.

Pure mischief, this boy.

He looks like he just might push her in.  (He didn’t.)

Reeling in a big one!

Take One:

Take Two:

Take Three.  Nailed it.

What else?  We cruised:

And crafted:

Ate yummy things:

And visited grandparents:

We huddled together under the umbrella for a couple of particulalry wet soccer games, but felt ok about it because Juliette and her team are THRIVING and it’s a blast to watch them click:

It randomly snowed on a day in March and we built a scrappy little snowman:

And then Juliette played soccer on a field that was more white than green:

Isaac and I discovered the “new playground” at Lincoln Park, which is actually a couple years old, but we somehow have missed it as we’ve always boogied to the “old playground”.  He is at peak climbing age and the ropes course was just his speed.

The Lincoln Park beach on a sunny Winter late afternoon is the perfect way to summon Spring vibes.

So long to bare limbs and 4:30 sunsets.  Happy April.

Still catching up!  Things that brought me joy in 2025:

Favorite book:

23 books last year.  One short of my annual goal, but a valiant effort.  

Favorite book of all was Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.  My five-star rating might be a little bit of a right time/right place kind of thing as I read a lot of this while sitting in coffee shops with Juliette in New York City, but still, his characters are so damn engaging.  I snickered several times.  Got a litle misty eyed for a minute near the end.  All the feels.

Favorite non-fiction was Solito by Javier Zamora.  God, the things people endure, the cards they play to make a life in America.  Or the things they endure if they don’t.

 

Favorite TV show:

Tricky one.  Shrinking still has my heart.  Nobody Wants This scratched a particular itch.  But prime kudos to The Pitt for being something totally out of the ordinary for our family.  Medical dramas tend to be riddled with romantic hook-ups or far-flung plot lines, but The Pitt (from where I sit) feels much more grounded in the realities of patient care.  Juliette and I spend a solid twenty percent of every episode averting our eyes from the TV given the up-close, too-real blood and guts, but when Robby spouts his doctor jargon or McKay shares tough news with a patient or Dana takes charge in the midst of chaos, we are riveted.

 

Favorite movie:

Easier one, because as per usual I watched only a small handful of movies, and Hamnet takes first prize.  I cried buckets.  I adored the kids.  I almost felt my own body split open in that first birthing scene.  Beautiful.  AND, we went with a couple of friends and left all the kids home alone together and no one was injured and nothing was broken while we were out.  Dare I say we’re tip-toeing toward a new version of freedom?

 

Favorite podcast:

Also easy.  Amy Poehler, I adore you.  Always a Good Hang.  My favorite podcasts are always the ones rich with friendly banter and human connection and Amy Poehler is so good at drawing out the kindest, funniest, truest pieces of her guests.  Especially loved her interviews with Kathryn Hahn, Seth Meyers, Aziz Ansari.

 

Favorite album:

2025 was the year of HAIM in our house.  I Quit for the hands-down win, with special mention to the songs Love You Right, Relationships, and Take Me Back.  Shane, Juliette and I loved the album from the first listen, but when we saw the sisters live here in Seattle back in Seattle, we turned die-hard.  Danielle has presence and talent and bas-assery like you wouldn’t belive.

 

Favorite personal pastime:

2025 was notably short on time for myself.  Partially for reasons I’m ok with – I spent a lot of time cheering on Juliette from the sidelines of the soccer field and we did a lot of getting-outside together as a family, but also, I too often let work swallow me whole.  Balance is a life-long pursuit and some years I’m better at it than others.  I did, however, join a gym in the fall and I managed to make a regular habit out of exercising for the first time in I-don’t-know-how-long.  Big win.

 

Favorite family pastime:

I claimed camping in 2024 and I’m going to do it again for 2025. Long live tent snuggles, toasted marshmallows, and unplugged afternoons.

 

And, favorite moments…

Sparkly Suncadia…

 

And Makena Cove 4-EVER.

 

Zion was a stunner.  We headed to Utah not entirely knowing what to expect and it knocked our socks off.  I still remember feeling like I shoud pinch myself on our bike ride through the park on our first day there, wondering to myself, IS THIS EVEN REAL LIFE?

 

I’ve made a tradition of a May getaway with this crew and oh, to stay up late laughing and snacking and sharing.  And then to sleep in the next morning!  Luxe.

 

And THEN, an anniversary getaway with my favorite guy.  Just a night, just a couple of hours from home, but this meal at The Oyster Catcher held my favorite bites and my favorite conversation of 2025. 

 

My girl graduated from elementary school and I felt all the things, but above all, gratitude.

 

We welcomed summer with a little extra fanfare last year.  FREEEEEEEDOM!

 

On a simpler note, we did plenty of backyard summering.  Sometimes a sprinkler brings as much joy as a speedboat.

 

Isaac and I had two camp trips on our own and we rocked both of them.  Deception Pass might forever be our special spot, but Salt Creek / Lake Crescent was pretty damn magical.  To sit on a beach blanket and watch my boy fall into his own little world, happily runing his Hotwheels up and down logs and rocks…ZEN.

 

 

We got the crew back together for a weekend of camping at Lake Kachess and it felt like old times in the very best way.

 

Juliette went to her first sleepaway camp and to be honest, none of us loved it, but to wrap her up in the biggest of bear hugs at the end of that week?  All was right in our world again.  

 

Minnesotan porch evenings, playing cards and drinking wine (or Sprite) and telling stories.  

 

Isaac turned four and his party was a hit but I especially loved this evening scoot around the neighborhood, just me and him after all the hustle and bustle died down.  I was reminded how big his joy is, even without the bounce house and the cake and the gaggle of buddies.  He loves life through and through, this boy.

 

Soccer QUEEN.  She’s growing so much.

 

New York City with my best pal.  Highlights included Broadway (HARRY POTTER!), witnessing a Central Park marriage proposal, and jamming down the sidewalks to the soundtrack of HAIM as we shared a pair of AirPods.    

 

Saturday mornings are for coffee and coloring.  Often my favorite couple of hours of the week.

 

Thanksgiving was extra-cozy last year.  Shane’s mom was visiting and my parents came to eat with us and Isaac in his new flannel jammies was almost too much.  The kids were so sweet at bedtime that night – holiday vibes were in the air.  Bring them on.  

 

And on that note…happy December.

I’ve got some catching up to do around here!  We’ll start with our annual MLK snow-cation back in January.  We opted for Suncadia again this year, but mixed it up a bit by staying in a house rather than at the lodge.  And the house turned out to be a veritable party pad, complete with a ping pong table and a hot tub and a post-holiday Christmas tree, to boot.

We didn’t get the fresh powder we always hope for, but still, waking up to any version of snow on the ground on Saturday morning was a thrill for the kids.

But before sledding, gaming.

And then the outdoors called.  Our house was right on the golf course with easy access to several sled-ready hills.

Giddy up, Isaac!

The snowball situation was dicey, as each ‘snowball’ Isaac picked up was actually a loose chunk of packed-hard ice, but I told him very gentle tosses were ok.

Did he listen?  Kind of.

Best to stick to sledding.

And tag.

We visit this little pond every year and every year Shane terrifies Juliette by stepping out onto the ice, which was of particularly questionable thickness this time around.

Isaac was also wary.

But Papa couldn’t resist.

Juliette really can’t stand her dad’s shenanigans sometimes.  She was convinced he’d crash through the ice like Amy March in Little Women and she couldn’t bear to even look at him.

Clearly, he felt terrible about it.

Amends were made.

We made it to the lodge for coffee and smoothies and cozied up on the window seat while Shane walked back to the house to get the car and pick us up.

We spent the afternoon reading and napping.  My favorite part of vacation.

Plus, HOT TUB.

This picture might be more Isaac than any photo I’ve ever taken.

Isaac rose bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Sunday morning and played cars while I blearily sipped my coffee in the overstuffed chair.  Shane, Juliette and I had stayed up too late the night before watching the final episode of Stranger Things, and then I had Vecna dreams to boot…  But this boy was all sunshine.

We ate a slow breakfast and then headed out for our daily round of snow play.  Juliette carved her classic heart-shaped snowball in the 10 minutes it took me to wrangle Isaac into his snowpants and boots and gloves.

Ready!

Conditions were truly not great – the snow was hard and icy and patchy and I bummed out for a minute about not getting the fresh, fluffy white blanket I wanted, but these photos are a reminder of my family’s ability to find big joy regardless.

The kids ended up in a bush or two…

Isaac scavenged for golf balls…

And then we went to our other favorite pond, where we tossed snowballs and watched them skitter across the glassy ice.

Can’t stop, won’t stop.

Juliette sat on a big rock for awhile, intent on a craft project.  When I peeked over her shoulder, I spied this…  Sweet kid.

We went into Roslyn for lunch and after sandwiches at Base Camp, hit up the new arcade in town.

Sadly, the Roslyn Cafe has closed, but the mural lives on.

Back at the lodge, we decided to brave the outdoor pool.  We never know what version of the pool we’re going to get, as some years it’s too cold to enjoy, but this year was perfect.

We had a 10:30 am check-out on Monday but managed to squeeze in several rounds of ping pong and another visit to the pool before packing up.

And then a pop by the playground on our way out of town for a couple of final sled runs.

Isaac ate a lot of snow.  Old snow.  It was white at least?

 

Cheers, Suncadia!  You always manage to be just what our family needs in the middle of what feels like the longest month of the year.

Christmas 2025!  We kicked off our annual visit to Portland with much fanfare in the form of a ride on Santa’s own Polar Express.  Kathryn bought tickets for the kids to ride this Christmas-themed locomotive on the evening of our arrival, and festive vibes were high.

We settled into our seats and the kids cousin-ed around as the train left the station.  We soon heard excited murmers from the back of our car…”Santa is coming!”  Isaac turned around excitedly:

And then nerves got the best of him.  This photo cracks me up.

But candy canes were distributed and Christmas wishes were shared and Isaac decided this guy is actually alright.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, was maybe less adventurous, but decidedly more cozy.  We lounged around the house in the morning, reading and doing puzzles and sipping warm drinks.

But because Isaac short-circuits if he doesn’t leave the house before noon, we set out late morning for pastries and a walk in Lake Oswego.

Turns out he short-circuited anyway, but we rolled with it.

We lunched back at the house and then the ladies headed out for some shopping at Bridgeport Village.  I picked up one final gift for Shane at Vuori while Juliette and her cousins perused Brandy Melville.  We all convened at Barnes and Noble, because…books are apparently the middle ground between crop-top baby tees and luxury athletic wear.

Isaac hung back with Bina.  These two have a funny kind of affection for each other built on an unspoken agreement that neither should get too close to the other without plenty of fair warning.

We squeezed in a round of cookie decorating before dinner.

Isaac got caught sampling the merchandise several times over.

And then, after a taco feast with the full fam, jammies were donned for the main Christmas Eve event…

Our viewing of The Polar Express by the fire is essential.  Not to be missed.

Finally, finally, after the movie was finished and cookies were set our for Santa and Christmas Mouse was read aloud, the youngest kiddo was tucked in for the night.  Juliette lingered on the couch past 10pm, at which point I shooed her to bed.  The Santa jig is obviously up with this girl, but still, it just doesn’t feel right to let her see me hang the stockings and set out gifts labeled “From Santa”.  There’s something to be said for still pretending.

Christmas morning dawned with excitement from kids and grandparents alike.

We had established 8:30 am as official stocking-opening time and Isaac and Juliette started right on time.

Isaac was mildly perplexed by the Lightning McQueen underwear in his stocking, but I reminded him that Santa knows not just what he wants, but also what he needs.

An apron from Grandma and Grandpa…

And a new truck from Mom and Dad.  Happy kids.

Santa came through with the Paw Patrol Zuma car…

And Morgan was stoked when she unwrapped Ariana Grande’s new fragrance.  I love these glimpses into what’s hot with the teens these days.

Isaac’s reaction was lackluster when he unwrapped the platypus Squishmallow Juliette had picked out for him, and yet…he’s insisted on sleeping with it every night since.  Sometimes gratitude takes him a minute.

Guess who’s headed to college next year with a fancy new laptop?!

Footwear was a theme this year.

New shoes for everyone!

I love the post-gift quiet, when we flip through the pages of our new books and nibble on treats from the kids’ stockings.

While Luke Skywalker takes a ride on the semi truck.

Charcuterie time…

Snuggle time…

OUT OF THE HOUSE time.  Let’s go for a walk!

(Turns out Starbucks is open on Christmas.)

Christmas afternoon was a fog of board games, floor puzzles, and couch naps.

Juliette served as sous-chef to Morgan for the cheddar biscuits and homemade mac and cheese.

They made a great team.

We savored our traditional country ham for dinner, watched National Lampoons while polishing off the rest of the sugar cookies, and called it a day.  Merry, Merry Christmas, family.

December…I always find that this is the hardest calendar page to turn, as on New Years Eve I’m left wanting more.  More twinkle, more time with friends, more sweet traditions, more cozy.  But also, I’m so thankful.  Last month was rich with celebrations and beauty, indoors and out.

We spent the day after Thanksgiving (November was rich, too!) walking through the misty woods at Old Robe Canyon in Snohomish.  It was hard for me to forfeit our annual trek to the North Bend tree farm when we bought our fake Christmas tree a couple of years ago, but we’ve instituted a winter hike in its place and this trail was perfect.  Not too steep, not too long, a scenic place to rest mid-way for a snack…it checked all the family-friendly boxes.

Braver souls might have forded this section of trail that was standing in a couple of inches of water, but we decided it was just the right place to turn around.

In case I haven’t said it in awhile…northwest is best.

Snack break!

We spent a couple of hours post-hike in the town of Snohomish, checking out the diner and bookshop scenes.  Pancakes: huge.  Bookstore: charming.

The main street has flags at each intersection that people can carry across for pedestrian safety.  Isaac temporarily declared himself the town crossing guard and took his job very seriously.

Also, Christmas decor at the shops on First Avenue is on point.

And for a real holiday decor bonanza, we met up with my mom and dad at Watsons Nursery in Puyallup to sip hot cocoa and peruse their Christmas wares.  I walked out with only a pair of bow-shaped earrings and a small houseplant, but it took restraint.

Everything just feels cozier in December…Isaac and I grabbed an extra-special soda and plate of fries at a neighborhood brewpub while Juliette was at her piano lesson one evening.

And the holiday performances!  Juliette is in the middle school choir this year and I loved every minute of their winter concert.  Walking in the Air from The Snowman?  So dreamy.

Isaac had his first go at the stage for his preschool concert and while he offered scant details beforehand on what he would be singing or wearing (on the way to the event, he told me, “Hmmm…I think I’ll be a red fox…”), he proved to be a pro in his angel outfit.  His class’s rendition of Go Tell it on the Mountain was more enthusiastic than any I’ve scene before.

My mom and dad came up for Juliette’s winter piano recital and I grabbed a couple of festive pics before we all headed out.

Nailed it!

We had a party-per-weekend in December and Juliette’s soccer team potluck won the award for most kids packed into a single living room.  These girls and their families have become such a lovely part of our community.  Kudos to the coaches for building something real, real special here.

Isaac was invited to a birthday party in which the main event was a cuddle-sesh with bunnies and guinea pigs and chinchillas and oh, my boy…while all the other boys squealed with delight, he wasn’t sure what to make of this furball being plopped on his lap.

Eventually, though, he warmed up.

And then the snakes and lizards came out and he got real into it.

No thank you.

Our small group Christmas potluck is the only event that garners 100% attendance each year – it’s kind of mandatory, as in it’s too good to be missed, and it’s always packed with good food and lots of laughs and a raucous white elephant gift exchange.

Isaac scored this penguin stuffy that evening – it was almost swiped by one of the older boys, but then Isaac’s lip quivered and his eyes watered and mercy was eventually shown.  He has named it Kevin, after Kevin McCallister, and he won’t go anywhere without it.

And perhaps the warmest and coziest of all gatherings is our annual brunch with the Rusts and Chens, where we eat and give gifts and remember that sometimes family can be chosen.

Juliette’s Gilmore Girls-themed sweatshirt was proof that Nance knows my daugther through and through.

Spicy chips and Mod Pizza gift cards for the big kids, because as much as I love these boys, hell if I know what to buy a teenage guy these days!

And finally, cue the Christmas sights, like Santa at our neighborhood gift shop.  This guy is wonderful – warm and easy-going and there’s never a line to see him.  Isaac hopped right into his lap and declared that he would like a Paw Patrol Zuma car for Christmas.  Santa took notes (I listened in).

But then…Isaac decided he really really wanted a pair of red Nike tennis shoes for Christmas, so he asked if we could go back a couple of weeks later so that he could let Santa know.  We were in the neighborhood for a pastry run, anyway, so I said sure.  Santa took notes and I listened in, again, for backup of course.

It’s possible that Isaac loves seeing Santa for the free candy canes?

The Christmas Ship with its cast of carolers docked near Alki Beach one evening and Juliette and I headed down to sip our hot chocolate and listen to the songs.

The twinkle-meter was high that night.

And the beloved Menashe house…kitcshy and joyful as ever.

We cozied in a lot last month, particularly due to the unending rainfall, but we found our indoor fun the form of gingerbread houses and Christmas movies and board games.

Isaac watched part of Home Alone from behind the bookshelf, unable to face all of the booby traps head on.

Juliette and I made a dried orange garland and it became my favorite fireplace accessory.

Speaking of which, the power went out one evening and our fireplace came in clutch.  Max cozy.

And then the annual Mama-Jules slumber party by the Christmas tree to celebrate the first day of winter break.  Two full weeks of no work and no school on the horizon!  Peak merry and bright.  Christmas is (was!) right around the corner.