Goggle Goofball!

Saturday of Memorial Day weekend we went up to my aunt and uncle's on the beach. Aunt Tina bought Monica new goggles, which she proceeded to wear the entire rest of the weekend.

Jack was just as happy to play on the beach, goggles or not.

Ah, the beautiful Olympics!

When the beach water starts to feel cold there's always the crazy sprinkler!

Candles and Kids

Monday we celebrating Anton's birthday. I only botched the cake recipe in a few spots, and it was still VERY edible!

Jack wanted corn with his cake. He is so weird.

Our afternoon routine this week has pretty much been: get home, eat a snack, play outside in the water! Today the Martin boys joined in on the fun.

Weekend Away

Anton and I enjoyed a nice weekend getaway Saturday and Sunday while my mom stayed with the kids. The weather was HOT so we spent most of our time outside in the grand city of... Olympia! Okay, I know it's not exactly a common vacation destination, but we thought it would be fun to explore the capital city and enjoy some time together. We also pretty much ate our way through the weekend. Anton started out Saturday with steak and eggs for breakfast at home followed by a half-pound hamburger at our favorite restaurant: Carl's Jr!Their guacamole burger is to die for!

Anway, our first stop was the State Capital Museum, located in this converted mansion. It was fairly interesting, but definitely on the small side as museums go.
After checking into our hotel we walked ALL over downtown. We dodged past two wedding parties and several groups of kids dressed up for prom (snapping pictures) to make it into the capital building before it closed. After walking around on our own for a while we snuck into the end of a tour so we could see the inside of the Senate chamber. I said I'd love to bring students down to watch a legislative session, but Anton said it would probably be boring. This from the man who listens to classical music and reads science NONfiction!

After seeing the capital building and peeking in the gates of the Governor's mansion, we hiked down the switchback trail to Capital Lake where we found ourselves in the middle of a kid-and-me fun run. Anton wanted to cheer for all the kids while I was happy to move along (nothing like HOARDS of kids on your adults-only weekend!) From the lake it was a short walk over to Bud Inlet on the sound.

We found an AMAZING restaurant for dinner which had some of the best seafood I've ever tasted. It turns out it's the original seafood restaurant in Olympia. We sat outside right on the waterfront and enjoyed a great meal. It's moments like that I am so glad I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. There's just nothing like eating fresh seafood right on the salt water amist a landscape of Douglas firs and cedars with the Olympic mountains in the background. Unbelievable!
Sunday we hiked the Marshall trail, a nature preserve within city limits. (It made our impatience for camp almost unbearable.) Then we stopped at a school playground to play some basketball before heading home.

The kids were having some fun of their own when we returned. They were in bathing suits pretty much all afternoon enjoying the sun and having fun with Nana.

Homework Hats

Monica had to construct "pirate" hats for her homework assignment tonight. But Anton and Jack also wanted in on the fun!

Relay Croquet

We had such a full weekend I'm not quite sure where to begin!
Here are a few of the highlights:

Monica enjoyed having three special guests on grandparents' day at school.

Saturday Monica went to a birthday party at a friend's house. The girls learned a new dance routine and performed it for all the parents.

Saturday, we had a barbecue. There were some very cute kids there. :)

The older kids wanted to try croquet, as you can see above. However, this was not before the adults had a little fun of their own. We tried a new version called "Relay Croquet." You divide into two teams. Each time has one ball. You line up at the start in a "hitting order," so to speak. (We decided to play guys vs. girls. When trying to get people started I accidentally yelled, "Line up behind your same-sex partner!" To which Scott replied, "Gee, I just can't seem to find him!") Anyway, normally each person playing would have a mallot. However we were short one for each team, which meant we had to frantically pass them between teammates. This definitely added to the comic effect. The two teams start at the same time and have to hit their ball through the course, with each team member taking turns hitting in their order like a relay.

In the end it proved to be a mad scramble of screaming, running, and mallot tossing. It was awesome! (Just think if we had played after the bar was open! Scary.) The guys and girls each won one game, so I'm guessing a rematch is in our future!

Zoo zoo zoo

Monica was out of school Monday due to a teacher-in-service. So she went to daycare in the morning with Jack and after I was done at work, the three of us went to the zoo.

We loved the new penguin exhibit. Apparently if you are wearing something shiny it attracts them to come close to you. Or, as proven by this photo, if you're a cute two-year-old!

I don't think I've ever seen a peacock this close up. They are quite fascinating (and beautiful) birds. Jack thought so too.

I didn't get a good shot of the kids petting the goats but I was pleased that neither of them was scared to touch them. Of course the goats were more interested in eating lunch.

I splurged and let the kids ride the carousel. Apparently it's over 90 years old and still kickin'.

We love our zoo membership!

Nifty Ninety

We spent the weekend on Whidbey celebrating Great Nana C's 90th birthday party. Here are some photos from her party and fun family time spent at the beach.

Great Nana C and Mom K:

Guests were greeted with a bagpiper. Jack was FASCINATED by her:

Prayers and blessings for Nana C:

All the kids were so well-behaved, especially during cake time (go figure):

Family portrait:

Brothers, wives, and Aunt Liz round the table:

Three stooges:

Late in the party, Hansie and Jack broke out the matchbox cars. Now THIS is a party:

Nana and her great-grandkids:

I am trying to teach Monica the art of the self-portrait. I think she did ok:

Back at the ranch, what better time for a lesson in basic plumming? They're really the perfect combo. Monica wants to know every detail and Grandpa Gordon is happy to share:

Feeding the birds with Nanie:

Jack kyaking with his dad:

We allowed the three girls to have a sleepover together. I thought this would be a disaster, but they were actually very good about settling down when asked. I love this picture of the three of them asleep, especially of Maria in the middle who is lying UNDER her sleeping bag:

May Day

Monica wanted to make some paper flowers for our neighbor girls, Haley and Kelsey, and leave them at their door for May Day.

Here she leaving the flowers. She knocked on the door and RAN like lightening back to our yard. We saw the door open and close but haven't heard how the girls liked their gift yet.

Jack celebrated May Day and the sunny weather in his own style: pushing his cars one at a time down the slide and then following them himself!