Payt started pre-school

Somebody please tell me where the past two plus years have gone? How is already time for my sweet punkin to start pre-school? Luckily she gets to go to the same school and have the same teacher that Reese has for the the past two years. She was simply amazing that day! I had her walk up to all her new classmates and give them their name tags. She was shy, but did it and seemed to have lots of fun that day. Here's to having 2 hours with no kiddos once a week!!! I can't wait to go grocery shopping by myself:) How lame! Seriously, I am stoked!!!

On to the next...

What an emotional day! For all the preparing that I thought that I did, it came as a huge surprise as to how emotional we all were yesterday. Reese's teacher was wonderful and inviting and let us be as involved as we wanted yesterday morning. However, I was the last parent in her classroom, and the para-educator finally had to peel her off of me:( It was just heartbreaking, but we did it! We all survived the whole day and are currently getting ready for our second. (Aparently Reese saved the show for me, she was fine just a few minutes after I left!)
As a parent, our sole job in life is to ensure the safety and happiness of our children. To place this in someone else's hands is just terrifying! It certainly helps that I know so many wonderful teachers, Heidi, Jen and Steph, or else I would really lose my Mommy mind:)
Thanks you teachers for sharing the part of you that I lack! And please keep my little one safe!!!:)






This last one is just for your viewing pleasure:) Payt all dressed up for Sissy's big day! Don't worry, we changed her...

1st overnight hiking trip

J has been wanting to take Reese on an overnight hiking trip for a while now. They finally planned it and got Aunt Kim to come along. My little girl made it 3.5 miles into Lower Lena Lake all by herself with her own backpack! I wish I could have been there, but Payt just isn't ready yet...maybe next year...

A little bit of summer random-ness...

I love being the neighborhood hang out for the kiddos:) I think I am officially known as the otter-pop lady! I couldn't resist taking a pic while Sarah and the boys were over and Ellie too. Come on over anytime neighbors!!!

When we were on the boat the girls slept in the same bed the whole time. I had a tough time breakng Payt of this when we got back. I came in and found them sleeping like this together. Too sweet...

And this is an amazing Radish. I went to pull it before we left and J asked me to leave it so we could see how big it would get. Well you can see here it was HUGE when we got back! Totally cracked us up.

Hope you are all having a great summer:)

San Juans 2010

Ok, you asked for it! Here are some pictures from our trip. Believe it or not, I actually took fewer this year then in years past. Only about 100:)
Our trip was absolutely filled full of sunshine, beautiful new places, sandy beaches, clear water and best of all...ORCAS! It was amazing! This was the first time in 6 years of doing this trip that we finally came accross them. Jason was driving up top and I was down below getting the girls settled when he stomped on the floor to get my attention. We all raced up top and watched part of the J-pod for over an hour go all the way up Stuart Island. I certainly would have loved it if they came closer, but they didn't. I will take what I can get though:)


Jason and I out getting the crab pots in Sequim


J and Payt getting last minute snuggles at sunset


Jason trying to show the girls how to shrimp off the docks in Roche Harbor


Out Kayaking in Roche


Bella being taken out on the Kayak for the 1st time. She was such a good girl


Payton giving me quite the stern look:) We were at a beautiful beach on Galiano Island. Pure white with crystal clear water!


Jason's failed attempt to get a photo of the whales. You will have to use your imagination on this one:)


I couldn't believe it when Reese jumped into the water at Galiano Island! Right off the back of the boat to her Daddy!


Here is how Bella got to shore to potty when we were anchored out! This was the only pain about having her on board.



Lots of hiking. We had to get our excercise somehow. The islands don't lack on beautiful hikes.



The beautiful rocks along the shore of Galiano Island.


This is one of the beautiful murals up in Chemanis Canada. It is on the East side of Vancouver Island and was a very fun stop. They actually have yellow footsteps along the sidewalks to show you the way to all of the murals.




Reese's 1st self portrait! Totally cracks me up. Try blowing it up:)


Tons of sleepy time. The girls actually slept in the guest bunk together every night and did great. This is the way I was woken up every morning...


More Shrimping in Friday Harbor. Love that their Daddy was a master shrimper:)


Checking out their loot. We threw them all back though:)


Payt wore these sunglasses the whole trip. She actually has them on the right way this time.


The end of our trip...Bella was just plain wore out. Sleeping in her Daddy's lap while he drives us all home.

A Great trip! Another one for the memory books. I love showing the girls all of the beauty in our own backyard. Thanks Mom and Dad again for your generosity. We look forward to this trip every year:)

We are off...again...for 12 days in this heavenly place.

Here is to sunshine at laaaassssstttt:)
And hopefully catch us some of these to eat...


Enjoy everyone!

Hi Again

Hi there! It's been a while...The beginning of May starts a 6 week blur in my household. 1st it is my birthday, then Mother's Day, then J's birthday, then Reese's birthday! Next week we will end with Father's Day and Payton's birthday. Whew...I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and will be able able to breathe again!
I am just going to share a whole slough of photos from the past month and a half. Hang in there with me!

Yup, I am 31! I am officially in my 30's...WEIRD! I swear I am still 21:)

And Jason is 34...Out for Sushi with his Parents and Sis. His favorite:)


My Big girl is 5! I absolutely can not believe how time has flown. She was my sweet little baby just yesterday. Now she is doing Gymnastics, playing Soccer and starting Kindergarten this fall. She is a wonderfully happy little girl who fills us with her imagination and sweetness. You started our life as a family Reesie, thank you!

This is her last day of Preschool. All the kids got to go accross the stage and get a little certificate. So cute!



Here is Reese at her "Friends party" at Chuck E Cheese. J and I tried forever to talk her out of her choice of venue to no avail. So, Sorry to her friends parents who had avoided it up to this point with their kiddos.

Jason and I finally decided after years of borrowing our parents RV's, to buy our own. We did lots of research and finally ended up with the perfect one for us. We had a lot of criteria. Bunk beds for the girls, a seperate queen bed for us, a full kitchen and bath, and all of this in no more than 22 feet! That way it could still fit in our driveway and not block the sidewalk from all our neighborhood kiddos who ride their bikes up and down it!
It was hard, but we finally found it and it has a bed that slides out the back. So comfy. We took it to Mt. St Helen's last week with some our best friends Steve and Jodi for our first trip. Outside of the horribe rain, it was a great 1st trip. Here are a few photos of it...



Thank goodness for Papa Pete's Pizza in Castle Rock! They had an arcade. Such a needed respite from the rain.

And our trip ended with a muddy mess! I know you are going to kill me Stevie, but I had to!
Between the size of Steve's truck and trailer and the tight amount of trees at the RV park, he managed to get his truck stuck up and over a log! Nothing made my husband happier, then using his new truck to pull Steve out! Boys, their toys and their arrogance:)




I promise to be back next week with more, but that is enouht for now! I am off to clean my house from the Family party we threw for the girls on Sunday and get the trailer ready for our next trip this weekend. And somewhere in there, I need to plan something for Father's Day. Oh Boy!

Project

So I am having a delima and I need some help...
I was at my In-Laws house a while back and they had this beautiful hutch in their garage that was given to them and they didn't want.



I instantly fell in love with it, but had to do some serious convincing with the hubby to let me get it! It is not really the style of our house, but I just couldn't forget about it...Did I mention it was free? Who doesn't love that? So I finally convinced J to let me have it. I called my father-in-law and told him and he drove it up to me the same day! Talk about Service:)
Since it doesn't match the style of our house, I have wanted to re-finish it. I don't want to just re-stain it though. I want to paint it AQUA! My favorite color! Then I recently saw this post and knew that I had to do it! I just don't know how to get started.
If you remember ladies in all our drunken stuper, I took this photo last summer in Chelan.


This has been my inspiration the whole time. Anyone know how to re-finish this to make it look great? I don't think my husband wants to help me with this project:)

And here are a couple of photos of the girls in their new dresses! Too cute...I got the idea here...She is sooo talented! I am addicted to crafty blogs right now...