Sun + Boat = FUN!

I LOVE boating!!! When I was growing up our family owned a sailboat, Sunshine was her name, and we spent all of our weekends and family vacations during the summer on our boat. I have always wanted to get a boat, to give my kids the same amazing experiences that I had as a child. What's the 2nd best thing to having a boat??? Having a friend with a boat! :)

Over the 4th of July weekend our good friends Heather and Jason invited us out on their new boat for an afternoon of sun, playing on the beach and inter tubing. It was awesome!!! This was the first time our kids have been on a boat, and it was an amazing first experience! I am so proud of all of the kids ~ Katie was able to get over being a little nervous at first and was VERY brave, Aidan was a great listener and was having so much fun that his constant squealing with joy was contagious, and Mylie actually fell asleep! Wahoo!

Not only did we enjoy the boat itself, we also drove over to the Kirkland Marina where we docked and walked to lunch, stopped for ice cream at a place where I used to go when we had our boat growing up, and played on the beach. The kids had a blast playing in the sand and the water with the dads, and Heather and I had a great time taking pictures and enjoying the sun. :) After enjoying our time on the beach, we headed back out on the water where both Katie and Aidan went on the inter tube with Eric. Considering that this was their first time on a boat, I think it is awesome that they both wanted to try out the inner tube!! After being the official child chaperone on the inner tube, Eric got his own high speed fun. What a great way to spend a beautiful Seattle afternoon! It definitely renewed my desire to get a boat for our family someday! My only requirement is that we have a cabin so that we can take overnight vacations throughout the Puget Sound area.

Aidan chillin' on the boat

Cute Katie ~ enjoying the ride!

Daddy and Aidan on the inner tube

Mommy grabbing a quick kiss from Mylie

Aidan made himself right at home with someone's bucket and shovel!

Katie and Payton enjoying their ice cream on the beach

Daddy and Mylie loving the sun!

4th of July Fun!

This year we decided to do something a little different for the 4th of July. It has been a tradition for our family to go to the fireworks show in downtown Bellevue ~ and we have been doing that since Katie has been born ~ if not earlier. This year, we decided to spend the day with many of our great friends from our neighborhood ~ and it was definitely worth the break in tradition!

We actually started the day by going to the local kids parade. Little did we know, that when they said "kids parade", it was literally a parade of kids! Aidan was thrilled because all of the kids in the parade threw candy. Now that is his idea of a good time! :) It was definitely Halloween in July! It didn't take long for us to realize why all the kids lining the parade route had bags with them. Katie, who does not have quite the sweet tooth as her brother, was a bit disappointed that she didn't get to see the dancers and floats that we had promised. Oops! Next time I will pay a little better attention to the details. :)

After recovering from the parade, we headed over to the neighboring cul de sac and enjoyed an evening of fun with lots of friends. In addition to the good food and conversation, their cul de sac went in together on a VERY cool water slide. That definitely broke up the afternoon heat and kept the kids entertained. :) We had to eventually drag Katie and Aidan out of the pool. When it came time to watch the fireworks, we took advantage of having so many great friends in the neighborhood, and visited two different cul de sacs to watch their awesome firework displays. As we finally dragged ourselves home at around 10:30, all of us were ready for bed, but were all very happy to know that our hopes for a fun and happy 4th did not disappoint!

Mylie watching the parade

Aidan on the waterslide

Katie on the waterslide

And I want to do it again?

The race day has finally come and gone! For the past 5 months, I have been training to run/walk the Seattle Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon with Team in Training, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. On June 27th, I am happy to say that all my training was a success and I completed my first event ~ and now that my feet are recovering, I think I am crazy because I am actually thinking of doing it again - at least two more times within this next year!

Thanks to many of you, I am so grateful that I was able to raise $1800 to support Leukemia and Lymphoma research. As you may know, almost two years ago I lost my dad to brain cancer, and it is believed that this cancer was a metastasis from the lymphoma he had a few years before. I can't even tell you how amazing it felt to be running along the course, absolutely exhausted, and hearing the people that were lining the race course cheering me on while holding Team in Training posters and decked out in purple to support the cause. It was all very empowering! I also wore the names of 8 "h0nor teammates" on my jersey. Honor teammates are loved ones of my friends and family who have either lost their battle with this horrible disease, or are still courageously fighting. Of course, a also had a picture of my dad on my jersey to support me through the run. I knew, throughout the event, that no matter how tired I was, if all of the people who have to fight cancer every day can do it - I could definitely do a mere 13.1 miles.

Now, if my two toenails that want to come off would just finish the process, so that I can move on, I would be very grateful! :)

School's Out For Summer!

I have noticed a common thread througout my blog entries ~ and it has to do with time going by too quickly and the kids growing up too fast right before my eyes ~ but seriously now ~ Kindergarten is over already??? Where in the heck did the year go? I know I honestly say that a lot ~ but I honestly feel that way a lot too!

Katie is officially a big 1st grader ~ leaving all of the worries I had last summer about riding the bus and being away from me while at the "big" elementary school all but a distant memory! I am happy to say that the whole family made it through our first year of public school ~ and Katie not only "made it through", but flew through with flying colors! There is no doubt in my mind that she is ready to face the 1st grade head on ~ and will continue to succeed in true Katie style! As we got ready to say goodbye to Kindergarten, Katie had a great time at the many end of year school activies, including her class field day and her Kindergarten graduation, where she showed us all of the amazing work she has done over the past year.

Showing off her reading skills to daddy!

Showing us her writing journal that she has been working in all year

Katie, her friend Austin, and her teacher Mrs. Jones at her graduation

Dancing Queen!

Anyone who knows Katie knows that this girl LOVES to dance! It is hard to believe that she has been taking formal dance lessons since she was 2 years old! That makes this year's dance recital the 4th that she has participated in - with 3 different dance companies. Where has the time gone?! As always, Katie did an amazing job and looked adorable while doing it! Katie has decided that next year she doesn't want to take tap and ballet lessons ~ 100% of the reason, we recently discovered, is because she doesn't want to have to put her hair up in a bun anymore. :) Since she has been taking dance for so long, I was really excited for her to have the opportunity to be able to focus on new talents and discover new things, which she will do when she joins her first official youth soccer team this Fall. However, dance is never far from Katie's heart, and since learning that her dance studio offers a hip hop class (note to self - next time keep my mouth shut! :)), she has decided that she really wants to try this new type of dance ~ assuming that buns will not be required. Looks like we might be enjoying our 5th recital next Spring after all.

Katie and Aidan after the recital

Cute friends! Katie and her friend Mia at the rehearsal

"Baby Katie"? Not Anymore!! Happy 6th Birthday Katie!

It literally seems like just yesterday that Katie's nickname was "baby Katie" to all that knew and loved her. She is definitely not a baby anymore ~ my little girl is growing up right before my eyes! Even though I told her that she wouldn't be having any more birthdays, and that she wasn't allowed to get any older, she informed me that no matter what I said, her body was going to keep on growing and getting bigger. Darn if she isn't right about that one!

I have to admit that I do love all the new stages that we get to enjoy as our oldest is growing up. Katie is one amazing little, er, big girl! I love her sense of humor! She is always making me laugh! I also love how she tries to act older than she actually is - and the things she says while trying to be so grown up are SO funny! She also has the most amazing memory - literally!! There is no getting anything by this one and I have learned not to open my mouth unless I honestly intend on holding to what I say, because she will not forget - ever! Katie is also the most nurturing girl I have ever met! She is a little mother at heart - and is such a loving big sister to Aidan and Mylie. When she is at school, or at a party, etc, and she receives a treat or something else that she knows Aidan would like, she always makes sure to save some and bring it home for him. How many 6 year olds remember to save their treats for their little brother at home? She amazes me everyday with how caring and loving she is to those around her. Happy 6th birthday to my little (big) princess! I feel SO lucky to have Katie in my life!

Katie getting ready to make her bear

All done! Cute girls showing off their new pets!

Make a wish! Katie blowing out her candle!

Katie's Build-a-Bear cupcakes courtesy of dad!