last week end was....

celebrating the start of the school year
time with the Grandmas
soccer game
football game
neighborhood ice cream social

smores in the backyard

teacher memory book

I bought this Dr. Seuss classic when Aiden was a baby. I've heard it's a popular book to give at high school graduation. But I just found a way to make this book a much more personal gift. You have your child's teacher sign the book each year and when they graduate they have a personal message from each teacher to help send them on their way... Aiden's preschool teacher is retiring this year and I've sent his book to be signed and I'm able to play catch up at the elementary school pretty easily. I found another copy for Amelia today and I'll definitely have her preschool teachers sign before she finishes preschool at the end of the month.

great wolf lodge

We took the kids to The Great Wolf Lodge for their birthdays this year. It was a looong drive down but pretty fun once we arrived. We stopped at Cabela's in Lacey on the way down and Aiden and Dale were in heaven. Me, not so much. The water park was pretty fun and we were able to all the water slides except one as a family. Amelia and I spent some serious time in the wave pool body surfing. After two days I think everybody was ready to trade in their bathing suits for some dry clothes and enjoy some peace and quiet after the auditory overload of the water park and hotel.

snow day 2012

Today was the first official snow day of the year! The kids built snow forts while I shovelled snow. I pulled Amelia through the neighborhood on her sled and called it a day. We came inside to warm up with some peppermint hot chocolate. Yum.

tye dye fun

I found this unpublished post and remembered why it was never posted. The kids made tie dye t shirts this summer that turned out pretty cool. Unfortunately, later that day Amelia came down with that nasty stomach bug that landed her in the hospital overnight. Somehow, I haven't been able to get both kids with their shirts on to pose for the final product.  However, I have plans to make shirts again this time with the whole family up at the cabin next May.  I plan on making the whole family pose in their cheesy shirts next time!

frog bonanza....

Dale has been going a little rogue in the landscaping department lately. We are down two large trees (too close to the foundation) and a front corner garden. While digging out the front garden yesterday Dale found a frog jackpot in the water main thing-a-moo-dobber. The kids were over the moon and had  a great time playing with their new 'pets'.

the duck pond

Last Saturday Dale was at a class and the sun was shining. I gathered up the kids and a few slices of bread and we headed to the duck pond. We have been going there since Aiden was a baby and I wanted to take some pictures to remember these times. I'm sure all too quickly the kids will think it's 'lame' to go feed the ducks. But for know we like it. 'Like it' as in I can tolerate it for a few minutes but as soon as the ducks start to get aggressive and swarm you on land my moderate bird phobia goes in overdrive and I'm backing up leaving the kids to fend for themselves. Fabulous mother aren't I?

first snow day!

We woke up to snow on Saturday! These pictures where taken approx 3 minutes after the kids woke up. They piled their snow gear on over top of their pj's and went for it in the backyard. The civilized adults drank their coffee and ate breakfast and got dressed before grabbing our sleds.

Hallow's Eve

Once again we lucked out with good trick or treating weather. The kids could only hold out to 5:30pm and then we let them loose in the neighborhood. It was definitely a race through the subdivision and everyone was back home by 7pm. I like that. We had a lil pre funk before heading out and all the families dressed up. Dale was a nerd and I was a librarian but the pictures are a little fuzzy.