Blogging woes

OK- I just did a bunch of blog posts which didn't turn out exactly the way I had planned. Blogger has changed it's way of doing things and although it is easy to upload more pictures quickly- I misunderstood how this all works and it posted more pictures than I had planned and the video is WIERD. I can't take the extra pictures off without taking ALL of them off- So, I apologize for some of the recent posts not being quite as nice to read (with extra pictures I didn't plan on posting)- but I'm not going to take the time to re-do them all. Anyway, I just had to put in that little side note so you won't think- "why did she include THAT picture?" He He. Oh well . . . .

Happy Fourth of July!

It was a fun and busy fourth of July week! The kids started swim lessons . . . amazingly I was able to get all four of them at the same time at the YMCA! Marcus really is just in it for the practice, and Tyler just started his very first class. It was an interesting first day- he wouldn't go in for the first half of the class, but eventually I was able to convince him to try it. Change and new things are hard for that little dude . . . I think that is why potty training is going so horribly right now (I don't want to talk about it . . . )

We also had several busy and fun days with friends

Swimming at the Smith's pool with the Binghams and the Powell girls (who my girls have recently met at church):

And of course the Fourth of July! We started the day off with the Spokane Indians Pennant Race- the 3 and under age group ran the bases, the older kids did a 1K and Jon ran the 5K. It was so fun! Tyler was especially so cute for his very first fun run ever. Everyone else did great too. We then had a nice BBQ at our house with both sets of grandparents and then back to the Spokane Indians Baseball game and fireworks!

The weekend wasn't over yet (the fourth was on a Thursday)- Friday we went to Hauser Lake for some lake/ boating/ grandparent and second cousin time! My cousin Melanie Mundt and her family joined us, along with my aunt and uncle who were in town- and it was wonderful to catch up. The kids and Jon had fun boating (no way was I going to put my very pregnant self on the boat this time)- and all in all it was a wonderful afternoon. Saturday we cleaned house and took the kids to Monsters University (a great movie, by the way), and then Jon and I went to the memorial service for his great Uncle Bill who recently had passed away.

The weather was also so wonderful this weekend- Spokane can be so beautiful in the summer. This evening we enjoyed a nice little trip to Manito Park again- this time the roses were in full bloom. Cynthia especially was so happy and excited! I have been a bit tired, not sleeping well, and starting to feel VERY pregnant- but it is impossible to not feel in a good mood when the scenery is as pretty as this.

Sun at Suncadia

The summer started off rainy, cold, and depressing. Many friends were out of town, the van was in the shop - - needless to say, we were feeling pretty cooped up. We also have had to change some rules because -ahem- my kids were annoying one neighbor in particular too much- so that has put a little kink in playing with friends a bit (we just have to set up play dates instead of them knocking and asking to play, which results in less play time in the end). It was a good move for everyone- it saves stress and worry on both sides, but still makes me a little sad and I feel a loss. The summer is still young and everyone has been really busy, so I'm sure we will get some more friend time in the end. After the first depressing week or two I worked hard to set up play dates every day with church friends and neighborhood friends (trips to Mobius with the Deakins and a walk to Rocket Bakery with neighbor friends, the Flood boys over to play for a day, our other neighbor boy Jacob practically lives at our house and I love it . . and a few other random play dates)- - but that first week out of school was pretty lonely and boring! I have learned that even though the play dates make life a but nuts and crazy, it is better than being bored and lonely for my kids!

Anyway, the summer really felt like it picked up once we took a little mini vacation to Suncadia Lodge in Cle Elem. Jon had a WOMA (Washington Osteopathic Medical Association) conference there, so we all tagged along! The weather turned nice, we were able to visit with friends- it was a blast!

We first stopped in Yakima so we could do a little work on the rental house, and had fun hanging out with the Johnsons- -

Fun on their trampoline and our traditional trip to Glacier's Frozen Yogurt:

Suncadia was awesome- played tennis, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, did tons of swimming, roasted marshmallows in the fire pit and more. Jon went to classes most of the day, but would pop out for a quick swim or to go paddle boarding with the kids. We also hung out with the Degooyer's (a family we know from Yakima)- which was so fun especially for the kids- fun to connect with old friends! Cynthia especially had fun seeing Rachel- they were in first grade together in Yakima. They got to spend some time hanging out together swimming and doing crafts back in our room . . . it was wonderful to see Cynthia with a friend from the past.