Bikes at Sunset

State Fair

Our State Fair experience this year was a bit disappointing. After spending $30 to get in (they didn't accept our coupon because it was the week-end), we were basically out of money. So. . . we directed the kids to the free stuff, starting with a hands-on children's farm. The kids had a great time planting and picking their own vegetables, milking a cow, driving a tractor, brushing a sheep, and buying a fresh apple from the local market.

Farm-school graduates, Class of 2011.

Next, we headed over to the Lego contest and the kids worked hard on their creations.

Preston built this shark head in less than 3 minutes!! Just kidding. But he did build a boat.

Ryan won the family pull-up contest at the Army booth. Big surprise.

And the girls sat in a tank.

Is it a Mom or a moose?!?

So we actually did have a good time. We walked around and saw all the HUGE farm animals and produce. Browsing through the photography contest was a hit with everyone too. But we kept our pockets closed and didn't ride any rides or buy anything. And because our kids didn't whine about not getting anything, we treated them to ice cream cones on the way home (for a fraction of the price). We are ridiculously cheap, I know. :)

Preschooling Preston

Preston started preschool on September 1. He was so excited because three of his best little friends are in the same class, and he has big plans for all the fun they are going to have this year. We are going to have the boys rotate to each home for a play group once a week before preschool so they can get their play-time in. Hopefully, this will tire them out so they'll actually sit and listen during preschool time. We'll see if it works.

Right when he sat down for the first day of preschool, Preston grabbed a whole handful of his favorite colors of crayons (blue, green, and yellow) to color his monster puppet.

School is definitely cool, as his hat reminds us. He's having so much fun in his little class and always comes home happy.

Children's Garden

The Children's Garden at Thanksgiving Point is one of my favorite places to take my kids. We've gone twice this month for Two Buck Tuesdays. We always have a fabulous time.

Annalise loved playing in the water and the sand the best. She also loved the bear cave and kept making deep growling sounds at the big copper bear statue.

Preston enjoyed floating a boat down this river and splashing around in the pond. He also loved the hedge mazes and watching the fish swim in the lily-pad pool.

We went with my friend Mandy. Her little William is quite the handsome guy.

This is her cute little daughter, Karsyn. She plays so well with my kids.

Preston thought it was hilarious to have the water squirt into his shorts. Which was all fine and dandy until Annalise started copying him and pulled down her whole swimming suit to let the water squirt in.

Lisi loves water!

This face is so typical-Preston.

School Begins

On Adelyn's first day of 1st grade, she woke up REALLY early, got dressed and did her own hair, and was ready to go to school by 7:15am. She came down to the basement where I was finishing my run on the treadmill and expected we would leave any second. She was quite frustrated when I told her school didn't start until 9:00am.

If you look close in this picture, you will see a big space in her teeth. She lost her first tooth this past Sunday. That was a LONG time coming.

Here she is ready to march into her class. She looks so big! She is loving her new class and is adjusting to the all-day schedule. She LOVES eating lunch at school.

Camping in the Yard

We were supposed to go camping this year for Ryan's family reunion. But the camp ground wasn't finished, so it didn't have any form of toilet or any running water. We decided that didn't sound like too much fun with three little kids. So we did what any parent would do: we set up the tent in the backyard. We first went to the Highland splash park and got soaked.

Then we came home and ate hotdogs and s'mores to our hearts' content.

Then we set up our sleeping bags and told stories until we fell asleep.

We were happy; the kids were happy. I think we'll make it a tradition.

Annalise is TWO!!

I cannot believe my little baby girl is already two years old. She is such a sweetheart and we love her so much.

Annalise looks proud of her big number 2. For our family activity on her birthday, we went up Provo Canyon and had a picnic lunch at Nunn's Park. We had sandwiches and fruit and frosted cupcakes.

She has been wanting a new baby for a long time. She was very excited to finally get one.

We rode bikes up to Bridal Veil Falls and played in the water.

Preston found respite from the freezing cold water by climbing on this log.

The next day, we had family over for cake and ice cream. Grandpa gave Annalise this cute baby that she can fill with water. She calls her "Baby Wawa."

Annalise wanted to hold her two babies while she blew out her "2" candle. At first, she was a little timid.

Then she tried to blow it out by herself...

But the other kids got impatient and helped a little. Happy Birthday, my sweet Annalise!

Preston is FOUR!

Preston turned four on the 31st of July and he got to have his first friend party this year. He and Adelyn had been planning his "Train Your Dragon birthday" for almost a year, but Mom had visions of a water party. So we sort of did both.

We had a water balloon fight...

played in the slip 'n slide...

ate treats and pizza...

and just played around. (Both Teagan and Stanley will be in Preston's preschool class next year.)

Preston thought it was the BEST PARTY EVER!

Ryan, Will, Teagan, Addie, Stan, Leah, Annalise, and Ben getting ready for more games.

We played an intense round of Viking, Viking, Dragon (duck, duck, goose)...

and of course had cake and ice cream.

And last, but not least, Preston opened some awesome presents. We were so glad so many of his friends could come. We had such a great time! As a family that night, Preston chose to go bowling. He and Adelyn both scored over 100 points and beat the adults. These kids sure grow up fast!

Visiting Camille in Dupont

Adelyn and Eliza were nearly inseparable during the days we spent in Dupont with Camille. They wore each others' clothes and pajamas, slept in a bunk bed together, and made a hut in Eliza room where they disappeared for most of the day. They made puppets and put on a puppet show, put on make-up and did each others' hair, danced around the living room, and rode bikes together. They love each other so much.

We took these pictures at a park near Camille's house. There are parks every couple blocks in Dupont. This park has running and walking trails going in every direction and awesome spinning toys we've never seen before.

This is American Lake. It is a beautiful lake on the Lewis-McChord Army Base. That mountain is Mount Rainier, which is an active volcano two hours southeast of Dupont. Apparently it has its own weather patterns and is covered in a thick fog half the days of the year. When the skies are clear like this, they say "the mountain is out."

It think this is the first time my kids have swam in a lake. It was warmer than the ocean, but not by much. They ran in a few times, but mostly they just made sand castles on the beach and covered each other in sand.

Our littlest sand monster, Annalise. The kids also loved the huge play ground near the lake. But my niece, Camry, broke her leg going down a slide so we had to cut the day a bit short. Poor little thing.

On the Fourth of July, we enjoyed a French toast breakfast, then went to the parade. This huge army tanker and the army band were my two favorite things in the parade.

Then we went to the Dupont Carnival. All the rides were free and the kids had a blast. They had bounce houses, pony rides, train rides, art booths, and lots more.

This was Annalise's first time riding on a pony. She did a good job, but wanted off early. (Then of course, she regretted it and wanted back on.)

Camry got to ride a pony, even with a broken leg! She is so cute. She reminds me of Shirley Temple. She and Preston loved playing trains and cars together back at the house.

Preston makes a handsome little army dude. That afternoon we had a yummy barbecue, then went and saw an amazing fire-work show on the Army Base that night.

We enjoyed one hot day after another, which I am told is not typical of Washington. But we took advantage of it and sent the kids out to play in the water several times.

Adelyn was in heaven.

This is my newest niece (Camille's fourth child), Sadie Jo. She was only five weeks-old. She was so pleasant and sweet. I love babies and couldn't help wanting one just like her for myself.

Isaac, Camry, Eliza, and Addie just before we left to go home. It was sad for our kids to be leaving their sweet, fun cousins and me to leave my sister. But sadly all vacations must come to an end. We felt so blessed to spend the time we did with our wonderful family and friends. It had been a perfect family vacation.