Aiden practiced his fire building skills with Aunt Sarah, we caught frogs

We headed to the farmers’ market and ate all the yummy food. Aiden happily spent most his time being pulled around in the wagon eating strawberries.

We ate and wandered our way through Portland. At Harlow, where we had golden milk and vegan mac and cheese, Aiden practiced using my camera.

I snapped a few of him with my phone (left), and his photo on the right.

We wandered through shops before our next stop at a donut shop where we got a variety of mini donuts and a flight of chai tea. Aiden also picked a book from the “free little library”.

We were going to swim in the river, but it was too flooded this weekend to get to a good access point. Instead we cooked farmers market hot dogs on the grill and Aiden got his hair done and kept it that way for 3 days!

This is how Aiden takes pictures right now. I hope it’s a short phase.

In the story the elves are secretly trying to help the toymakers make all the toys they need for the children. The toymakers at one point “hid” in the audience to see who was helping them and Mr. Toymaker sat right next to Rambo. He thought it was so funny. We also brought a toy donation and during they play the elves asked for audience help and you could bring your toy up to the stage. Luckily Rambo was willing to do this because Aiden was way to shy to go up there. I think they each really enjoyed it, but Aiden in a quieter way. Rambo participated 100%. He talked to the actors afterwards, asked a question during the Q&A (how does the magic happen?), and even followed along with all the singing and audience responses.

We went out for noodles and egg drop soup afterwards before heading home. They shared a chopstick clip I happened to have in my purse, so they could each practice using their chopsticks.

Kelly and Matt arrived early and we started the day off with the parade, mimosas, and playing with friends.

The newest little framily member came and got lots of snuggles.

Sarah, Tobin, and Jadaka road-tripped up from Portland and camped in their RV for the night in our driveway. Brody also got lots of snuggles.

Aunt Sarah gave Aiden a little aerial balancing lesson.

Dad, Andrew, and I had some beverages at a few breweries. I snuck off for macarons at Lady Yum when we made a brewery stop in Kirkland.

Aiden got into the Thanksgiving spirit making scarecrows at school.

Thanks to my parents, I completed this shoe bench for our entry way.

We ate, drank, brunched, shopped, and walked our way through the French Quarter and a few other places.

We drank at the carousel bar (because Vogue told us to, it’s one of their top 20 bars in the world). It rotates and the only way the bartenders get in an out is by jumping over the bar. We drank the signature Sazerac. It was not delicious. Pimm’s Cup was definitely my drink of choice in New Orleans.

Desserts are my favorite and this place did not disappoint.

Here’s Bourbon St during the off season

I got some cool views on my way home.