Ocean Shores with Grandma

Proof that I was there

Summer Adventures

This summer we are taking care of our neighbor's boy who is Lucas' age twice a week. Everytime he comes over he says, "What's our adventure today?" Since quitting my job it's been fun to be able to be home and go on those adventures with my family. Nothing that requires travel on a plane but fun for kids of all ages. Below is Nora at the blueberry field, we picked 23 lbs of berries.

St Edward's Park in Kirkland. A little hike, a little water fun and then a playground. Ruby loved swimming here.

Here we went to a beach in Meadowdale but it had red tide or something so we decided to walk up the creek that lead up to the sound. It was fun and definitely an adventure.

We went out to Remlinger Farms in Carnation/Duvall area and Nora LOVED the ponies. She now wants one for our back yard. We are trying to find other places that she could ride ponies nearby. She rode the ponies 7 times at this place.

Ted and Lucas being their normal selves.

We've also done a lot of swim lessons and vacation bible schools. The kids love VBS. Next month, we have a lot of adventures. We will post then!

We're back!

Busy spring of puppy training (like having a baby), field trips, celebrations, baseball, baseball and more baseball.  Ruby has proven to be a good puppy.  She still needs a lot of training but she's a good dog overall.  Lucas was fabulous in baseball and really doesn't want to think or do much anything else than baseball.  Nora is our dur bright and sunny girl.  She was so proud to graduate from preschool and really looking forward to kindergarten. 

We've decided that I would quit my job.  It's stressful under new management of politics and money grubbers.  So my last day is July 7th and I'll start looking for another job after school starts which means we have a summer together.  We are waiting for summer still though. 

 Nora's graduation from Preschool

 Ruby, but she's a lot bigger than this

 Lucas did baseball this year...he's really good. Get an autograph now!

 With their cousins (brothers kids) celebrating birthdays and a graduation

Last day of school!

 Lucas read Nora her bible stories.  What a grea

Lucas and Nora with our neighbor boy who loves our crazy family. 

Our Nora is 5

So sad to say good-bye to the younger years for our kids. On to pure elementary ages. Nora is growing up so fast, becoming a big girl as she says. Nora is quite compassionate for others that have less than us, she quite nuturing for kids that feel a little scared in class. She quickly learning to write and all those Kindergarten things you need to learn. Nora only conquers or learn something when she is ready and she decides she will do it. We love Nora. She can be a challenge but one worth working with.

Star Ruby Sunshine

She joins our family on March 10th. She was born on January 21, 2012. I think that's a cool birthday. She comes from Shelton and her name is Star (picked by Lucas) Ruby (picked by me) and Sunshine (picked by Nora) but we are calling her Ruby. So we will see how we do with puppy training.

Lucas

Showing off how many teeth he's lost.

Enjoying his time at Safeco Field during Fan Fest for the Mariners.

Learning to ski

So happy to be in the snow again.

Lucas is my favorite boy in the world. I love watching find new things he loves. This last year, he fell in love with baseball. This last month he tried skiing with Ted. Well, he loved it. We really thought he wouldn't like it but he did and he was great at. I love that he and Ted found something they really like and can do together.

Getting a little stir crazy

Ted's 2nd day off school and Lucas' 1st. Tomorrow is already called a snow day for both. And we will see if I'm off work too. Enjoying the beauty of snow but ready to get moving a little bit.

Lovely ladies.......

We were some of the lucky ones that got to celebrate with friends Rachel and Phil at their very fun wedding. I love seeing when a friend finds someone that was made just for her. We got to enjoy the night of many activites and fun stories. Nora with friend Coco entertained during the "social hour" up on stage.

We're grandparents!

Nora fell asleep with something stuffed up her shirt. She's been doing that a lot lately...saying she's going to have a baby with some animal or baby up her shirt. But tonight, she stuffed something up there and then fell asleep.

Poof - our grandbaby. How easy is that??

A star is born...

Nora's adoring fan
First tap performance

Before her performance

Thanksgiving with Family

The cousins on the couch.

We spent the actual day of Thanksgiving with our wonderful friends the Fabs and had a great day. They are truly like family and we are so blessed to have them in our lives. The saturday after Thanksgiving we spent with my brothers family at my mom's to celebrate again. Below are some pictures of the evening.

Lucas with his best buddy
Nora loves to play with cousin Claire

Uncle Chris virtually tickling Lucas. He wasn't even touching Lucas' feet and Lucas was laughing so hard.

My oldest nephew Jack is so great with the kids. Very gentle and kind.

We are blessed to have so many friends that are like family and our own family to celebrate with. We are grateful for all of them.

Halloween..

Lucas was a vampire on Halloween night. We sprayed his hair black and white powder on his face.

His first victim, she looks pretty happy about it.

The Saturday night before was the carnival at his school and no "scary" costumes were allowed so he was a baseball player, of course.

Another year at The Farm...

Ted and I started going to this pumpkin farm our first year dating and have gone back every year except one or two. It's fun because it gets more kid friendly ever year. And our kids want to do more things. It's out in Snohomish near Ted's school so we drive into this little old down town and have gotten pizza for the last 2 years which we decided to add to our tradition. Lucas was super excited because the pizza place had tv and the playoffs were on. He's a super big baseball fan. Not just loves playing it but learning about all the baseball heroes of old and now.

Nora is our animal lover and even though she's holding a kitten she really wants a dog. We are thinking about it but trying to figure out where we will live next year.

First School Project

Lucas' class is doing the solar system this month. He was given a list of neat projects to choose from and he choice this one. He begrudgingly worked on it a little bit a fews days during this last week. It's due tomorrow. As he finished it he became so proud of it even though he hated giving up his play time to do it. Although some of his classmates will have nicer, neater ones because their parents practically did it for them, Lucas' will be his own that he did. And I'm proud of him for that.

First Day of First Grade

"First grade is awesome!" was the first thing Lucas said after his first day. Although, the next morning he stated school days were to long to be away from the family. He does like to be with us, which I need to treasure now because it won't be like that for long. Or it might be the fact he was to play the Wii at home.

Ted started the same day too. 2nd year as the music teacher at Emerson Elementary in Snohomish. Going pretty good so far. Got a picture of Nora that day too. Can't ever forget our girl, she won't let you if you try!