Washington

A couple weeks ago we packed the kids up and drove to Seattle, Washington to visit Kim, Ben's sister, and her family.  It was super LOOOOOOOOOONG drive but we enjoyed every minute of just hanging out with them.  We usually get to see them for a few hours once a year when they drive down here for things, but it was nice to have more time to spend with them and my kids absolutely love their older cousins.

Don't they look excited for the long drive...

 We really did just kind of hang out.  It was nice to just relax and take things as they come and not have to really go anywhere unless we felt like it.  

We chilled on the couch.....

Got a good hair train goin'...

played,

 splashed,

 and fell in the rain,

 played some games,

 and did some cooking.

 One day we did drive to and right on to the ferry to go to Whidbey Island (I think that's what it's called).

There we just played around on the beach and threw some rocks,

 found some shells,

 played with seaweed,

 drew in the dirt,

and ate some dirt.

There was also lots of mad games of ping pong goin' on whilst watching some fun movies.

We traveled into Seattle on day and spent some time wandering around Pike's Place with the smelly fish...

and brass pig.

 The kids were excited to get to sleep under the ping pong table.

thanks so much Kim and Mike and kids for letting come hang out.  We had a great time!!

Student Council

At the end of the year last year Sara tried out for and made the Student Council for the 2012-2013 school year.  She was excited but at the beginning of this year she said, "I wish I hadn't made student council."  She didn't want to miss class and was scared of some of the responsibilities she was going to have.  But she is LOVING it, having a great time, and having wonderful experiences.  She's done the morning announcements, helps sell candy during lunch on Fridays, and tomorrow she gets to go to an all-day leadership conference at BYU.  

Over the summer she was told she needed to raise/earn $30 to pay for the council T-shirt and sweatshirt they were getting. She worked really hard for it.  We had her pull weeds and wash our car.  Maria (her aunt) had her come over and clean her kitchen cabinets and clean the inside of her car.  She helped and worked really hard at the Lombardi/Bytheway fireworks tent.  Maybe something else - I don't remember.  But she got her shirts today and is super excited to wear them.  (She wants me to change her hoodie to a zip hoodie so she doesn't ruin her hair when she puts it on. I found a link on line how to do it, but zippers scare me.  Anyone know how to sew a zipper and want to teach me?)  Here she is in her cute shirts.  They match the PTA school spirit shirts but hers has her name and "student council" on them.

We got a PTA shirt for Evan but they didn't have the girl fitted ones and the others (even the smallest size) was HUGE on Kamri so we didn't get her one.  I'm going to try to make a shirt for Kamri and paint the design on it so she can have one that matches.

I want to go to school

This is what Miles does almost every day waiting for the kids to come home from school.  Sits at the window just watching and waiting....

spirit week

Last week the kids had spirit week.  One of the days was "Napoleon Dynamite Day".  I think this day is kind of silly since that show was way before the kids' time. My kids had no idea what that even was. I had to look up pictures on google so they would get somewhat of an idea of what to do.

Kamri goes to school in the afternoon  so she wasn't ready when Sara and Evan left and I forgot to get the camera out to take a picture of her, but she pretty much looked like Sara - ponytail on the side of the head.   And I think Evan should do his hair like this everyday, what do you think?

I hope they call me on a mission...

For Family Home Evening a few weeks ago we had the kids dress up as missionaries and treat us as investigators and just teach us what they knew.  We added some questions for them to answer.  They did great!  It was so fun to see them so serious about something.  Kamri was hilarious but only because she was trying to take it so seriously and was doing great.  Miles was trying so hard as well we all got a good laugh.  Sara and Evan did awesome at answering our questions and explaining things.  We took video of it. We're trying to get it uploaded - someday!!

Great Grandpa's carnival/fair

My grandpa has just recently, at the age of 95, moved to an assisted living complex.  He was sad to lose some of his independence but this was a much needed change for him.  It is an awesome place.  He has his own little studio apartment that someone comes and cleans for him and checks in on him everyday.  He also had lots of possibilities for new friends to make.  

A few weeks ago they held a fair for the families of all the residents.  It was pretty cool - and all FREE.  They had pony rides, petting zoo, food, games, clown for balloon animals, and live entertainment.  We only got to be there for a little bit of it since Sara and Evan had piano stuff going on for the first part, but they had a fun time. Sometimes I wish I could hire a photographer to follow us around everywhere and take pictures so I could both enjoy it live and get to relive it through pictures.  This time I opted to keep the camera put away (mostly) and just have fun with them.  (Really, the kids had had fun and I got to follow them around while toting their goodie bags and making sure I knew where all my kids were).  It was nice of the place to put on such a huge party for the kids.  They really did a great job and Grandpa (and I'm sure the other residents as well) enjoyed watching all the kids running around.

Some of us went in to see his new place