Friday Night Preparations

The kids and I made our way to the Tri-Cities on Friday afternoon.  Presley really, really, really wanted to watch a Disney movie, "Teen Beach Movie", with her cousins.  She did not know that they have DISH TV so they get to watch shows at Eastern Time, which meant she didn't have to wait until 8 PM to watch her movie, she got to watch it at 5...a whole three hours difference!!  The kids watched the movie while Mom, Amy, and I started our decorating of Amy's house.

This is the stillest and quietest Harper was for the next 2 days...

They loved the movie and Presley ended up staying the night and watching it a second time with Mylee.

We were finally at a stopping point at about 10 and Logan, Rylan, Harper and I headed back to Grandma's house for sleep.  We all slept in the same dark, cool room.  Our house in Wenatchee has been so stinking hot so this was great. The kids fell right to sleep and mom and I stayed up and finished making the game winners prizes, layered M & M cookie mixes (which I don't have a picture of, but turned out super cute with the pink, white, and gray M&M's).  Everything was going along smoothly until I realized we were adding baking powder instead of baking soda and we had to sift out the M&M's and dump the rest.  Luckily, Mom had enough of the flour and sugar mix. 

You know its been a long night when Amy gives you the 

"Oh Shit" text response. 

I knew that Samee and Nate were having maternity photos done on Friday night.  I had contacted Samee's maternity photographer earlier in the week and asked (begged) her to secretly e-mail us one of the photos from her session so that we could print it, frame it and put it out on display as a surprise to Samee.   She was so kind to do so (and she even sent three).  Amy on-line ordered it Friday night about 11 and picked it up at Costco at noon the next day.  We put the top one in a frame and out on display on the main table. 

 Saturday morning came early and we still had lots to do...

Babies on the Brain

Soooo, the Great Kate Wait continues on...No royal baby yet!!

And, the kids and I are heading to the Tri-Cities later today to celebrate another very special preggo lady tomorrow.  

I'm up to my eyeballs in cutesie shower decorations, ideas, and games.
Dave is in San Diego for a work meeting.  

I took lots of belly pictures when I was pregnant with all the kids, but I found this one on my computer.  Harper in my belly...

Mother's Day 2009 with Presley and Logan

I was wishing Rylan was in the picture with us too, but then I found this one taken the same week. 

How his mommy must have looked to him.   

Babies on my brain...and thankful that I get to be an aunt again. 

Fun with Friends, Fun with Errands

Our friends the Richmond's have been in town for the past 2 weeks.  They left bright and early this morning.  Of the 14 days they were here, we saw them 6 of those days.  The Richmond's have a lot of family here in Wenatchee and I'm sure we got to see them all just as much as their family.

Joey and Haley are good buddies with Logan and Presley and they all went to school together at Sunnyslope for 3 years.   Joey and Logan were both brand new students in 2nd grade with Mrs. Noble and met each other that first day and became instant buddies.  They played on the same soccer teams, where Mark and Dave coached.  They moved away just about exactly a year ago.  We've exchanged lots of emails and letters over this year, but we were awfully happy to get to see them too.

These are the worst pics in the world.  We all went to Kelley, Patty, and Colby's house one night for smores, soccer, and visiting.  It was a lot of fun and a very late night.

Colby, Joey, Logan, and Rylan

Haley, Presley, and Harper

Mark and Tori took Logan and Presley out to the movie Despicable Me 2 and also to Lake Chelan.  Joey and Haley both stayed the night at our house on Friday night.

On Saturday night, we met the Richmonds and their big family out for dinner at Casa Tapatia in East Wenatchee.  It was hard to say good-bye.

Fortunately, Harper brought the comic relief!!

Sunday we woke up and had a special Starbuck's breakfast treat.  Then we went to run errands.  Presley had a gift card that she wanted to spend. She bought one of these bungee chairs--Dave could get in, but had a hard time getting out!!  Harper is trying to help him out of it.  Mom and her re-arranged her room and it looks so nice and clean.  Logan and Presley worked on a birthday list for Grandma.

Then we went to Home Depot for new tiles for our patio table.

  

I also want to add just for my own memory that I've been on the Royal Baby Watch now for a week.  I can't wait til Prince William and Duchess Catherine have their royal baby and share the news internationally.  From what I've read, she was due on July 11th so I've been checking my phone and computer for any breaking news...

Week-end Fun

On Friday, July 5th I woke up early and headed to the Tri-Cities to pick up my mom and sisters for a week-end trip to Portland.  We wanted to go before Samee had the baby and this was a good week-end to do it.  It was also my Mom's birthday.  We stayed at The Days Inn and shopped at the Troutdale outlets, the Clackamas Center, Target, Kohl's, Old Navy, Washington Square, and Trader Joe's.  We ate at California Pizza, Elmers, and Cheesecake Factory.  Amy drove all around Portland and only got turned around (we never say lost) once.

Selecting a travel system in Target.  We ended up buying her one for her baby shower.  

Eating at The Cheesecake Factory

Samee, mom, Leanna, Amy

We don't consider it a successful shopping trip unless the back of the car is full...SUCCESS!!

Dave stayed home with the kids and our friends that moved to California last summer came for a visit.  Logan and Presley spent Friday with their kids Joey and Hayley at Lake Chelan.  Dave went to the hospital with Ry and Harper on Friday and then out to Starbucks.  I received these via text. 

On Saturday there was a big family BBQ for the Richmond's so Dave took all the kids to that.  There were several Sunnyslope families there and one was Ry's friend Shawn.  Shawn's parents bought the Richmond's home in Wenatchee last summer and he and Ry were in the same kindergarten class.  Dave talked with his parents for quite some time and Shawn's mom shared the sweetest story of Ry.  Shawn has cerebral palsy that effects one of his legs and one of his arms.  Shawn's mom shared that Ry would help Shawn zip his coat everyday at school so that he could get out to recess in time to have some play time.  Ry had told me many times of playing soccer and basketball with Shawn at recess, but he had never mentioned how he helped make that happen.  Thinking of this makes my heart grow.  It makes me tear up thinking about it.  

On Sunday, I stopped by to see one of my favorite people in the world before heading home.  

My Grandpa!!

I found him in his backyard.  He stopped mowing his lawn and we sat out on his swing and talked.  

Sunday was also Dave's mom's birthday.  While I was driving home, Dave took the kids over there for swimming and I would meet them over there a little later.  I got home and put things away with no "helpers".  I found one of Presley's little notes on my weekly menu.  She wanted a little "happyness" for dinner.    

I met up with my family over at Barb and Jim's house and we did some more swimming, opened presents, and had cheesecake and ice cream. 

I told Ry I wanted to get a picture of the kids with Grandma and he decided Grandma's swim hair needed a little fixing. 

The best we could get after being in the sun and water all day. 

Another fun summer night!!

Independence Day 2013

I love celebrating America's independence!! What's not to love:  family, friends, good food, warm summer night, and loud fireworks... we had a great day that lasted clear into the late of the night!

Before we left Presley was stung by a bee and it swelled up.  Oh, the drama!!  A little Benadryl and we were off.

We were invited over to Troy and Alicia's house for a BBQ.  We brought these great strawberries, a pasta salad, hamburgers, and stuff for strawberry shortcakes.

Presley, Ry and Harper love to play with the Smith girls, Elsie and Ava.  They played in the back yard, up in their room, and outside riding bikes and scooters.  Dave, Troy, Kevin, and Logan played a game of wiffle ball.  Dave and Logan each got home runs.

All the kids at the party...

standing:  Teagan (Troy's nephew), Logan, Elsie, Rylan

sitting:  Grace (family friend), Ava, Harper, Presley

It was finally dark enough to start fireworks.  About that time, the wind picked up and Troy, Kevin, and Dave had trouble getting them lit. 

Finally, they were able to light sparklers.  Everybody loved them. 

We did lots and lots of fireworks.  Dave lit them one by one.  You can tell by the pictures that it continued to be windy throughout our fireworks show.  We had so many and it was getting pretty cold towards the end.   Alicia brought out lots of blankets for the kids.  

Kevin, Troy, and Dave have been friends for many, many years (probably 25-30 years).  These three went on a senior trip to Disneyland together where the wiffle ball games became legendary.  Kevin and his wife Kate and their two kids, Lauren and Sam (they weren't here tonight) are moving later this month back to her home state of Minnesota.   

I am so thankful to live in the land of the free!!

June Memory Recap

I didn't seem to have my camera out much this month, but I wanted to include some pictures I did manage to take for memory's sake.

I found this paper in Ry's folder shortly after my June 4th birthday.  

I like cake and frosting and ice cream and sugar.
Me too buddy, me too. 

This paper came home from Logan.  He wrote a memory story and gave the final product to Papa with the berries for Father's Day.  I thought it was very sweet.

Harper colored all by herself at the Olive Garden.  I thought she did a very good job of staying in the lines.

Ry bought a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle set that came with num-chucks and this mask.  Hilarious.

Sunnyslope has a family BBQ for lunch right before the end of the school year.  Harper and I joined the kids and ate lunch with them.  This was only one of two days Logan took hot lunch.  So thankful for a break from making lunches first thing in the morning.

Harper and Presley each had camps the week of June 24th.  Presley went to Camp Invention at her school and Harper did a pre-school camp at the place she'll be attending next year, Seeds Learning Center.  This was the first day.  By day 3, Harper was telling me that I didn't need to walk her in (I had to sign her in).  I think she's going to do fine come September.

These two trampoline jumpers. Presley can do a cartwheel from the little trampoline up to the top...

I signed them both up for summer gymnastics.  It starts July 10th

  

After camp one day, I found these 3 playing the game of Life in Presley's room.  They actually played quietly for a long time.  I LOVE when they play together.

The last week-end of June, Dave and Logan went to Spokane together because Dave played in Hoopfest.  His team lost their first two games and won their last two games, which somehow, made them the champions of the consolation bracket.   They got a championships T-shirt so I guess it was legit.   I've never been but Logan had a good time walking around.

I think they may have had some late nights in Spokane...on the way home. 

While those two were gone, Ry, Harper and I made the most of our week-end too.  A trip to Rotary Park, ice-cream sundaes, and swimming at the Cashmere pool.

Bring on the heat...we're ready for July!!