Summer

We had such a busy summer and the kids didn't drive me nearly as crazy as I thought they would.  In just the past few weeks we have gone to the fair, car races, jetty island, Seattle Center, and Wild Waves.

Some of the highlights:
Saw the eclipse, Remlinger Farms, Wild Waves, 4th of July parade, Bike camp/learned to ride bike, camping at Levenworth and Birch Bay, daily swim lessons for a month at Cottage Lake pool, Jetty Island, outdoor movies, exploring new parks, pool parties, Ninjago camp, preschool camp, etc....

When they weren't doing those things they were wrestling.  They were always wrestling.

What Summer's all about

A few weeks ago we went to a movie at one of the local wineries in Woodinville.  They show kids movies about once a month.  It's very informal.  Show up, bring dinner, bring a blanket to lay on the floor and they show the movie on a wall.  The place has a big back yard where the kids can run around.  I keep thinking about this evening.  Kids outside playing on a summer evening.  Trying to move logs to make a bridge over a stream.  Working together.  Coming out later to see that someone changed what they did.  Trying to fix it, thinking their way was the right way.  Getting wet.  Playing with other kids. Being outside.  Having no responsibilities.  Just being a kid.  Something about this evening and this simple activity really stuck with me.  It wasn't a fancy video game or something that cost money.  Just water, logs, kids and summer.

Tent Camping

We needed to be out of our house for a few days while our floors were getting re-finished so Becky came into town and we all camped.  It was our first time tent camping with the kids. We went to Birch Bay with Aunt Becky and Crystal/Emerald, Grandpa and friend Angie and her little boy. The trip went really well except that TJ was in agony the entire time from his broken rib...and Nolan cried every night because he wanted to go home cause it was too dark.  It was great to have so many people with us!  I was so proud of the kids getting along so well and listening so good. 

 

They got really good on the bikes but also came home with quite a few bumps and scrapes.

Becky bought a couple camping hammock's which were a huge hit with the kids. 

 

Nolan always says "sometimes you just have to push it in." I think he's got golf all figured out.

Great memories that I'm so thankful the kids get to have.

Let's go back to the "cabinet"

Our 2 night/3 day trip to Levenworth was so much fun that it became a 4 night/5 day trip.  I love the flexibility of Summer and not having a job.  I was pretty impressed with Lynn and I.  We camped with 4 boys, including one less than a year old, all by ourselves!  We stayed at a KOA campground where we rented a 2 bedroom camping cabin.  It had a full size bed in one room and 2 sets of bunk beds in the other room and that was all there was to the cabin.  Oh and it did have electricity.  It was basically camping with a roof over our heads.  Nolan kept calling it a "cabinet" and always wanted to hang out in it (even though they always ended up fighting if they were in it for too long). The campground had tons of activities for the kids which is why it was so much fun and we wanted to stay longer and longer.  It had an outdoor swimming pool, go cart things to rent, a game room, trails, tractor rides, an ice cream shop.  It was very close to Levenworth and had a shuttle that would take you there.  It was the perfect trip for kids.  If it wasn't so hot (and if the kids didn't fight) we might have stayed all Summer.

Keaton claims he loves chess but I don't think he has any idea how to play it.  He was super excited that they had this.

Lots and lots of swimming to stay cool!

The go-cart things that Keaton thought were great.

Nolan got new underwear and immediately put it on but forgot to take his shorts off first.

He tried so hard to golf.  Maybe it would have been easier for him if his shoes weren't on backwards.

 I was so proud of Nolan for sleeping in one of the bunk beds by himself.  I figured I'd have to squish on one with him.  He has such a slippery sleeping bag that we found him like this when we woke up.  He didn't wake up that time but did when he fell off the next night.

Happy campers!  We'll be back next year.  Just have to decide if we should bring the dads.  Camping with the moms is pretty fun!

Good By Kindergarten

Done with Kindergarten.  He's a first grader now.  Keaton's first year of kindergarten went so great!  He loved school every day.  He fit in right away with the school routine, riding the bus, buying lunch, being around big kids, etc.  He had a great teacher, Mrs. Talbott.  He made a friend, Cash, that he was friends with the entire year which is a really long time for someone his age.  One time he called Cash his "love friend" because he was friends with him first so he liked him the most. He seems to like the silly, kind of crazy kids.  He was also friends with Dante and Max for most of the year.  There were many others that came and went. He had lots of birthday parties.  Lost a tooth.  Played t-ball with some kids from his class.  Participated in a play through drama club.  Learned about Pokemon, Dragon Master and all kinds of other stuff from the kids. Whenever I asked him what he did at school or what was his favorite part of school he always said "playing on the computers."  He is struggling with reading but loving math. He didn't get in trouble too often but when he did it was for being too loud. 
I saw him grow up more this year than I did in any previous years.  It has been awesome!  I love seeing him have fun, learning and having lots of new experiences!

First Day School:

Last Day of School:

First Week of Summer Vacation

Summer has started off great!  The boys have really been enjoying their time together.  When they aren't competing for something or arguing about something ridiculous they are usually wrapped around each other wrestling.

Play date at Max's house
Kira's pool party
West Seattle wading pool
Movie with friend's
Riding bikes at park
Lot's more that I forgot!

I've got a list of fun stuff for this summer.  Nolan is at a good age now where it's really easy for us to do just about anything!  So our days and nights will be full.

Field Day

Keaton's school had Field Day, a day where the kids do all different kinds of activities.  They needed parent volunteers at the different stations and keaton wanted me to volunteer for hockey.  I learned a few things that day.  Don't wear sandals if you are around kids playing hockey.  Don't expect anyone to listen to you.  Older kids are jerks. Younger kids follow rules, try harder, and have more fun.  I don't like all kids, only certain ones.  Next year I will not be doing hockey.  But the kids did have a great time and that's what really matters!

Here is Keaton with his friend's Katie, Cash and Max.  Each grade was suppose to wear a certain color shirt.  Kindergarten was purple.

The kids had buddies they had to stay with.  Keaton was with Dante and Ilisha. 

 

The hockey jerks.