I need to do this every day...but will I fit on the counter??

Tree Tag

We stopped by the park this morning for some good, simple fun.  When we pulled up the kids piled out and started running toward the various play structures.  Nobody seemed to notice that Dad and I were still in the car (for a while at least) so we slumped down in our seats (about dashboard level) and enjoyed the moments of silence.  I think Christopher even said, "Ahhhhhh...." but I'm not sure.
Once we were realized, we ambled out and joined watched the kids in their frenzied play.  I started hearing someone talking excitedly about playing "Tree Tag" in the forest behind the park and then felt my mouth moving. It was ME!  Suggesting a running game! I eyed everyone's flip-flops, noted the tree roots bulging as if to catch our feet, and fought the urge to cancel the game due to envisioned injuries.  I was quite proud of myself for throwing caution to the wind.
It ended up being a Memory Maker. Ethan darted in and out of trees like a squirrel; Audrey insisted on being on Dad's team--on his shoulders; Julian being the stellar athlete he is, never got tagged; Claire coolly walked from one tree to the next very-close-tree, not needing to ever break a sweat.  Me?  Well I ran around in my flip-flops, stumbling over roots, getting tree sap on my hands, all the while shrieking like a little girl. 
Good times.

The Last Day of Being a Kindergartener

Audrey finished her kindergarten year out well.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, she had some good days and some bad days.  But no matter what, she thought Mr. Stevenson was the greatest teacher.  And he was.  He had that laissez-faire attitude about most things and a "just-shake-it-off" approach to the kids' boo-boos, spilled paint, and the wigglygiggly kids.  I think it was good for Audrey to have a teacher like that, for some reason I can't explain.




I believe Audrey will have fond memories of the storytime rug, weather chart, birthday appreciation days, her older grade study buddy, Zoe, Lily, and the guy she weekly wanted to marry, Jonah.                





There was a Field Day we attended which had carnival games, sport games, and competitive games.  Audrey and her 2 gal pals were allowed to wander around the entire field and playground area without direct supervision.  This was a thrilling prospect for them, but when they walked into the venue, they were somewhat overwhelmed and shied away from the crowds.  They stayed a long time on the "older kids" play structure, only venturing into the crowd for popcorn and face painting.

However, the girls noticed one station that looked pretty fun:  catapult a soaked water ball to try to hit a live-teacher-target.  The line for this one was loooooong and I was impressed as I watched the girls wait....and wait....and wait.





It was finally Audrey's turn. She carefully soaked the ball.  She waited for the helper to set the rig.  She ready....aims...and FIRES!!!!

The catapult springs forward, and smacks Audrey's chin with great force. I unintentionally captured the incident and didn't realize until editing pictures later.  Audrey's lip started to bleed, and as any mother knows, lips bleed PROFUSELY.  The helpers and teachers were murmuring "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh" as they were bumping around trying to find some ice for it.  It looked worse than it was, but Audrey was definately done with games after that.
As we walked away, I could hear the adults saying, "Man that is SO wierd.  We haven't had one injury all day. "
And, "That was our first mishap we have ever had with this machine in all the years I've done this..."

I had to laugh and shake my head because that can just be the way things are sometimes.

It Actually Was June

Last month I had promised the kids a trip to the beach.  After all, it was June and it sounded reasonable.  Well days and then weeks passed, without the chilly temperatures and drizzly rain halting.  I finally settled on a "non-rainy" day trip to the beach.  A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.
Here are some of the pictures from the day:

(this one is my favorite....our Florida boy)

We had a sweet time.  Even found a whole (dead) crab which we brought home to show Dad.  Instead of frolicking in bathing suits in the balmy water, we skipped stones and had a contest to see who could throw their rock the farthest.  Instead of building a sandcastle, we peeked under rocks to see what tide pool creatures we could discover.  It was a perfect summer day in Washington.

The first set of summer pictures!

Lily

Audrey and Lily

It has been so refreshing to move back into our new (old) house.  (Aside: that's what Audrey always calls it, "Our new old house.")   The cul de sac is full of kids to play with, of various ages.  There's enough to go around for each of our kids.  While we were blessed to have a beautiful home in Mill Creek, there was a shortage of children it seemed.  Perhaps there were kids, but they were always inside reading Bill Gates' book, Child Entrepreneurs.  Or studying for their next Japanese business course at the local elementary school.  Or vacationing at their second third home in Hawaii.  I don't know...they just weren't around.  The school bus would empty, and they would scurry home like mice.

So here we are, back home, with many young companions to play with.  Our TV and Wii have never been so lonely...