little black journal

The final installment!  Wednesday was our last full day in Maui.  Shane and Juliette took off early that morning for a zipline adventure while Isaac and I lived our best lives back in Wailea.  He hit the swings while I drank my coffee…

This courtyard has the best morning light.

Isaac doesn’t know the rules of chess, but he did enjoy lining the knights up face-to-face for a smooch.

Lawn laps…

And then we hit the pool.

Isaac had been admiring another kid’s Spider Man rash guard all week and we finally broke the ice that day and made some proper intros.  They played together for much of the morning while I sat by the edge of the pool and read my book.

Fly, Buddy, FLY!

Snack break…

And back at it.  Spider Man brought a full kitchen set to the pool!

Look who’s back!  Shane and Juliette had a grand adventure – I’m glad they got some one-on-one time.

But it felt good to be the four of us again.

We knew the waterslides wouldn’t be open before we had to pack up and leave the next morning, so this was our last chance.  We did the full circuit several times over after lunch.

We had our route down pat; we knew which slides Isaac could brave alone, which ones he needed a partner on so that he wasn’t dunked in the rapids.  We knew to swim quickly past the dragon statue, which Isaac said was a monster, and knew where the lazy river split with a particularly fast current that would pull you left if you didn’t veer right soon enough.

Every time we paddled through this misty canyon, Isaac would exclaim, “It’s so SOGGY (foggy) in here!  I can’t seeeeee!”

Isaac feels so big in so many ways these days, but his hands look so tiny here as they grip my shoulders.  That’s a comfort…

Finally, (most of us) got our pool fix and felt ready to head back to the room for a bit.  We took our usual route through the hotel lobby, past the granite statue of a reclining nude where Isaac would stop every time, point, and yell, “EWW!  BUTTS!”.  Bonafide art critic, that kid…

Shane and I snuck away for a quick cocktail at the Four Seasons bar next door while the kids watched a movie in the room.  It was a treat.

Golden hour drew us back down to the beach for reading and splashing and tossing the frisbee around.

Shane went for a swim…

I snapped photos…

And then I held Isaac for a bit, as he was tired and grumpy and needed a little love.  Don’t let these hundreds of photos of his cheesy grins fool you – he did in fact still throw some fits in Maui, he still annoyed his sister sometimes and acted very three.

But dang if it’s not easier to sweep all that stuff under the rug when you’re in paradise.  The attitude reset cycle felt shorter here…

There he is…

This evening was one of those evenings when Isaac really drove Juliette crazy, irrationally screaming at her for accidentally stepping on whatever project he was building in the sand, but like I said, it was hard for her to stay mad.

Isaac was so happy in Juliette’s arms that I decided to go for a quick dip with Shane – I’d gone all week without a proper ocean swim, but I couldn’t leave the island without at least a short bob session among the waves.

One last look, Buddy!

As we passed the uppermost pool on our way back to our room, the kids asked if they could hop back in, just real quick.  I said, go for it.  When on vay-cay…

Tuckered and tucked.

Thursday.  Go day.  Hard day.  But still, we were able to squeeze in a couple hours of beach time…

These sand toys that another family gifted us on their final day in Maui got some good use.

One last hand-hold while Shane and Juliette swam…

And a few final jumps into the “swimming cool”, because I couldn’t imagine a happier note for our kids to end the trip on…

And then it was time to hustle to our room, do a quick rinse, shove our pool toys in our suitcases, and head the airport.  WAIT, though.  Make a wish…

We wish..for a Maui 2026 trip.  Seriously, though, every couple of weeks, Isaac will sigh and say, “I really want to go to Maui…”, like he knows it can’t really happen at that moment, but he can’t help but speak his hopes out loud.  I tell him we’ll go again someday, and then we talk about the pool and the sunsets and the beach and how brilliant it all was.  The magic of the island is not lost on us.  We’re so thankful.

Sunrise, beach, rest, pool, beach, shower repeat.  Isaac and I were the only ones up with the sun on Sunday; we grabbed a coffee and a chocolate milk from the hotel cafe and then went down the rocky part of the beach to look for treasures.

The afternoons in Maui are technicolor, but the mornings are a study in pastels.

Juliette eventually came down to join us and we shared a thick slice of banana bread before heading back to Po’olenalena Beach.

(One last zoomie for the road…)

Isaac’s ocean-facing boldness slowly returned that morning as he crept further and further into the water, still insistent on both holding my hand and wearing his favorite, super-powered goggles.

Shane’s turn…

I wonder to myself, “Hey, Isaac…how’d you get so cute?”  And then he nonchalantly shrugs this unassuming shrug…

Meanwhile, Sister has graduated from cute.  Now she’s a genuine beauty.

We got lunch in Kihei and then headed back to the room to rest.  Shane and Isaac dozed, but Juliette and I were jonesing for iced coffee and Honolulu cookies.  We went for a stroll.

This little lady…

Guess who was up, already dressed for the pool when we got back?  And the speed with which Isaac bolted for the elevators when we opened the door to go back out!  Kid on a mission, for sure.

We lingered in the pool through the early evening, eating our dinner in our favorite lounge chairs, and then hopped down to the beach for sunset.

To quote Shane’s dad RE: the sunset, “It was a good one”.  We see you in this pink and orange skies, Denny.

Guava cookies…

And little footprints.

I say this every year, but the feel of my boy’s hand in mine while the waves lap at our feet.  It’s my favorite.

Late-night scoops of mango ice cream in the hotel courtyard.  It’s vay-cay.

Monday!  Up with the birds, Isaac wielding pool toys before I’ve even rubbed the sleep from eyes.

We went back to Makena Beach that morning to lay claim to “our” shady spot (how quickly these places become old favorites!) and wait for our Seattle friends to drive down from their resort in Kaanapali.

Isaac was beside himself with the promise of a new playmate for the day.

Buddies!

The kids played in the water and the parents caught up and we all got a little sunburned.  Hurts so good.

Seconds after I snapped this photo, Juliette epically wiped out and promptly declared that day’s boogie boarding adventures OVER.  She was rinsing the sand from her hair for days.

Lunch at Maui Brewing was both raucous and filling.  We said our goodbyes and headed back to our hotel for an afternoon chill.

We couldn’t let a day go by without at least a couple hours of pool time, so after we’d vegged, we suited up.  Funny, isn’t it?  That we felt like we needed a couple of hours of rest so that we could make the 5-minute walk to do this?

To be fair, for all of Shane’s and my poolside R&R, Isaac and Juliette expended some serious energy in the water.

The more independent Isaac got on the waterslides, the bigger deal he liked to make of it all being so so “skeery”.  That way he could pat himself on the back for being so brave!

Ok, maybe I know where he gets his flair for drama…

Callin’ it…

We kept dinner simple that night, with smoothies and Spam musubis on the lawn while we watched the sunset.

We went back to the room and Isaac’s eyelids fluttered shut within seconds of his head hitting the pillow.  Play hard, rest hard, Bud.

On Tuesday, Isaac and I enjoyed a little quiet time on the beach while Shane and Juliette more slowly rolled out of bed and readied for that day’s adventures.

Much as we loved the Wailea groove we’d found ourselves in, we decided we were ready to go a little further afield.  We grabbed a round of beautiful, brightly colored treats from Brekkie Bowls and then hit the road, pointed north.

We rolled up to the parking lot for Twin Falls an hour later and made our way down the wide, winding path in search of a waterfall or two.

Found one!

The kids and I happily perched on some rocks and let the water cool our feet while Shane unleashed his inner daredevil and did some rock-scaling, then took a leap.

Long walks are tricky with Isaac these days – his little legs don’t carry him too far before he starts asking for a carry, and he’s just too big to tote around anymore.  Or is he?  This is the face of a boy that most definitely just got his way.

We eventually made it to the larger falls and settled in for a rest.  The boys took a dip.

Shane went for a further-afield swim under the deluge of the waterfall, but Isaac held back for that.

We made quick work of getting back to the car, promising the kids popsicles from the parking lot’s snack shack.

He did it again!

From Twin Falls, we wound back toward Paia, stopping at Ho’okipa Beach to see if the turtles were out.  They were!  They almost look like rocks from this distance, but we definitely saw them slogging up the beach.

The colors on this beach at the peak of mid-day sun are incredible.

We tossed a few rocks, picked up a few shells, got a little windblown.

We grabbed lunch at the Flatbread Company in Paia – this place’s Mopsy pizza, topped with mango barbecue sauce and pulled pork, is one of our most favorite Maui eats.  Never disappoints.

A quick dip, because he asked nicely…

And then we packed a picnic and made the short drive to Makena Cove, to round out a day of favorite things.

This little stretch of beach is everything we love about Maui – soft sand and gentle water and palm tree back drops and whales in the distance.

Isaac was so happy here, skittering through the shallow pools of water until he was soaked from head to toe.

The plot thickens…

Juliette was happiest that evening just sitting on the beach towel, chatting with her dad.  I mean, I probably would have been doing the same if not for chasing a three year old.

Final laps…

The luckiest.

The Maui 2025 roundup!  Three months after the fact, but no matter – this trip was particularly good and I’m still able to summon all those good Maui feels.

I love that early morning flight to Maui – such promise on the horizon (now that we’ve recovered from the trauma of Juliette’s in-flight puke-fest during our 2023 trip).

Smiles all around.

We arrived at the hotel before our room was ready, but I’ve learned to keep swimsuits and goggles easily accessible, as pool time is priority numero uno, so we traded our travel clothes for our swim gear, stowed our bags, and set up shop down at the main pool.  Isaac and Juliette wasted no time staying dry.

Isaac quickly became enamored with the slides, wanting to do one circuit after another.  This year, with his floaties on, he was able to go alone, so I found a little ledge in the pool to lounge on and watch while he went again and again.

And again.

For the record, she loves the slides, too.

Finally, hunger trumped swimming and we settled into our lounge chairs to wolf down our poolside salads and chicken strips.  There’s happy Isaac and there’s tired Isaac and rarely do the two identities converge, but here, they did…

We eventually made it up to our room to settle in and change our clothes, but then golden hour beckoned and we were back out the door to head to the beach.

Soak it in, Bud.  This is as good a playground as you’ll ever find.

Isaac held up his little red sand shovel and told me it was a stop sign – that he was telling the water to quit chasing him.  Truly, that boy thinks he’s master of the universe.

Hotel room dinner, moon-gazing, and sweet dreams.  We had arrived.

Friday!  On our first morning in Maui, we sought out our favorite island treat.  A new açaí place had opened in the shops near our hotel, so we sauntered over there at daybreak.  Of course, I would love it if our toddler slept in on vacation, but being up and at ’em at 5:30am means you catch those 6am pastel skies.

It was as good as it looked…

On the way back, we stopped for a short romp at the Marriott lawn, which I don’t think we were technically supposed to play at as we weren’t hotel guests, but this chair swing beckoned.  We’ve had a handful of happy reunions here with the Chens, as this was their place, but we missed them this year.

We walk this path from the market to the hotel a couple of times a day and I never stop marveling at the colors and the sparkle.  The long morning shadows and the squish of grass under our feet.  It’s life in technicolor.

Our hotel changed things up this year and started charging for beach chairs, which initially bummed us out a bit, but we made lemonade out of lemons (margaritas out of limes?) and let this be our reason to explore some new beaches in the vicinity.  We found a shady little stretch of sand at Makena Beach, just down the road, and wandered back and forth from beach towels to surf.

Isaac dipped too far into the surf too fast and spent 15 minutes running up and down the beach crying for Shane to come out of the water and hold him, but he soon got over it.

Sister eased him back in.

Isaac’s early wakeup caught up with him mid-morning and he fell asleep on the beach towel, his floatie a makeshift pillow, and Juliette and I  went for a stroll further down the beach.

We climbed a small bluff and took in the view of Makena, then scampered down to the small cove on the other side.

“Little Beach”, as it’s called, was pristine and quiet, but also…it was a nude beach.  A few people waded in the surf or stretched out on their towels, buns to the sun, and it all looked very chill, but also…this was not our scene.  We quickly about-faced and had a good laugh as we trekked back toward our boys.

Isaac woke shortly after we returned and marveled at the in-ground beach chair Shane had dug while he was sleeping.

We grabbed lunch at a taco stand and then zipped up to Kihei for shave ice at Ulilani’s.  This place.  Always a wait.  And it’s fine for the first couple of minutes, the kids giddy with anticipation.

Patience grows thin…

But then they call your name and any inconvenience is forgotten.  Fluffy and freezy and fruity – it’s perfect.

We spent the hottest hours of the afternoon relaxing in our room, reading and vegging and dozing, then succumbed to Isaac’s incessant requests to go the “swimming cool” – it was slide o’clock.

Early evening at the pool is where it’s at – most families have had their fill of sun and have headed out for dinner, so it’s quiet.  Still warm.

And it’s so easy to walk down to the beach for a sunset splash.

Beautiful bow on a beautiful day.

Shane went for an early run on Saturday and then we all walked down the beach path to Fairmont to check out their cafe’s breakfast offerings.

We took our acai to go and found another idyllic little stretch of beach nearby, this time at Po’olenalena.

This little beach was my favorite.  Small and uncrowded, rocky on one side, lined with palm trees on the other.

We did our exploring as the sun fully rose, wanting to get good and hot before we dipped in the ocean.

We’re getting warmerrrr…

Isaac was still feeling a little timid after the prior day’s surprise wave, so he didn’t want to venture too far into the water without being held.  In Shane’s arms, though, he was in full bring-it-on mode.

 

Beach:  CHECK.

Both kids were itching to really get their swim on, so we lunched poolside while they did their thing.  Shane will take ocean swimming over pool swimming any day, but Isaac?  This is his happy place.

The afternoon crash…

And then dinner at Monkey Pod, where the food is so-so, but the Mai Tai’s are perfection.  That lilikoi foam…  Next time we’ll go just for drinks.

Back in time for an evening swim…

Isaac Henry…photobombing since 2021.

Shenanigans.

The pool area was so wonderfully deserted that we decided to take in sunset from the hot tub.

It’s nice to take in the sunset with the tide lapping at your toes, but also…this water was warm.  We’re such lucky ducks.

Ahhh…we were finding our groove.

 

This is it – the last of winter’s snapshots, so that I can clear house before it’s all tulips and egg hunts on here…

I posted about our Suncadia weekend, where the snow conditions were only so-so, but we did get out for a couple of shorter day trips to play in some fresh powder.  Juliette, Shane and I spent a morning cross-country skiing at Cabin Creek and were dusted with an inch of snowfall as we zipped down the trails.

Juliette and I were both a bit rusty and approached the first couple of downhills with some serious trepidation, but we eventually found our footing.

That’s not fresh snowfall on my hat and in my hair, but the remnants of a downhill face plant.  Still smiling, though!

We made good time heading back toward the car and decided to detour for a quick snowball fight.

I love these three-of-us days.

That said, we know how much Buddy loves the snow and gladly brought him along a couple of weeks later on a morning visit to Hyak for sledding and fort-building.

This was as bluebird a day as I’ve ever seen.  Sun shining over two feet of fresh powder.  So good.

No fear of downhills for this boy!

His eyes have never looked bluer.

Once we’d had our fill of sledding, we walked over to a nearby clearing to attempt a snowball fight.  The snow was too fine to stick together, but Isaac loves a good powder-shower as well.

Shane called us across the road, where the snow was piled even higher.

The powder was so deep that Isaac couldn’t go more than two steps without sinking to his waist and collapsing.

My kids can really wreak some havoc on a patch of pristine, freshly fallen snow.

Burrow, Isaac, burrow!

Ahh…tuckered.

Winter held some good play days closer to home, too.  Lincoln Park is a Sunday favorite.

This particular outing was a couple of months ago, but I remember it well – we’d been cooped up and Isaac was driving his sister and me crazy in equal measure and then we got outside and…voila.

Same on this Saturday afternoon at Lowman Beach…I felt up to my ears in housework but after an hour of watching the fog lift over the Puget Sound, priorities came back into focus.  One of those I can’t believe we get to live here kind of days.

Roxhill Playground gets bonus points for its proximity to both Target and to Juliette’s and my favorite boba shop.  Also, I have to memorialize Isaac in this cute jacket before he soon outgrows it.

And sometimes a cruise to the school playground is all we really need…

We spent a lot of Saturdays on the soccer field over the past couple of months.  These twilight games are chilly, but the sky sure is pretty.

I love watching Juliette play, but it’s also fun to spectate with her.  We went to a Seattle Reign game last month, rain and all, and cheered between sips of our hot chocolate.  As we were walking back to the car after the game, Juliette said that was the coldest she’d ever been in her whole entire life.  And yet, still smiling.

My parents moved to Bonney Lake, just an hour south of us, in January.  We’re all loving the extra grandparent time.

The crux of it all: our winter cornerstones are our Suncadia snow-cation and our week in Maui (those photos coming up next…), but I’m increasingly thankful for the little joys closer to home.  The park days and the soccer games and the random weekday happy hours.  Shane had a work event one evening and I took the kids to Good Society for bites and a brew.  Isaac colored and Juliette gave me every little detail of her day at school and a band of 20 seniors gathered on the outdoor patio for ukulele practice.  Such a simple, perfect Tuesday evening.

Whew – winter!  We didn’t just make it through – we leaned in.  We’re tuckered.

Ack!  It’s Springtime!  And I have a cache of snow-covered pictures to share.  Here goes…

We stayed true to tradition and spent MLK weekend at Suncadia Lodge, sledding and snow-balling and cozying.  Someday we’ll spread our wings and embark on new adventures, but in this current season of life, it feels good to return to what we know.  This place just works for us.  We’ve got our favorite fireside table at the Inn…

And the complimentary s’mores kits are always a crowd-pleaser.

We quickly settled into our routine.  Saturday morning was spent sipping coffee by the lobby’s huge picture windows.

And then a round of pool, because the wee hours of the morning are the only time we get the game room to ourselves.

Coffee, pool, cinnamon rolls, SNOW!  The trick at Suncadia is to always stay one step ahead of the crowds, so as the lobby and restaurant started to fill with the folks who woke an hour or two after us, we headed out to the sledding hill.

The snow was hard and crusty and a bit patchy, but no matter.  My kids (and their dad) are so, so good at maximizing fun in mediocre conditions.

Every year Shane wonders aloud if this pond is frozen solid enough for him to walk across it, and every year Juliette begs him to PLEASE don’t try it.

We found a golf ball tucked under a tree branch near the pond (the sledding hill is a driving range in summertime), and then another, and then another.  Suddenly it was Easter in January as the kids gathered a treasure trove of balls and placed them in a neat little pile.

Back on the sled…

Ultimately, he just couldn’t help himself.

The ice held, but not without some cracking that had us all yelling for Shane to head back to shore.  Dare devil, that guy.

There’s nothing better than peeling off your snowpants and snuggling up back in bed.

Eventually we put real clothes on and headed into Roslyn for lunch.  Again, we stuck to our tried-and-trues.  Roslyn Cafe for burgers, then coffee and books at Basecamp.

After lunch, Juliette and I scoped out the pool.  Last year the water was too cold to enjoy a swim, but this year it was perfect.

I texted Shane the thumbs-up on the water temp and he brought down Isaac.  Buddy loves a good pool.

We ate dinner in our room that night, tuckered after a day of snow, swim, and sun.  Top day.

Sunday brought more of the lovely same old, same old.

The sledding hill was really giving icy vibes that morning, so we walked over to the adjacent field in search of better snow coverage.

The sledding was decent, but then I popped Isaac’s beloved blue innertube on a particularly rough patch.  Again we sought out alternate fun.

We found a snow cave!

I loved exploring a little further afield this trip.  So many beautiful little clearings – a pair of deer crossed our path just as we were leaving this spot.

And we found another pond!  This one was much more solid.  Shane practiced his fancy footwork.

The kids were somehow unimpressed with their dad’s dance moves.

Like…”What is he doing?!”  Let’s hear it for dorky dads.

After lunch, we headed to the pool for swimtime.

The pool wasn’t as warm that day and Isaac’s little teeth started to chatter after just a couple of minutes, so we adjusted our game plan.  Shane took Juliette over to the indoor pool and I took Isaac out for a hot chocolate and a walk.  Something for everyone!

We made our way down the river and threw rocks for awhile.  I never knew this was here!  Such an idyllic little spot, particularly on a sunny afternoon.

He really can be the best little buddy when we have the time to slow down.

This is Isaac’s Bear Hunt face.  Get that grizzly, Son.

We drove into Roslyn for a pizza dinner and Isaac fell asleep on the 10-minute drive.  He wouldn’t wake, even as we pulled him out of his carseat into the cold night air, and he spent the first half of dinner sleeping in his sister’s lap.  She ate it up.  Play hard, sleep hard.

On our final morning at the lodge, we did…more of the same.  Coffee, sledding, snowplay.

We found a little hill at the far end of a clearning and the kids did a few runs.

I mean, THESE KIDDOS!  They obviously don’t always love on each other with such abandon, but when they do, it’s a joy to watch.

Deer spotting!

And some snow-baseball.

Isaac found a stick and spent 15 minutes trying to dig a hole with it – that snow was crusty.  But he kept going and I kept watching.  We had nowhere to be but right where we were.

More scenic stops…

We pulled some beautiful ice sculptures out of the stream.

And then with one last squeeze, hit the road back to Seattle.

What a weekend.

 

The main event!  We drove down to Portland a couple of days before Christmas to settle in with the fam and enjoy some downtime.  We unloaded our car and then got right down to business – cards and the hand slap game and lots of cousin love.

Isaac was always up early, eager to explore the house and grab some Bina snuggles.

I know, Bina – that’s how I feel, too, when Isaac wants to play before I’ve had my coffee.

We made our usual pilgrimage to Powells for books and PDX vibes.

I tell you, row upon row of beautifully-illustrated books and Isaac beelines for the carousel of Paw Patrol paperbacks.

And an intro to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We finished our book shopping and then went back to the house to settle into the couch and watch Elf.

The BEST.

Isaac and I popped over to the playground late afternoon to get some residual wiggles out.

When the lawn decorations match your sweater…

I liked being the last one to bed while we were there, relishing the quiet and the fire and the glow of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve!  Isaac was up very very early and was very very loud, so I tossed him in the car, not sure exactly where we headed.  We ended up finding a cozy table by the window at Grand Central Bakery on Hawthorne.  Buddy got a cinnamon roll, I got a latte, and everyone back at the house got to grab some extra Z’s.  We all won.

A woman walked by and said, “A cinnamon roll in your pajamas on Christmas Eve?  Life doesn’t get any better than that!”  Right, Bud?

We got back to the house, threw some real clothes on Isaac, and then headed right back out with Shane and Juliette to catch the 11am showing of Moana 2.  Isaac’s first movie!

Loved it.

The afternoon was lazy and lovely.

(Can you guess who won Uno?)

Morning rain brought an afternoon rainbow.

We gathered in the living room after dinner for our annual viewing of The Polar Express.  On my list of top five holiday traditions, for sure.

We’re ready for you, Santa!

Isaac was up first on Christmas morning and I tried to stoke excitement with the missing cookies and the half-eaten carrot, but he really wasn’t grasping the concept.  “Why did Santa bring me a carrot?”

But oh, the presents.

All the kids are up!  Showtime!

The next hour was filled with the sounds of wrapping paper being ripped, delighted exclamations and effusive thank you’s.

The only thing on Juliette’s wish list was a four-pack of holiday mini Squish-mallows.  I initially didn’t take her very seriously when she said she wanted them, but then I saw the look of disappointment on her face when I told her they were sold out on Amazon.  I put a watch on them and they popped back up a week before Christmas – I’m so glad I snagged them.  How many more years of stuffy love does she really have ahead of her?

And Isaac’s main ask was for a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy.

Nailed it.

My dad sat in his usual chair and got his usual gift of beer and chocolate.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Isaac had picked out this book from Powell’s a couple of days earlier and saw us buying it, but still couldn’t believe his eyes when he unwrapped it that morning.  Three year olds are the best.

Gifts opened.  Kids thrilled.  Mission accomplished.

The rest of the morning was quiet and wonderful.  The kids played with their gifts.  I drank coffee and finished my book.  All was merry and bright.

Dinner was our usual country ham, with a side of mac and cheese a la Morgan.  Sugar cookies and apple crisp for dessert.  Thanks to Mitch and Kathryn for continuing to be the most gracious of hosts.  I know we all make for a very full house.

We headed home the day after Christmas, to tackle a couple of house projects and cozy in with the kids.

Isaac and Shane became fast fans of The Outdoor Boys, a YouTube channel filled with videos of a guy that camps in extreme weather.  Random but wholesome viewing.  Isaac’s plea all weekend was, “Watch snow camping, Daddy?  Snow camping?”

I took the kids down to the Menashee House for one last feast of holiday lights.  Shane is of the opinion that Christmas decorations should be taken down the day after Christmas – fresh start, don’t overplay the magic, yadda yadda.  I say, keep the twinkle coming.  Till New Years Day, at least, though really the full month of January is fair game.

I had something come up at work and needed to head into the office on December 30th.  Isaac was at school and Juliette asked if she could spend the day with me downtown.  I welcomed the company, as I was none too thrilled about having to give up a day with my girl.  She marched up the stairs to my building like a boss.

We cut out early and spent the afternoon roaming downtown, lunching and shopping.

It felt like one of our annual getaways – way to rekindle my love of our city, Juliette!

She makes everything new and beautiful and fun.

Shane and Juliette headed to the slopes on New Years Eve for a ski day and so Isaac and I were left to rustle up our own mini-adventure.

“Bye, sister!”  Those are heart hands he’s making…

While those two skied, Isaac and I hit up Costco and then ran circles around the Juanita Bay playground in Kirkland.

Like, literal circles.  I think he went down this slide 25 times.

The dock here is huge and amazing and perfect for tossing rocks.

And hunting for bears.

Post-playground, we warmed up at Zoka Coffee.

And then a nap by the Christmas tree, as we knew its days were numbered.  Sometimes I lament that I can’t downhill ski with Shane and Juliette, but…this might be better.

One of Isaac’s preschool buddies had a New Years Eve dance party that evening, complete with a disco ball, and we popped in for an hour to bust a move or two.

We returned home around dinnertime to get our own party started.  Games and snacks and laughs with the Rusts and Jordan.

It was a mellow evening, complete with a 9 pm New Years toast, but that’s how we roll now.  I’m not mad about it.

Cheers, Bud!

(Isaac got real into the toast thing.)

Happy 2025, friends.

December was full of all the holiday things as we fully leaned into the Schnell Family Twinkle-Fest 2024.  Early mornings were spent playing by the Christmas tree, wondering which ornament would be Isaac’s favorite du jour…

We leaned into time with our chosen family as well, gathering on Black Friday to devour a spread of Thanksgiving leftovers.  Jack’s turkey congee was so good for the soul.

We visited the Christmas market at Seattle Center while Shane’s mom was still here.  Lights and hot cocoa and a carousel (that the kids rode twice, no less) and a visit with Santa, from whom Isaac decisively requested a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy (I took notes).

Juliette says she’s too old for the carousel, but agreed to ride “just to show Isaac how to hold on”.

The Christmas Ship is another favorite ritual on our holiday calendar and since we missed the ship’s November docking at Alki Beach, we drove over to Seward Park to catch their Lake Washington show.  We perched on a log, wrapped a fleece blanket around our shoulders, and listened to the carolers’ voices ring out over the water.

Want to talk about twinkle?  The annual Menashee House display was unveiled on December 1st in all it’s brightly colored glory.

We visited our other favorite neighborhood displays, like the yard with 40 inflatables, and the house with a projection of a cookie-eating Santa in the window.  I love how this time of year turns even our run-of-the-mill drive home from daycare into a wonder-filled event, ripe with holiday magic.

Shane’s mom headed back to Minnesota in early December and we missed her the moment she left, but are so thankful that we were able to ring in the holiday season with her.

Juliette participated in her school’s annual craft fair on a Saturday, selling handmade bracelets and decorated mini-trees.  It was such a festive event, the cafeteria brimming with creativity and pride.  Juliette’s wares were a hit and she turned a good profit, though she reminded me that “it’s not about the money, Mommy”.

Juliette decorated a gingerbread house…

And Isaac ate said decorations…

There was a father-daughter pickleball game under Alki’s evening lights…

And Nancy, La Verne and I skipped town on a Friday for our annual getaway.  We hot-tubbed in Port Townsend and browsed cute bookshops and feasted at Finistere, then cozied up at La V’s Marrowstone house for movies and dessert.

We made it back to Seattle in time to watch the kids’ December piano recital.  Juliette practiced, practiced, practiced beforehand but was a ball of nerves when we walked in the church.  I sat with her onstage for a quick little rehearsal prior to showtime and watched her shoulders relax as she made it through the most challenging bars of The Beach.  She got this.

Nailed it.

My most favorite holiday tradition is our family brunch with the Chens and Rusts, where we eat and exchange gifts and be merry together.  Pickles the Bassett Hound loves it, too – don’t let those droopy eyes fool you!

Does this boy need a puppy for Christmas?!

This gang gives the most thoughtful gifts; each little surprise is emblematic of just how well we know and love each other.

(The Chens know the way to Isaac’s heart, for sure!)

Juliette and I kicked off her winter break with our Christmas tree slumber party.  I think I fell asleep well before she did, but I woke up in the wee hours of the night and found her snoozing peacefully.

Isaac joined us early the next morning…

And then I took him to our neighborhood Santa while Juliette was kicking the soccer ball around with some friends.  Isaac hopped right up onto the couch and these two had a nice little chat and then suddenly Isaac was right on Saint Nick’s lap, cheesing for a photo.

This time around, Isaac’s one Christmas request was for a candy cane.  You got it, Buddy!

Gosh, I love the Saturday before Christmas.  Most the to-do’s are done, we have two weeks of break stretching out in front of us, the house is cozy with anticipation and the sound of Elf or The Grinch playing in the background.  It’s such a good day for a blanket nest.

(Are you cozy, Juliette?)

Next stop, Portland!

A November photo blitz!  There were morning coffee shop dates…

Afternoon cruises around the neighborhood…

And evening dinners with Grandma and Grandpa.

I voted…

And then I spent election night, plus several nights after, huddled in Isaac’s bed fort under a pile of blankets, grieving and praying and finding comfort in tiny little wonders.

Our family spent a Sunday in Madison Park, meandering through the bakery and the toy store and the playground.  I forgot how lovely this corner of Seattle is.

Juliette played a lot of soccer, often in the rain.  Thank goodness for those late afternoon games where Isaac was able to nap in the stroller – this left me with one free hand for my umbrella, the other for my mug of tea.

Shane’s mom came to visit toward the end of the month and we awaited her arrival with much anticipation.  “Shhhh…  She’s almost here, Mommy!”

Made it.  Let the baking and crafting begin!

I took the day off work on Thanksgiving Eve to spend some extra time with Juliette and to finish my last-minute grocery shopping.  We made an event of dropping off Isaac at school that morning, then walking home with our latte / hot chocolate.

Preschool’s out!  Let the mini-break begin!

Thanksgiving was all I wanted it to be.  Quiet and cozy, filled with food and snuggles.  Everyone chipped in with meal prep – even Isaac pulled stool up to the kitchen counter, eager to egg-wash our breakfast croissants.

But he couldn’t wait for them to bake, so he tucked into the muffin Shane had picked up on their early-morning walk to Starbucks.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was enormously exciting.  “Bluey!  Mickey Mouse!  Minion!  PAW PATROL!!!”

Sous-chef…

And a quick bubbly break.

And then a cuddle break.  I have worked very hard to dial in low-stress holiday cooking.

Finishing touches…

And WE DID IT!

It was such a good meal, filled with gratitude and laughter and potatoes.  Those potatoes.

Isaac found the cranberry sauce to be a bit tart, but I thought it was perfect.

Bellies full, we threw the pans in the sink to soak and headed down to Alki to catch the last of the day’s rays.

A November beach day is such a treat, beanies and all.

Back home, we pulled the Christmas tree out of our storage closet, turned on the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, and poured some egg nog.  Things got real festive real fast.

Nice try, little rascal!

And to all a GOOD NIGHT…

October!  Juliette and I came back from Savannah to a couple of open-armed boys.  Isaac was asleep by the time our plane landed, but his reunion with Sister the next morning was exuberant.

The rest of the month was fairly quiet – we stayed close to home, enjoyed our Fall rituals.  Juliette rocked the school Move-A-Thon and ran 22 laps around the school parking lot in just under 20 minutes!

Shane turned another year older on the 19th and while he didn’t get the Southern fine dining birthday experience that I enjoyed with Juliette, he did get a new pair of flannel pajama pants.  We’ll call it even?

We spent our Saturdays on the soccer field, cheering on Juliette in between our own sideline shenanigans.

And we spent our Sundays at our favorite parks, soaking in the autumnal colors.  Volunteer Park is an October must – Juliette’s hair matches the leaves!

My girl is such a champ, eager every time to climb the 100+ steps to the top of the water tower.

(Her hair goes well with brick tones, too…)

Goodness, how I love a good Fall romp with these kids.

Playground pay-off for letting Mom take 200 photos under the trees…

Isaac is so fun at the playground these days, independent and just the right amount of adventurous.  Spread those wings, Buddy…

Now someone buy these kids a hot chocolate or something!

(Done.)

Juliette and I brewed a couple of cocoas and picked up Isaac a little early on a Friday for a walk through Camp Long.

This little grove is a slice of Fall magic.

“Wait, Juliette!  WAIT!”  This boy does not like to bring up the rear.

Can we talk for a minute about how good he looks in the flannel that his Auntie bought him last year?

These walls push the limits of Isaac’s climbing skills (and my nerves), but Juliette is an excellent backstop.

My parents came to town at the end of month and settled right into our day-to-day.

And oh, the Halloween festivities!  The neighborhood was decked out with pumpkins and skeletons and giant spiders.  Isaac and I relished our evening “Spooky Walks”.

Isaac would hold the flashlight from the stroller, illuminating our way, and then yell “MOOKY!” (spooky) every time he saw a skeleton or ghost.

We ate croissants and carved pumpkins with the Chens on a gray Saturday morning.

Get it, girl.

And then…the costumes!  I bring you Mario (upside-down mustache and all) and his beloved Princess Peach.

I was thrilled to find that Isaac’s blue jumpsuit came with a built-in belly.

Who’s that creeping out of our house?

Juliette cringed a little…

But Isaac had nothing but pure adoration for his buddy Luigi.  Way to be the fun dad, Shane.

We spent the Friday before Halloween at Juliette’s school for the Monster Mash, which was festive and loud and chaotic, but also a wonderful chance for me to get some sunset Peach pics.

Halloween itself was WET.  We pushed through and trick-or-treated anyway, because that’s what Seattle kids do, but the rain was relentless.

Isaac really got the hang of trick-or-treating this year and wanted to hang as late as the big kids.  I couldn’t say no.

Eventually though, we called it and headed home to turn on the fireplace, put Harry Potter on the TV, and take inventory.  Soggy bags of M&Ms were discarded, but there were still plenty of plastic-wrapped sweets to go around.  HAPPY OCTOBER.

Our Friday drive to Savannah took longer than expected due to traffic, but Juliette and I leaned into the road trip vibes, cranked up the Chappell Roan, and dug into our snack stash.  Pink Pony Club became our southern anthem as we cruised under tunnels of oaks.

We got settled at our top-floor AirBnB late afternoon and took in the view from our corner window.  Score!

We set out in the evening in search of food and drink, but I was sidetracked around each bend by the abundance of Spanish moss.  It was all I hoped it would be.

Juliette is exceedingly patient with my constant snapping of photos – this was the point in our trip when she made a game out of really amping up her strut each time I pulled out my phone.

Oh-my-gosh-I-love-her-so-much.

We walked down sidewalks lined with brick and through squares shaded by towering, twirly oaks.

We landed a comfy couple of seats at Grove’s rooftop terrace and ordered up a Spritz for mama and a Rise and Shine for kiddo.  Juliette felt so fancy with her pineapple garnish – cheers, girlfriend.

We stayed here for awhile.  No need to rush!

Once we’d eaten and drank and finished our game of Rummy, we slowly moseyed on back to our room, passing through City Market and down Broughton.  The Friday night vibes were strong in this town.

Such a happy glimmer.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and full of charm.

We grabbed coffee and bagels and then walked over to the Jepson Center for an art fix.

The museum was small but lovely.  We lingered for a bit at the interactive Impressionist exhibit and then headed back out into the sunshine.

Our entry to the Jepson was bundled with a tour of the nearby Owens-Thomas house and slave quarters, so we walked that way.  These tree-filled squares, though!  They were everywhere and they were my favorite.

Our hour-long tour through the Owens-Thomas house was packed with information, but I reminded Juliette that there would be no test on this history lesson.  Instead, I told her just to take in what she could.  The juxtaposition of master versus servant quarters was powerful.  And gosh, Juliette’s ears really perked up when she learned that the Marquis de Lafayette, her favorite character from Hamilton, had stayed at that very house.

After our house tour, we decided to book a couple of tickets on the town trolley so that we could do some seated sight-seeing.  It was a short walk to the trolley stop, but again, the moss.  Couldn’t help ourselves.

We hopped off the trolley near the river and grabbed lunch at The Pirate’s House, which was a quirky little place.  Quirky good?  Or quirky weird?  Who can say?

It was short walk to the next trolley stop, where we perched on a bench to wait for our pickup.  We watched the sweetest, happiest couple take their wedding pics.  Lotta love in the air that day.

The trolley took us down to Forsyth Park, which is basically one of those darling town squares times ten.  Stunning.

We strolled back toward our AirBnB, making a stop at Mirabel for iced tea and iced coffee.  Patio table dreams.

Back on our feet, with more delight around each bend.

THE SQUARES!

This one was the setting for the opening scene of Forrest Gump.  Southern as southern gets.

We chilled at our room for awhile and then went back out to do a little shopping.  We had seen lots of people toting bags of Byrd’s “tiny, crispy, cookies” and decided we needed to fill a small sampler box for ourselves.  Two thumbs up for their key lime coolers.

Juliette was craving sushi (which for her, means edamame and cucumber rolls), so we grabbed a table Coco and Moss.  Felt good to eat something green.

Goodnight, Savannah.  Time to get back to our room to do face masks and watch The Notebook!

We had a Sunday evening flight back home, which left us with the full morning to wander and charm-seek.  We found a sweet little patio table at Franklin’s and took our time eating our pastries and sipping our drinks.

I felt like my conversations with Juliette just got better and better as the week went on.  No shortage of things to talk about with this girl.

I wanted to walk along nearby Jones Street, which was rumored to be the loveliest street in Savannah, but I mean really, aren’t they all lovely?

Jones was awfully nice.

And when near Forsyth Park…you go back!

We found a bench and I painted Juliette’s nails and we read for awhile.

There was a musician playing kids’ tunes on his trumpet for an intrigued toddler and Juliette and I watched with a smile and a bit of longing as the little boy clapped and danced.  It was time to get home to our guys.

Final sidewalk snaps…

A signing of the guest book…

And one last square…

We loved Savannah so much.  We loved our time together SO MUCH.  Next time someone says, “picture your happy place”, I think that bench at Forsyth Park may come to mind.  Spanish moss glowing overhead.  Fountain tinkling in the distance.  Juliette at my side.  Sun on our shoulders.  I’m so thankful.