End of Summer catch up

All of a sudden summer is coming to a close.  The weather has already shifted and it is starting to feel like fall.  Outings in the morning requite a sweatshirt, to combat the temperatures in the 50s.  I already feel like making soups or getting out the crockpot.   The start of school is inching closer and closer, Gabby knows the count down and is as excited as can be.  Me, well I am nervous and afraid of missing my girl so much while she is gone all day every day.  How is she really old enough to go to school?

We have done lots of cousin playing this summer, and that has been the best part of living back in Washington.  Knight E and Princess C gave tiniest cousin EE a good check up.  She is doing great by the way!

 We checked out the local fountains, the view was great but the other patrons cut short our visit.

 Smarty pants G has taken up reading.  Like one night we got out the Bob books that Auntie M got her, that had been left at the Grandparents house when we moved.  We have finished the 1st set, and she is doing great at figuring out words. If there is one thing you can say about G, it is that she is so enthusiastic, the joy she finds in everything is amazing.

 We did a little swimming in the lakes.  Much different than the ocean we frequented last year, but the kids are really working on their swimming skills.  Clay brought out his snorkel gear, yes we were the nerds out in the lake complete with flippers looking at a dreary lake bottom.

 Not a great picture of either, but it cracks me up that they have the same look!

 This boy, so full of excitement and mischief.  Plus, those eyes!

 The closest zoo just happens to be in Canada.  We ventured there (my 2nd time going to Canada in a week!)  and it was great fun.  The kids climbed on just about every animal statue there was.

 Just to give you an idea of how close some of the animals were to the fence, here are the kids with a donkey.  We reminded them many times not to stick their hands thru the fence.  I have one kid that hasn't yet mastered listening... he got bit by a duck!

Look at that pretty face.

  Now it is off to finish up school supply shopping, we still need a backpack and 3 and a half dozen glue sticks (I only bought 6 so far).  

San Diego Summer

What an adventure we had in San Diego.  First it started with a 2 day drive (yes my husband is nuts, and would rather drive 1300 miles than fly for 3 hours) and getting in very late.  Part of the timing of our trip was so that we could watch our 4 beautiful blond nieces while their parents were off on meetings in Texas.  

 Our 1st day with all 6 kids we went on a bike ride up to the school.  Big mistake, this was the only truly happy moment of the trip.  After this was taken and they one by one made their way down the sloped driveway, G crashed (she didn't use her brakes) and it all went down hill from there. I know it was due to being extremely over tired (lacking 9 hrs of sleep in the past 3 days) but I don't think she stopped crying or screaming the rest of the ride.  She was really upset that we weren't in "age order"... but it was due to her fits, all the younger kids passed her! Clay and I dubbed it the bike ride from hell. Did I mention it was 90* out.

 Popsicle time, and all are happy! (this was the next day)

 My pancake helpers, E cracked his egg- H was a bit surprised by it but then I let her crack one, for the very 1st time! These two were so sweet and hilarious together, I loved listening to their conversations... and H totally bossing E around!

 It happened, his 1st real mohawk.  The beach also happened, but E wasn't thrilled by the sand that got in his shorts and wanted to be naked instead (surprise?)

 E C H A E G   the gang!

 Did I forget to say it was mohawks x2?  Clay ended up shaving his off before he took G to her ER visit for the pussy willow.

 The lone boy on this day, pretty rough.

 4 girls and their amazing mom.  

 G got right back into loving the ocean and the beach.  She got so into rolling in the sand her bathing suit bottoms filled up with so much sand they fell down.

 Life is good.  Eating a cookie in the sand.

Ry Ry came over for a visit!  Clay and I did get to meet him and another buddy from our Japan days for lunch one day too.

Just a quick blog photo update... more to come!