July 4

We have attended our community 4th of July Celebration every year since we moved to Snoqualmie – so that’s eight years and counting.  This year definitely felt the most crowded around the bouncy houses – we had to wait about 45 minutes for the biggest one.  But still a great time.

Abigail, Carly and now Jason took off with friends immediately after we arrived and we only rejoined at the end.  Before heading to the car I made everyone get in a family photo in the photo booth. 

The girls had also taken advantage of a photo opp earlier in the day.

I was quite disappointed that they provided generic sodas this year instead of the real deal.  Obviously Drew didn’t mind.

That afternoon we joined several families in the neighborhood for a BBQ at the park across the street.  They’ve done parties in years past.  I think we were invited to some of the first, but we typically have other plans.  This year most of our close friends were out of town so when our neighbor invited us we thought it would be a good idea.  And it was.  However, just a few days before the event the Underbrinks invited us over (good friends of the girls) and we sadly had to turn them down.  The girls however were thrilled for an excuse to skip the neighborhood gig (they would have hated it) and went to the Underbrinks without us.  We ended up meeting up with the Underbrinks and the girls at the firework show that night so it was all good.

Justin and I really struggle socially in situations were we don’t really know people and don’t have much in common with them so we felt pretty awkward at times just hanging out at the park all afternoon.  It was good for us though as I think we’ve developed a bit of a standoff-ish reputation over the years.  Jason, Katie and Drew had a blast running around with all the kids.  Our neighborhood really is prime for their age groups.  These three little boys are all within a year of each other in age and live just houses away.

Several of the neighbors had some fireworks to entertain the kids with.  Boy, were they a hit!

We left just before nine to go down to the Red, White and BOOM firework show at the community park.  It was AMAZING!  Love that we have such a great show so close to home.

It was a fun-filled day.  I’m sure love where we live and the freedoms we enjoy!  Happy Birthday America!

June Wrap-Up

June 5:  Drew’s gotten into coloring more lately.  I thought it was pretty clever of him to use his pocket to keep his markers together.

June 7:  Justin hiked rattlesnake before work this morning with Dave.  This hike just never gets old.

June 9:  Just a little filter fun – Bonjour Jason! and Mademoiselle

June 11:  I posted this picture on Instagram today – my last day with just my buddy before summer break and the start of all day kindergarten in the fall.  We spent the morning at the Y, which he won’t miss, and the afternoon lunching with friends and playing at an indoor playground.  Oh, how I love this boy and will miss all this time I’ve had with him.

June 23:  The girls had to check out of EFY early Saturday morning and be ready for pickup around 7am.  We bought tickets for the whole family to go see Incredibles 2 at 10:30am and then we ran a few errands before heading home.  After, no doubt, a week full of late nights the girls were pretty tired.  Abigail had plans that afternoon/evening with some old friends in Auburn – her first time driving down Hwy 18 alone.  Carly however, had the afternoon to apparently… nap (be sure to have your volume on for this one).

June 24:  For FHE we watched a video requested by the kids’ piano teacher about classical music.  After which we bribed the kids with dessert if they played a little piece.  All the piano music is kept downstairs so the kids just had go play off memory.  As you can see Jason was a little bit of stinker and not sure why the girls didn’t have to play anything…

June 25:  First summer lunch date of the year went to Abigail.  She chose Cheesecake Factory and it was delish.  Of course errands afterward because can’t drive out to Bellevue without hitting up some must-dos.  Is it me or is she looking older these days??

June 29:  This was Katie’s first year attending our stake activity day camp.  This year was a bit different in that the camp was held Friday evening and then all day Saturday.  The girls were encouraged to bring a parent along on Friday for a family history scavenger hunt.  It was actually really fun.  We walked around the stake center and temple grounds following clues and sharing with Katie bits about our family story and the story of her grandparents.  Each station also gave her one of the supplies she would need to later plant a flower in a cute little pot she decorated.

(We ate at Café Rio beforehand and didn’t catch that big ole’ bean skin on Katie’s teeth until the end of the evening – ha!)

On Saturday she got to participate in calligraphy, cooking of crepes, archery and completing a family history project.  I love that our stake has so many amazing activities for our youth and kiddos.

The girls sang the song they’d learned as the parents arrived to pick them up.  I truly hope Katie always remembers that she is a Child of God and that he LOVES her so, so much.

Katie really wanted Justin to go with her Friday, but he was attending what I believe was his third Mariners game of the season.  T-Mobile sure does treat him pretty good.

Cherry Creek Falls

We had some beautiful weather mid-June (and not so beautiful weather late-June which is typical).  On Saturday, June 16 we decided to take the family (minus Abigail who had to work that morning) on a new hike to Cherry Creek Falls.  I’d seen this hike on a friend’s Instagram last year and it’s been on my want-to-hike list ever since.  An easy five mile hike with little elevation climb and a pretty waterfall at the end.  Sounded perfect!

Carly put Drew on her back to walk out to these little islands by balancing on rocks and the long log – girls got skills!

We parked right by this old tree stump and the kids spotted a snake skin on it

There wasn’t any complaining on the hike and it seemed everyone had a great time; however, when we got back to the car I asked the kids if they liked it and only Drew gave it a resounding two thumbs up.  That’s life with teens and tweens I suppose.

Summer Boredom Buster

Twas the last days of school

And the kids arrive home early

Within minutes they’re “bored”

This can not be, surly

I take from the cupboard

A dusty container

The Summer Boredom Buster

The summer entertainer

For days they’ve been pulling

Both excited and scared

Slips of paper of tasks

For the puller who dared

Take at your own risk

But finish it you must

It may be a grand thing

It may be a bust

We’re nearly three weeks into summer and my saving grace has been the rediscovery of our Summer Boredom Buster jar.  I created this seven years ago and it’s been several years since we’ve used it.  It’s brilliant if I do say so myself.  I guess my kids are gamblers because they’ll wash windows, cleans baseboards, and pull weeds just for the off chance that they get to make cookies, play the computer, or eat ice-cream.  They are excited for Justin to get home each day so they can tell him all the crazy things they had to do.  Lest you think we’ve been bottled inside all summer, let me reassure you the kids are outside for hours every. single. afternoon playing with friends.  However, if there’s ever a lull in the outdoor entertainment they seem to be always itching to take a chance on the boredom buster.  I don’t think I’ve heard them say they are bored since.

Here’s a fun video I took early in the month:

Here’s a few pictures of tasks they have drawn:

Do an exercise of Mom’s choosing.  Jason took it upon himself to find an old exercise video and spent 30+ minutes working out with the Biggest Loser gang.

Draw a picture – Drew copied Katie’s banana picture

Jason got to eat ice-cream.  Katie and Drew were very jealous.

Here are Drew’s responses to “write 5 things you like about each member of your family” – clearly I didn’t press him to complete all five for each family member

Dad:  “He make me laugh” “He play with me” “Dad kind of drive me somewhere” “He pick me up”

Mom: “Do you let me sit on the table?” (Me: On the bar sometimes.  Do you like that?)  “Yeah” “So you kindof give me candy” 

Abigail: “She just picks me up, that is all she do” (Me: Do you like that?) “Kindof” “She just is nice”

Carly: “She play with me”

Jason: “He kindof doesn’t do stuff, he just steals stuff from me and I don’t like it”  “He just plays games. That is all that he just do”

Katie: “She play with me, but she don’t kindof play climbing ladders with me”

Jason and Drew teamed up for this one and had to write a letter to someone.  They chose Grandma Kesler…

No doubt we’ll get lots more use from the Boredom Buster Jar in the upcoming weeks.