Two perfect days in Seattle

Little miss and I were invited for a girls weekend up north and jumped at the chance to indulge in all things extravagant and whimsical.  I grabbed my trusted (things I hope to someday see in Seattle besides fish throwers and shopping malls) list and fellow small groupie Abby and started our journey.  Of course an hour in I realized that in all my excitement I had A. forgotten Ava's jacket, and B. forgotten all sleeping related items.  Luckily Abby hooked us up and with a slight sleeve roll we were on our way.  After eating cake and chit chatting into the wee hours we woke up with a plan.  Our first stop was the Volunteer Park Cafe which was the most ridiculously cute boutique restaurant I had been to in awhile.  If Abby hadn't insisted on paying I would have ordered one of everything, well at least the cookies anyway.  Thankfully I was with like minded travelers.

Daydreaming while waiting for us to order

 Beautiful Abby, who although she has chosen not to have children, always has pages of wisdom in this mothering journey.

 Confident that we had covered all the food groups: 

sweet, buttery, salty, gooey, crunchy, creamy, and chocolatey

 we allowed some soup with lunch. 

 Ava was in her happy place as Janelle suggested we play a game where everyone choose which direction to go after lunch.  Guess where the 8 year old landed us?

 You are never too old for a game of chase

 The park was bursting with autumn rainbows

 and trees just right for climbing

 skipping rocks into the pond

 an old water tower

 and a perfect view

 Next on my list was a warehouse turned craft shop and exotic charcuterie?  I think I spent an hour up in the loft at this tiny nook of a shop called Butter.  Then I left crying because I couldn't afford ALL THE THINGS.  Look at these pendant pulley lights!  Could they be any cuter?

 And of course we stopped to smell the roses

 and browse fun cookbooks

Then we walked downtown a bit and while the ladies did some shopping I let Ava choose a spot.  Of course she chose a bookstore.  I might have failed to mention that there was an American Girl Store also within walking distance.  

A few selfies

 She loves her some peppermint hot chocolate

After some yummy Thai food we cozied up and played no less than 100 games of chinese checkers. Poor, poor Abby.  I'm not sure she's going to want to travel with this crew for awhile.

 Although she did seem to enjoy the snuggles.  

It was girls choice with Janelles' die hard collection of romantic comedies and Shirley Temple flicks.  We went with The Little Princess.  I'm pretty sure I heard Ben clapping from 200 miles away as he did not have to suffer through 48 hours of fanciful girl time. 

Before saying our goodbyes we wisely heeded Janelle's advice to stop at Cactus for brunch.  I am still dreaming about the green chile biscuits with chorizo gravy and the tres leches french toast.  There are so few restaurants that serve New Mexican food and this place made me plot my next trip north before I had finished one sip of their hibiscus mango agua fresca.  

The moral of this story is that I need to quit my job and become a travel blogger...
right?
Time with my girl, time to wander, time to run half naked in 30 degree weather to find the apartment hot tub, time to eat dessert first, time to add the full two hours to the meter and walk east just because its a cute neighborhood.
Miss A said it best,  "Mama I am SO glad we did this.  I had the best time."
Me too babe.  Let's do it again soon.
And I meant it.

tupelo honey

Well you had the nerve to turn 8 this month.  I suppose it's what every mama feels but I still look at you and see those chubby cheeks and soft curls.  Oh baby girl.  It's been a ride hasn't it?  I know we're both antsy about what's coming.  But you go ahead and stretch those wings and I promise to not clip them every chance I get.  Hey, that's progress.
I was not joking when I looked you in the eyes and said we are both going to make mistakes.  Mostly mine.  I saw you tear up as the reality of an imperfect mama stared you straight in the face.  I've tried to fake it for a long time but you're wiser now.  Thank you for all the moments you remind me to see the alternatives to frustration and criticism.  I am humbled by all the generosity in your chocolate brown eyes.

People stop me to talk about how amazing you are.  Did you know that?  Your sunday school teachers, other parents and even the school secretary.  I beam inside so much that it scares me.  It scares me how much of you is wrapped up in my identity.  Especially when I know how much your wild will kept me on my knees.  When I know it was grace that got us through ALL the days.

Sister friend you wear some fearless armor over that tan skin.  I definitely have you to thank for these worry lines over my eyebrows.  I know you don't want to wear those glitter boots because they can't make you fly like your Vans.  And forget about anything that inhibits your tree climbing capabilities.  Sorry I guilt tripped you into a skirt last week.  It's just so hard when you have a little girl and you get to pick out all these cute clothes.  I'm trying to let go of it.  Pinky swear.

And when that bravery fails. When your fears and shyness seem like mountains you simply cannot climb.  When I can choose to be your enemy or your ally.  I wont dismiss your battles.  I'll try to listen, nudge you when you're ready, and whisper to you the source for perfect peace.  

What began as a desperate attempt to wrangle a fellow actor onto your stage (somewhere between chubby baby and skinny boy) became a solid friendship with an equally creative playwright.  I breathe deeply listening to you on all the long slow mornings.  And it's not just with Ian.  I swear I could drop you off anywhere and you would have a group of one to sixteen year olds wearing dress up clothes and engrossed in some fairy tale.  You are able to skip and dance between four year old play and fourth grade antics in a way that keeps me guessing.  It's a skill that will serve you well babesy.  This world is stocked with characters and you just never know who might end up in your circle.

Lately you've become a bit of a bookworm.  Your teacher said that you might as well skip school and go straight to college (or something similar).  So embrace your inner smarty pants.  Don't run from the hard work (i.e. Spanish) because you didn't master it on the first try.  It's ok to be great at some things and good enough at others.  We're all in the same boat on this one girly.

Could you be any more stunning?  I don't even want to tell you that because I'm scared you'll anchor too much in all that outside beauty.  Especially when I know that the true gems are mined much deeper within you.  So I pray you'll learn to wield your mind and faith before your smile.
And that there are many years of braces and flat chestedness in your future.

Are you going to be a teacher?  Or an artist?  Or a circus performer?  Or a veterinarian?  Or a stage actress?  Or the cash register lady at McDonald's so you can get a discount on fries and mango pineapple smoothies?  I don't know.  What I do know is that your coworkers will think you're the funniest girl at work.  Those joke books are going to pay off one day, I'm telling you.

Your best things right now:
waffles
the color blue
friends
chapter books
Sky High
stuffed animals
Jamba Juice
drawing
rainbow looming
ziplining
tree climbing
nighttime snuggles

You are a spectacular girl Ava bear.  I have loved being your mama and pray blessings on this year beyond your wildest imaginations.  Ok, maybe not living in candy land and riding a blue unicorn to your friends houses every day.  But pretty dang close.  Love you, love you, love you,

Mommy

And the beat goes on...

Sometimes (ok twice) we get to work early have silly time in the car.  Spiderman has a bag of tricks 2 feet deep.  Most of the time he cracks this mama up.  Unfortunately his new favorite involves mustering up the stinkiest of smells.  Then we head for the exits ASAP. 

 "Mama, why don't we ever park in the spot with the man going to the potty?"
All these years I have never seen it that way.

 The exact moment when I wish I would have peed before leaving work.

 These two are still rock steady playmates.  I don't even question it anymore.  I found this happening on my bed when I got out of the shower.

 I think it was called belly blast.

 Do you love my new panini press?  Grilled cheese in half the time.

 Why the long face babe?  Is it because we forgot to buy pull ups and you had to wear one of mama's postpartum diaper pads in your batman underwear?
I guess I'm the only one who recognizes my genius in this situation.

 School photo time!  Her front tooth almost made a full appearance for the occasion.

 Little man is going through a bit of a rainbow phase.

Did I say a bit?  I mean he is obsessed with drawing rainbows.  Morning, noon, and night both at home and at his school.  There is no more room in all the house.  There is no more color in all the markers.  

I'm fresh off a 24 hour date night and two slices of cherry pie but I'm soaking up the snapshots of our beautiful ordinary this morning.