Monday, July 7, 2014

Jetty Island

For years I've wanted to go to Jetty Island up north in Everett. It takes a little planning and a non-napper. This year we made it happen.

You take literally a 3 minute "ferry" ride from the marina to the island. 
That dock/little marina behind the boat is where we were headed.

Riding over. Smiles 'cause we got on the very first ferry on opening day! 


Tide was out...time to explore.


My favorite new beach item...our shade tent. So easy to put up and take down. 
Makes days at the beach awesome and I can't wait to take it camping. 
Some day I just know I'll need it for a rainy day while watching sports. 


Bubble catching is their new favorite beach activity.


We took a short walk around a bit of the island. 
There is a total of 4 miles of walking trails. 
A very cool place to explore.

You can see the tip of the island behind them.
Where we were at there were tons of people, 
but just a little walk down there was no one in sight.

She sat on this bucket and sang songs for the longest time.

Shane called this paradise (except for where all the people were at).

A fun adventure. Sadly, the blue skies that started the day out with us, turned cloudy half the way through. We hope to come back again and explore and play more next summer.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

4th of July {2014}

We  spent our 4th of July afternoon at Kenny's Aunt and Uncles. This is an annual event and the kiddos look forward to the water fun, food and cousins. Adalyn actually said that she was going to eat first and then go swimming.

This kiddo just started taking swimming lessons. 
She feeling a bit more comfortable in the water. 
She hung onto the side most of the time 
and really liked having her life vest + floaty always with her.

This kiddo is also getting more and more comfortable with the water 
and spent half his time in the pool with out his life jacket.

Adalyn and Shane + photo bomb by Brody the 1.5 year old puppy.

4th of July wouldn't be the 4th of July with out a trip out on the boat.
Adalyn, Anna, Brooke and Shane

Kenny chillin'

We woke up to blue skies and thought for sure we'd have a beautiful weather for the 4th, 
which is always hit or miss in the PNW. 
Sadly, as the day progressed the clouds came in and we even got some rain. 
That didn't keep the kids out of the water though. 

Little Adalyn and Big Kid Anna

Brooke warming up after her trip out in the tube.

This brave kid decided this year he'd get on the inner tube. 

 He was having fun!

 Mt. Rainer hanging out behind us. 


 Dinner Time: Eloise, Brooke, Owen, Anna, Shane and Adalyn 

Fun times with family!

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Shane Turns 7

Our little man had a birthday earlier this month. It was a Skylander themed party. If you've never heard of Skylander's before you probably don't have an elementary school boy in your house. He picked this "love" up from his fellow classmates. He really had no idea what Skylanders were all about when he requested it, but we ran with it anyways. At one point I'm pretty sure I was better versed in the whole thing more then he was.

He invited 7 friends. Which is a good number for him, because he still gets a little overwhelmed with large loud groups. The weather was fantastic, since I had played all of the games to be outside.

There are 8 elements in the world of Skylanders. The kids played 8 games each themed by an element. 

The first game they played was from the tech element. We had "gold" coins hiding in the backyard. Each kiddo needed to find 6 coins. After each game they got to get their "passports" punched.


The second game they played (I forgot to get pictures of) was for the element of wind. They tossed water balloons down from the deck into a big bucket. They had 3 attempts and there was lots of laughing.

Next up was the water element. They had water soakers that they used to knock over the cans on the stump.



Then the life element was up. They each had a balloon that they had to pop with their bottoms. Each game was so funny to watch them. They were excited about all of it.


Next up was the earth element where there were plastic bugs frozen that they had to smash out and rescue them.

Then we had the element of fire. Where they took "fireballs" and tossed them through the circle of fire.


Adalyn even had a go at each game.


This game was using the element of undead. Each boy had a balloon tied to their leg and they had to keep it from getting popped by the other kiddos. Everyone kept theirs alive, except poor Adalyn who got hers popped instantly. She was so upset and still talks about how her balloon got popped.


I thought I had saved the best game for last with the element of magic. I had diet coke and mentos and the idea is that when you put the mentos in the coke it makes a big fountain of fizz. Sadly, I had purchased small containers of coke and they didn't fizz very much.


 We followed the games with with some snacks and cupcakes. Shane requested chocolate cupcakes with white frosting and a cherry on top.


I let Shane pick the menu for the party.  He requested raspberries, cherries, provolone and cheddar cheese, salami, ritz crackers and graham crackers with frosting. I didn't deny his gluten ridden menu either.



There were lots of smiles, potty talk and laughing. 

 

And a little sister just taking it all in. 


We finished with some gift opening. Followed by utter madness in the backyard. Thank goodness the parents started to arrive. Two hours with 7 boys was perfect timing.


This was the last picture I got before my camera decided to call it quit after 6.5 years (from left to right): Kristopher, Cole, Collin, Callum, Carver, Shane, Ryan and Landon. Truly a bunch of sweet boys.





 

Friday, June 20, 2014

Father's Day Interview {2014}

For the past 3 years I've asked the kiddos questions about Kenny for Father's Day. I've enjoyed how they evolve and change over time. Here are this years thoughts about Daddy.



ALL ABOUT MY DADDY
By Shane Booth    Age 7

My daddy’s name is Kenny

he is 6 feet tall

he is 37 years old

he weighs 50 pounds

he has blond hair and brown eyes

his favorite tv show is the news

he likes to play baseball

for fun he plays with us

his likes to eat tacos

his favorite thing to drink is beer

he works at downtown work

i’ve known my daddy for 7 years

my daddy is happy when I hug him

i’m just like my daddy because we are both skinny
and have skinny feet

my favorite thing about my daddy is that he loves me


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



ALL ABOUT MY DADDY
By Adalyn Booth   Age 3

My daddy’s name is Kenny and Daddy

he is 8 feet tall

he is 8 years old

he weighs 7 pounds

he has gray hair and golden eyes

his favorite tv show is basketball

he likes to play games

for fun he goes outside

his likes to eat chex

his favorite thing to drink is lemonade

he works at work

i’ve known my daddy for 7 years

my daddy is happy because he loves me

i’m just like my daddy because we both like to go outside

my favorite thing about my daddy is that I love him

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Father's Day 2014


Why not "Ride The Ducks" for Father's Day?! It's been on our to do list for awhile, we just needed little Adalyn to be able to sit for 90 minutes. Which she was able to do just fine. Whohoo for kids that are growing up.


My fabulous SLR camera bit the dust during Shane's birthday party a week before Father's Day. I had just gotten a new one and I was excited to put it to the test. 

 The "Duck" head quarters was near the base of the Space Needle.


We started the tour by doing a loop downtown and catching some of the sites. 
Kenny and Shane have plans on riding this together sometime. 
I won't be joining them for that adventure.

Then we drove right into Lake Union. Man, that was a tough one for me. 
I had knots in my stomach the whole time we were in the water. 
We just drove right on it. Craziness! 

I think what got me the most was how low/close to the water we seemed. 


There were "Ducks" everywhere.

There was this little yacht hanging out before it heads up to Alaska for a bit. 
It's 300 feet long (aka a football field) and the value of it is estimated at $160 million dollars. 
When the tour guide asked how much someone that it would cost a lady guess 1 million. 
Kenny still laughs at that.

This is what it looks like driving into the water. We were headed back out. 
Phew! We didn't sink!!!

This little bugger was grumpy and "not having fun" for the first hour. 
She sat in my lap and pouted. 
Then we got in the water and everything turned around. 
Then she was "happy". 

Overall a fun thing to do with the family. We followed this up with dinner out at Tipsy Cow Burger Bar in Redmond and a visit to a park. Good times! Happy Father's Day, Kenny! Thanks for being a rockin' Daddy-O.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Kindergarten Graduation

Two days left of Shane's kindergarten school year. Wasn't it just yesterday that he had his first day? That kid has rocked kindergarten. We are so proud of him. It's truly hard to even explain how far he has come in the past 12 months. It was right around this time last year we were enrolling him in an anxiety program called Coping Cats.

 Shane and Mrs. Fornia.

Sixteen weeks later and the arrival of his first few weeks in kindergarten we knew that Shane had developed some awesome new coping skills. His anxiety of new places, transitions and loud groups has slipped away. He can now do an amazing long list of things that we weren't sure a year ago he would be able to accomplish.

Things like being dropped off at school in the car line, going on play dates with out me, riding home on the school bus to a friends house, going to the zoo with a friend and his Mom with out me around, and happily playing at recess. He even survived one day when I was the last one to pick him up from school. He looked at me with big eyes, standing next to his teacher, and said "I knew you were coming. I wasn't worried at all." He has accomplished these things and more.

He wants to be at school the minute he can be in the morning. He wants to play "recess" before school starts. He wants to play soccer with the "big kids". He has soared in math this year. It comes very natural to him and he enjoys it. His teacher, Mrs Fornia, has helped him grow his artist skills above and beyond imaginable. He has made fantastic friendships and easily transitions from group to group and friend to friend with out any issues. Oh and he can read, too. Man, what a year this has been!

This morning we attended his kindergarten graduation. I was asked a couple times if I needed a kleenex or would be teary eyed. Nope, not this Mama. I was so excited to see this day come and I'm even more excited to see my little man grow and learn in his next adventure of 1st grade.

 "Class of 2026 -- A future Vet"

Here are a few videos from the mornings events:

The kids were all asked what they learned in kindergarten this year, Shane answer:
"Don't be afraid of math, math is fun."



Monday, April 28, 2014

Conversations With Adalyn

This morning I took Adalyn for the first time to a drop off childcare place. I had been thinking about doing this for a few weeks. I was struggling with a bit of mommy guilt, yet I knew that this new adventure would be good for both of us. This morning just seems liked the time to do it. I had some work projects that needed attention and it didn't seem fair for either of us if I try to do that with her at home with me. My work and her needs would certainly not get the attention either of them deserves.

I got the paperwork filled out and made the call to reserve her a spot. I then took the plunge and told her, just as concerned that big brother might be mad as well about this development.

She was thrilled with the news and Shane was just fine with not going to the "preschool" like place to play since he is in Kindergarten and almost a first grader.

It is overwhelmingly refreshing to have a child that is excited about life and says yes to new things. Having lived the past 6 years with a child with severe anxiety you learn to be scared of the reaction to a new adventure.

In the car on the way to drop her off:

Adalyn: Mommy, I'm a little sad and a little happy.

Me: That is totally okay, Baby Girl. I'll be back to pick you up before you know it. You can tell me about all the fun things you did.

I got her all settled in. She ran into the classroom with out hesitation. On my way out she came to say good-bye with a little apprehension in her eyes. I gave her a kiss and she was off to play. The "happy" took over and the sad was forgotten.

I love that girl.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Awesome Things Tuesday

Welcome to Awesome Things Tuesday!


Last weeks features are:
1. Randi's Pick: Popsicle Stick Pallets by The Crafty Lumberjacks
2.Victoria's Pick:  Lacing Cards by Cutesy Crafts
3. Jessica's Pick: Building with Polystyrene by Mother's Messy Madness
4. Krystal's Pick: Creme de Menthe Cheesecake Cup Recipe by Country Fit Family
5. Ashley's Pick: Felt Succulents by The Pin Junkie


Your fabulous hosts are:

 


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