Anna adores cats and our neighbor has a creepy animatronic cat that she loves.
We would pour baby oil on the whale and the kids had a ball jumping on it and sliding off

Anna does pretty much whatever thier friend mackayla does.
Their has been lot's of bike riding too. Anything to keep cool.

Village Theatre Camp

We sent Liam to Theatre camp this summer. The theme was Princesses, Wizards and Knights. They experiemented with ways to play a character and did crafts like making magic wands, making potions with their own creative ingredients and they learned a few individual lines for a small skit they put on for the parent's at the end of the camp. This is Liam waititng to perform, he made a heart for me out of a Boa. He had a good time and learned all about the paper bag princess.

I like to call this video the "Don't even think about it" video. One of the reasons I put Liam in this program was to learn how to be put on the spot gracefully. He did a really good job but had one moment which I happened to get on video . It's pretty funny.

Flashback Friday's

New York with good friends. 3 months pregnant with Liam. Eric with long hair. Good times.

Flashback Friday's

This is a pic from my 10 year high school reunion. They did a little presentation of who is doing what now. Lawyers, Psychologists, architects, Pilots. Then they asked all the stay at home Mom's to come up and get a little something because of all our hard work. A giant candy bar. That's just what I needed after having a baby. My friend Mindy here, would not go up and made me get her candy bar for her. yaaa for reunions!

The 4th of July

Happy Fourth! On friday night we went to the Grandparents' house for an All American meal and some kiddie friendly fireworks. This is a video of Anna's first sparkler.
I'm sorry if you have to endure my high pitched "Mommy" voice on all these video's. I know it bugs me. I can't help it though, their just so cute.

On saturday morning the cousins came over and we had a fabulous pancake breakfast and swimming and slip and slide party. Grandpa brought out an old box that was of course the hit of the party.
Then we went out on the boat to the Tacoma Aviation Show. Anna loved waving her flag and she didn't blink an eye as the planes flew overhead. She got her sea legs too and was cruising all over the boat with out one fall.

Every time the F-15 flew overhead Liam would express that he was ready to go home. He loosened up after a bit and really enjoyed the show though.

Liam and Eric watching the planes. For all you enthusiasts, we saw a A10 warthog, a Japanese Zero, F-15 (which flew right over our heads a few times), and a Harrier which hovered and took off from mid air. Pretty cool.
Grandpa let LIam drive the boat. He took it very seriously. He was trying to hide his smile whenever I looked at him.
Soaking up the sun.
We passeda ton of party boats cranking out music and Liam happily waved at them and they waved back.
We beached in Tacoma for a while and wandered around the street festival there. We got some dinner there too. mmmm.... Giant Corndogs.

Liam and Anna watched Peter Pan while the adults just chilled out. It was just cool enough to put on a sweatshirt and cuddle up in a blanket.
Eric killed some time playing on his iphone.
I killed some time taking shots of the beautiful scenery.
Bill and Michelle killed some time snuggling up.
We watched a lovely sunset, which doesn't happen all that often in Washington and then we all cuddled under blankets and watched the fireworks over the water. Everyone honked their boat horns for the finale. THe kids were adorable and fell asleep on the drive home at midnight.

Bikes, yikes!

Summer is here and the bikes have come out of the garage. Eric has been riding with some friends in the morning. They usually crash 5 or six times a day and E's legs are so messed up. Anna is trying out her new scooter in the cultisac and Liam has learned to ride without training wheels.

Liam learned how to ride his bike with out any help from us. He refused us and concentrated on riding without training wheels for about 2 weeks. He ran in the house one day and told me to come and see. It's a cute video. As you can see in the above picture Anna has a bruised chin. If you listen at the end of the video you will hear the cutest little voice call out "whhhooooo!" in a happy tone and then you will hear her scooter accelerate and a crashing sound followed by dramatic crying.

Camping at Lake Wenatchee

We went camping with Heather and Evand and family this last weekend. We drove about 2 1/2 hours to the north the Lake Wenatchee.

The kiddos had so much fun together.
Baby Merrick spent most of his time in a giant mesh tent. This was his favorite past time.

THere was a little park in the campground for the kiddies. Anna took a liking to Aunt Heather and they did some swinging.
Good morning!
The kids were so filthy. We were constantly wiping their faces with wet wipes.

Anna loved peeking out the window of our tent at me.

We went the little Bavarian village Leavenworth which was just 20 miles or so away.

We always get the kids alittle toy from this euro toy shop.

We ended the Afternoon with Icecream cones and shade. I was perfect.

Ihad to put both of these pics of Cousin Orion in brcause they are just too funny.
The boys.
We went to the Lake a couple of times and soaked up the sun.

Eric and Evan found a broken dock and tried doing a little surfing.
After they flipped it they paddled around on it inards. (Isn't that a fabulous pretend word?)
Anna was really eager to try it out too. She wasn't scared at all.

Liam is a pyromaniac like his Dad.
Heather and Evan cooked up a fabulous spagetti dinner with Martinelli's and all.


Check out Anna's Charlie Chaplin mustache. THey were soooo dirty, but they had so much fun together. It was good times.