Red Hot!

It is Summer in Spokane!  It is officially 100 degrees.  We have beat the heat the last couple of days by visiting lakes and/or playing in the backyard.  Yesterday we headed to Liberty Lake County Park and the kids swam and swam.  My little Ellie Bellie was the first to swim out to the dock and jump off.  She is fearless, she reminds me of myself when I was young.  That is her with the life jacket a foot shorter than everyone else on the dock.

                                       We have also been playing in our blow up pool.

                                                               Dani as happy as can be.

                                                     Cousin Hunter, manning the hose.

Today we headed to Lake Couer d' Alene and met Kent's family there.  We played in the sand, swam in the lake and ate snacks for a fun four hours.  Finally, the 100 degrees sent us packing to our A/C.  It was a perfect lake day.  Today was also the day for my sprint tri, I am in mourning that I wasn't there to compete, but my friend Steph was able to, and she said all went well.  Hopefully next year I will be a Valley Girl Competitor!

Happy 4th!

Summer has officially begun!  The heat is here!

The kids couldn't get the slip-n-slide out fast enough.

                                                                           Ellie

                                                                          Dani

                                                                        Brayden

 We headed to our new Greenacres park on the 4th and walked/rode in the parade.  Brayden was determined to win, he was a bit disappointed when we couldn't pass anyone.  :)  Whose kid is this?  I have no idea how he got so competitive. 

                                                                Beautiful Bella

                                                                 Our handsome pup

                                                                       Claire Bear

                                                      Ice cream at the end of the parade!

After the park, Kent's whole family headed over for a BBQ.  I failed to take ANY pics. but it was a fun day!

                                   We stayed up late and watched fire works from our deck! 

                                                Glow stick bracelet from G & G Wagener

Best of Friends

I have always been so grateful to the person who matched me up with my freshman room mate in college.  They could not have found a better match for me.  Julie and I hit it off instantly, she made living at college a blast!  I have so many fun memories that I absolutely cherish.  She and her son, Carter, came to visit us a couple of weeks ago!  We barely did a thing, but it was a good time!  It's so easy having them here, we didn't have to plan anything, we could just hang out.  Thanks for a fantastic, laid back weekend Julie and Carter!

Not so pretty

As some of you know, I bit it on my bike. It is all still very sad to me.  I was out training for my sprint triathlon that is this weekend.  I was on my 14 mile loop when I dropped my water bottle.  I stopped quick, got one shoe out of my clip in pedals, but not the other one before I tipped over.  I fell to the right and landed on my right hand in gravelly asphalt.  Blood started gushing right away.  I was so mad and frustrated.  I rode the last 5 miles home with one hand, the owie one dangling beside me leaving a trail of blood all the way home.  I jumped in the shower, slapped a BIG band-aid on and went to get the girls from my MIL.  By the time I drove the 3 mins. to her house, the blood had sopped through the band aid.  I showed her my owie and she convinced me to go to the Dr.  I was in denial, I really didn't want to go.  After 45 mins. of scrubbing the road rash out, they sewed me up with 4 huge stiches.  This meant that I can't get my hand wet for FOUR weeks.  After a week of being in denial, thinking I could just wrap it up and still do my swim in the lake for the race, I decided giving up my spot may be better than coming down with an infectious disease.  Thus, the Valley Girl Sprint Triathlon is no longer happening for me on Sunday.  I am so disappointed, but I was able to sell my spot to an eager girl who has never compteted.....

So here I am in the second week of Summer with a dumb bandage on my hand.....no water or swimming activities for me.    I now have to go monitor Brayden setting up the slip-n-slide as I type this.  Yeah, it won't be a problem keeping dry with three eager children ready for water fun!  Wish me luck!  Oh, and stay safe, unclip before you tip!  :)  

Camp Spalding

My boy went to Summer camp!  Brayden spent three nights and four days away at camp.  He was so excited to go, he wanted to pack and make lists two weeks before it was time to go.  I think this may be why I didn't cry when I left my boy to a bunch of strangers on drop off day.  Brayden is one of those kids that could run the house for a week by himself.  He doesn't always make the best choices, but he knows what he should do.  :)  He is 7 going on 8 very soon, but he has always been an old soul.  He has a love for life, and his happy go lucky attitude is finally returning after this emotional year.  He is a kid that I don't have to worry so much about, he does all the worrying for me.  :)  Just as I expected, he had an "AWESOME!" time at camp.  He was very lucky to have his cousin, Keegan, right beside him.  It was four days that they will never forget!

We play dirty!

We did the Dirty Dash for the second year in a row with our good friends, Chris and Jackie.  Their daughter, Breanne and her boyfriend, Jeremy joined us this year!  It was a good time had by all!

                                            Nice and clean before the dash.  Jackie made us some hot tutus!  :)

                                Chris after the first obstacle, he even had it in his teeth!

                                  

 
                                    One of the obstacles....

 Kent and his cat-like reflexes after the wall...

After 4 miles of traipsing through the mud and obstacles....who wouldn't love this?  If you have thought about doing this, go for it!  It's like nothing you've ever done...they even have kegs halfway through the race....some teams get held up their for some time!  :)

Last day of school celebration!

Summer is here!  Here is my raga muffin boy.  Funny how the first day of school pics are nice and handsome...last day is more real life, reality stuff!  I am so proud of my boy, he has learned so much in first grade!  We are very grateful to a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Dowling!

Party in the park on the last day of school!  Amanda, Jackie, Huntar, Emmett, Cole and Ellie.

Some of our favorite boys: Gavin, Landen, Kaiden, and Ryan.

Dani and Ally!

                               Here's to a fun and safe Summer, enjoy those lazy days!