Thursday, August 25, 2011

Getting Ready

Last week I embarked on my annual "dump out the contents of the school room and put it all back together" spree. Dennis asked me if I really thought I could rearrange it all ANOTHER way? Really? Of course!
So the major changes from last year are: de-cluttering the walls, moving Bay and Leah into a couple of old-fashioned school desks, and getting rid of the large table from the room. It really opened up the room and feels much more spacious!
Leah has been in her desk every day, looking through her books and I think she is the most enthusiastic about school starting on Monday!
We enjoyed a visit from Uncle Kevin. I am always amused at how our kids are all over their aunts and uncles like flies on flypaper whenever they come to visit. I hope that all of the aunts and uncles feel very loved when they come to see us-they certainly are!
There have been lots of fishing trips lately since Gramps has had more time. Eric went out with him this week and they had a blast. They caught 3 rockfish, 4 spanish mackerel and 4 blues. We'll eat all but the blues-those go to the crabs and then we'll eat the crabs once they have fattened up!
The happy fishermen-always a good day when you come home with this many fish!


Monday, August 15, 2011

Summer Recap
I know that I have been absent from blog world all summer...it's just that we've spent more time doing all of these things than writing about it! It really has been action packed around here for the past 10 weeks-but lots of fun and tons of memories!


The kids all swim on a summer league team and it was fun to see improvements in all of them this year.

The kitchen pantry cabinet doors are covered with their ribbons from swim meets. Bay is in the picture above, getting ready for the "clothing relay" at the fun, Carnival Meet.
Poor Bay is always cold...even when it's 90 degrees out! I guess it makes him swim faster so he can get to his towel!


A little project that had to be done to control water flow out back...still a work in progress

We took a week-long sailing trip with Heather's parents over the 4th of July.
The weather did not cooperate as much this year as it did last year. We only had one day where there was enough wind to actually sail.
But we did pull anchor each night and go to different locations to do lots of swimming
more swimming
a couple of nights in a marina to enjoy some night-time air conditioning
and exploring on the dinghy


We also enjoyed a visit from some of Dennis' family.

Andy came by with his gas powered R/C car to tease Elsa and give her a workout chasing it around the yard
Dennis, the boys, brother Johnny, brother Mike and not pictured, Mike's wife, Debbie, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Fred, cousin Debbie & her 2 kids came for a cookout and pool party. Johnny also stayed to enjoy some of our kids' swimming events.
Most recently we enjoyed a visit from an old friend, Amy! What a wonderful treat it was to see her again and also to see her kids. Her mom and dad were along on the trip too, and it was fun to get to know them. The kids had not seen each other since our oldest 2 were 5 years old, and despite not remembering each other, they all really hit it off like old buddies.
We went to D.C. with them one day and had a great time, despite a little rain. Bay and Gavin spent the whole time wrestling every where we went. I wonder who had the advantage?
The big boys, Aiden, Eric & Jack enjoyed a little bit of freedom on the metro and within the museums.
Leah and Olivia on the metro

Dennis won some tickets to our local minor league baseball game, and since it was during the work day, Gramps went with Heather and the kids. It is a great family activity-and during the day, almost empty! Bay enjoyed unlimited climbs on the rock wall.
Leah made a little "Go Blue Crabs" sign for her stuffed animal kitty to hold up!
There has been lots of rockfish catching this summer too! Eric and Gramps went out one morning and had great success-lots of delicious fish tacos in our future!

Of course this brief blog post does not even do our summer justice, but hopefully it will get me back in the habit of posting and will give you a glimpse of what we have been up to.