Old Friends

Jan is a friend of mine from way back. We met when I started working at Mervyn's in 1991 or so to try and pay some college bills and we've been great friends since! Although we'd managed to keep in touch via phone, email, etc... we hadn't actually seen each other in several years. In fact, she'd never met Addison in person! So we made the trek to admire her new home in Port Orchard, had lunch and hit the park.

Addison enjoying the sunshine and swing

Zachary had fun on the big toy and made a friend along the way. He's actually the one that took the 1st picture of the 3 of us - the new friend, that is!

Watching the sunset

After our day at Seaside, we all went back, too naps to recharge and headed back down to the beach to watch the sunset

A LOT of fun...

and a little cuddling to pass the time while we watched the sun go down.

Photos never do this amazing time of day justice. It is truly beautiful and so peaceful.

We thought we'd make our mark...littlest to biggest

A day at Seaside

We couldn't hit the coast without dropping by Seaside. Of course, next the games, the kids favorite thing to do is check out the candy shops.

Zach actually made short work of this lolipop. He's more of a crunch and chew type. It hurts my teeth just thinking about it!

Ray opted for the gigantic jaw breaker... I think he's still working on it!

Our trip to Gearhart

We were recently in Portland for a wedding and decided to make it a longer holdiay and head out to the coast - one of our all time favorite destinations. We usually stay at Seaside, but booked a condo in Gearhart, about 10 miles further north, instead.

The pool is one of the kids favorite places when we go on vacation. In fact, it is one of the requirements when booking into anywhere! They just love the water.

Zachary is getting braver and enjoys the pool almost as much as his brother

Addison didn't really like using this floaty in the pool but it was fun to wear around! I always hoped she'd make her own fashion statement - but so young?!

The boys love when their dad plays in the water with them. It doesn't hurt that he has just as much fun in the pool as they do!

When we're not in the pool, we love going down to the beach. Why else would you vacation on the coast? The weather this first day wasn't great, but always fun to be down by the surf.

Finally, a new lawn mower

We had to purchase a new lawn mower this year and Kevin had the forsight to buy one that was self propelled. Raymond was actually excited when I asked if he wanted to try it. (Me too, it's usually MY job!)

Do you see that smile on his face? No kidding, he had a ball!

It gets a way from him fromtime to time, but he knows that if he lets go, it will stop.

Isn't that a sight for sore eyes! Raymond has really taken off with reading. He loves it (almost as much as I love him loving it!

Our day at the zoo

We have a Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium pass for the year and enjoyed our first trip. They have done a lot of remodeling and add several things to the "kids zone". I'm sure we'll make many trips this summer. My kids love it there.

Zachary loves going through tunnels

Raymond likes to climb

All three kids in the "spider web"

Look at that static. Addison is much more adventurous than her brothers were at this age. Zach still doesn't love slides like I wish he would!

We had a great time and look forward to our next trip

Summer at last!

Well, today is the first official day of summer vacation and our unseasonably hot weather has returned to the normal, overcast/mid-60s... go figure! Oh well. It will give me a chance to cross some of those cleaning projects off of my list. My plan is to tackle one room each day - well, not consecutive days, but designated cleaning days. Today I am moving at a snails pace and enjoying the prospect of not having to be any particular place or have any particular agenda accomplished. I am trying to get my weeks worth of laundry put away so I can see our coffee table again, but beyond that, Zach and Addison and I have just been hanging out. They are napping now and I am actually at a loss as to what to do with myself. And being in a bit of a lazy rut at the moment, I may just do nothing! Kevin is working very long days trying to get the church auditorium finished, so he's pretty much out of the picture for entertainment purposes the next few days. Ho hum... maybe I'll take a nap too!

Field Day

The last day of school this year we held a field day at the bottom of the hill. It was a huge sucess and we look forward to a bigger and better one next year!

Raymond and Jeremy doing the 3-legged-race

Grannie came to spend the day with the little kids

and watch Raymond participate in all the events.

My cutie-patutie Addison

Maybe she'll win the water balloon toss!