Rose Festival Starlight Run

We had the opportunity to head down to Portland to participate in the Oregon Rose Festival and the Starlight Run.  I'm not sure we quite understood what we were up for.  The reason we went was for work.  My company was a sponsor of the run so we got to put up this really nice booth and hand out stuff.  It was the first time we had used it - looks pretty good huh!?!

There were a lot of fun costumes and crazies - great people watching in Portland :)  Jack and I were ready to run the 5k.  The route wound through downtown Portland and we ran right along the parade route.  The parade started about 30 minutes after the run so the streets were lined with people.  It was fun because Jack would start getting tired and then see more people with their hands out for High 5's!  He did such a good job.  As we ran he would say, "I want to walk a bit" and I would tell him we had to go 5 more street lights then we could walk.  Silly me - I am so bad at counting the 5 :)  The other day he said, "Mom - next run you owe me at least 2 stop lights".  So cute.

Here are some post run pictures - we look a little more tired than the pre run!

I am so proud of Jack - he did a fantastic job and we finished in just over half an hour!

Jaron's Preschool Graduation

Jaron was able to be part of a really fun preschool group.  For graduation they had a whole ceremony.  Here it is in pictures:


Krystle reading "Oh the places you'll go" while they sat on their mats



Jaron after he received his completion certificate and balloon

The entire group (Tyler, Jaron, Cavin, Rylee and Hallie)

  

The group - yes, that says class of 2026.....scary!

They made cute cubcakes with graduation hats - so much fun!

Congratulations Baby Bear!!!!

My Two Digit Midget!!!!

Jack is 10 - how did that happen?  I was giving him a hug the other day and he said, "Yep - I'm almost your two-digit-midget"  Not that he is anywhere near a midget - the kid is already 4'10'', 117 lbs and wears a men's size 9 shoe.   But he for sure is two digits.... 

For Jack's birthday we were going to be camping, so we let him have a slumber party with a friend the Thursday before.  He invited his good friend Jagur over and we had a great time.  Here is a picture of Jagur's present - which he wrapped in a baby girl gift bag.  In the bag was a mustache and a magic eight ball. Seriously the best gift a 10 year old could get :)

Here is a picture of my big bear on his actually birthday

We had a birthday dinner with the Sampsons and Grandma surprised him with magic candles that wouldn't blow out.  It took him quite a while to figure out why he couldn't get them all :)
 Happy Birthday Jack - We are so glad you are part of our family!

Memorial Weekend - Deception Pass 2013

 
Deception Pass is one of my favorite places to be.  I love our annual camping trip to the beach.  
        
Friday was beautiful.  We got camp set up and went and hiked up the beach.
 
Saturday we woke to a little bit of rain.  After breakfast we decided to go tour Anacortes.  We hit a couple of stores and then found a fantastic park.  The community all donated pieces of a large boat that they made in to a large park with musical instruments, climbing wall, swings, slides....the works.  It was so much fun.  The afternoon and evening we spent on the beach.

   

 Kenzie was Grumpy on the Beach...I got some good pictures :)

The kids also had a chance to become Junior Rangers.  They each had a packet of stuff they had to accomplish.  They had to learn about animals and plants in the park, pick up litter, answer other questions, and other things.  Once they were complete we went to campfire sing-along and they were sworn in as Junior Rangers.  It was a lot of fun.

Sunday it rained most of the night and morning.  We couldn't start a fire so we decided to take a ride in the car and get dry.  This time we went to discover Oak Harbor.  We found a really great windmill.

   

Jack and Jaron both went in to the Ocean more times than I brought underpants for them.  We had to dry out their underpants so they didn't have to go home commando.

Kurt went fishing and caught a lot.  He caught a baby salmon - of course he threw it back.  Then he caught a crab.  It actually caught him and then pinched him while they were trying to get him off the hook.  Pretty cool.  Later he caught a TON of herring.

We stayed at the beach on Sunday to see the sunset.  We watched an eagle catch a fish and take it to his next twice.  It was SO cool. 

All in all -a really great trip.  Looking forward to next year!

Little J Turns Five!!!!

My sweet baby turned 5 - I can't believe how big he has become. We had a Team Umizoomi Party.  If you don't know who that is check out Nickelodeon :)  As the kids came they all made paper airplanes and tested them out.  Once we had all his friends there they created Shape Belts so they could be like Geo.  The girls also got Millie hairbands so they could measure with their piggie tales.  Here is a picture of Jaron and his friends:

Here are the photo bomb versions :)
 
After they were dressed like the team umizoomi crew we went on a shape hunt around the house.  They found shapes and numbers and had to complete an entire sheet - it was so fun.

Jaron was lucky enough that his friends bought him some fabulous presents:
 
We played pin the shapes on Geo and then while I was preparing the dessert they watched an episode of Team Umizoomi

They got to create and eat and ice cream pizza

All in all a very successful party.  I can't believe my youngest is five already.  He is such a fun challenging individual - we just love him so much.  Happy Birthday little J!                                             

Gail's 60th Birthday Celebration!!!!

Gail turned 60 this year and to celebrate we surprised her with a dinner with the family at Anthony's at Point Defiance in Tacoma.  It was so beautiful!

On the way to Tacoma Jack learned how to play happy birthday on his recorder and then played it for Grandma in the restaurant - he did a great job.

Here are some other cute random pictures :)