GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!

Whitley played her last indoor soccer game of the season early this morning. They won 11-4. Whitley played most of the game since they only had 1 sub. She played a little goalie and scored several goals. She even scored while playing defense. She loves loves loves this game, and is getting better every game!

International District Fieldtrip

Today was Colton's field trip to the International District in downtown Seattle. They have been studying the Pacific Rim, so Chinatown was a perfect fit!

This was in an Asian market. He thought these fish heads were awesome!

Whole ducks hanging in the windows, mmmm.

Headed home on the bus. Happy Happy!
Landon was suppose to go with us since he didn't have to work, but poor Whitley woke up with croup and he had to take her to the Dr. instead. They spent a lovely day together under the humidifier!

Science Fair 2009

Whitley was required to enter the science fair this year. Somehow we've gotten out of it every other year. She wasn't into it at all, but put together a cute little project. She had a soccer game tonight, so we went straight from the soccer field to the science fair.

After a brief stop at the science fair, I was off to teach an enrichment class on freezer meals. For some reason I have no fear of speaking in public and this class was a breeze. I had some major help from my friend Rachel who had taught this same class when I lived in AZ. With the week we've have, I'll take all the help I can get! Just one more field trip to go, and then the weekend!

Mancub

Is the nickname Colton was given years ago. It works!

Colton has been wanting me to post this picture for a while. He is much taller than I am now, and soo proud of it. At 12 years old he stands at 5'8", around 160 lbs. and wears a size 11 shoe. I'm predicting he'll stop somewhere around 6'4", 200 lbs. Any guesses??

His bum was literally resting on top of mine.

Good Night Moon

I went with Kennedy's class today on a field trip to see Goodnight Moon. This was one of her favorite books when she was little. We use to read it daily!
Kennedy and her friend Jared on the bus. The bus ride is always an experience!

Waiting to see the play.

Kennedy and Christopher eating lunch

The play was a little bit young for these 1st graders. It would have been perfect for preschoolers! It was cute, just maybe a little long. I heard one little girl say how boring it was on the way out!

After the play, we went across the street and had lunch. It was cold and windy so we hurried and ate, and got back on the bus! So far, my kids have been on some fun field trips here in Redmond. I go again with Colton on Friday.

Staycation

We were going to go back to Seaside, OR for Memorial Day weekend this year, but decided that there was still much to see oaround Seattle and that we'd just hand around here. We mentally put ourselves on vacation mode, and got up every morning with somewhere new to check out.

We started out miniature golfing. We haven't done that since we moved to WA. The course was at a real golf course, and was really awesome. The weather was beautiful and we had a blast!

Lucky for us our kids aren't competitive at all, so there was no fighting whatsoever!

Did I mention that the Knowles came on "staycation" with us? This is the "famous" Troll Under the Bridge. Okay, maybe not famous, but we've heard alot about it. It's in Seattle and sits under a freeway overpass! There were tons of people there taking pictures. We pretty much just climbed all over it.

We spent one afternoon at Gas Works park in Seattle. It sits right on the waterfront. Beautiful. The kids played ball, tag and rolled down the hills. Have I mentioned the weather? 75 degrees and sunny. PERFECTION
And what's staycation without unlimited bowling. We bowled for 4 straight hours one day. My arm is still recovering. By the end, I was bowling left handed.
There were so many more things to see and do. We still have a list to get to before we leave here. Now that the weather is getting nicer, hopefully we can spend our Saturdays exploring more. I'd love to get up to the San Juan Islands. We tried this weekend, and there was a 2 hour wait for a ferry. YIKES!

You Know It's Almost the End of the School Year When...

...You're at school almost as much as they are!Kennedy's class finally earned the pizza party they've been working on all year. They had pizza and watched a movie. Landon and I were able to stop by for a few minutes!

Today was the school bbq. I went and had lunch with Kennedy. And then was able to sit out in the sun for 45 minutes, waiting for Whitley to come out for lunch. Colton didn't want to eat with me. I guess he's too cool. Or I'm too NOT cool. Maybe both!

Kennedy and her best buddy Taylin

(excuse my finger in this picture. I'm just glad my phone has a camera because I can't seem to remember to bring my camera anywhere)

Whitley and her good friend Mariam

That Little Guy

I remember the day I left the hospital with Colton. The nurse was wheeling me out in a wheelchair and I had Colton in my arms. Landon had gone to get the car, and while we waited the nurse said something to me that I never forgot. She smiled and said "you're gonna have a lot of fun with that little guy". I had no idea that day of the adventure I was just beginning. Little did I know that "that little guy" would be followed by two of the craziest, sassiest, cutest little red heads in the world! And now "that little guy" is bigger than I am. Being a mother is unlike anything in the world. There are day's when you don't think you can take one more minute of it. And you wonder what on earth you were thinking having these "monsters"! And then you have a moment like this. Surrounded by the most amazing people in the world. And you realize that nothing else matters. The health and happiness of these three is all that matters. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the opportunity to be not only a mother, but the mother to these three. They are the reason I get out of bed every day. They influence every decision I make. They make me laugh everyday, and my world would be a lonely place without them. They are the first thing I think about each morning, and the last thing I think about before I go to bed. I love you guys. Don't ever forget it!

He's Baaaack

Colton made it home safe and sound this afternoon. They were dirty and tired, but they had the time of their lives! I went to the school to pick him up along with 60 other parents. All of their stuff was there, but the bus was late. So we waited, and we waited. Finally the bus came around the corner, and the moms broke out cheering! I realized that I wasn't the only mom having a hard time letting her "baby" go for a week. When the bus pulled up, for some reason they weren't letting the kids off the bus right away. After a few minutes, the kids starting pulling their windows down, hanging out, calling and waving to their moms. Too funny. Once they did let them off the bus, they came running out and into their mother's arms. No one was embarrassed. They weren't too cool. They just missed their moms.
I'm so grateful that he had this experience, and that it was a good one. We've been so lucky this year with Coltons' teacher, Mr. Brekke. He is really helping these kids be ready for what's about to hit them in Jr. High. Welcome Home Colton. We're glad you're back!

Mother/Daughter Night

Whitley invited me to a Mother/Daughter night for activity days tonight. We has some little treats, a lesson, and a "photo shoot". I love spending time with my girls, and any one on one time I get is precious. Thanks for a great evening Whiterbug.

Letting Go

Today it begins. The letting go process. I now know, that it is going to be slow and painful. At least for me.

Colton left today for a week to go to outdoor school. He was so excited, and in all of the last minute hurrying, I forgot to get a picture of him. He was like a pack mule with all of his stuff! I know he's going to have a blast. I know he'll be safe. But I feel like I packed my heart up, and sent it to camp today.

I was helping out in Kennedy's class this morning, and found myself wanting to run down to his classroom to see if he was still there. I don't want him to forget his lunch. What if he forgets his hat! What if he's cold, or wet? So many worries. Nothing that would be the end of the world. Just little things that as his mother I want him to have. Comfort things. Things he would have is I was there! I know that this is a natural part of life, this whole letting go thing. But I just thought I'd be better at it. As I left the school, I saw that they were gone, and I bawled all the way home. What is wrong with me today? It's so unlike me.

Now really, he's only going to be 5 days. And he's been gone before. Scout overnighters and such. But this is a week, and I just feel so NOT in control. He's in control this week. I just hope he comes home with all of the stuff he took. He certainly had plenty of instructions from Landon and I. Probably too many. But at least he'll be prepared for anything that might happen up there. So here I am. At the beginning of a long, road. One that I'm not prepared for, but am on nonetheless. I just hope I get a little bit better at this whole letting go thing before his mission. However, I really don't think it gets any easier. Maybe I'll just be numb by then!

Fathers and Sons means Girls Night Out

This weekend is the Fathers and Sons camp out. Luckily our scouts decided to combine this with a 10 mile bike ride Friday, and a 15 mile ride today. Landon volunteered to do both, so we spent most of today getting his bike in "riding condition".

Colton loves this weekend and looks forward to it all year long. Of course the boys being away can only mean one thing. It's our "Girls Night Out" weekend. Long ago, the girls and I started a tradition that when the boys went on their Fathers and Sons, we'd go out for pedicures, dinner and dessert! And so we did.

Kennedy's comment of the night. "Mom, these ribs are messing up my manicure!"

Taco Del Mar

Landon and his friend Brandon decided that since it was Cinco De Mayo, they would head down to Taco Del Mar to try to eat their 5 lb burrito. If you could eat it all in 30 minutes, it was free. This thing was ridiculous! It had 4 tortillas, 5 scoops of rice, beans, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and sauce. I couldn't believe how insane it was, but I've never known Landon to back down from an eating challenge. They both did so good. Landon got all but about 5 big bites down, when his body finally "rejected" it! Way to go Lan! Thanks for the laughs.

You Know School Is Winding Down When...

...your kids all have projects to do at the same time. I just love it when my kids have big projects that they get assigned at school. Especially the ones that there is no way that a 9 year old could actually do what is being assigned!

Colton is right in the middle of this huge unit where they're studying the Pacific Rim. His focus country is China. He has been gathering all kinds of info. and making lots of little things. This weekend he needed to make a Chinese Scroll. Next week, it's a replica of a Chinese house! Luckily, once we got the materials he could create this one on his own.

Whitley's class is studying the Oregon trail. So she gets to make a model of a covered wagon. She has specific measurements that it needs to be. So her and Landon got to work on cutting and sanding down the wood for the base of the wagon. I got to sew the canopy for the top! I'm letting her push the peddle to my machine and help with the pinning, but there was just some stuff she couldn't do. We just need to add some wheels and we'll be done. I'm very proud of Landon and I!
And Kennedy just wanted in on the action so she was creating a special Mother's Day card. I was helping!

Indoor Soccer

After a long day of yard work, we headed out for another indoor soccer game for Whitley.
I'm having a hard time getting good action shot of Whitley playing soccer for some reason. Maybe it's because the games are super intense, and I'm too busy yelling and screaming! She is on a great team again and they are having tons of fun beating EVERYONE! They played against a competitive team tonight and still beat them. Whitley played goalie for a big portion of the second half, and stopped a ton of goals! Way to Go Whiterbug!

Saturday is a Special Day

Today was the day. We've been putting it off forever, thinking eventually we'd get a sunny Saturday that we could do some yard work. We finally came to our senses and realized that that just not gonna happen, so we broke out the gloves and got dirty! It drizzled off and on all day, but we just told the kids to put their hoods on.

I'm not sure if Kennedy is helping or playing

There was serious whining at first, but once the kids could see that they were working whether they whined or not, they gave in to it. Colton has decided to start a little lawn business. We told him he needed to practice on our yard first before he charged people to do theirs. He worked really hard, and thinks he up for the challenge.

See that big dirt hole? That's where we had raked a big pile of leaves, and then it snowed before we picked them up. It had 2 feet of snow on it for several weeks this past winter. Sadly the grass didn't make it. (This is where the bunny likes to sun himself.) After 5 hours of work it was done. It looks so much better. Of course I forgot to take a picture of the after!