Peddle Boat Fun

August 20th

What we thought was Sacajawea State Park:)

 We have been having such a good time exploring our new state, our new town, and our new peddle boat.  We have been doing so much more outside of the home as a family.  I love it!  On Tuesday, Randy was preparing to go out of town for Sales Training when he suddenly put everything down and declared we were going to a new place with our boat.  We packed up in a hurry (is there any other way with Randy?) and headed to a place we'd seen when going to Hood Park.  I thought it was Sacajewea, but that was a sign for the street just before this place.  So, we have no idea what to call this place.  For now, it's our own little resort.  NO ONE was there.  Just us, the lake, and a million fish jumping all over.  It was pretty magical!

 I wish I could get more stills of Caden and Keilie.  They are always the first to jump in and paddle away.  I'll miss it when the babies can go further than my immediate reach.  There will be a lot less pictures I'm afraid!

 Caught my man jumping into the deep end.

 I tried to capture a picture of me with family in the background.  I kind of suck at self-portraits.  I just don't have the arms length to span out that far.  The kids joked about my "bugsy" sunglasses.  Hey, they were $2.00 at Goodwill.  I'm not complainin'!

 I had to get one of my fam in the boat. 

 Keilie's face says it all.  She was SO sick of pictures by the time Randy got his sunglasses.  Come on, I have to document these times, the least you could do is pretend that you like it!

 While they were out on their "drive" I was able to sit in the silence and enjoy the beauty.  I LOVE living so close to so much water.  It really is quite beautiful here!!

I know we'll be back for more at this nameless place.  I wonder where our boat will take us next time!

Pretty Princess Dance Camp 2013

August 5th-9th

Kreutz's home

Pretty Princess Dance Camp

 Caitlin Kreutz sent around an invitation for all 5-8 year old girls to attend a week-long camp to play, do crafts, and learn a simple dance routine.  All with the theme of Disney Princess's.  It was JUST what Shelby needed!

 She came home many times excited to show us "manners" she'd learned while at camp.  "You hold your pinkie like this when you drink from a tea cup."  "A Princess always says 'Please' and 'Thank You!'"  I knew she was having the time of her life!!

 There was one day that she didn't tell me she was supposed to show up in a dress.  It just so happened that she couldn't find her sandals, so ended up wearing Tysons.  She came away telling me that she "felt ridiculous!"  And so it begins!

 

 Shelby has been in gymnastics since we got to Richland.  I wanted them to all have something that they could release their energies and emotions, and that was what she chose.  I really wanted her to get into a dance class, but she said she wanted to tumble.  After this class she wants to dance.  It's a good thing that Caitlin is opening a studio in September.  Shelby is going for sure!

  The dance was put to the song "When will my life begin?" from Tangled.  At one point in the song, they grabbed at their hair, "brushed" it while singing along, "And then I'll brush, and brush, and brush, and brush my hair..." At that point, I really did miss her golden curtain of hair.  Then I remembered that she combs her hair all by herself these days without crying and I'm back to loving her cut again!

I caught this at the wrong moment, but after their performance each girl curtsied.  Shelby went one stop further and blew a kiss to the crowd.  And just like that I knew she would be a performer.  She has more confidence than I do, felt no fear at being in front of others, and LOVED every minute.  There were cheers all around for the "little girl in the front blowing kisses!"  She was getting pretty good at tumbling, but I think she'll enjoy dance so much more!

Bikes

August 9th

I came home from Visiting Teaching to find Randy out playing with the kids.  We had recently purchased a few bikes from Goodwill.  Shelby needed a new tire after a blow-out front tire on her hand-me-down bike.  It was cheaper to buy an entire bike from Goodwill than it was to buy a tire from Walmart.  While there, we found a new bike for Brennon.  Love those $20.00 finds!

 They were showing off their new found skills- riding without feet:)

 Shelby learned to ride a bike without training wheels this year.  We were hoping Brennon would follow suit.  Nope!  He's too nervous.  We kind of expected that from him.  Maybe next year.  Or when Tyson learns.  Or maybe after Tyson learns.  Who knows?!

 Tyson is a fearless little boy!  He will do anything, try anything, eat anything.  He just goes with the flow and tries all things dangerous and fun.  Here he is showing us that he can ride his bike without sitting on the seat!

 Caden and Keilie were getting more daring that I would have liked.  This was definitely a "Dad" activity!

 No hands?! I put an end to it after that!  I know I am such a mean Mom, but come on, I don't want a concussed son because he wanted to prove to his Dad that he could do something cool!

 I think the cutest thing of the whole morning was when Tyson decided to ride his bike in the gutter.  All of my kids have loved when their bike stayed stationary while they peddled their fastest.  This was that much funner when water splashed up his back.  He did this for a good 20 minutes.  I don't think I will ever understand boys!  Especially when they prefer wet clothes! Yuck!!

Again, I just love this house.  Since we live on a loop with only one entrance/exit, I feel it is much safer to let them ride their bikes in the street.  The only people that actually drive on this road are mainly those that live here.  We all drive slow, we all look out for kids, and we all understand that at some point a child may make a mistake and ride out in front of us.  We are forgiving.  And vigilant in our watch of kids.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it here!!!!!

Braces

 Timeline of Caden's Braces!!

October 22, 2012

December 11, 2012

  August 21, 2013 

 Dr. Parkinson does this for every patient that gets their braces off.  The entire staff gathers in the hallway and celebrates the accomplishment.  While we were waiting for him to emerge, we were all talking about the day we got our braces off.  One woman said it was on her top 10 best days of her life.  I would say top 20 for me.  They asked if I had been give a fanfare.  Nope!  And all at once I felt jipped, but happy that my kids would get one.

 I wish these two pictures could be morphed.  I love the smiles of the staff on the top one, but LOVE the smile of Caden in the bottom!  Doesn't he look so handsome?!  And grown up!  I got a little teary watching him come toward me.  I sure love this boy!

 They have each braces-free patient sign a ceiling tile that they place throughout the office.

 Since Caden is a natural small writer, I told him to go big.  This was BIG for him.

 Ta-Da!  Braces free!  Wish the blinds hadn't been drawn like that, I hate the shadows on this beautiful smile!

 December 11, 2012- August 21, 2013

253 Days

36 Weeks and 1 Day

8 months 1 Week and 3 Days 

The very next day he went to 7th grade registration where he got his Yearbook photo- sans braces, how cool is that?!  We were able to find his locker, tour the class route that will be his for the next year, and see Mackenzie, the girl he thinks is cute.  All the while I caught him running his top lip over his slimy teeth.  I remember those first few days well:) 

Congratulations, Caden!

Teams

We have been able to have Grandpa Kimber (Grandpa-Great) since Tuesday afternoon.  The kids LOVE Grandpa!!  He is 83, but still chases them around.  He can't make it up the stairs as fast as they can, so they know to scamper up them as soon as they can.  He usually chases them as long as he can, rests up for a bit, and then starts all over again.  I love how he asks me "How'm I doin'?"  He love them just as much as they love him!  This morning was no different from any other morning.  The moment they see that he's awake... the chase begins.  After a few minutes, Ty stopped running, turned to Grandpa and said, "Grandpa, I'm tired.  I want to be on your team now."  He tired before Grandpa- Great!  It is such a blessing to have him in our home.  He is still so fun to have around.  I see him slowing down more and more each time we get to have him, but he still gets down on the ground and plays with my kids.  I love my Grandpa Kimber!!!

Next

I love the words that kids use sometimes.  Tyson doesn't use it as much, but at one point he used "Amn't" all the time.

Me: "Tyson, you are so cute."
Tyson: "No I amn't."

It was super cute.  The word we're in love with that both he and Brennon use is "Next."  They use it all.the.time!

Brennon (crying): "Mom!  I was riding my bike.  Next, I fell!"
Tyson: "I was eating my dinner.  Next I ate it all gone!"
Tyson: "We made a mess in our room.  Next we cleaned it all up."

There are probably 150 million-bazillion that I could write, they use it that much.  We are in love.  Kids say the cutest things!

The Elite

Since Keilie was doing so much tutoring when we first got here, she didn't have enough time to do much else.  Her day was early tutoring classes at school, regular school, straight to Sylvan Learning Center, home for dinner and homework and then bed.  She had such a full schedule to try and get her caught up to her own grade level.  She was a champion, not once complaining about her lot in life.  She didn't even argue when everyone else had a sport and she didn't.  So, when the summer came, we made it all about Keilie.  She wanted swim and tennis lessons.  The city of Richland had both so I went to sign her up.  However, they have a certain day and time that they sign up each session of swimming.  You have to get a log-in and password from them personally and then do the rest online.  The first three times I was out of town, so it was only a month ago that she was actually able to get in.  I was on exactly at 8:00am and got her all signed up.  I went back on, just seven minutes later, to see if I could possibly consider getting one of the other kids into a class and noticed that three of the classes were sold out!  In SEVEN minutes!  I was floored.  I amped up my game this last session to make sure that she got into her correct class.  She had advanced to the higher class and couldn't be happier.  What kind of mother would I be if she didn't get into a class because they went so fast and I was sleeping?!  So, Friday I got everything set up to refresh the page at exactly 8:00.  The second it changed, I refreshed, clicked the correct class and got it done.  I immediately printed the page and then refreshed the page to see how well I'd done.  This time in TWO minutes the class was full.  TWO MINUTES!!  Keilie is part of an Elite group of Beginner 2 swimmers in Richland Washington that swim from 9:55-10:25!  As with most things in a new move and town, I've learned what to do better next year.  I have a game plan now.  Next year, we're going to rock this town!!

Countertops

I saw an idea on Pinterest HERE that I knew I eventually wanted to do.  We've recently started a new budget that allows us a "want" budget that we get to spend each month that is totally unaccounted for.  I knew this was what I wanted to do this month.

 These first few pictures were taken during one of the inspections.  I like to go into the house and measure, take pictures, and start placing my own things.  I usually have most of my house planned out before we move in.  It makes it easy to organize and easy to unpack when I have a map of where everything goes.

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE before and after pictures!!

 Had to include this one of my babes.  I can't believe how much they've grown in just a few short months of being in this house!!

 These were taken in March after I'd gotten everything unpacked, cleaned, organized, and decorated.

 We'd already gotten a new microwave, dishwasher, fridge, and handles/pulls.  The only other things I wanted was a new sink (this one is only 6 inches deep and can look full with only breakfast dishes) a new faucet, and a new oven.  It was only after I saw the post I indicated above that I wanted to do anything with my countertops.

 So August 1st I pulled the money allotted for my "want" and got busy.  Randy gave a little kick-back, but finally said he'd help.  It was kind of funny how he took over:)  I was just glad he wanted to help at all!

 It was SUPER easy.  I LOVE it.  It's not exactly as I would have liked, but for the house we are in, the way they looked before, and the imperfections it hides from neglect from the previous renters, it is PERFECT!!!

 We started with a primer tinted Cream.  It went on really fast and dried within an hour.  Next we used a Sea Foam and used Chocolate Brown, Warm Beige, Black, and Buttermilk in secession.  We'd finish one and immediately start on the next color.  Randy wanted it mostly black, so we went back after Buttermilk and added more.  He comments now that he would have liked even more.  We probably should have tinted the primer black. We let this dry overnight because we'd forgotten a brush to apply the Poly acrylic.  Don't use Polyurethane, this will dry yellow.  We ended up putting on 5 coats, which was the entire small can.

I love the depth it adds to my small, cheap, but totally loved kitchen.  Next month will add a tile backsplash.  Randy doesn't understand why I want to put my money into fixing this house up.  He just doesn't realize how much I LOVE this house, how much I want to stay in this house, how much I want to push-back when he asks to move us yet again.  I know I'm stuck to two other houses.  I know that we live on a postage stamp size lot, I know it's a tiny 1600 sq. ft. home, but SERIOUSLY...this is my absolute favorite house we've ever owned!!:)