Dahlia Garden Kid Shoot '14

We just barely got our annual garden picture taking done before the weather turned. A quick walk down memory lane:

2011

2012 

2013

2014

It is actually quite a debacle trying to get photos of these kiddos. Well, ones where they both look at the camera and smile, that is. For anyone with young children, this is not a surprise or revelation. For those without young children or experience with them...let me try and give you a running commentary to illustrate.

Okay kids, smile and look at the camera...oh, yeah, I guess doing both at the same time is asking too much.

Lets try it again, SMILE! Sam...Sam...SAM!

Alright, lets try a new spot. Can you two hug? Good job Samuel. Grace can you hug your brother?

Uhhh, easy, easy. I don't think he likes that Grace.

Yeah, he didn't like that.

Dad, can you help me out here?! Okay kids. Smile! Oh well, maybe a little too much.

Phew. This will have to do.

As irritated as I get trying to get that "perfect shot" I realize the ones we end up liking the most are the silly ones and those that capture our kids personalities. Here's to getting my camera out more for the moments they are not looking at the camera.

Fall Fun 2014

I'm writing this post on a foggy fall day, as it is pouring rain outside. On my list of things to do today is find the pumpkin carving paraphernalia, as tonight might be the night we tackle that project. Needless to say we are embracing the fall season. We have already made a trip to the annual Scarecrow festival in Gig Harbor and visited the pumpkin patch, both of which the kiddos enjoyed thoroughly. 
If you asked the kids what their favorite part of the Scarecrow Festival was, I believe they would have said either the pony rides or the out of this world, enormous hot dog they got to split, not sure which one!

Grandma and Papa were in town for our trip to the Spooner Farms' Pumpkin Patch. We had so much fun and the weather was perfect. This year we went on a Monday, which was a huge change from the craziness last year when we went on the weekend.

Can never have too much fun with the pumpkin cutouts

Taking a break in the kids barn to color

The best part about Spooner Farms was the corn maze. We didn't go last year but we decided to participate this time as the kids are a bit older and I couldn't believe how cool it was! Over 3 miles of interwoven paths make up this maze, which this year (yes, it is different ever year apparently) was in the shape of a dinosaur scene. There were dino themed activities spread out throughout the maze and hidden dino picture "checkpoints" that you checked off on your "scratch off" cards. We spent an hour or so wandering around playing and way too long trying to figure out how to get out. It was great fun. I kept thinking how Scott and I will have to go back just by ourselves next year and spend half the day exploring. Totally something we'd do. At the end of the maze we all got huge dinosaur shaped gummy candies for finishing. The kids couldn't have been happier, or stickier if your name is Samuel.

Checking out the dinosaur tracks

Digging for dinosaur bones

We found a dinosaur!

 As I was uploading the photos I realized Scott was working on both occasions and missed out on all the fun. Maybe the kids and I shouldn't do the pumpkin carving tonight as he is out of town on a trip with the Air Force. I'll save it for later this week, when he can participate, and help with the messy clean up! We hope everyone is enjoying this fall season. Next up, Halloween pictures.

Summer 2014

I did a summer post early in the season. Here are a few more pics now that summer has come to a close. Yeah...I'm still in denial. No wonder it has taken me so long to post these photos. This summer meant to us:

VISITS TO THE ICE CREAM SHOPPE

DESSERTS ON THE GRILL

CAMPING IN THE BACKYARD

FEEDING PARAKEETS AT THE ZOO

WHICH YOU CAN ONLY DO IN SUMMER

FRESH FOOD FROM THE GARDEN

TRIPS TO THE BEACH. THIS IS PACIFIC BEACH

OCEAN SHORES

SUMMER FESTIVALS EQUAL...

FACE PAINTING! GRACE ENDURED A 45 MIN WAIT FOR THIS ONE!

NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY

COMPLETE WITH FIRE ENGINE VISIT

GRACE TAKING A SWING...

THEN SAM, AT THE PINATA. 

Scott and I had the realization just this week that our life will significantly change come 1 year from now when Grace has started Kindergarten! Most specifically the part of our life that entails frequent out of town trips, as that would mean pulling kids out of school. We can hardly wait to see what adventures we can pack in next summer!

Denver Trip...Again

Scott had 3 weeks notice before going to New Zealand this year. That makes it sound like he didn't have a choice to go, but he did, and when that opportunity comes up we let him take it if at all possible. I had a 3 week stent off from work and instead of taking a family vacation, Scott went on his trip and I took the kids back to Denver. The entire Hesseltine family then decided to take a trip up to the mountains.

We braved a 3 mile hike and all the kids made it...to our astonishment. 

 

Uncle Steve, and many of us grownups, did have to carry a few of the little ones at some point. The hike, overall, was very enjoyable with gorgeous views of the Lake Dillon area. Lilypad Lake is a hike a grew up doing as kid and it was great doing it with my own kids.

After our mountain get away, we spent lots of time playing sports with Papa, playing at the parks, going swimming, and painting at a local kids spot.

Brandi, Sonia, and I out on the town. Not pictured, my brother Scott and brother in law Justin. We had one of the best meals ever at Tables restaurant. We can't wait to go back again.

One Awesome Summer

Over the last week I have been taking a multitude of photos as we have gone to pumpkin patches and fall festivals. I realized I have barely blogged about or shared all the amazing things we got to do this summer. So here is my attempt to flood the blog with summer photos prior to my fall ones.

In June we spent some time in Denver and Scott and I got away for some kid free time in Fort Collins where we enjoyed tasting some great beer, all while riding through town on our bikes.

 

Odell was by far the most beautiful, with an amazing tasting room, deck, and hop themed decor and bike racks.

 

Our favorite beer, hands down, was from Fort Collins Brewery. Also had a great tour.

Funkwerks was well worth the visit with a collection of very different brews on tap and funky decor.

 

The trip would not have been complete if we hadn't visited the "mothership," aka New Belgium or stuffed our bellies with delicious tacos.

This trip was also during our nephew's 3rd birthday. And us Templin's know how to have some fun. Thought I'd share our latest family photo.