One of the many good things about Walla Walla is there park and rec programs. There are tons! We signed up for swimming lessons at Whitman College and the kids have just loved it, which makes me love it. Savvy is swimming by herself (still struggling but it is all on her own) and Cohen likes to ride around on noodles:)
Savvy had the great idea (all on her own) of selling bookmarks. She was so pumped and was running around the house gathering all her supplies, talking to me about her game plan, she was totally into this. Then I took her to the spot she wanted to set up, put the chair where she wanted it, then a car drove by and she looked at me and said "mom I'm feeling shy". She tried to have me go door to door and sell her bookmarks. We ended up going to two different houses and gave away bookmarks. She is courageous and humble all in one perfect package.
We were taking a drive, before the land cruiser broke... water pump, and i looked back and saw this. I think he was almost asleep, but after seeing him i closed my eyes and hung my head out the window and oh how good it feels
I got to take Savvy and Cohen to see Brave. I LOVE this movie, my kids...not so much. They are still talking about the bear, he is pretty scary.
So scary that Cohen wanted to bring his hatchet on a bike ride,
so scary that spider man has been protecting our house
My kids have an incredible dad. A dad who wakes up at 5 in the morning so he can come home early to hang out with them, who will wrestle with them for hours, who makes the outdoors magical, who will read and make up stories, a dad who not only loves them with everything he has, he really really likes them.
So we went out last Thursday and bought him a grill for fathers day. We wrapped it up (doesn't it look so pretty) and then the kids started adding all homemade presents to the top of the box. When Michael came home there was pictures, a sword, another small box, and two bags of mixed nuts in zip lock bags all for him.
we ran out of paper, but lets just focus on the picture above
as soon as Michael came in Cohen ran up and screamed "happy fathers day, come look at your present" by this time he has stopped yelling but is talking really fast and very excited. Cohen gave him all of the pictures, the box, then handed him one zip lock bag of mixed nuts at a time and explained "this is my nut bag, and this is Savannah's nut bag and over here is your grill" I think I would have been disappointed at Cohen for telling what the present was, but I was far from upset after seeing him give Michael the nut bags.
Friday was a good day, a very good day. We started our adventure with our weekly trip to the library and it was Elephant and Piggie day. Mo Willems has written several books with Elephant and Pig and we absolutely love them. So at the library there was a scavenger hunt, stickers, worksheets, just tons of piggie love and this girl had a blast.
after that we drove to Pasco and had a picnic, played and then headed to the much missed Target
Then we went to the airport to pick up some very missed aunt and cousin. The kids and I were so excited and my leg literally started shaking waiting for them
Then we saw them and it was like no time had passed at all. The kids have never gone more than 2 weeks without seeing Patrick....NEVER, their entire lives. After the hugs were over they were talking a mile a minute, catching up on teeth, reading, movies, bike riding, and I think this picture is when Patrick told Cohen "you hair has grown I see"
We stopped at McDonald's to celebrate and then headed back home
Michael cooked us dinner and everyone got on their PJ's, played, ate, played, watched a movie, played, watched a youtube video of snake vs. crocodile (look at savvys face) and then played more. At this time Patrick had been up for over 19 hours and the kids were still going strong. Everyone wanted to sleep with April, so she and the 3 older kids all got in our bed and were asleep within 5 minutes
Saturday we went to pioneer park
Then went to the farmers market where we had lunch, henna tattoos
and dancing
Sunday we went camping in Oregon. Our campsite was in a perfect spot with access to a creek. Michael brought a boat and we all went to an "island" on the other side of it. It was just Savvy, Caleb and I waiting while everyone else was coming across, when Savvy said "is that a huge worm?" and then she said "its a snake" and sure enough it was. I had Caleb on my hip and Savvy holding onto my leg like a monkey. Internally I completely flipped out but was by the grace of God able to stay in control. By this time everyone was on snake island and I was hoping Michael was about to get us back to safe ground when the snake whisperer (Savvy) found another snake. We left and will never cross the creek again:)
Then we went on a hike
found some gold (bee bee shells)
his legs stopped working and Apie saved the day
Went hunting for birds? yes and they really thought they would catch it in a shoe box
threw rocks in the creek for 2 hours with almost no casualties. April did hit Savannah with a rock, she threw it straight but it went right:)
we had dinner, smores, and told stories on story rock. It was perfect. The next morning we had breakfast and then it started pouring. We packed up and headed home.
Monday we rested and then the older kids went to see Madagascar 3. They left today and the kids will see each other again at Christmas...the countdown has already started
I felt kind of crummy this week (headaches, tired...blah blah) so we stayed in a good bit but we still managed to have some fun. I walked in to this, Twalie and Spike getting married
She wants to read SO bad and is so close. Her biggest problem is getting frustrated and giving up. I can't wait to have book club with her:)
Michael and I went on a date that ended with one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen
They threw themselves a PJ party while I was doing laundry
I love how differently they eat apples. The apples belonged to, from the left, Caleb, Cohen and Savvy
purple pancakes
Michael is completely to blame for this! But yes his hair is long enough for a ponytail
This sweet little diaper has been pulling at my heart strings for the past week. Pampers has come out with Olympic diapers and Michael accidentally bought them. I absolutely positively LOVE the Olympics. Ever since I can remember, when it is Olympic season the TV is on all day, we sit around and cry listening to the amazing back stories, cheer for USA (and the underdogs), I just love everything about it. When we moved we decided to get Internet and not cable. The house in Memphis still hasn't sold so this is a tangible way for us to save and Michael and I have never had cable so this wasn't a big deal. What has been a big deal is that we don't even have major networks...nothing. We still have a TV and use it for movies. But seeing Caleb's precious booty with USA on it...ooo. Michael and I have been having some serious conversations. I think I might be talking him into it....lets hope:)
I was changing his diaper, when he moved like Flash, got a book, pulled up the covers and started reading, still without a diaper on
and this is still his face when you hold a camera up, he looks like he is in pain but he's fine I promise. We did another squishy baff this morning just because it is summer and we felt like celebrating. Savvy and Cohen are in there too, but they are getting a bit old for bathtub pictures:)
I'm so excited to say, that after 5 months Michael has gotten a car! He has been such a trooper and in rain, snow, ice he hasn't complained once about riding his bike to work (he likes adventures, seriously). He wanted something bigger that could hold all of us and our camping gear, and this is what we found. We are so excited and I think it fits perfectly in to our family:)
The kids love (for a short time) that the back windows open up. Savvy asked if it could be my car and Michael's be the mini-van. It's a good thing gas is so expensive or I would have taken her up on it:)
We were invited to a white on white release party at Foundry Vineyards. When we walked in there was a man with a list who asked us our name. Michael cleared his throat and said "Clay...Mike Clay" I would like to tell you that it was done in a James Bond fashion, but it had the tone of "crap I hope we are on this list". Thankfully we were and had a great time. He makes me smile:)
We are only in the second week of summer and the kids are already, well being my kids. These are some random things seen throughout the day
And how I love this picture. I wish I could ask you what you thought they were looking at, or what you thought was going on here, and I don't think anyone would come close. Michael was teaching them the art of arm-pit farting.... they asked.
