Makin' a Splash

Carissa introduced us to Tacoma's splash park and the kids loved it. And I loved that I could use it as a bargaining tool for them to complete chores or go to bed on time. We always went with Carissa and Celeste and their kiddos, packed a lunch, and spent the afternoon there. I liked that there was a great playground available when the kids didn't want to swim. And I also liked that I could sit in the shade with my sisters and catch up on the day while the kids wore themselves out in the sun.

Look at these two, could they be any cuter? Aubrey misses her "best friend Madelynn" and I can see why. They were two peas in a pod.

Aubrey spent a huge amount of time in the water, which was amazing because she used to be frightened of water and cried in a swimming pool and sometimes, yes, the bath. So seeing her enjoying herself in the water and loving the water splashing down on her was so fun to watch. Hayden is also a great big brother, he loves to help Aubrey out and make sure she's having a good time.

I love Roman's sweet face!

Dance Dance Aubrey

Aubrey took a dance class at the YMCA. I should have signed her up for swimming, too, but at her age it would have required me to be in the pool with her and, well, I just wasn't ready to be in a swimsuit twice a week. But I'm glad she went into dance class. She LOVED it. During the first class she clung to me for, like, 2 whole minutes before realizing just how cool her class was. They danced with squishy balls and with their moms. They did jumps, twirls, kicks, and ballet moves. They shook their shoulders and their bums and their heads. She had a blast and still talks about her dance class. The boys loved sitting and watching her and sometimes I'd see them doing their own little dance on the sides.

A little trick I learned that will almost guarantee Aubrey's cooperation is to stick the word "princess" into your sentence. Aubrey started dancing after we complimented her on dancing like a princess. She did princess twirls, princess kicks, and princess jumps. She was potty trained because she used a princess potty chair. She's a dress fanatic because she looks like a, you guessed it, princess.

My (second) favorite date

Every year my dad buys season tickets to the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle. We've seen some amazing plays and we always look forward to dressing up, going to a nice dinner, and spending time together at the theater.

This year, Disney decided to try out their new play, Aladdin, at the 5th Avenue. Dad thought the older kids would enjoy it, so Carissa, Celeste, and I took our older monsters on a date. Hayden was super excited. He was concerned how they were going to turn Jafar into a snake, and during the movie he thought that things were so "magical" and I didn't want to ruin it for him and explain how they were making the set move and how the genie was doing his magic. But I had a great time with my little dude. I love spending one-on-one time with each of my kids so that my attention isn't spread between three (sometimes four, Jeremiah is needy) people. And because they know that I enjoy this special time with them, they are always looking for reasons for me to take them on a date :)

My Fishies

The boys had a chance to do swimming lessons at the YMCA in Lakewood. I don't know why I didn't think to sign them up sooner, because right after their first session we moved to New Mexico! They love the water and the water loves them. They were the first kids in the pool and I had to threaten them with their lives to get them out.

Roman had an amazing teacher. I don't remember his name...Mark? Eric? Anyway, he was really good with the kids, and for the first time Roman wasn't clinging to his teacher like a monkey. Roman became fearless in the water, learning to float on his first try and loving to swim with a kickboard. His teacher laughed once, saying Roman could drown with a smile on his face, which is totally true because Roman smiles throughout the whole class, even if he's struggling.

Aubrey went with me for most of the classes. There was a daycare there but I was too cheap and she was too shy. Instead she kept herself entertained by trying on the boys' shoes (and sometimes other people's shoes), reading books that I brought, and cheering on her brothers.

Hayden was in the next level up and he didn't enjoy it as much. His teacher was more focused on learning to swim instead of letting them play games (like Roman's teacher). And he's also developed a slight fear of the water and had to have his teacher by his side before he'd swim, even with a kickboard or pool noodle. He got better as the session went on, but I'm hoping that more swim lessons will help him feel more confident in his class.

So after their last class, we were walking back to the car and this lady stopped us and told me that she was so impressed that Aubrey knew to look both ways before crossing the street. She said that she teaches at a driving school and knows a lot of kids much older than Aubrey that don't look. So she proceeded to give Aubrey a huge bouquet of flowers she'd picked up at the farmer's market earlier that day. Aubrey was so excited! She didn't understand why she was getting flowers, just that she was getting them. She's girly like that and loved holding them.

Our Independence Day

We started our 4th of July at the Steilacoom arts and crafts fair. I love seeing all these little items that people are selling, although I rarely buy anything. I think we splurged on cotton candy for the kids and called it good. Aubrey and Madelynn wore outfits that Mom got them, they were twinners and they loved it!

The kiddos in the best Americana outfits I could come up with. Aren't they the cutest?

While the husbands played pickleball, the kids played in the sprinkler.

If you look up "trouble" in the dictionary, I guarantee you will see a picture of these three. Seriously. They are cuh-razy together!

Every party has a pooper, that's why we invited you (Jacob). Isn't he cute? I love his face.

Several years ago, my dad remodeled a home on Gravelly Lake. It just so happens that the owners of that home co-sponsor the fireworks every year over the lake and my dad gets an invite every year to the party. We get a great view of the fireworks, although we are right next to the cannons and come home feeling slightly deaf. Surprisingly, the cannons did not frighten Aubrey, who normally cries at loud noises. Maybe because she knew the boom was followed by some awesome fireworks. Or maybe she's just growing up, but I won't admit that. The kids were also super excited for the dessert table. They had so many desserts on their plates that I just had to relieve them of some of that sugar. It was sure delicious.

Hayden and Aubrey were wide-eyed and having a blast. Poor Roman, though, fell asleep for a portion of the show, sleeping through Hayden's "Awesome!" cheers every 5 seconds and the boom of the cannons.

I sure love the 4th of July. I mean, I may or may not tear up whenever I hear the National Anthem. But I do love celebrating our country and our freedom and everything we stand for. And I want my children to feel the same, to love our country and understand and appreciate everything that we have.

Last Day of School

Isn't it kind of silly that the boys start school in a week and I'm just now posting about the last day of school...you know, from three months ago? What happened to this summer? I feel like we didn't do anything too time consuming but my blog is sure lacking!

I didn't get any pictures of my cute little Roman with his graduation hat. His teacher, as wonderful as she was (and Roman still insists she knows more than me!), didn't tell us they were having a little graduation event so I didn't go. Bummer! I'm sure he was super cute and all smiles.

Hayden, however, had a big 1st grade graduation event, which started with awards. Hayden got an award for perfect attendance (which was a shock for me, how did I not realize he hadn't been absent?!) and for being a great reader. Hayden's problem with reading lies in the fact that he's good at it and is always looking for a great book, but he doesn't ever really want to sit down and read it. It's a work in progress, he certainly doesn't get this trait from Jeremiah or me, because we both love to sit down in the evening with a good book.

After awards all of the 1st grade classes got together for a big bbq with a ton of food and sugary treats. All the families were invited, it was a lot of people, and it was fun watching Hayden try to figure out the purpose of yearbooks.

I'm so proud of both of my boys. They loved school and learning new things. They'd come home daily with a sentence that started off with, "Mom, guess what I learned..." or "Mom, did you know..." Hayden had a few principal's office visits, but hopefully he's learned a thing or two and will try to love his principal from a distance this year :)

They were also lucky to have cousins in their classes (Roman had Jack and Bryce, and Hayden had Olivia. Rix was in the neighboring class) and to have their Nana Lynda as the secretary. It sure saved me on days when I forgot to give them a quarter for popcorn!

Hayden with his attendance award...knock on wood he keeps on staying healthy!

Hayden and his crazy awesome teacher, Mrs. Fields. Did you know I went to school with her brother? We knew her as HJ's little sister :) She was wonderful with Hayden!

Hayden showing off his self-portrait.

Hayden's class, and of course he's next to Olivia, someone I refer to as his "frenemy" because they had a great love/hate relationship :)

Dear Washington...

I've dealt with your bipolar weather for 9 months now. I hate the rain and I hate the snow. And I hate that the weather never seemed to cooperate with our plans for outdoor birthday parties and trips to the park. And I hated that whenever I was out in my sweats and minimal makeup, I always feared running into an ex-boyfriend or high school rival and having to explain my less-than-stellar looks. Luckily, that never happened...yet.

But there are a few things I will miss, things that will probably make this emotionally-neutral girl shed a tear or two (okay, maybe more)...

• Running a late night errand to Safeway or Target and, more often then not, running into one of my sisters. The odds of that anywhere else in the world are slim to none.
• On that same line, I'll miss being able to call one of my sisters or conning my mom into running a late night errand with me just to keep me company.
• The kids are going to die without their cousins. Especially Aubrey who has replaced me as her best friend with her cousin, Madelynn. I can use Madelynn to bribe Aubrey to do just about anything, "Aubrey, eat your lunch so we can go play with Madelynn" and my daughter who generally picks at her food with just about inhale it. The kids are going to miss their crazy little cousins, even if they fight half the time!
• Seattle. We didn't go there nearly enough but when we did I always had a blast. I love Bellevue, Pikes Place Market, and spending time with Jeremiah's side of the family. They always know how to have a good time.
• I know we will have a ward to greet us when we arrive in New Mexico, but I will honestly miss the Lake City Ward. Not just because I grew up knowing many who still attend, but because I always felt loved by those there. And they had fun activities!
• I'm definately going to miss family get-togethers, especially on Sunday, and especially on someone's birthday when we all sang off-key and made Madelynn cry. The number of kids under one roof was out of control, but I loved it, and I know my kids loved it.
• Babies - both Celeste's baby Jacob and my sister in law Amy's baby Liliane. By the time I see them next they will be walking and talking and probably graduating high school.
• Lastly (and this list certainly isn't it, just throwing out what's on my mind) I will miss my parents (and Missy, that cute lazy little mutt). As we tried to figure out what to do while Jeremiah searched for a job, my parents offer to let us stay with them and became an answer to our prayers. I know that going from a house of 2 to a house of 7, including three small children and two stressed-out parents was difficult for them, and it wasn't always easy, but it sure saved us a lot of troubles as we searched for a way to become independent again. I will always remember their willingness to help us during our time of struggle.

So, in closing Washington, goodbye. I will slightly miss you, but I'm so excited for our next adventure!