Summer Days

I think I tend to blog 10 times more in the summer than in the winter, but I'm looking over our pictures from the last few weeks since school got out and realizing that we have already had so many great adventures.  Aaron and I have talked recently about how quickly time goes by.  We've been married for nearly 15 years and had 4 kids and yet in some ways it still feels like we're just in high school and don't know how we ended up with all of these kids and these crazy bills to pay.  :)  We realized recently that we really only have another 5 or 6 summers left in which we'll have all of our kids here with us.  That feels like its coming up much too quickly.  So we're taking advantage of every minute.  It's been a busy but great couple of weeks.

 This one is just in here to prove that we sometimes do work too!!  We just don't take picture of it very often.  Haha.  We were helping a neighbor with some yard work in this picture.  

Last day of school celebrations... ice cream at Mukilteo beach with friends!  

 We've always wanted to do a backpacking trip as a family.  We finally did it that first weekend that school was out.  I'll admit I was pretty nervous doing it with all the kids... afraid that we wouldn't have enough to eat or would be cold at night but it went better than expected.  And oh my word it was so beautiful.  We went to Barclay lake and it was so peaceful and gorgeous and we loved it.  

 Twisted tree corner.  

 I'm not sure why we were throwing Sam in the lake, but he must have deserved it somehow.

The next morning this mist had moved in that was just so pretty.  It wasn't captured on camera very well, but it was awesome.

And then it started raining and didn't stop.  We were out of there by 9:00 the next morning.  LOL!  With no other shelter and even tents to teeny tiny to gather in... there isn't much to do in the rain.  

These 2 pictures are actually from Wallace Falls a few weeks back, but I had to include them anyway because seriously... we live here!!

Flying kites and riding bikes down by the beach.  

Aaron built this adjustable basketball hoop thing on our wall in this room.  Yes it's in our dining room and something will definitely break at some point but it has been so much fun.  

 When given the choice of playing in the sprinklers these kids instead chose to sell lemonade... for 2 days.  I admire their commitment.  They made 10 or 12 dollars.  The fact that Sam stood out in the street almost blocking the cars might have helped their sales.  He was bummed when I told him he had to stay on the side of the road.  LOL!

These guys chose to play in the sprinklers.

Hanging out at Picnic Point with the Watkins and the Strong's.   

 We finally visited Woodland Park Zoo.  We've lived near some pretty great zoo's in SLC, Houston and Washington D.C. but this one may actually be my favorite.  It is probably the smallest of them all, but it's something about the ambiance and natural habitats that makes it feel different.  It's just a very pretty place to visit.

Sam having fun at his friends birthday party.

The week after school was out, all of us participated in the cub scout twilight camp.  Andrew attended as a scout, Lizzy and I volunteered to help run it and Sam and Grayson went to the tag-along program.  So all week for like 5 hours a day we were there and we were really busy.  Busy enough that I didn't take any pictures.  I taught the cooking class and Lizzy assisted with that the first 2 days and then helped run the "death in the woods" activity.  Andrew did archery and woodworking and science experiments, but the only picture we have is this one.  They had a drawing on the last day to give away these bikes that had been donated for the event.  They were used bikes that were headed to good will, but still kind of exciting that Sam won.  

Ordinary Days

 These picture are dedicated to Lizzy because she nagged us all over and over to go skating until we all finally did and guess what... she was right... we did love it.  

 This happened over memorial day weekend.  We had planned a camping trip but as it grew nearer we had to admit defeat since it was supposed to rain all weekend.   So instead... we landed at Great Wolf Lodge.  Super fun weekend.  

 I did that thing where you order caterpillars in the mail and you watch them go through the stage and then eventually release them.  My kids were all like... Mom... we did this in Kindergarten.... (eye roll) but I've never done it and I loved it!

 Camano island.  After digging up crabs under the rocks, we had a bit of a driftwood fort building contest.  My team won.  Just sayin'...

 This is our cat.  Zippy.  Sort of our cat.... he is claimed by most of the neighborhood.  We sometimes go weeks without seeing him and then he'll show up at my window at night and mew til we do something about it.  I kind of like this no responsibility pet thing, plus sometimes he kills a mouse.  

 Fun run 2016.  

 Wallace Falls.  

 Seriously!  This was amazing.  

 I'm painting.  It's taken over my life this past week.  

My poor child is super sensitive to mosquito bites.  It's so sad.  He got it from Aaron.  Poor baby looks so miserable.  Don't worry... he's all good now.

Can I just say that I love this time of year.  Only 3 1/2 days of school left.  The excitement in the air is tangible.  I can remember that feeling of being so close to freedom that you were about to burst.  I don't know if my kids are more excited or I am.  I have a lot of projects I want to get done this summer (more painting...) but I'm trying to remind myself that this time will be gone so quickly.   I intend to fully enjoy our summer!