Summer Schedule-less (and practically picture-less)

I've always looked forward to summer break.   I love the break from early mornings and busy schedules and I love having my kids home with me.   Having a new baby just as summer began I was nervous that the kids would struggle with being home too much and getting bored.   I'm happy to report that so far (we're only two weeks into it) we are doing so much better than I expected.  They haven’t even drawn from our Summer Boredom Buster jar yet.

From the get-go I explained to the kids that each day they would have jobs to do, similar to what they usually have on Saturday's during the school year.   I expected moans and groans, but actually they have been better about it than I expected, especially Abigail.   On several days she's asked me before bed what jobs she'll have in the morning and as soon as she's up she is hard at work.  

Not having anything in the morning has saved my sanity.   Katie and Jason still wake up early (usually before 8), but the girls are finally getting to the age where they like to sleep in. To be honest, I really don't know what time the kids are getting up these days cause I'm the last one up.   Jason has been great at getting his own breakfast and even helping Katie get a bowl of cereal and then they quietly entertain themselves.   I'm totally spoiled, right? 

So our mornings are slow going, by the time everyone is up and jobs are done it's around 11-12pm and then it's lunchtime.   Katie is down for a nap before the kids head outside, and then most afternoons they spend the rest of the day playing with friends. 

With the girls getting up so late each morning they aren't tired at the usual bedtime of 8pm.  We've pushed back lights out till 9pm but they struggle to fall asleep, often we'll hear then chatting till after 10pm.  

As the girls get older (and their room has more stuff they don't want their younger siblings getting into) they have attempted to keep the younger ones from coming in uninvited.   This led Jason to feeling protective of his space as well so a few months ago he created a sign for his door that said NO girls were allowed.   Shortly after my mom arrived, and she was sleeping in his room (he slept in a fort in the bonus room), I noticed his sign changed to something along the lines of, NO girls allowed except Grandma.   I wish I had taken a picture of these first few signs in his cute little five year old handwriting and his inventive spelling. 

Fast forward to one of the very first days of summer break when the kids spent all day creating in their room.  At the end of the day the girls bedroom door looked like this.   The can is their mailbox (there was two, but they kept falling down), just in case someone wants to leave them mail. Even two weeks later they are still diligent about turning over the “in” or “out” sign when they enter or leave the room.

And Jason’s door looks like this.  

The girls have spent many, many summer hours crafting and creating.  In addition to the signs on their bedroom door, they have gotten back into making things with duck tape (their newest product is wallets), and Abigail has made several friendship bracelets from embroidery thread while Carly has been occupied making lanyards.  They haven't played any DS or computer games all summer, I love that! 

The girls attended our stake activity day camp this past Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.  They LOVED everything about it and I’m so grateful our stake leaders put in so much time and effort to make it such a wonderful event for the girls each year.

We’re off to a great start!

Baseball Season

Jason’s final baseball game was Monday, June 10th.  Jason had a really fun season, learned and improved a ton, and enjoyed going to practices and games.  Unfortunately, several of his games were cancelled due to rain, but such is the case in the northwest.  The perk of having all that rain is living in such a beautiful area.

I’m so grateful his buddy Everett was on his team – the option to carpool is a huge benefit.  I didn’t get any pictures of the boys during the season, but thankfully my Mom did.

Justin wanted to get video of Jason hitting the ball.  Jason hit the ball on the first try in both innings, but Justin was too slow the first time around, but was able to capture it in the last inning.

After the game the coach handed out trophies and cupcakes.

And the cruddiest team picture ever:

Drew's Blessing

Drew was blessed on Sunday, June 9th while my Mom and Val were still here.  In the circle with Justin was the bishopric, DJ, Darin, Val and Grandpa Fletcher.

It was a bit crazy getting out the door at our usual time, even with 1pm church – we only had enough time to take a quick picture of our family.  Our first picture with the seven of us – and still the only picture of all of us together.

The blessing was beautiful.  I was nervous that I was due to have a screaming baby during the blessing since all my other kids have slept peacefully though it, but Drew behaved perfectly.  However afterward, during the sacrament prayer, Carly was holding Drew and he loudly filled his pants.  Abigail, Carly, and Hallie couldn’t keep themselves from giggling and overreacting.

My Mom and I found his outfit at Deseret Book a few days before – not really my style, but it was the only option they had.  The huge collar in particular was pretty annoying.  I didn’t get any pictures of Drew in his blessing outfit until a few days later – he wasn’t very cooperative.

Grandma’s the BEST!

My Mom was here for three weeks.  I’ve never had anyone in my space for that long (not even Justin), but honestly it went by so fast and it was wonderful to have her here.  Normally I’d consider myself very independent, but I have no shame in admitting that I needed and accepted all the help she was there to offer.  You want to fold my underwear? {sure, why not?}  You’re totally cool with me sleeping in til 11am? {okay, my pleasure.}  You’re going to do 50 loads of laundry while you’re here and wash countless dishes? {ok, have at it.} 

Besides the obvious need to have her here to take care of the kids while we were in the hospital, my mom made those first few weeks so much easier on all of us. 

We were going through lots of bottles and pumping gadgets everyday and she kept our small supply clean and ready.  The girls commented how spoiled they were because the dishes were always unloaded for them and Justin and I washed very little as well. 

She did all the laundry - countless loads washed and put away. 

She mended my stash of clothes, socks, and toys in need of repair and also hemmed the drapes for the girls’ room so we can get those hung. 

She got the kids off to school on her own nearly every morning.   There were a few mornings I didn't even make an appearance until 11am.

She read the books on my book list and let me know whether they were worth the read.

She stayed on top of school projects and showed interest in what the kids were doing at school and how their day went.  She even went with Carly on an all-day outdoor field trip.

Drew spent lots of time snuggled up with Grandma,  We had a routine that after I nurse she held him while I pumped and then she would give him a bottle while I cleaned up for the next cycle. It would have been so incredibly difficult to stick with the feeding routine without her help throughout the process. 

She did all this with such a willing and happy attitude.  I'm sure there were times she was tired or frustrated, but she never made me feel guilty and she encouraged me to rest and take care of myself. 

Her husband Val drove up for the last few days of her visit and we managed to get out and do a few fun things together.  I think anyone that has ever visited us has had to experience Justin’s favorite fish joint – Ivars.  We didn’t make any exceptions this time around even though it was a 45 minute drive with traffic to get there.

After Ivars we stopped by Krispy Kreme to take advantage of National Donut Day and get a free donut each (somehow Justin managed to get four!)  Grandma treated us to an extra dozen to take home.

We also visited Snoqualmie Falls – a must see, especially since it’s practically in our backyard.

Drew was hungry

Katie took quite the liking to Val and pretty much followed him around the house chatting his ear off.  He read lots and lots and lots of books and stories to Jason and Katie in the two days he was here. 

The last time we had Mom and Val visit was way back in February of 2010 when Abigail was baptized.  For her birthday they gave her Dominos – of course, we had to play while they were here.

The time for them to leave came far too soon for us, thankfully, we’ll see them in August for our family reunion.

Thanks for all your help Mom!

End of School Wrap-Up

The end of any school year is bound to be busy, add to that having a baby and it was a bit overwhelming.   Thankfully, my mom was able to help make it manageable.  She came with me to many of the activities, took my place for others, and stayed at home with Drew so I could attend some activities on my own. 

Abigail has officially finished elementary school and we'll be sending her off to middle school this fall.   

Abigail left on her 4-day fifth grade camp the day before Drew was born.  As much as we missed having her with us when we introduced the kids to their new baby brother just hours after he was born we knew she was having an amazing experience.

Abigail’s learning group riding the ferry

Abigail with her friend and cabinmate Megan

Several weeks before camp the 5^th graders held a competition to see who could design the best cover for the camp yearbook.  Abigail was super excited when she found out that her cover had been selected.

One of Abigail’s counselors holding Abigail’s cover

Abigail had a final band concert on Monday, June 3rd at the middle school.   She had such a fun group in band with her this year. 

(On Aloha Day)

After they played a few pieces the 8th grade band demonstrated how well they could be playing if they continue through middle school.   What a contrast!

My mom had Katie dancing right along. 

Abigail's last week of school was filled with lots of fun end of the year activities.  The night before her last day we put together a small treat bag of each of the girls' teachers and Abigail made each of them a duck tape pen and a special card. 

School was out by noon on Tuesday, the last day of school, and Abigail and Carly were invited to spend the afternoon at a friend's house.   The kids and I met up with them that evening at the 5th grade BBQ.  Everyone had lots of fun running around and a free meal made it well worth it to me. 

Carly had two fields trips during the last two weeks of school, one to Ollalie State Park, and the other within walking distance of the school along the river.   She desperately wanted my mom to go along as a chaperone.   Ollalie was just a week after Drew was born and I couldn't spare the extra help, but the river walk was a week later and worked out perfectly.   I emailed Carly's teacher the day before to make sure it was ok.  Carly told us her teacher asked Carly about her Grandma’s health and mentioned they would be doing a lot of walking.   We got a little laugh from that considering my Mom is more physically fit and capable than most middle aged adults. 

Carly was thrilled to have my mom along and I'm so grateful she was willing to spend all day with a bunch of third graders. 

The last week of school was spirit week.   For crazy hair day Carly asked that I put the smallest rollers in her hair.  The results were pretty crazy. 

Jason looked cool with his spiky due. 

Jason had his first concert on May 28th.  This was Drew's first non-doctor related outing which of course he slept completely through.   Is it strange that Jason didn't have any other concerts or plays all year?  It was fun to watch all the kindergarteners singing, that is all of them but Jason' s best buddy who didn't participate at all, he stood completely firm the entire night... so funny.  

Jason's kindergarten graduation was held on Friday, June 7th (appropriately themed pajama day cause everyone wants an official graduation picture with their child wearing his/her grubby PJs).  Each of the kindergarteners shared a poem they had written. Jason's was about Hawaii.

Hawaii

Cool, Wow

Running, Jumping, Shining

Cool, Wow

Hawaii

Then his teacher called them up individually, shook their hand and gave them their certificates of graduation.   

Jason's official last day of kindergarten was Monday the 10th.  We teased him that we weren't going to let him go so that he couldn't become a first grader, but we caved.   I can't believe my buddy will be going to school all day next year.  I'm sure going to miss him.   Even more crazy is that I’ll have a middle schooler!  These kids of mine are growing up way too fast!