June 28-30 Moses Lake

We made another trip to Moses Lake. This time we had friends there. The White's, Child's, and Lewis's were all there and we had a lot of fun. We wake-boarded, tubed, swam, jet-skied, went to the water park, and just had a ton of fun!!! (All this in only 2 days)  

Billy on the wakeboard.  Lucy actually tried and got up really easily.  She did so good.  I took pictures with my friend's camera.  When I get them I will post some.

Noah at the Moses Lake aquatic center.

Brooklyn decided it would be fun to color Lexis.  It was pretty hilarious when she was done.

Lucy and Elli on the tube.

Brooklyn loved the little playground and the sand.  She was always trying to escape to get there.

Niko and Bridger on the tube.

Nichole wakeboarding.

Brooklyn, ready for a bike ride.

Whew, What a week!!!

This week was the last week of school, which around here means lots of activities.  We had 2 field days, Junior Olympics, an Awards assembly, 2 end of the year parties, and of course the last day of school which is always fun, oh, and a dance recital.  Here's a brief recap of the week.

Tuesday - Lucy's 1st field day of the week, and Junior Olympics for Niko.  Lucy's field day wasn't much like the field days I remember, it was more like a carnival where each room in their Pod (hall) had a different activity and the kids spend 1 1/2 hours visiting whichever ones they want.  The 5th graders get to participate in a district wide Junior Olympics.  I didn't get to go, but Niko's tug of war team won.  He didn't compete in any other events so I guess you could say he was undefeated.  Way to go Niko!!!

Wednesdy - Niko and Lucy got to participate in the 2nd field day.  (Lucy got to do both because she is in a 2 - 3 split class)  This is much more like the field day of my youth with water balloon tosses, spin around the bat races, and all kinds of other fun games, I didn't get to see it in person but have heard from several people that it was hilarious!  That afternoon was the awards assembly.  Niko received a full grown Orca award (because he attended Hazelwood K-5th grade) He was also in the top 10 AR point earners for the 5th grade.  Lucy got a Citizenship award for 2nd grade, was also in the top 10 AR point earners for her grade, and her Karaoke group got to perform their number in front of everyone. (She was the only 2nd grader who got to perform because they only do karaoke with 3rd graders and up, but again, because she was in the split class she got to participate, and she just happened to be in a group with three 3rd graders.)

Thursday - I went and helped Lucy's teacher move to a new classroom.  She will be moving up with Lucy's class and it will be a 3-4 split class.  (I'm so happy!  Ms. Ferguson is a GREAT teacher.  She is very good at pushing Lucy and the other students to their full potential.  They got to do a lot of fun stuff this year and these kids are amazing!!!)  That afternoon all of the 5th graders got to go to the gym for a yearbook signing party with music and cupcakes and juice.  It was a lot of fun to see Niko interact with his peers.  I can't believe he will be in Middle school next year!!!!

Friday - The last day of school!!  I went up to the school with some balloons for Niko.  I had told the kids I would pick them up but they didn't want me too.  Apparently, on the last day of school the bus ride is a little more fun than normal.  They get to stand up while the bus is moving and the busses do several laps around the parking lot while the kids yell and wave out the window at all the teachers who are lined up on the side-walk.  It was really fun.  Once we all got home, Niko and I went to his real end of the year party for the 5th graders.  We had it at an outdoor pool nearby and had the whole thing to ourselves.  Even though it was pouring down rain, the kids had a great time.  That night Lucy had a dress rehearsal for 1st dance recital.

Saturday - Dance Recital, it was adorable, Lucy did great, as did the rest of her group.  All the numbers were really fun, especially the ones with the little 3 and 4 yr. olds.  Brooklyn will probably get to do that next year.  It will be so cute!!!  Anyways, here are some pictures from the week.  And a video of the dance recital.

Lucy receiving her Citizenship award.

Niko and the 5th grade boys scarfing down some Hot Dogs.

Signing Yearbooks.

Last bus ride as a 5th grader.

Lucy and Ms. Feguson

Lucy after her dress rehearsal.  (She was having WAY too much fun pretending to be a model.  It was really fun to watch her this weekend, when she had her hair curled and was looking pretty cute, she totally walked with a little bounce and would wave her head around to make the curls bounce, it was hilarious.  Apparently, this girl likes to look good.)

Moses Lake

Well this past weekend we went to Moses Lake.  Billy was participating in an Olympic length triathlon so we picked up the kids from school and headed over there.  It is about a 2.5 hour drive for those who don't know.  We are members at a RV park there so that's where we stayed.  The kids love it there because there is a pool.  Anyways, considering how much Billy trained (not enough) and the fact that he has never done a triathlon, and the fact that he rolled his ankle really bad about half way through the run, I was really impressed that he even finished so GOOD JOB BABE!!!!!!  While he was swimming, biking, and running, the kids and I played at the park where all the transitions were.  Here are a few pictures.

After Billy finished the race, we went back to the cabin for some lunch and then hit the pool. Mind you, it wasn't very warm, and it was raining, but apparently our kids don't mind that sort of thing.  It also turns out that Brooklyn LOVES LOVES LOVES the water!!!!  Now every time I change her diaper she says, "I ready go swimmin' now."  Thanks to Billy's waterproof camera,  we got some fun shots and video.  Later that day it started lightning and thundering, the power even flickered a few times, (Yikes, we might've had to actually camp, well kind of), luckily the power never stayed off so we spent most of the day watching TV.  Which was probably good because my kids were still exhausted from Disneyland.  Niko was especially wasted because he had just gotten home from 5th grade camp before we left.  Overall, it was a fun weekend.

SURPRISE!!!! We went to Disneyland!!!

A few weeks ago we realized that Billy had a few days off coming up and, after some research, we decided we would go to Disneyland.  The kicker is, we didn't tell our kids we were going.  So, on Wednesday, we sent them to school just like normal and then at about 9:30 in the morning we went and pulled them out of class.  When they asked why, we just told them we had some errands to run and that we wouldn't be back before school got out so we wanted to take them with us.  Then when they saw the luggage in the car we told them we were letting someone borrow them.   As we drove to the airport they were so confused.  Billy and I were just trying not to laugh!  Then when we got to the airport, we told them that our friends, the Alfrey's (who just happen to be going to Disneyland too), had forgotten some stuff so we were dropping it off for them.  Then when we checked in Nicholas knew we were going somewhere.  Finally when we were in the security line we told them.  It was so funny!!  Lucy was going crazy not knowing.  Nicholas, I think suspected but wasn't sure.  Noah and Brooklyn didn't really get it other than Noah's friend Jayden (from another family that happen to be going to Disneyland as well) was going to be there too so Noah was excited about that.  Anyways we spent 3 1/2 days in the parks and pretty much closed it down every night.  The kids were great, pretty pooped by the last day, but still great!  Here are few pics from the fun!  (the captions are under the pics)

The kids in the airport before we told them where we were going.  It was so Funny!!!

Welcome to Disneyland!

Brooklyn on the teacups.  She loved it!!!!

The whole family in front of Walt Disney and Mickey Statue.

Brooklyn and Cinderella.  We ate at Ariell's Grotto and all the princesses come around to the tables and visit with you.  It was really fun.

"Beauty and the Beast?!?"

This is how Brooklyn spent a lot of her time in the park.  I had Billy download some of her favorite shows onto his iPod and she would just sit and watch them in the stroller.  I love modern technology!!!

The Jessee's and The Ketner kids all locked up.  We had so much fun with the Ketners.

Eeyore, My favorite friend from the 100 acre wood.

Three Goofy guys just wandering the park.

The River Ride, so much Fun. . . if you don't mind getting a little (or maybe a lot) wet. 

Oh Yeah, I have a Blog!!!

So, I'm sure most of you think that I forgot I have a blog.  Well I didn't really, I just have been busy, although if you ask me what I've been doing, I probably couldn't tell you.  But today I've made up for it.  There are several posts waiting for you.  This one is just some random pictures I had from the month.  Apparently we like whipping cream around here because I have several pictures involving it.  The kids love it when Billy sprays it right in their mouths.  

Ahhhhh, simple pleasures!

While the kids were painting their thingies (a few posts down will explain that) Brooklyn decided to try her hand at being an artist.  I know more paint ended up on her than the paper, but I think she created a beautiful piece of art anyway.

And again with the whip cream. . .

At the end of March Lucy and I got to go to the wedding of one of our friends and neighbors.  Lets just say it wasn't your typical wedding ceremony, but it was definitely fun.  Here is a video of the actual ceremony.  I can't wait for them to post a video of the reception, it was a blast!

Watch closely and you will even see a few shots of Lucy and I.

Don't forget to keep reading, I've been busy.  Hope you enjoy.

Talent, No Talent. . .

Our ward had a talent, no talent show the other day.  Billy put on quite a show.  Did he fall under the Talent or the NO Talent?  I'll let you be the judge.  Either way you gotta love him!

Weblos and Thingies!

I know, weird title, huh?  Well, Niko earned his Weblos badge a few weeks ago.  We are almost done with Cub Scouts!  Of course, that means I only have a little over a year until he turns 12 and goes into Young Mens.  YIKES!  I'm getting old.  Here are a couple pictures of the night.

At this Pack Meeting we also had our pack's 1st Thingy race.  What is a thingy?  Well a thingy is a piece of wood that you decorate and then attempt to move it down a course by moving a string up and down.  Weird, I know!  But it was actually pretty fun and it was nice because it was all on the boys.  (Unlike the pine-wood Derby which seems to be more about the Dad.)

The theme was Jurassic Pack so Niko made his Thingy look like a caveman.

They had a few extra so Lucy and Noah decorated one too.

After trying to explain how it works I decided a video would be easier.

                                       

Happy Birthday Noah!!!!

Watch Out!!! He's 5!!!

Noah celebrated his 5th birthday in April.  I can't believe that he is 5!  What is even crazier, is that Noah and Brooklyn are now the same age that Niko and Lucy were when we moved into our house.  It's a little like DeJaVu.

We started the day with #5 pancakes, a special treat for the special guy!

For dinner Noah chose to go to Chuck E. Cheese for some fun and pizza.

I think he was a little excited to open his presents!

We ended the day by singing Happy Birthday and having chocolate cake. (If you are wondering about the "1" candle, these were the only 5 candles we could find in the house.)

The next day I took Noah and one of his friends to Build-a-Bear workshop.  The boys totally had fun making their bears and dressing them.

Noah with his new friend, EnnJay  (NJ).

I hope it was a happy Birthday buddy!  I love You!!!!

Egg Drop 2009

Every year the 2nd graders at the kids' school get to participate in an egg drop.  They are supposed to design something to keep their eggs safe when they are thrown off the roof of the school.  Lucy had an advantage of getting to do it last year as well because she is in a split class.  Last year we were not successful and I'm sorry to say that our egg met an untimely death.  This year, however, well you'll just have to watch the video.  (Sorry for the length but I knew if I waited to edit it, it would never get posted.)

Spring Break

During the kids' spring break this year we decided to do a little road trip.  We went to Kennewick, WA  on Tuesday and stayed at a hotel with a few other families.  The kids had fun playing with their friends in the pool, and we Mom's had fun hanging out and talking.  Then on Wednesday we drove to Pullman to visit my sister Annie and her family.  We always love a visit to Pullman.  Among the activities was a trip to Ferdinand's, some fun at a park, a visit to see the bears, a visit to knitting club, and the world's longest game of croquet.  It was a lot of fun. On Friday we headed home to get ready for Easter and to go back to school.  I should have a lot more pictures but I messed up when I was loading the memory card from Billy's camera and lost all the pictures.  I'm really mad about it and that is part of the reason I haven't posted in so long.  Anyways, here's what you get.

Uncle Scott, entertaining as always!

Brooklyn insisted on sleeping with Niko, so this it what we got.  Believe it or not, they actually slept the whole night like this.

Elaine and Brooklyn at the park.  Aren't they cute cousins?

One of the only pictures I have from the pool in Kennewick.  I had a ton of fun under-water shots that are now gone.