Baby Lauren

Lauren has always had a thing for squeezing into clothes that are too small but today she really took it to another level. She asked me to get her baby clothes out and she came out like this! Both are size 3-6 months. She's a funny one!

Buddies- then and now

 Lauren & Wyatt were born about 5 weeks apart. I took this picture of them last week and it was fun to look back at the pics of them when they were newborns and babies. Now they are big 6 year olds- before we know it we'll be posting their high school graduation pics!

 I think Lauren was about 2 weeks and Wyatt about 7 weeks here.

This was in November of 2006, so about 6 months and 7 months. 

Summer

Last week we went swimming at Cottage Lake pool on one of the fabulous 75+ degree days. We all had a blast.

 This girl would live in the pool if I'd let her. After 2 hours of non stop swimming she is still mad when its time to leave. 

 Though it most definitely tires her out, I found her on the couch like this shortly after we got home. 

 Having fun playing t-ball. 

We went to Farrell McWhirter Park for a picnic on Friday with Nana, Carson, & Hadley. 

I love these 4 crazies! 

9 years

 Lunch at the Tav, one of our old favorites. They even had gf burgers, fries, & beers. Loved it!

 Where we met- in the summer of 1999- that sounds like sooooo long ago! 

We celebrated our 9 year anniversary by going to Ellensburg for the night and pretending we were still in college. The 2 day hangover I've had from that night proved to me I am not still in college;) 

Juanita Beach

This has been one of our favorite places this summer.

Week in review

This week we went to the skate park, the kids had fun using their very own gift cards at Starbucks (thanks John & Aimee!), watched a family of deer in Nana & Pa's front yard, I went to the Gary Allen concert with my neighbor, Ben ate cake for breakfast, & now we are in Portland & the kids are watching movies on the Kindle Fires:) loving the randomness of summer!

Cousin Sleepover!

After an evening of playing house, going to the park, making cookies, and watching a movie these 2 girlies are tucked into the castle for what I hope is a good nights sleep:)

Our little artist

As everyone knows Lauren is really into whales, sharks, & dolphins. Lately she's been drawing them non-stop- I am constantly finding random papers all over the house covered with whales, sharks, & dolphins. The other day while we were driving she says, "hey do you think this one is good?" and Kevin and I were both kind of amazed when we saw what she drew. The girl is getting good. I think someone may have inherited her daddy's artistic ability. 

Perfect Summer Day

 This morning we woke up and I decided I wanted to pick some berries so we headed out to Monroe to pick raspberries. The farm is called Broers and it was the best place. The kids had a blast and we got so many berries. They are so sweet they practically taste like candy. Best part- the farm is all organic and they only charge $1.50 per pound so this entire box was only $10. Pretty fabulous. At the rate my kids eat raspberries this will last us 3 days. They are already asking to go back to pick more. 

  After lunch Sadie came over for a pool party/rock concert. 

 Then both kids had tball. Here is Ben's team- which is named "Team Baseball" (they let the kids pick the name). 

 Batter up!

Here is Lauren's team- the "slugging Falcons" 

Days like today are the best. I am trying my hardest to not fill our summer with plans but instead do what we want each day. Anyone who knows me, knows this is not easy for me, but today I succeeded and I hope to make it more of a habit. I'm trying to bring old fashioned summers back:) 

Soccer Pics

One of the moms from Ben's soccer team is a photographer and she took pics of each of the kids. She just sent them to me so I had to post even though we are on to t-ball now:) 

Love Ben's little team of 5, they are so tiny and cute! 

Fun with the Las Vegas Crew

 Stef, Greg, Taylor, Ethan, Aunt Pam, & Nicole all came up for the week of 4th of July and they were kind of enough to bring the sun! We had the best time playing out in the sun with them all week. We went crabbing and to Jetty Island one day. It was heavenly. 

 So beautiful

 sisters

 Lauren decided to make sand angels. She cracks me up. This girl loves the beach as much as her mama. The tide was so far out, it was seriously a 10 minute walk to get to the water. We saw lots of little crabs and fish and found so many treasures (aka nasty shells) that are now in our backyard:) 

I didn't get very many pics but we had a fun day eating lots of fresh crab, kayaking, taking the dinghy to Scuttlebutt for drinks and eating salmon on the docks. 

 The next day we headed to Remlingers. The kids were super excited to ride the ponies! 

 Lauren rode Carrot last year and thought it was so cool that she got to ride him again. 

 Ben was super cute, he was really into it. 

 Canoe rides.

 Taylor and Ben are so cute together. They are only 6 weeks apart and get along really well.

 ice cream!

 On Saturday we headed to the American Girl doll store. Taylor has a few Bitty Babies but hadn't been to the store yet so she got to go pick out a new outfit for her baby. Of course Hadley and Lauren needed new outfits for theirs as well. 

 Saturday night we went to the Steve Miller concert at the winery. It was such a beautiful sunny night! 

 Ryan & I

 Kevin & I

The cousins. Val, Ryan, Nicole, & Stef. So fun to all hang out! 

Thanks for such a fun week Vegas family- we can't wait to hang out again. And a huge thanks for bringing the sun and leaving it, we really appreciate it:)