my traditional 4th

Growing up we squeezed all of my favorite activities into our fourth of July schedule. Robert pushed the kids in the freedom run and then we all sat down for our annual pancake breakfast at the church. Next we went swimming at my Grandpa & Grandma Newtons pool. We came home had a big dinner in the backyard and played "snakes & ladders" (an outdoor game throwing golf balls on a string, not the board game) with my Grandma Paxman. Pepper and Tabor rode their toy cars down the driveway until we went inside to get ready for fireworks. We went out on our boat in lake Sammamish and watched a firework show. My favorite activity ever! When the fireworks started Pepper kept saying "I want to go home" but after a minute or two she got over the noise and got excited pointing out the different colored fireworks. Tabor on the other hand just stared. It has been fun as the years by to incorporate my kids into old family traditions and to make new ones.

skeptical

Today the weather was perfect. 82 degrees, which was 20+ degrees higher then it hit yesterday. I have a fear the weather is not going to last so I packed a lot of activities all into one day. We played outside from 8-12 this morning. Had naps and then went to my grandparents pool. My grandma bought Pepper a floating swimsuit and she is able to swim on her own. I was impressed because all of the floating devices I have bought seem to keep her back afloat while her head is under water. This held her upright. Grandma found it at big lots for $12. Tabor enjoyed chasing the beach ball around with the noodle. He loves to hit balls with sticks, raquets, paper towel rolls, toilet brushes, whatever he can find. Anyway we came home had dinner and then went to launch the boat into the lake. We took turns driving the boats then went to the doc and threw rocks. Pepper wanted to swim... she didn't seem to notice the water was really cold. Next time I will have to bring her swimsuit. If the weather is good maybe we will do it all again tomorrow!

Rainy Day Recess

I grew up in the Seattle area, I like the rain. Not this year. It is June 9 and other then a sunny day here and another couple of sunny days again 2 weeks later all we have seen is wet. In church on Sunday we had to name reasons we like the rain such as it brings lushness, easier to pull weeds, keeps allergens down, we never worry about a drought, kids get to stomp through puddles and it smells good. This kept me optimistic throughout the sabbath but when week days came and I couldn't send my kids in the backyard I found myself being a pessimist. Mornings have been especially wet. Sometimes mere overcast allows us to dry off the slide in the afternoon and spend an hour out there. But for the mornings we are still coloring, reading books and doing puzzles.

Salmon Family Is Growing

Many mothers have claimed their daughters would marry Spencer... but Caitlin won him over. We lived in Utah while they were dating and they are the funnest people. And my kids LOVE them. To the wedding... Oh my goodness it is a lot harder to control toddlers at a wedding than a baby. At the family dinner, Pepper was too distracted to even touch her food and was running around like a hooligan during the "program". She eventually left and found some classroom with a chalk board and I left her there. Tabor was equally obedient throughout the wedding process. We chased them both around temple square, while trying to get pictures done. You can see in the "nieces and nephews" picture, Tabor did not want to hold still! Great Grandpa Newton was supposed to hand out jellybeans if the kids smiled for the picture... I am not sure why my kids got some. Anyway... it was fun to visit with all 9 of the Salmon children and their growing families. And just as a P.S. our family is growing. I am due with child #3. The lovely due date is Christmas Eve.

Intentionally Blinking Round 2

About a year ago I took a video of Pepper intentionally blinking. Tabor just learnt how and I thought I would do the same for him. Unfortunately we make it to about three seconds before he decides to move and Pepper decides to smack him in the head. But watch the intense blinking at the very beginning. It is cute. I think.

band-aids for Jesus

I was telling Pepper the Easter story and she listened very intently. I left to make lunch and I look over to see that Pepper has picked up Jesus and is repeating "you okay Jesus?" She then insisted I put band-aids where the nail prints were. Luckily we had the small circle flesh colored band-aids. I would feel weird putting a scooby-doo band-aid on Him.

Easter

I am so glad that the Easter Bunny decided to come on Saturday this year. It was the most gorgeous day we have experienced in 2011... a perfect day for outdoor easter egg hunts. On Sunday it was raining.

Strollers

I made the mistake of letting Pepper push her teddy bears around in the umbrella stroller. Now whenever I need her to be in the stroller she says no, she wants to push. So today Pepper pushed the double jogger with Tabor in one seat and her teddy in the other, on our way to the park.

The nice part is when we go jogging on the lake trail she hops right in the stroller. Different place, different rules I guess. Or so she thinks.

Sunday Best

Why can't our "Sunday Best" last longer then 5 minutes? By the time we get to church somebody has always wiped snot on their shirt (and mine), stomped through a puddle or smeared lipstick all over there face. Today we managed to do all three. So I took this picture as soon as their clothes were on.

activities with my toddlers

I started a second blog a few weeks ago... it is just full of little activities I do with my toddlers. Nothing to exciting but if you want to check it out it is toddlersnnature.blogspot.com I also have a link to it called Teaching Toddlers.

Curlers

Does this bring back memories to anyone? It does for me. My mom use to put curlers in my hair on Saturday nights (when I let her). And now my mom is curling little girls hair again, this time with Pepper. Too bad Pepper ripped them all out by the time morning came around. But I will admit, they are not very comfortable to sleep on.