Me & 3 Camping--and it was fun!

For the first time in our Me&3 career, I took the kids camping...and we all really enjoyed ourselves!

Because Kyla needed to be droppped off by 9 and picked up by 3pm in Eagle Creek (aka Middle of Nowhere But Pretty), OR, I searched for a convenient place for us to stay that week.  We found a pretty campground less than 10 minutes away from camp.  We only stayed for 3 nights, but if I had been able to alter our hotel reservations, I would have happily done a 4th night.  I was too busy reading books (currently evangelizing Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series-- started first book at 10pm and finished at 3 in the morning!) to take many pictures, but the kids were happy to *hang* out all day at camp, too.😁

True to form, Wesley spent most of the time in his pajamas.

The kids got to try street tacos for the first time and LOVED them.  We are developing our palate, thankfully!

Kyla in 1850, Oregon

To make up for, ahem, "Spelling Camp", I promised the kids their choice of summer camp.  Kyla had no idea that asking for another Living History camp would take us down all the way down to Oregon!

But down we went, and Kyla really enjoyed living in 1850, not far off the Oregon Trail.  It was just a day camp, so I picked her up at 3 every afternoon for more adventures in the morning.  

During the day, she did some pretty great things she never would have gotten from Mama Camp.  She blacksmithed this S hook, made a Jacob's Ladder toy, made clay marbles, and had many adventures.  

Next year, another Survival Camp!  (And I'm sending them all away to overnight camp, hopefully at the same time....)

17 Years and counting!

We celebrated our 17th anniversary by having a Family Adventure & Creative Day.  We like downtown Redmond with its Saturday market and the outdoor shopping center (with a Brazilian coffee shop!), and I made arrangements for us at the ceramic painting place.

Dwayne and I made a glass infused clock (two years after getting engraved watches for our 15th) to mark our anniversary.  Dwayne and I are the larger flowers, and the kids each chose a glass color for their own shorter flower.  Clearly, we need to now add numbers!

Kyla took her time to make this lovely plate--the intricate leaves are my favorite!

Wesley is extremly happy with is Minecraft plate.

And Piper enjoyed making a very colorful vase.  

It was an afternoon that brought out the best in everyone!

Back to Bed

Despite the TANTRUMS that my announcement of summer school (aka "Spelling Camp") ignited last spring, I've had cooperative kids up and out of the house by 8 o'clock every day in July.  However, today, "being ready to go" meant falling back to sleep in the hallway.  I was inexplicably charmed. 

Guest Blogger: Piper!

A friend's mom, Dorre. taught me how to do a different form of craft, Crochet!

This is my first crochet project. It is a scrunchy. All it is, is a hairband and chain crochet.

 

However, I got bored after doing about seven scrunchies, so I decided to expand on the idea. I made a loop the size of mom's head. Then I did the same thing like I do with scrunchies. chain a good length then end, etc., etc.

This is a cup-cake holder that a made off of my thoughts. I made it for cousin Amber's B day.

I think is a fun and a cool way to store little things :)

2019 South Whidbey Island Fair

The kids and I have been going to this tiny little fun fair for years now, always on the opening Thursday (it only lasts 4 days!), and ergo, without Dwayne.  This year, we just couldn't make it during the week and I promised the kids that I would take them regardless.  So Dwayne got to jump on the Crazy Train and head over for the day.

Once we bought kids their ride bracelets, we really only saw them when they were hungry.  Which meant Dwayne and I got the day together, meandering through the livestock barns and exhibit halls.  One of our favorites was the juggling arena, where Dwayne and I learned were taught how to crack a rope to make it knot itself.  Unsurprisingly, Dwayne had a knack for it.  Just as expected, I didn't.

We met up with friends, and saw an amazing elephant quilt, but I was tickled by something far less interesting: what kid 4-H-ers said was their rabbits' accomplishments.

Winner of the Pee Pee War

Being a brat

Being hard to take out of cage

Loudest water drinker

Squeaks a lot when he hears plastic crinkling

Made us believe she was a guy for so long

They are ready to Instagram their future children!

An Oddly Satisfying Chore

Wesley wanted to earn more money, as he is eyeing lots of expensive ($20-40) toys.  When he begged for extra jobs, I gave him a doozy!  Pressure washing the back stairs is way wetter and dirtier than regular pressure washing, as the stairs love to back splash you in the face at nearly angle. But well worth (Wesley's) effort!

Rooftop Rave

When we bought our house over 16 years ago, I loved the space and Dwayne loved the potential of the yard. We dreamed of kids playing down by the stream and climbing trees and playing in the large basement and the tiny hidey hole.  Neither of us thought that the garage roof would be THE attraction.  Some kids are too cautious to climb out the kids' windows or up the side, but all kids are fascinated by running all over the top.  Wes has informed me, nonchalantly, that he has jumped off to the grass several times. Just as nonchalantly, I decided not to freak.

Party at Remlinger!

Dwayne's work party was held at Remlinger Farm again this year--great location, even if we had 50 shades of rain that day.  Piper loved the petting zoo, especially this mara (related to a capybara), and the joey that never played peekaboo, though we were assured he existed in Mama Wallaby's pouch.

Wesley likes all things fluffy.

He also likes all things fast and slippery, so inflatables that have been turned into water slides by the weather are just the thing.

Kyla likes the way Wes thinks!

 Two plus....

 

 Two Equals....

  

….FIVE!

Creative Mode

Piper and Wes love making things, which, in addition to regular screen addition, accounts for their love of Minecraft Creative Mode.  But that mode occasionally extends beyond the screen.

Here, Wes makes himself more armor, to go with the entire armory he has created out of garage scraps this year. 

Piper made Kyla a purse for carrying around her tablet.  As with our best ideas, they don't always work for their original purpose, but Kyla has found it perfect to carry her flip phone and bandaids around her easily.  Both have come in handy for her!

Friends at the Cabin

Our friends needed childcare for a day, so I had them drop E & I off at the ferry and I picked them up on the other side.  They made up my more normal number of six kids to take to the lake and beach.  Lots of fun to see them jumping in over and over.  I thought I had raised water babies, but these two take the prize!

 

  Down at the beach, Piper and Wes covered a tree branch in clay... and I really like the affect!

  

Kyla made her own sculpture by using every single Duplo in the cabin.

March home!

The weekend ended with a visit from my brother's family and Wesley's favorite cousin!  I think they eventually got out of the swing.

4th of July 2019

Down to the Maxwelton Parade, for what is now officially Too Many Years. We got crowded and we got candy.  But, we also got some cute family shots. The first one is repetitive, but Wes is smiling, so I can't just delete it.   

Later that evening, we invited some of our neighbors over for ribs and company.  It's really our first time using the pergola, with it's lights, fire pit, and swings--and Dwayne and I loved it!

Join us some time!

Freedom Festival!

I think we've gone to the July 3rd Freedom Festival in Freeland since we our first July at the cabin, six years ago.  This time, I only had 4 kids with me, and actually got to hide out in my little beach tent reading for a while, which is lovely.  

I like that the kids ran around loving the games, the beach (Wes and Abigail got soaked early and thoroughly, of course), the food, and of course, the face painting.  My menagerie!