Beware!

Warning to all those who may stop by our house at any hour.... this guy lives here, and you never know what he may be up to!

Artist Point

Two weeks running Clay and I have hiked.  Last weeks hike was challenging, to say the least.  We hiked off of Chuckanut Drive, up to the Oyster Dome.  It was brutally steep all 6.5 miles round trip. Today we ventured out on a much more leisurely and enjoyable hike. Granted we had the kids with us so we only made it 2 miles... and the pace was slower.  Today we visited the very tip top of Mt. Baker, and did the Artist Point trail. There wasn't too much of an incline, well you don't notice walking it- what you notice is the drastic drop off the path down the side of the mountain.  There is no boundary, just wide open space with lots of rocks.  I spent most of the time reminding Elliot to use nice feet, and holding his hand (or giving him  a shoulder ride, no that wasn't very smart either but I was SUPER careful.)  My dear friend Mindi and her husband Jon were along for the adventure, and I am not sure if they will consider hiking with us again- well at least not for exercise (they did the Oyster dome hike 2 weeks ago.)   On the drive up the mountain we had to stop and let the kids pee along the road. Once at the top while we ate our picnic lunch, Elliot did a very impressive pee down the hillside- making sure he was facing the people in the parking lot below and aiming as far as he could.  We may have had to stop along the trail as well.  Did I mention there was singing of the "Ants go marching one by one" hurrah hurrah! We made it a mile and to the first lookout area.  The view was incredible, there was snow to play in and then it was time to head back!

 Couldn't quite these 2 to hold still, E was more interested in trying to slide down the huge rock (no he didn't get to!)

 Snowball fights in September.. they both whined of cold hands!

 Our Family of 4, on top of the World.

 Seeing this picture reminds me of a quote I associate with Gabby; "Let her sleep. For when she wakes, she will move mountains." She will also run them!  Now I am all teary thinking about her going to school.

Feeling so Blessed.  Today was one of those days that makes your heart smile extra big!
 

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!