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!

Pussy willow

Oh vacation.  If there is one way to make it exciting and memorable it is with a trip to the Emergency Room.  Leave it to my little G to provide the thrill.  Friday night, 6 kids and 5 adults all in a hectic pre dinner party rush, and getting ready for a get together at the house too.  I volunteered to make dinner, ran to the store for ingredients and put together a teriyaki sauce marinade, carrot and cilantro salad, cut up veggies, brown rice cooking. kids are playing great. Adults were cleaning up the house for guests.  One made another run to the store.  OH no, propane for the BBQ is out, another runs to the store.  Kids are playing great. G comes running to me crying  " I have a pussy willow stuck in my nose!"  huh?  Yes, somehow after watching the oldest cousin perform a mini magic show, G decided to attempt a trick of her own.  Up went the pussy willow- but it didn't come back down.
   We tried EVERYTHING imaginable.  2 different sets of tweezers, black pepper, red peppers (the girl just isn't a sneezer), blowing, pinching nose and blowing in her mouth, a netty pot, time (overnight!) with no luck.  It was pretty apparent to me we just weren't going to be able to reach it, you couldn't really see it- yes it was that high up in her nose (almost in her sinus).  The sisters all had plans of a girls day out, so Clay got to be super dad and take her to the military hospital.  Thank goodness we are still covered for a few months.
  I got updates the whole time.  Numbing spray and swelling spray. The nurses tried to remove it using tweezers and a nose speculum.  Pussy Willow 1, nurses 0.   attempt number two brought out the big guns.  An Ears Nose and Throat Dr came to the rescue with suction tool, more tweezers, some other crazy hook (that wasn't used.) G was strapped down to a papoose board, 3 nurses helped hold her down and then there was victory!  The Dr pulled it out and after asking to take it home, we have it in a little jar.  She was still screaming and kicking after they took it out, didn't notice it being pulled out. Clay says it was really a fun time.
   What an ordeal, and I wasn't even there for the hospital part.  There would have been no way we could have gotten it out, and I am so thankful we were able to take her some place that they were able to do it safely.

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!