Wrap Up

WE LOVE SUMMER.

No, seriously.

But sad for us, it's over.  Over and done.  Ella started 3rd grade this week.  And though we are excited about the new school year, summer is still over. 


But at least we know that we tried to make the most of it.  With visits to the hammock, trips south of town to see Baby Lucy....

A weekend with Grandma & Grandpa, and almost as exciting, their city's splash park...

And bike wipeouts.  Then taking pictures of the aftermath.  (I already told him, but I'm telling y'all now too.  Let it be know that if Colby dies in a bike accident, I will exact my revenge (revenge for leaving me a widow with two small children) by having him cremated, and the ashes scattered in the Costco parking lot.  Or somewhere equally horrifying.)  (Also, let it be known that being cremated is what I WANT.  Though Colby disagrees.  So if I die first, you can help get that taken care of, m'kay?  And I don't really care where I'm sprinkled, but would prefer it NOT be the Costco parking lot.)

Day Camping.  It's the best.  It's where you glom onto your friends camping weekend, but don't have to, you know, actually camp.  BUT YOU STILL GET SMORES.  I know.

Camping Drama.  Gretchen was upset that Julia was sitting on the "dwarf's seat".  Then she, "Didn't like that you take a picture, mommy!"  Then she, "...didn't like anyone in the WHOLE WORLD."

But she got over it.

Ella didn't want to pose for any pictures.  Or let me sneak any.

Last Official Summer Trip to Lake Tahoe with Ella.  All the kids piled on the paddle board.

When they're having fun, they're so sweet.  When they're not, J tells Gretchen, "You're breaking my heart, Gretchen!  This was supposed to be a fun day.  But now it's a SAD day.  You broke my heart."  And Gretchen responds to that with her infamous, "I DON'T LIKE ANYBODY!!!  IN THE WHOLE WORLD!  NOT EVEN YOU!"

I know, strong words from a little girl in braids.  We figure she's just preparing us for puberty. 

So how is your summer wrapping up?

California, Califooooooorrrrrrrnnnnniiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaa!!!

Hello Dear Friends & Family!

You know you love looking at other people's vacation photos.  You just know it.  Come, live vicariously through ours.  Until I run out of room on my camera.  Then we'll have to rely on Aunt Adrianne & Grandma Diana to upload their photos from so we can live vicariously through them.  

Our trip began with Poppa Randy & Nana Joy.  We forced ourselves on them for 4 days.  YOU WILL ENJOY OUR COMPANY.  We had fun.  We hung out with them on the boat, took the girls to the cute little aquarium right near the harbor, and went to the beach.  Well, at least we had fun once the drive was over.  I felt a migraine sneaking up on me in Bishop, CA.  I forgot my Extra Strength Excedrin.  The last hour was HORRIBLE.  It was dark, I had 4 freeway changes and I was gripping the steering wheel in an effort to not to throw up.  OMG.  But we survived.  I rolled out of the car, said, "Asprin, please." and then buried myself in the bed.  Nanna and Poppa stepped in and took care of the girls.  Heavens to Betsy, that sucked.  But it was worth it, because look!  Vacation pictures! 

Hooray for the tide-pool exhibit (only open for 15 minutes at a time to keep the fish from getting exhausted.  Smart aquarium.)

 

 

Did you know that Grunions are real fish?  Am I the only one that thought they were fake?  Yeah, they're not.  Snipe hunt = fake.  Grunion = real.  (Stupid camp tricks have kept me from embracing life.  Now all I see are lies.  LIES.  Even where there aren't any.) 

Gretchen is taking her volunteer Grunion Photo Holder responsibilities very seriously. 

No seriously, Grandpa, give me the nuts.  I will chop you.  I'll chop your FACE. (He doesn't believe her.)

LOOK OUT BELOW

Ella pretending she's driving the boat to Catalina.

BLAHHHH!

When I can get Ella to make a normal face on camera, she sure is lovely....

The best part about this photo is that literally 30 seconds later she fell asleep

Ella said she's calling her mom.  What? I'm right here!  Seriously, I'M ALWAYS RIGHT HERE!

All sailors should wear bloomers

Hey Grandpa, is that heavy?  Ha ha.

Pensive beach gazing.

Spastic wave screaming.

Nana Joy helps build the most awesome sand castles in the sand.

 After our jaunt with Poppa and Nana, we went to visit our peeps in Temecula.  FANTASTIC TIME.  Well, at least for us.  We enjoyed the Dollar Movies, lunch outings, splash park and playing playing NON STOP PLAYING with cousins.

Anticipation.  It's what brings us back to the Splash Park.  The water is coming.  IT'S COMING!

 I'm not sure if Alisa's family enjoyed the time quite as much, what with the walking pneumonia (Christian) and 103.5 fever (Teagan).  But we were thoroughly entertained.  Not by their illness.  By their hospitality. 


Grandma Diana graciously watched the girls while my dear friend Julie & I went to the ALA Conference.  OMG, SO AMAZING.  Seriously, it was a crazy awesome conference.  I HEART LIBRARIANS!!!!  I left feeling so motivated.  Julie gave me fantastic suggestions on my dummy book, hooked me up with some new contacts, and we got to meet and hear from tons of successful and inspiring people.  Hooray!

Colby flew down Saturday night so that Sunday we could go to....DISNEYLAND!!!  (Here's the part where we ask Adrianne & Mom to upload all their photos since my camera ran out of room.  Please?  Thanks!)  (Luckily Dan already emailed these from our MOST AMAZING LUNCH OF ALL TIME EVER!!!)  We met our dear friends Dan & Sue at the Magical Kingdom.  And then we had magical times.

"Guys, play it cool.  PLAY IT COOL!"

No seriously guys, I am SUPER SOPHISTICATED.   

Quick!  Before they see us taking pictures!

Colby looking down on people.

Super Dramatic Moment on the balcony outside the club.

Me calling no one in the fanciest phone booth I've ever been in because I wanted my picture in there, but didn't have anyone local to call.

Why yes, I DID sneak out two Exclusive Cookies for the girls.  And then pull them out in the line for Star Tours and pose for photos with them.

So the Fancy Lunch was pretty much the highlight or our very magical and ridiculously expensive day, but the other thing that I loved?  GRETCHEN ON ROLLER COASTERS!  Here we are on space mountain, Colby remembering how he totally puked after riding it that one time, Dan getting a mouthful of my hair, my shirt literally flying up off me, and there sits Gretchen.  "Ain't no thang, mom.  Ain't no thang..." 

When I asked what she thought at the end, she said, "AGAIN!"

This ride was a little more Ella's speed.  Now all it needs is the theme to It's A Small World and it'd be perfect.

We finished out our time in SoCal at Uncle Aaron and Aunt B's house of leisure.  I fell asleep in the pool cabanna for most of Tuesday afternoon.  Then Wednesday.  Then Thursday we went to see Grandma Liz....

91.5 years old and STILL BEAUTIFUL.  My Grandma rocks!

Fattest, smooshiest, most adorable baby in the WORLD!!!  Drake Danger, you steal our hearts.  And then spit them back up.  5 months and 20 lbs.  That's what a Superior Baby looks like.

5 points if you can tell me what doesn't belong here....

 And we wrapped up our trip with a lovely baby shower for Auntie Adrianne.  She is so cute and pregnant.  Awww.  (No, seriously, you have to upload photos of the shower.) 


But the fun did not end there.  Then Dad and Nana Joy drove in for an evening.  We took them In & Out and then downtown to the river for our favorite Ice Cream.


Then we did 4th of July with Auntie Amber & Uncle Dan.  (Pretend you're looking at cute pictures of the girls playing with baby Lucy in the splash pool.)

Then Sue came over with her kids and we went to the river AGAIN because we LOVE IT SO.



Then Ken & Janeece came for two amazing and fun filled days.  First we took them to Virginia City STEP BACK IN TIME.  We went on a mine tour, got Janeece out of the mine tour as quickly as possible (yeah, it's a little claustrophobic...)  Then we donned super nasty photo props that left us feeling dirty (dirtier than the fact that we let our children hold guns while we dressed as Scarlet Ladies.  Cause it's fun!) (But look at this!  So worth it!)

 

Then yesterday we took them to the river.  BECAUSE SERIOUSLY, WE LOVE IT!  It was really fun hanging out with them.  We wish we all lived on the same street again.  Gretchen and Ella knew they'd love their boys before they even got here.  As soon as Gretchen opened the door for them, she told their oldest, "You're sleeping with me, ok?"  (That's only cute to say when you're four.)

Now we are all partied out.  I'm actually looking forward to the pile of work I have ahead of me.  And looking forward to cooking and cleaning again.  Because we only have 2 weeks before we go on the next road trip.  Sigh.  ;)

Tea Parties and Ballerinas

You should always buy an old lady house.  Old lady houses are fabulous, not just because they've usually been meticulously maintained, have excellent taste in velour/foiled wallpaper, but because the gardens are FABULOUS.  Right now in the planter behind the pear tree we have a riot of hot pink roses in bloom.  To celebrate, the girls made a fort (which means I made a fort for them, then they made a butcher paper sign for it & dragged all their crap outside.)

In case you don't know already, I am an idiot.  We had two spectacular things going on this week.  And somehow I didn't realize till last Friday that they were BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.  I was so sad.  I look forward to the girl's dance recitals all year.  And we definitely weren't going to miss Gretchen's BFF's birthday party.  It was Alice In Wonderland themed.  And is was amazing.

Thanks to Auntie Krista, and waaaaaaaaay too much coordinating, we were able to make it work.  Gretchen & I went to BFF's house to decorate at 8:30 am.  Colby took Ella straight to the recital.  Krista came & got Gretchen & dropped her off to the recital. 

 I stayed till the cake (DUDE, CHECK OUT THAT CAKE.  BFF's mom must love her.  And be awesome.  {yes to both}).

 Hannah approved.

 Then I raced downtown to the recital.  I got there literally LITERALLY 15 seconds before Gretchen started her dance.  Thanks Jen for sending me this backstage photo!

 I made it to a seat by the time Ella went on, 5 minutes later.  Awww, look at how graceful she is!

 Apparently this is how Ballerina's stand.  Cause when I told her to do a Ballerina pose, this is what I got.

Thanks to Jennifer, we also now have this AWESOME VIDEO of the recital's Grand Finale.  Now....can you find Gretchen?  (HA!)  (PS - Gotta love that somewhere in that crowd of ballerina's some poor kid is just sobbing her heart out....)



Then we collected Gretchen's car seat from Krista and raced back to BFF's house to help clean up (below is their version of a ballerina pose).  Gretchen was sad her hair wasn't hot pink, so BFF's mom painted it right after this photo.  And it didn't all come out in the shower this morning, so her hair was still pink for church.  It was cute.  Maybe that's why her friend in Sunday School couldn't keep his hands (or lips) off her today. 

That was our first real week of summer.  Not quite as much sitting around and relaxing as I thought.  But still fun.  Maybe THIS WEEK we'll sit at home all day and do nothing....  (ha).

The Graduates

Gretchen and her BFF got glammed up for their playdate.  She looked so awesome in the earrings that we had to send them home with her.  Luckily Adrianne will restock our glam-box with a new stash of AWESOME at next sample sale.  Are you jealous of how fun their playdates are?  I know, I am too.  I want a weekly playdate filled with this much entertainment!  (Though to be honest, just watching them play is entertainment enough.  Their drama could put the telenovelas to shame.  For reals.)

We've found a lot of treasures as we clean out piles of stuff from storage.  Like this swing, now hanging from a beam over our covered patio.  This swing has provided hours of entertainment. 

It's also provided some pain too.  It came untied and dropped Ella's BFF onto the patio mid-swing.  We now have a No Friends On The Dangerous Swing rule.  My kids are ok, of course.  Because Danger is a middle name.  In our family.  For certain babies.

I found some big 'ol canvas in storage (see?  Storage is the gift that keeps on giving.  All you have to do is put stuff away for 5 years and you'll be amazed at what comes out.)  Gretchen & I made a Jackson Pollock painting for the living room.  She was ridiculously good at it.  Far better than me.

Speaking of art, if you're in the Seattle Area, you might accidentally bump into some graffitti art that looks strikingly similar to Ella and Gretchen's dad...

Apparently Uncle Tyler & Auntie Meghan saw a poster very similar to this one on their way to the store the other day.  "Hey, is that COLBY?"  Yes, yes it is.  Obey Colby.  Obey him.  We got our own copy in the mail this week from the artist's wife. It's going on our picture wall tomorrow.  And then maybe the 2nd copy will end up downtown near the river.  If I can bear to part with it.  (I don't think I can.  I love it too much.)

Who knew that 3 miles from our house there was a super cool nature center?  Not me!  But luckily someone at Ella's school did!  I helped drive for the field trip.  Here they are looking at pond water.

This may or may not be the boy who held her hand secretly under the table... Also, I'm not sure who's backpack that is.  It's not ours. 

Ours is pink with hearts.  See?  Yeah, the one with random stuffed animals hanging off it.  That I am carrying.  Not my kids.  Uh huh. 

Second grade ended on Tuesday.  Can you believe it?  Neither can I.  The kids were really upset about it, as you can see.  Ella had a speaking part in the school play.  She was a Gardener in the Garden Show.  I think we could all pretty much recite the whole play by the time her performance came around.  We'll be singing songs about compost for years to come.  It'll be like when Aunt Adrianne was the Shoemaker's wife in her school play.  I STILL REMEMBER HER LINES!!!  "Oh Hans, we are so hungry and there are still so many shoes to finish.  Whatever will we do..."  (Shoot, maybe I don't remember.  I bet she does though...  Adrianne, type your line into the comments section, will ya?)

 Speaking of Adrianne, look at that adorable baby bump.  Don't you just want to walk up to her in public and invade her personal space by rubbing your hands all over it?  I know, right?

Gretchen had her Preschool Graduation this week too.  Wait, doesn't she have one more year of Preschool?  Yes.  She does.  Maybe that's why she decided she didn't want to wear her Graduation Cap.

Or, you know, pay attention during the song performance.  (She really did very well.  She sang the h-e-double-hockey-sticks out of that teapot song.  And the baby bumble bee song.  And the months of the year song.)  But you know Gretchen, always has to do her own thing. 


And so our summer begins.  Ella just got out of bed to ask me what we're doing tomorrow.  I told her she'd be cleaning the bathroom. That'll teach her to get out of bed (insert mad scientist laugh here).  What will we ACTUALLY DO?  Stay tuned, when I figure it out, I'll let you know...


xo