Family Bowling & Baby Turtles

Just like Daddy =) Lily is such a sweet little monkey-see, monkey-do, both with mimicking words and with her actions.

When we were in Mexico, the girls and I were beyond amazed and just in awe as we watched a newly hatched baby turtle make it out of his nest and go all the way down to the water. It took a long time and boy oh boy, that little turtle had to work SO hard. Every divot was like a mountain for him/her and every little bit of uneven ground needed to an extra spurt of energy to move over.

We hiked every day and swam every day as well. It was great to be active daily.

Back at home, before I left for Mexico, we were so happy that Cheriss and Erik arranged for us to all go bowling at a private bowling alley in Whatcom County. It's actually located in someone's home (!!!).

Baby Alise was awake for part of the festivities and amazingly, managed to take a short nap during all the ball clanging.

Team Cherik is really looking good with the addition of baby Alise.

Jamisen LOVED bowling. He kept saying "I want to go back! I want to go back!" after we left. Of course, it helps that he had the bumpers in when he was bowling.

Even Lily got in on the action, pushing or trying to kick 6 pound balls down the lane.

She also really was excited because there was some junk food at the party - cake and chips - and her sense were on full overload happiness.

The entire bowling team with the Faiolas and Bosseants posing proudly and planning their strikes.

Two Word Sentences & South o' the Border

This has been a banner month in Lily's development. She picks up more words every single day and today, she said a two word sentence. We were thrilled! When Chris was headed off to work, she said "Dad go!" Aw ... and she loses more and more of her baby chubbiness daily and is looking like a toddler every day.

Another welcome development is that she is becoming more and more useful as a play friend for her brother. They both are so genuinely fond of each other and love to play together at least 60% of the time now.

The rest of the time is still fights about sharing, who is in who's standy thing and who can ride the motorcycle and who can't. Jamisen goes back and forth between "I want her to ride on the back with me!" to "GET HER OFF!!!!" and they're both equally hard to manage since Lily is pretty sure she mostly doesn't want to ride on the motorcycle with Jamisen.

One thing that I want to make sure I remember forever and ever and ever is the absolutely crazy-making that the same song, played over and over and over again for 8 hours is. The kids both ADORE their Christmas Music Boxes from  Grandma and Grandpa Faiola and play them incessantly (incessantly!). As much as I love Christmas cheer all year round, year round + all day = crazy brain. However, #silverlining, this means they are totally going to be musical, right?

I went on a little trip south of the border with my Mastermind Group. Just a quick 3.5 day trip to a sleepy fishing village for some centering, rest and some seriously kick-butt focus and business planning.

It was just what this busy Mama needed to start off Q1 of Awesome with some serious motivation.

We've been enjoying family sit down meals at the table, craft time and cooking time since both kids have been getting slightly older and more manageable. Every day, it's less like herding cats and more relationship building. 

A Few Straggler Updates - Holiday Post 2014

Ah, Christmas 2014 ... what a fantastic two days we had. We went to a Christmas Eve church service. Alise slept in Grandpa's arms so sweetly and Grandpa was so proud.

The kids were THRILLED with their Bouncy Tent and in the weeks after Christmas, are down there multiple times a day. It's definitely made our house the party house!

Jamisen really was the perfect little Christmas helper elf. His festive sweater and great hat made him such a merry little Christmas gift for his mama! =)

WHOAH! Santa!!!! Santa visited our house. He had one last gift that he couldn't deliver through the chimney (a motorcycle, fully motorized) for Jamisen. It was mind-blowing. Jamisen was so delighted; like over-the-top insanity.

Christmas was also full of Mastermind parties! Mastermind Group (original) not only had a Christmas party but most of us spent Christmas Day (evening) together as well. Big thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Faiola for watching the kiddos so Chris and I could do Christmas night with my 'Front Row' galpals.

Mastermind Group B also threw a fun party complete with a hilarious photo shoot. Between the ice cream shop and the cookie shop, we're not lacking in sweets in that group or amazing ideas on how to take our businesses and personal lives to the next level.

FSE also had their Christmas parties. 'Twas the season for much celebration and festivities. They did it at a beautiful art gallery in town; it was hard not to shop the walls. Thankfully, two little kiddos kept us too busy to actually take home a painting or three. Hat tip to Grandparents Renoud for the fun outfits the kids are wearing. Aren't they adorable? Jamisen wanted to help Chris with the speech and at one point, climbed up onto the bench to be adorable and copy him. Awwww ...

One of my bucket list items is to meet a current or former President of the United States. I'm climbing that ladder with Vice-President Gore (and Governor Jay Inslee). It was fascinating to hear Vice President Gore's thoughts on energy independence, solar and the future of business.

As always, we are so grateful for our familys' health, the amazing parenting team that help us with Jamisen and Lily and our thriving, challenging businesses. Here's to more blessings, more laughter and more joy in 2015!