SPRING BREAK 2011

The kids and I spent another Spring Break in Washington and, again, had a great time! Luckily when we vacation in Washington it is for the people that we see and not the weather!! We definitely got to experience the rain that we moved away from.

We arrived on Wednesday morning and spent the first couple of days with Megan & Alex while they were on Spring Break. The kids really love each other and have a great time together. Rena and Maleah immediately attach themselves to Megan and Cameron and Alex manage to get all of the Lego's out in about 5 minutes. It's so great to see these cousins having so much fun together......

The kids love Mike's dogs too -- this one is Hershey.....

Stacy likes to spoil the kids when they are there -- ice-cream for desert the first night.....

.....and doughnuts for breakfast (this one was actually thanks to Mike!).....

Just hanging out.....

The kids also like Mike's quads -- here's Cameron on the little one and Mike on the big one.....

Here's Maleah on the little one and Megan on the big one.....

Maleah was so funny -- she loved driving this and had no fear (unlike her mother watching her!).....

Alex had a couple of games (Life & Sorry) waiting for the kids and they played them more than a few times throughout the week......

On Sunday we went to the Children's Museum in Olympia......

Maleah & Megan getting ready to do a show for us (although once they got dressed up they gave up on the show!).....

This was a wall of soft pins that you could lean against to leave the impression of your body.....

Notice Mike......this was about his funnest part of the day -- making different goofy faces at me while I was taking pictures (I think next time Mike will find something else to do when we go to a Children's Museum!).....

This water table was a big hit with the kids......

.....even Mike participated in this one.....

Rena liked the sand table......

On Monday the kids went over to Grandma Lynne's for the day. They had a great time hanging out and playing with her animals. She has 3 cats and 3 birds. I'm pretty sure those animals will never be the same after these 3 kids got their hands on them.....

The bird kept getting stuck in Rena's hair.....

Even Megan got to hold the birds when we went to pick the kids up.....

On Tuesday we drove up to Snoqualmie to visit our friends, The Mudds. We first met The Mudds when Max and Cameron were in Preschool together in 2005 and love that we have stayed in touch and that we get to see them when we go home to visit......

Isabella and Rena also went to Preschool together when they got old enough to go.....

The boys played some Lego's and, of course, squeezed in a couple of video games.....

A great friend to me, Pamela -- we have kept in contact through the years and through all of our moves and I just love being able to see her and catch-up in person -- so nice to talk face-to-face rather than on the phone.....

On Wednesday we headed back up to Snoqualmie to visit with our PEPS group of friends. We all gathered at The Brenne's house and the day was filled with fun with The Hardwicks and The Battistels, who drove down from Vancouver, BC so that we could all be together. I have luckily kept in touch with all of these friends and love how we can get together and it feels like it was just yesterday that we saw each other. I met these moms and kids when Cameron was just a baby (before Rena and Maleah) and am so thankful that they are still part of our lives.

Rena, Campbelle, Beckett, Maleah and Marcus (with the rest of them also making a mess around the table) eating Jill's great lunch that she made for us.....

All the kids playing.....

Cameron & Marcus.....

Cameron & Christian......

Sara & Rena dancing.....

The whole group -- Marcus, Adam, Cameron, Sydney, Christian, Rena, Campbelle, Sara, Maleah and Beckett.....

These are the moms that have seen me at my best and worst of parenting moments! :) Laurel, me, Stephanie and Jill.....

We have a few laughs when we are together......

On Thursday we headed up to Issaquah to visit with our friends from our old neighborhood. Allison and Rena went to Preschool together also when we were living there.

Allison, Rena and Katie.....

Cameron & Jake -- Cameron manages to find a video game at every house we visit!.....

Maleah, Rena & Allison......

Cameron, Maleah, Rena, Jake & Allison.....

Another great friend that I am thankful has kept in touch with me through the years, Sherri.....

Time for a little bit more fun at The McCullough's -- dancing to the XBox Kinect.....

Maleah and Uncle Mike hanging out.....

We got outside a little bit when it wasn't raining. Rena wanted nothing to do with the quads, but she loved feeding the dogs and neighbor's horses.....

Maleah taking Cameron for a ride.....

Cameron wants one of these now......

Maleah loves hanging with Megan -- even when she's asleep.....

Our last day -- it was dry outside so we went to The Daffodil Parade in downtown Puyallup......

Rena was sooooooo excited that she found a daffodil. We actually had to carry it home with us -- it eventually ended up in my purse and is actually probably still there today.....

Back at home -- our goodbye's always start (and end) with lots of family pictures.......

I really love how much fun they have together.....

Me and my sis -- wish we lived closer, but LOVE our times together......

The kids love their Aunt Stacy.....

At the airport waiting to go home......

TIRED kiddos after a fun, fun, fun 10 days.....

We are already looking forward to seeing all of these great friends again at Spring Break 2012!! (Unless, of course, anyone wants to take a trip to SoCal before then......we are always ready for visitors!!)

FRIDAY FUN

Last week the kids Elementary School spent the week celebrating the school's 25th Anniversary. It started with 80's day, then they had a 25 cent book sale, a 25 cent breakfast, 25 cent popsicles and on Friday they had an assembly and a bbq lunch. Maleah was pretty excited because all of the Kindergarten classes went to school in the morning and they all got to go to Friday Flag for the big assembly.....

Friday also included an art fair. Here's Rena and her fish.....

Maleah and her strawberry hand print (top left).....

Cameron's crazy scary mask (he was too busy outside playing to have his picture taken).....

Gabby and Maleah were first to get food! Gabby goes to afternoon kindergarten, but since it was all morning kindergarten she got to eat the bbq lunch with us. The girls and I joined Rena in her classroom....

Friends at school -- Taylor, Gabby, Rena, Simone and Maleah.....

80's DAY

Today is "80's day" at the kids school. The girls (and I) had a fun time coming up with outfits and accessories.

Here are Rena and Maleah -- notice the side pony, off the shoulder shirt, leggings with leg warmers and the bracelets.....

AND an 80's look would not be complete without the pretty blue eyeshadow.....

Poor Cameron -- all we could come up with was a polo shirt with the collar up......

Heading out the door -- Jacinda, Cameron, Maleah and Rena.....

Funny stuff -- as we were picking out outfits yesterday Rena got her leggings dirty and Cameron said to me "that's ok -- they probably didn't have washing machines clear back in the 80's so people probably wore dirty clothes more often". Then, as he's getting dressed he asks "did they have belts back in the 80's?" and on the way to school this morning Jacinda says "hmmm.......who knew dressing up like the 80's could be so much fun?". Funny kids!!

CAMERON IS A DUCK

Cameron's first baseball game for Spring Season was on Saturday. The team didn't do very good (actually they got their butts kicked), but it was just the first game -- there's time for improvement! :)

Cameron got on base a couple of times.....

The girls took MANY things to keep themselves busy during the game. And they made a new friend.....

OPEN HOUSE

The kids had an Open House at their school on Thursday night and we got to go check out their rooms and see a little bit of what they've been doing.

We had one hour to make it to all 3 rooms. We did it, but it was a little more rushed than the kids would have liked, especially Cameron's room - which was last!

Cameron at his desk.....

Rena's first grade classroom.....

In Rena's room we had to find "her" on her chair -- she was pretty easy to figure out.....

Maleah was our tour guide in her room -- with a hat and all.....

Maleah back at home with her front page newspaper......

WHICH ONE IS RENA?

Some nights, in the dark, I can't figure out which little blonde head I should kiss goodnight!

As if getting themselves ready for bed isn't enough, Rena and Maleah also have to get their baby dolls and animals ready for bed every night. After they get their own pj's on, floss, brush, swish and pee (which nothing is accomplished with any speed).....then we start the process of making sure their dolls and animals are comfy for the night.

Here's what Rena sets up in her bed.......she's got her dog and hippo pillowpets, her Hello Kitty stuffed animal, her Koala (named "koala"), Polar Bear (also with an original name of "polar bear"), then she's got her baby dolls on the left -- Macy, Bambi (from G&G Keyes for her birthday), Alice (from The McCullough's for her birthday), and on the right she has Julia - along with Julia's own special pillow and quilt made by Grandma Lynne......

Now, that was only at the head of her bed. At the foot and along the side she has big penguin, 2 puppies, 3 snuggimals, small penguin, pillows and lots of books. How did we get to this level of "things"??? I'm not really sure, but she just loves these animals and dolls. The good (and bad) thing is that she actually plays with these animals and dolls throughout the day. The good part is that she really does like them. The bad part is that we then have to go through the same, long process every night of making sure everyone is tucked in and comfy!

Now for Maleah -- not quite as bad, but she's getting there. She has to sleep with her unicorn and ladybug pillowpet, her doll Audrey and Max, the dog from the story "The Grinch who Stole Christmas". She also has lots of pillows, blankets and books to situate and organize before being able to climb into bed for the night......

Maleah also has to tuck Grace into bed and make sure her dog, Barbie, is set-up on his rug in front of the t.v.......

If these girls get anymore dolls or animals to sleep with we are going to have to start bed-time at 6 o'clock every night to get them to sleep by 9 o'clock!!

(A funny story about Rena's big penguin -- she got it one Saturday morning when her and Jeff went "garage saleing". The people were asking $2.75 for it, but she negotiated them down to $2.00 -- she was so proud of herself -- and so was Jeff!)

SAFARI PARK

We spent the afternoon yesterday out at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The kids and I had all been there one time before (at different times) on school field trips, but we hadn't been when we could just explore on our own. It was really a fun place to visit and I'm sure we will be going back often (especially since we now have a yearly membership - that is good here and at The San Diego Zoo).

Here is just a little bit of what we did and saw.....

Look behind everyone for animals -- here's a rhino.....

Hard to tell, but those are flamingo's behind Rena.....

There are all sorts of animals out there roaming behind Cameron & Maleah.....

Obviously.....giraffe..... :)

Just ducks here.....

On the way out we had to sit in an egg (just because we could!)...... :)

MOVIE NIGHT

Saturday night was Rena's birthday party with her friends. We had a total of 12 girls and 2 boys (Cameron and a friend) over from 5pm to 8pm for movie night. We started the party with some pizza.....

.....and then moved into the living room to watch Alvin and The Chipmunks, The Squeakquel. We transformed the living room into a movie theatre with the big screen, popcorn and drinks.....

We paused the movie for a bit and had some cake and ice-cream.....

.....and opened some presents.....

The girls had a great time with "Rena's Dad" during the party. They wanted him to sing and dance like the chipmunks, but they settled for dressing him up with bows and ribbon.....

Rena had a great party, despite the fact that she spent the whole time in pain with a fat lip. The poor girl crashed on her new bike in the driveway about 10 minutes before her guests were scheduled to arrive. She had to skip the pizza, but suffered through the popcorn and, of course, was able to eat the ice cream!

Rena's birthday is now over for another year -- we definitely all had a great time celebrating with her! Happy 7th Birthday Rena!!