Shine On

Colorful, bright and so much fun.  That was our 4th of July.   I stuck with the showing my patriotism for Red, White and Blue with my first real black eye!  Last Saturday at our softball tournament I had my first go at playing catcher (ya know, because we had other girls playing who actually know what they are doing out on the field!)  I got popped right on the cheek bone by a foul tip from a lefty. It instantly swelled up, and as the day went on it got more colorful.  I continued to play 2 more games- at catcher none the less.  Sunday the eye was very swollen, making it difficult to see much down or to the side.... so I sat out the 2 tournament games, but played that evening in our league game.  The colors are changing, and it is looking better and feeling better. True love, Clay bought me a face mask so if I play catcher in our tournament this weekend I will be protected!

 We changed our plans so many times before the 4th, trying to figure out what to do.  In the end we decided to stick close to home instead of rushing around all day.  Some friends are living RIGHT on the lake (in their friends house, between selling their old house and waiting to move into their new house) in an incredible house.  We had such a perfect day.  Great food, perfect friendship- all with our spouses, silly sweet kids running around, sunshine, water, boats, sports, and more.

 A hug around the neck.  

 tree climbing with a view

 "fishing" 

 Moose

 swinging each other round and round!

we enjoyed everyone else's fireworks, and a few ridiculous smoke bombs and firecrackers Clay picked up. The kids both watching them for the 1st time (since they are usually sound asleep)  

jibber and dance

Somebody is really into pretending to know how to speak another language.  She also thinks she can sing in another language.  Today she wore a kimono out to the park, with a red belt. I love the boys dance moves, and the fact he is wearing a life jacket. I really want the energy back in my boy, he is fighting a summer fever and cold going on day 4.  Cousin C is so sweet.  enjoy the performance!

....and Summer has started

The calendar says Summer is here, the weather hasn't agreed all the way.  We are loving having so much family close by to do fun things with and to be able to celebrate with them.  Instead of December, June was the time for the family cabin to host it's annual party.  It was a busy weekend for many people but we made it there and enjoyed getting to see lots of family- and the weather was great so we spent hours at the beach.  Cousins (of some degree) all had a blast hauling wood and constructing a fort.

 My Boys, that blue sky and water IS in WA.

 E climbed the tree, peeked in a birds nest & scrapped his knees.  My favorite part of the picture, the EE on the shed. Not only is is my Grandparents initials- but now it is the newest Niece's too!

 It was a beautiful drive home!

 The last few weeks of preschool were busy, including a field trip to the marine center where the kids all touched lots of sea creatures and played around. Here are my two creatures on display!

 My BLUE eyed boy.

 this was attempt #1 at taking off the training wheels.  E is on his balance bike and can really zoom on it.  G wasn't too keen on having just 2 wheels.  We even put one training wheel back on, and well we haven't tried it since!

 Saturday before Father's day was a busy and successful day.  G & E competed in their very first fishing tournament- for bluegills.  They were up early, packed with extra clothes, lunches and new life jackets to wear with Grandpa and Dad in the boat.  It POURED down rain. Gabby didn't like leaving her line just sit in the water- but ended up catching 7 fish.  She won the fishing pole in the raffle.

 Elliot was very patient and caught 10 fish, which landed him in 3rd place in the 0-6 year old bracket.  It was a tie for 1st with 11 fish.   He won the pink tackle box and Princess pole, and a flashlight!   I think it will be a new tradition for the 4 of them.   That night Clay and I had one of his sisters and her husband over and we all went to support my Sissy at her big fundraiser.

 I am nervous about the teen years to come by looking at this picture!  

 He is back in love with this hat... and wears it with anything including his fur vest (with no shirt of course)

 my idea for teacher presents, block printing kitchen towels.  We used the towels to wrap up jars of homemade salted caramel sauce- yum.

 The weather report said it would be so nice, well the sun barely came out and it was only 61* but the kids didn't care and still insisted on stripping down to their suits and splashing in the tide pools at the bay.

brrrrr, so cold.  Happy Summer!

Moved In

Not only have we moved into our new house, we are almost all the way unpacked too!  It is taking us time to get everything unpacked, and in its place... We did so much the first week, and then the 2nd week we just walked around the boxes that were still out. Since then we have most everything unpacked and some things packed back up to get rid of!  Only 3 things have been hung on walls, so that makes the house look a little empty, but I am trying to figure out where I want everything.  Besides all the moving stuff, WE LOVE IT!  The house is great, so well kept and there is plenty of room.  I love it, Clay loves it and the kids really love it.  They didn't want to leave to go anywhere the first week or so.  We had some really nice weather and got to enjoy the BIG back yard, sprinkler and BBQing included.  On the not so great days the kids seem to think riding their bikes in the garage is just as much fun.  On a side note, Elliot called it the basement for a few weeks.  

 Sofia, the doll that was hunted for and was the only thing Gabby wanted to find.  Took us 2 days and dumping out all the boxes with any toy in it to find her.  Here they are reunited and in their matching dresses, oh and Spiderman too.

 As of now, the kids spend more time ON the playhouse than in it.  Here Gabby is trying to tie her rope to the chimney, and then attach it to the shopping cart.  To make a zip line, duh.

 I had to put a stop to that brilliant idea, and instead they settled for a clothesline, which meant they needed to take off their clothes!

 See how big this yard is?? We play games of softball and even set up all the bases (not really up to regulation!)

 One of the best things about the house,  it comes with cousinS.... we walk a few times a day back and forth.  The poor house between us, G & E don't seem to understand they can't run right across his front yard.

 Where do you find this boy, in the backyard... always!

Cousin C has gotten brave enough to ride the tire swing.  "Uncle Clayt" built it and it is by far the coolest thing around for all 3 big enough to play on it.

 E's YELLOW room, so bright it is mistaken for green.  This was day 1.... it looks much different now, included tonight are 2 kids.  G asked if she could have a sleep over in his bed.  I love how much they love each other!

 G's pink room.  The first corner looked so pale, and then BAM, it is all bright pink. It is full of toys and  her restaurant has reopened here (if you are familiar, she owns and operates a Chili restaurant that doesn't serve chili.  It was established in VB)

 so many boxes.

 The big truck that drove all our stuff here!  I was so pleasantly surprised that nothing was infested with bugs or animals, no damage and not stinky, and most of all that it wasn't sold off in a Storage locker auction..... all nightmares of mine during the 6 months we waited to get it.

 The AMAZING E, he can walk on air- or jump of ladders!

This is the sweetest girl, so blessed to have another baby in our family.  My sister let me watch her a few hours today while her and Char napped.  

Okay, so now that we have internet and are getting back to a routine I will try to get back on this blogging train!

E = 3

My very Sweet boy is now THREE!  His party went together perfectly, and I think a good time was had by all!  With a few close friends and some family too we celebrated Sunday afternoon.  The morning had started out with rain, and as I went to bed that night it POURED- but in between it was a gorgeous day to be outside celebrating an amazing 3 year old boy. I went about this party differently, deciding to not stress myself out about treat bags (because you have to have enough for everyone so you buy extra and then people don't show up and you are left with lots of junk!) and concentrating more on fun for everyone- with good food! Super Heros were our theme, because that is all we talk about and play these days. seriously. Elliot changed his clothes as he normally does about 5 times before the party started. What shirt you are wearing dictates what kind of hero you are. G & E matched in their Super Man/Girl shirts.

 This Green Lantern mask is a big hit. The pointy nose creeps me out a little.

 Lightsabers were a big score, he got 3 which is perfect so we can play together, along with the foam sword.  I loved having a good friend of mine (we met at work in Japan) and her family join us, the kids all played so well and had such a fun time!

 I made all the decorations. Poster board, scissors and a big black marker- cost for all: $2.50.  I traced and cut out lots of Batman, Flash, Green Lantern and Superman shapes, and even more comic "star" burst things.  

 Homemade mounds bars.  YUM.  Dark chocolate, unsweetened coconut and a little coconut oil.  A few almond slices on some and chilled in the freezer.

 1st time doing a candy buffet.  it was a pretty big hit.  Even my 17 year old nephew and his girlfriend filled bags with their names up.  Not a healthy thing, but so much fun. And really, the kids haven't touched but one candy a day from them.  

 I love his excitement, he really is such a sweet and generous boy.  

 My favorite cupcakes, so good.

 In addition to the candy, everyone got a hula hoop to take home- after we played games with them.

 E chose lemon cupcakes in addition to my choice of coconut.  I made a simple whip cream frosting with fresh lemon juice to top them.

 Having all eyes on him is something he doesn't usually have, or want but he did get a big smile looking around at all the people that were there singing Happy Birthday to HIM!

I asked him what his favorite part of his birthday party was, "when I got to eat 2 cupcakes!"  Earlier he said "mom, I love my birthday party!"

Happy 3RD Birthday to the sweetest boy there ever has been!  

and his Mumma cried.

OH the songs we sing for bedtime.   Clay is a music guy, and these kids seem to have picked it up from him!  There was  a request for more videos, so here you go!  Notice the matching Green Lantern shirts, they did that on their own.... again!