Xander and Clare

The days of loose teeth that hang on for ages are apparently gone. One minute X was eating something, and the next minute he had a molar in his palm. 

Valentines from all his classmates. 

Hard to believe this is the last year he'll have a Valentine party at school. I remember his kindergarten Valentine party like it was just yesterday.

Clare and Klayton have moved on (mostly) from LEGO and now their playdates involve side-by-side Minecraft.

We went down to Seattle for a couple days over Presidents' Day Weekend to house sit for Kate and Jessica and generally just hang around pretending to be city folk.

Taught the kids how to play pinball.

And Ms. Pac-Man.

Had a great dinner out at Tutta Bella.

Clare learned that she loves gelato.

Perfectly good beds all throughout the house, but the kids wanted to share the family room couch.

X finally got to show Clare and I his favorite Seattle restaurant: Nate's Wings & Waffles. 

Note: It was not cold outside, but Clare wore her earmuffs from Grandma and Grandpa anyway.

We popped into Olympia for a couple of hours to hang out with friends. These two have known each other since preschool!

Clare and Axel bonding over Pokemon.

5th grader versus 2nd grader. It's nearly a tie!

Taking selfies at i.Talia.

Class picture day.

This is as clean as Clare's room gets -- and it's never, ever this clean. Thought I better document it.

These kids work so hard at D-Block practices -- but they also have so much fun.

They often play "Bump" at the end of practice. Here, Xander triumphantly knocks out Caiden's dad, William.

Clare had an after-school playdate at Klayton's (with their buddy Mac there, too) that lasted nearly until bedtime. She was so excited to get home "late" and tell me all about it.

Smartly soaking up the sunshine on Saturday. We hadn't seen it in a long, long time!

Waiting for one of Xander's six (!!) basketball games to start last weekend.

Clare decided to actually watch one of Xander's games for a change -- and wrote down all the action as it happened in her diary. 

Dairy Queen stop after a long day of basketball -- thanks to Grandpa and Grandma's gift card!

He's serious about basketball.

Clare was serious about trying to get herself up onto this bar and do pull-ups.

About to win a spot at the championship game.

Clare is getting too tall too fast.

It was a tough battle, but in the end, D-Block came in second place in the tournament, losing to Ferndale 41-38.

Lining up for the trophy award ceremony.

Getting to meet former NFL quarterback (and Bellingham Bell and UW Huskie -- and Ferndale native) Jake Locker.

Proud of this team!

Xander's friend Bryan came to watch D-Block play.

Bathtime! Clare has been taking showers for ages now, so it was a fun novelty to take a bath for a change.