Rockin' the Bike!

I came home from work on Tuesday and parked the car in the garage like I always do.  I got out of the car and when I opened the garage door I was met by Brennan wearing a grin from ear to ear. 

 

He said 'mama, close your eyes, I have something to show you.  You are going to be so excited.'  I knew it had to be big because Sean was behind him holding my camera, ready to go.  He made me close my eyes as he and Sean dug out the bike they had bought that afternoon.  But, that wasn't my only surprise.   This bike didn't have training wheels!   AND, he was riding it like a champ.  Up and down the alley!   

 

 You can see him on the gravel trail that goes around the park at the end of our street.  He's on the far right. 

It is so cool.....but honestly, the coolest part is the pride he has in himself.  When we got home, he just kept saying, "I rocked the bike, didn't I mama?"  And, as he was going to bed that night he said, "mama, what was that you said about me riding my bike.....that you were broken to pieces?"  I had said that I was 'bursting at the seams' with pride and excitement!  That we are! 

 

I have to note, that Caelan is also rocking her hand-me-down scooter, as well. 



Here she was 'borrowing' the neighbor boys helmet.  She had put it on backwards but was pleased as punch with herself for getting it on herself.  

Darth Vader has Invaded our Livingroom

 The picture below is so hysterical.  I can't wait to show it to her future boyfriends. 

Summer 2012 Randoms

So, welcome to our painting party.  SO HAPPY this was outside. 

 You can see she gets more and more messy.....she's actually got blue paint on her eyelid here. 

 I wish I had some pictures of the clean-up process.....but it took both of us to operate the hose and hold the baby. 

 Playing around with pigtails.....she didn't keep them in, of course.  It makes her look so much older, I think. 

 There's my sweet crazy haired girl.....she set up all of her friends in the bathroom and then said 'sit' and sat down next to them.  The monkey is a backpack (that's why it doesn't have arms), and the doll is my cabbage patch doll from growing up. 

Wedding Celebration Continues

I am ALMOST caught up on posting on the blog.  I was SOO far behind. 

 

SO, on Sunday we were invited over to the house Karen + family were renting during the wedding festivities on Lake Sammamish.  Sean decided to load up the kids and bike to the house.  I followed with our gear and food in the car.  Caelan LOVES to bike, and she gets so excited when Sean starts getting stuff ready.  He is getting Brennan set up in his bike trailer in this picture. 

 

 

 

We had dessert first - s'mores before dinner.  Here are the boys waiting for the sticks. 



There is a tradition in Sean's family to pass on this nightie to each new bride.  It has been passed around for 50 years.  We took the opportunity to give it to Kay on Sunday.  

Sean playing with the boys (+ Caelan) after dinner.  

David & Kay's Wedding Weekend

Last weekend, Sean's cousin David and his fiancé Kay were married at the Columbia Winery in Woodinville.  It was a great time, and we got to see his other cousin Karen and her family (their boys Spencer and Garret are our godsons). 

 

Here's our family picture....Caelan was not very cooperative, unfortunately.  

At about 2:30pm in the afternoon, Sean and Karen came up with the awesome plan of calling our babysitter, Dana, to see if she'd come to the wedding with us and help us watch our kids during the ceremony & reception, so that the adults could actually enjoy themselves.  Luckily she took us up on the offer (didn't hurt that she ended up making about $30 and hour as there ended up being 3 couples that paid her - not bad for a 16 yr old). 

 

This is after the ceremony - there are picnic tables on the winery grounds - it was definitely 'kids gone wild' for a bit before we told them to stop jumping on the tables.  

This is back on the patio where the wedding had actually taken place....they had cleared out the chairs and were taking some professional pics out there.  Brennan and Meagan were practicing their dance moves.  (Meagan is Sean's cousin, Mary Kay's, daughter).  

 

Luckily I had stuck a bag of Goldfish Crackers in the diaper bag before heading to the wedding.  The kids polished off the bag while waiting for the reception to start. 

 

 

Meagan and Brennan scoping out which cupcake they are going to eat. 

 

Brennan was such a ham on the dance floor.....He's got the moves, for sure....

 

It was so nice to have Dana's help with Caelan during the reception. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Don't worry, this is just sparkling cider.....

Camping Weekend - Part 2

So, after a fine breakfast on Sunday morning of french toast, donuts, juice, sausages (and everything else that was planned for Monday breakfast), we packed up camp and got the heck out of Cape Disappointment.  Within 10 minutes of traveling SW, we came upon this lovely state park that was sunny & warm, and right on the water.  We decided to let the kids play and have a picnic lunch before heading home. 

 

This dead tree and log were the perfect hideout for our star wars/ewok/pirates.  

 

I love the shot below with the seagull mid-flight off Caelan's shoulder, and you can also see Cape Disappointment encased in clouds and fog in the background.  

 

Playing with Hannah in the rocks.....

That is one dirty butt......in fact, these little pants are still stained.  I'm not sure they will ever be the same.  

 



Love these shots of the boys playing....

After lunch, the boys discovered that the water was really shallow for quite a ways out.  That is Isaac and Hannah running in the water.   

Caelan even enjoyed playing in the warm shallow water.  

 

Caelan put her head on Sean's chest and would have fallen asleep right there.  That's when we knew we should pack up and hit the road so that she could get a good nap. 

This stop over was a definite highlight to our weekend.  Unfortunately, it went downhill from there.  It took us nearly 7 hours to get from Astoria, OR to Issaquah due to terrible traffic/accidents blocking the freeway.  We didn't get home until 9:15pm, and the kids had sand in every nook and cranny.   We were so glad to be home!