Gimme 5!

Today was Mae's birthday but we celebrated on Sunday. This was her first "real" birthday party that she got to plan. It turned out wonderfully.

Posing with the Minion piñata that Grandma & Grandpa hauled back from Nevada.
And then spent three weeks in the third row of our minivan.
[Cutest photo bomber ever.]

We hired Pete Everett to put on a magic show.

He is amazing!
[If you would like to hire him to provide a show for you I'll definitely hook you up!]

Then it was time for the Costco dinosaur cake that she picked out.
But ended up only eating a few bites of.
You can't win them all I guess.

Anticipation!

Russell liked his piece!

Then came time for the piñata beating.

It was sturdy!

I think Etta was more excited for the day than Mae was.

We tried to get a group shot. This is the best we could do.

At the end of the day you could hear Mae walking around the house singing, "This was the best day EVER!"

Success!

First Day of Grade 2

Was last Monday.

I had a great idea of taking the camera to school to get first day of school pics without being rushed.

But then I forgot it.

So we have (late) "coming home from the first day of school" pictures.

Mae misses Etta so so so much. As you can see by the lean in.

[Etta on the other hand told me yesterday, "Sometimes when I am at school I don't even think about Mae." As it should be Etta. As it should be.]

Tired girl after a long first day.

Click here for former first days for Etta.

{Smoky} Back to school

We have a tradition the night before Etta starts school.

Pizza at Hell's Gate.

Not this year.

Area wild fires have created hazardous breathing conditions.

So we brought the pizza home, popped in some Looney Tunes and were very thankful that we are not in a position that we will lose our home or even need to evacuate.

Bringing the outdoors in.

Eating like a big boy!

He can hear the "shutter".

Since we didn't do cake for Ethan's first birthday here are some frosting
pictures. He loves cake!

His eyebrows are the best.
And that complexion? Oh my!

Roooaar!

Tri #3

Today Etta ran in her third triathlon. Our local Parks & Rec department puts it on every year. She was a little hesitant while we were getting ready. I finally got it out of her that she didn't want to get last place. It is definitely not a "race", but some crazy parents out there seem to think it is something close to the Olympics. Anyway .... She did her best and I think that she had fun overall.

Trying out the Ergo with a back carry.
Thanks to Annie for the how-to video. It worked with
a little bit of assistance from Bob. Hopefully I can
figure out how to do it on my own. He slept for quite a while
back there.

Getting ready to walk over. (Did I mention it is only about
three blocks from where we live? I love our neighborhood!)

Waiting for Etta's heat.
{The sun was too bright for Mae.}

Jumping in to get ready.

Etta is right in the middle. Look at that straight arm and good
form. Super Marz gave another great round of swimming
lessons this year!

Lap #2 of 4 for the bike leg. A mile is a l-oooooooo-ng way for
a 7-year old on a too-small bike. 

Heading out for two laps of running. Converse All-Stars for the win!

Mae decided she could join for the last lap.

Easy to spring when it's the only thing you are doing.

A strong, happy finish. She says that she will do the tri next year.
[The age requirement is 5-years old. So she misses it by a few
weeks this year.]

Etta reeling it in. So proud of her!

Always ready for a photo op. Can't you just hear Russell saying,
"Cheeeeeeeese!"?

Russell did really well this year. Very well-behaved. Only three
more years until he can use his energy for good.

 Here is the link for last year's. Russell has changed quite. a. bit.

Forever

Yesterday we headed up to Sun Up Bay to visit some friends and spend the day.

I, unfortunately, did not get any pictures of the early afternoon activities of playing in the lake [pooping on the shore], and Bob & Etta kayaking. (Etta kayaked like a BOSS. She got to borrow a kid's kayak and paddled all over the place. So proud of her!)

Mid afternoon we got to head out on their boat. This is when Mae turned to me and said, "Mom, I'm gonna remember this day FOREVER!"

It was a very good day.

Ethan ready to head out. This is 0.7 seconds before he
went into total screaming meltdown mode.

Getting ready to go.

"Mom! Take a picture of that boat to show Grandma Cynthia!"
Look close.

Mae and Louis catching some wind.

Russell was not so super happy about wearing the life jacket.
I learned yesterday that we do not say "no" to him very often.
Much to his detriment.

Unhappy baby selfie.
It was loud.

Etta & Louis getting ready to tube.

Louis, "Etta, you were way more fun to tube with than I thought
you would be."

I finally decided to not fight him. I laid him on the floor,
he thrashed around a bit, then he passed out.

They loved the boat!

Thanks for the great day Jim & Sarah! Until next year ... 

A Girl and A Horse

Last weekend we headed to Libby, Montana so that Etta could ride a horse. We went two summers ago and she absolutely loved it. Watching her interact with Starry and listen so intently to Dolly's directions made for one proud mom.

Leading Starry in.

All by herself.

She just looks so old to me here.

Mae hanging out on her stump.

Russell was pretty interested.

The peanut gallery.

Getting going.

You're not going to bite me are you?

A connection.

Russell did decide he could pet a horse.

Big horse.

Overall it was a fabulous weekend. Too bad we live in the city on a tiny lot.