lake sammamish

My heart would break if my kids didn't love my blessed lake Sammamish.  Luckily it revitalizes them as it does me.  It is what my summers consisted of as a child/teenager.  I don't think there is anything more refreshing then being flipped off the tube or having Robert throw me into the water (as long as it is warm out).  It is fun to go out on the tube with my kids and see them love what I love.

Whidbey Island

Robert has a gift for finding and using his hands to catch all sorts of animals.  At the lake he will catch ducks, turtles, fish etc.  In our yard he catches frogs, bugs, snakes, baby birds etc. He has caught many seagulls on the waterfront in Seattle.  And the kids LOVE to observe his finds.  Last Friday we rode the ferry over to Whidbey Island and scouted out the beach.  We found crabs, star fish, a fish under a rock guarding it's eggs (picture #5), and clams.

my crazies on the fourth

Our fourth of july was super busy.  We left "the great grandma's" at 7 p.m. in hopes of going to the lake to set off a few of our own fireworks (little ones of course) before heading out on the boat to watch a firework show.  Out of my sister and I's 6 kids, 5 of them fell asleep in the car ride. We didn't dare wake them.  So Tabor was the only child to see the fireworks.  It was more peaceful that way :)  Don't feel too bad for them... we did a mini firework show at grandmas the next day.

observers

Pepper would prefer a park full of children to play with.  Tabor not so much.  Although, he does LOVE to stand back and people watch.  He notices everything and is very sensitive to what other people are feeling- but he isn't quite sure how to help when a stranger is sad.  Usually he comes to me and tells me to go help.  He avoids contention at all costs (just at the park... with his sisters he is perfectly fine with contention).  Socially he reminds me a lot of myself. This day at the park Pepper decided to try out people watching with Tabor.  It only lasted for a couple minutes, until she joined the other kids on the slide, but I thought it was so cute how he put his arm around her.

art

We have been doing several art projects lately.  Tabor usually waits for instructions and Pepper just goes for it.  When using crayons she usually colors within the lines and is very neat and tidy.  When it comes to painting she has her own ideas. She is all over the place. Notice the up-side-down plate full of paint she was smearing all over her shirt? Anyhow... Tabor's shirt turned out well. And messy haired Pep thought hers turned out fabulous.

really helping

My kids have always been willing to help around the house... but in the past the more they helped the longer & messier the job was.  Until now (with some jobs).  Tabor is actually helping.  Besides weeding he also helps with dinner.  I handed him a bag of corn in which he husked (even took off the little hairs) and put it in a pot.  Did I have to help him? No. He even took the leaves out to the yard waste,  although I am still finding little hairs around the kitchen.  This is a sweet stage we are in.  The kids are old enough to help, but young enough to still volunteer to help.  I am soaking it in!

humbled

This week started out fabulous.  We spent the week TV-less... we were busy doing other things like watercolors, berry picking, window washing, feeding the ducks, visiting the park, matching card games, jumping on the trampoline, reading books, baking etc. etc.  I have been patient and energetic.  Last night I was thinking over the week and feeling a little prideful about my mothering... and then the pride cycle hit.  I woke up to pouring rain & grumpy children.  Pepper and Tabor were clinging to my legs and the whining wouldn't stop.  They both wanted to sit on my lap during breakfast and I had to spoon feed them both.  The day went on and things did not much improve.  At noon I finally decided to turn on the TV for the kids so I could feed Kitt and start on the laundry.  I hear screaming so I walk out to the playroom and they are fighting over our hamster.  I saved the hamsters life and started to yell at the kids.  I had had it.  Then the doorbell rings.  I gained my composure and answered the door.  It was a friend dropping off a birthday invitation for Pepper.  She said "I was not sure if you were home" as if she hadn't  heard me yelling 30 seconds earlier.  Both the house and I looked like a wreck.  It was God reminding me that I do need His help all day, everyday.  It was very humbling.  But it was a turning point in our day.  It was just enough for us to change all of our moods to a happier one.  God sent her at the perfect time.       

everything she knows she learned at school

A neighbor of ours home schools her 5 children.  In hopes to teach them child development she invites over about 10 kids (ages 3-5) twice a month for "preschool".  Pepper LOVES to go.  It makes her feel so old and important.   And she is constantly telling Tabor how to do things and then adds "I know, I learned it at my school".  When I ask her how she learned to sing so pretty... She will answer "School".  That is also where she learned to do tricks on the trampoline, swim, learn about Jesus, monkey bars and build super high towers.  They sure teach a lot in those couple hours of school each month.  Now if only I could find something to teach her at home :)

P.S. she always packs a bag or backpack before we leave- that is what the "big big kids" do

wedding performers

My friend Sarah (and family) came up for a mutual friends wedding.  Cecily and Pepper went out on the deck and danced and danced.  Cecily taught Pepper how to take a proper bow after a performance.  They were both pretty sure that all the guests came to the reception to watch them dance.  

our weeder

Okay, so I talk about it all the time but it just baffles me...  Tabor LOVES to weed.  He will go in our back yard and weed for an hour at a time.  Sprinklers under the trampoline, games of tag or soccer cannot distract him.  And he does a really good job.  He fills his bucket over and over and over again and dumps it into the yard waste.  He knows not to weed in our garden box because that is "food".  He just goes around the perimeter of the yard.  But... with-in 10 minutes of being in Heathers backyard I look out the window and he is weeding out her carrots.  Heather went out and showed him where he could weed and everyone joined in. He loved putting it into her little wheel barrow.

Utah

 I LOVE how kid friendly Utah is.  Heather's neighbor put on a weeks worth of different activities for 3-5 year olds.  Korver and Pepper went to the Princess and Pirates day.

 Korver is probably the best jeep driver I know :)

 Heather had to run some errands and while she was out Korver said he wanted to paint.  He got the gear out and we got started.  I don't think Heather was to thrilled we did it in her kitchen. But the kids did a great job!

 Pepper, Tabor and Hailey digging for dinosaur bones in the museum of ancient life.

 Tabor and Laine at the splash park.  Did I mention that I love how kid friendly Utah is?

 Racing their sea-doo's down the river.

Kitt (with sweet potatoes on her nose) with her two cousins.  It is nice Heather and Autumn seem to coordinate having children at the same time as me.  The cousins will be great friends!