Cayleb's First Day of School

Cayleb had his first day of pre-school, again. This is his third year doing the pre-school thing. He went through the 3 and 4 year old program at Miss Hurley's Wonder Years pre-school and it was wonderful, thanks Michelle.

Last year, I also did a pre-school co-op with Cayleb, a couple gals in my community got together and took turns teaching pre-school in our homes. The whole thing was organized by Rachel who has amazing organization skills as well as coupon tips, check out her coupon blog, www.cloud9couponing.blogspot.com.

Out little guy is 5 but we decided to have him start kindergarten next year when he is 6, so he is older in his class. Over the years Randy has taken unofficial surveys from his students and the guys, especially when physical sports come into play, prefer being older than younger in their class and on their teams. Plus who wouldn't want to be a preschooler one more year.

And yes, I'll admit it, I am having a hard time letting my kids grow up.


Nine school buses tall!

Wicked back in the Emerald City

Several years ago when we were in Chicago's theater district, walking with multiple strollers, we saw the Wicked marquis and decided we would go eventually.

And we did!

The opening curtain before the show started.

Madalyn knows almost all the lyrics to the musical, her favorite song is "Popular". She and her friend Kaylee did their mock-up version of the song in this year's ward spring talent show.

On this one, the critics were right, we loved, loved, loved the show!

Great humor, witty tie-ins to Wizard of Oz, great underlying message...

Afterwards, we stopped in Barney's of New York. We took a look at some of the cute stuff, high-heels for a thousand dollars, sneakers for $500. Some of it, no matter whose label it is in the "wouldn't wear that pile for sure", the girls agreed.

A jacket very similar to one I just purchased for a killer sale of $5, was priced at $2,500. I am definitely not high fashion, nice clothes are important to a point, but the rest is definitely excess, no matter who you are or what you have, yup it is just one more way I defy gravity!

It is fun to look, but I asked my girls, wouldn't you rather have a life experience, see a show (like Wicked), visit a place, get some education, develop a talent for what it would cost for an outfit or two? They agreed. I know everyone has something they like to spend a little extra on, for me it just is not and never will be clothes.

But, it is still way fun to look!

Can't put a price on these two cuties and their wicked fun.

Seattle Art Museum

Date night at Seattle Art Museum, SAM. We went to see the Andrew Wyeth display.

Afterwards, we headed down to the pier to get some chowder in bread bowls.

First Day of School

Tradition.

The night before school the kids pick and lay out their new school outfit on the front room couch. Backpacks bulging with new school supplies labeled; penciles, tissue boxes, hand sanitizers, and flash drives sit at the base of each hand selected wardrobe ensemble.

Randy gives each of the kids a father's blessing.

In the morning, I wake up extra early, this is my farewell salute to summer sleep ins, and Randy makes homemade pancakes with fresh blueberries, sausage, and his fluffy eggs. I am prepared for day 2 and beyond with lots and lots of cold cereal choices.

As he finishes cooking, I gently wake up the kids (the frenzied, "good morning, hurry and get up we gotta get a-movin starts on day 2), rub their backs, tell each one how exciting starting a new school year is, and that I just can't believe how fast another year comes around.

We are all ready early with time to take official "first day of school photos".
Cayden, "SCHOOL IS IN!"

Makayla told us "DO NOT" take pictures of her getting on the middle school bus, last year that was a no, no too, but I did it anyway.

This year, I kinda of caved to tween pressure.

I took the pic just a few yards away from the bus stop.

Makayla -

Madalyn -

Cayden -

Letterboxing

We first went letterboxing in Illinois with cousins a few years ago and the kids fell in love with the whole treasure hunt experience of it.

So the other day we went letterboxing in our little town to find the "pure in heart" letterbox that was hidden in 2005.

The clues were pretty forthright and after a meander on the "lock and post" trail, up the third gravel trail on the right, over the path, down the pathway steps, and over the 7 planked bridge, by a large tree (which up here isn't necessarily a clue), the kids found the box and the stamp. We were thrilled to have literally unearthed the treasure.

Great family activity. These letterboxes are placed all over the United States, to find one by you go to http://www.letterboxing.org/.

- Reading the clues

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"Your a good one" is my verbal pat on the back to Randy. Whenever he does something that reminds me why I love this guy, I tell him, "your a good one."

The picture says it all - while the other momma's and pappa's at our ward bbq at Mud Mountain Dam were off visiting, Randy organized a little red-rover game for the kids.

Kids love to play with their parents.

Thanks for playing and entertaining the kids. "Your a GOOD one!"

Pool Play

Swimming is fun. Throwing each other in the pool is more fun.

Courtnee and her boys were sweet to invite us over to swim. We loved chatting about all sorts of stuff while the older kids hurled each other in the pool over and over and over.

Cayden going down thanks to a shove from Emily.

We hope for sun a lot up here. But sometimes it just doesn't come and when it doesn't, water fun is easily adapted when you have imagination like Jake and Cayleb. After awhile, the boys were so cold they turned in the pool for playing under the warm shower stream.

Makayla's Fish Faced Friend, Emily!

Thanks everyone for a fun day.

Mount Rainier Hike

O.k., the promo worked; fee free weekends in major national parks across the United States. I decided we would take advantage of the national parks generosity. It was part that and also part a need to get justification for purchasing an annual pass a few years back that we used only once. I felt jipped.

The kids grabbed their hiking sticks, we packed lunch in our basket and drove to the mountain. Unfortunately, the 75 degree weather at home fooled me into overlooking packing jackets. It was a bit chillier especially when the wind kicked up. We went on our little hike but bagged the whole lunch on the mountain meadow and instead munched away in the truck.

Apparently, food and twists and turns going down the mountain turned Makenzy's stomach the wrong way.

She started to gag,

I had nothing to grab, but being the quick thinker I am I pulled off my shirt and caught most of what came out.

Next time I am insisting on lunch in the meadow.

Gorgeous area!

Who can resist picking wildflowers?

"Seriously, Randge don't fall off here, your life insurance gives me more if you die on the job. Let's move away from the precipitous edge before the kids follow."