It's my party...

Lauren, my little miss type A,  I love you. You planned a family party for Louis' tenth birthday.  You set out crafts, favors and butterfly party hats.  Although your dad and I were happy to wear the hats, your brother refused.  It completely ruined it for you.  I can totally relate!  I hate it when things don't go as planned (but I try to hold the tears). 

Pumpkin Patch

Lauren got to play hooky from kindergarten on Thursday and go to the pumpkin patch with her Children's Garden class instead.  We went to Fox Hollow Farms and the kids had a blast.  They got to pet bunnies and little pigs...and then throw on a little hand sanitizer and eat a picnic lunch.  So far, no signs of Ecoli.

Happy 10th Birthday Louis

When I surprised Chad with Louis all of those years ago, I had no idea what I was getting into.  Louis, you are cranky, stubborn, grouchy and destructive but your Daddy still loves you very much...and I might still pet you when no one is looking. Happy birthday Big Lou.  

Pumpkin Patch 2015

We headed out to the pumpkin patch Sunday morning.  We were the first people there and we had the pumpkin fields to ourselves.  Blake picked a FIFTY pound pumpkin!  We had a little apple cider and hit the road in time to make it to flag football. 

my little athletes

After a rather* challenging summer, I may have gone a little overboard this fall. I was excited to try and get life back to normal and I let Blake sign up for three sports.  I did say "no" to basketball, but after Blake's favorite coach offered to drive from Mercer Island to pick Blake up so he could play, he ended up on the basketball team too. We are certainly busy, but it is so great to see my kids having fun. 

Sunset soccer star

Zombies - it's so much fun to see how much the boys have improved over last year.

Blake's coaches are great, one of them said if the boys won their game they could throw her in the mud! They won 8-0.

not pictured - Sundays are filled with flag football!

Salmon Days Parade

Lauren's Y Princess group has quite a few fun activities planned through out the year, the first of which was a float in the Salmon Days Parade.  Lauren was SO excited!  The dads all dressed up as the Village People, Chad was the cowboy of course.  The girls rode on the float and sang while the dads danced the YMCA the entire parade route.  Lauren, if you ever doubt your dad's love for you, please see the picture below.

 My husband, six months post brain surgery, dancing in a parade!

Their float won first place!

Cake Walk

The kids and I went to the back to school carnival.  Lauren won every single game, including the cake walk.  Making her Auntie Alison proud.

Soccer Season

Lauren and some of her kindergarten buddies are on the Sunset soccer team.  

 Post game hug...there were also a lot of game hugs. These girls have yet to win a game, but there's lots of hugging going on.

This one is playing soccer too....always a comedian.

Last First Day at the Children's Garden

Lauren is going to kindergarten in the morning and The Children's Garden in the afternoons.  It makes for a busy day, but she (and I) didn't want to miss this special year at The Garden. 

My tall lady her best buddy, Ava.

 This year she's a big Honeybee!

Major Milestone

On September 4th Chad headed back to work.  It was a big day with too much nervous anticipation to describe. His first day back he had an all company meeting and I know Chad was so happy to see many of his co-workers (and take a little break from our sweet family??).  Chad was at home recovering for just under six months.  It has been a very intense time, trying to navigate the uncharted waters of brain surgery recovery while doing our best to make life as normal as possible for Blake and Lauren.  The week Chad went back to work the kids headed off to school.  It was a little strange after having the four of us together 24/7 for so long.  There is still healing to be done but I am so proud of Chad and how far he has come in such a short period of time. 

Summer Wrap Up

Here are a few more pictures from our summer fun!

My kids fell in love with CHICKENS at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Todd's new house.  There isn't a week that goes by that Lauren doesn't ask if we can have chickens too.  Fortunately, they are against code in our neighborhood...

One day Blake saw some older kids "sledding" in the Lakemont bowl, so of course he wanted to try it.  Everybody was pretty excited about this new pass time.

other random pics

slumber party

hair do by Lauren

last playdate before these two became official kindergarteners!