Marathon Days

Marathon days

Well today was another marathon day

Yesterday we went to storytime at library with friends, the park for a picnic with my dad, did a short bike ride due to two flat tires. Biking fail. Lesson learned- keep pump in car. Then we picnicked with Kyle, went home. Andrew passed out for two hours while Abby and I made birthday cards and some mom Abby time. I cooked a meal for a friend with a new baby, drove across town to deliver it while feeding my kids in car then we went to post office to deliver cards then we went to the French school to see some plays in French. The students did The Three Little Pigs and The Red Hen, some of Abby and Andrews favorites. Then they sang songs- Alouette and a Lion King song- both songs that Abby and Andrew know. They watched in amazement. Abby especially. She loves theater. She is constantly doing plays at home. She loves going to the theater. After the performance there was cake. They were in heaven! It is so powerful for the kids to see other kids speaking and performing in French. That is why I take them to these events despite it being a challenging time of day. Did we eat dinner in the car ? Did one kid throw a fit about having 2 pieces of cake instead of one? Sure. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Seeing the kids stare in amazement at these kids performing, seeing them smile during the Lion King song, watching Andrew crack up at the little first grade boy who jumped and fell off the stage ( this kid was way too excited about the performance. Don’t worry the boy didn’t cry. He kept jumping. Andrew was cracking up, I never heard him laugh so hard). Priceless! Making memories as they say!

Today- I taught all day, got the kids from my dad’s ,went to a swim playdate, caught up with friends, watched my girl swim, helped Andrew do torpedoes, got all changed, picnicked with pbj sandwiches in car, then went to Andrew’s first T ball class. Big night! Abby predicted he would cry and I insisted no but she was right. My kids always have trouble with new things. Abby cried shortly after entering the Hult for her first rehearsal Saturday and Andrew cried today. But I talked him through it, he was a little overwhelmed with all the new faces-three t ball coaches. He was so excited because they had the bases out and we we got to run them. He ended up having a blast and getting comfortable with the new teachers. I was so proud because at the end of class he was brave enough to go up to one of the coaches and ask when they would work on hitting with bats! This is something his sister has trouble doing- talking to new adults. I was so proud of him! Funny how kids are so different.

We ended the night with dinner at Ron’s where I entertained Kyle with my adventures in substituting stories- having to take 30 first graders on a hike without a map – my guides were 2 six year old boys who supposedly knew their way, then having the IA stop the hike and walk the kids back to the start because of her fear of poison oak. I then had to start again, I think I took them the wrong way but we accomplished the mission of releasing the classes’ tadpoles into a creek. I also arrived late to the school assembly and interrupted a school play and we entered through the front, not the back! Ah! I also had to get 30 kids to clean their desks at one time! Chaos!

To come down from such a busy day I went for along walk and run- (45 minutes mostly uphill) after reading and tucking in my sweeties. I always hope to come home to a silent house but no they were still awake and Andrew had red marks on his back from his loving sister. Apparently she attacked because he fed her baby dolls milk and she wanted to do it. God help me!

Another action packed fun day! Tomorrow I have nothing planned! Just to run 5 miles at some point in day… Hooray!

Bike ride-


Andrew at T ball

Life is good

Life is pretty good- I went for a great run today that started dry, then it started pouring and it ended sunny! I have no problem running in pouring rain now! I didn’t even have my hat today! I think it helped I was running with a good friend and I have such a sweetie bear that puts up with his mom running in all weather. Once u took him on an incredible windy day and he didn’t complain a bit!

We have a lot of fun stuff coming up- trip to Portland, trip to Crater Lake, a Wiggles concert.

I realized today that the kids haven’t been sick for a long time! So nice!

We had a fun day today despite he crazy weather. Tomorrow is going to be sunny. I have kids that sleep til 8 am finally! Abby is reading. Andrew is starting baseball and soccer soon. Summer and good weather is bear. My birthday is soon. I am training for a half. So for all these Reasons I am in a good mood and living life.

Quote of the day- “what’s next?” Andrew always says this when we are leaving an activity ( playdate, preschool etc). it always cracks me up! He will says this likes he’s ready for more! I guess he loves having a hyper mom that is always packing his days full! Today he said this at 5 pm after preschool, a playdate, a run in rain, and a trip to our fave cafe! He is even more hyper than me and Abby I guess!

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Big day

Well yesterday was a big day for Abby- her first dance performance on stage! She conquered stage fright, so proud if her! At the rehearsal she got nervous as soon as we entere the Hult. She wouldn’t go on stage for the rehearsal but tonight for the real thing she did it with a smile in her face! Her whole class did the dance so well! I am so proud of my big girl! As soon as she got into her dressing room before the show and saw all her friends the stage fright disappeared.

We were blessed to have all the grandparents come for the show. Andrew was a trooper sitting for the 2 hour show

I let Abby pick where to go for dinner after- she picked Fisherman’s Market. On the way there Abby asked Andrew what his favorite part of the show was , he said “when you turned into a butterfly.” Abby got a big smile on her face. What a sweet brother she has! ( she was a caterpillar)

When we walked into Fisherman’s Market, there was a big crowd waiting for her with flowers clapping. She was happy and a little overwhelmed by it. Then one of her ballet friends came to join us too. She was thrilled!

We ended the night at Sweet Life.

What a day! Perfect ending to perfect day!

Here she is eating her butterfly cookie at Sweet Life


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Quote of the day

On the way home from watching Peter Pan at my parents’ Andrew announced out of the blue:
“I wanna learn how to fly”

Andrew earned an m & m cake today for being potty trained :


We worked in garden today- Kyle and I made a bean tipi for the kids. Abby is really into the planting this year!


We planted the bean and morning glory seeds to grow up the bamboo sticks, so i will post an after picture in a few months!

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Quote of day

Andrew and I were hanging out on couch reading yesterday after I had worked all day. Out of the blue he turns to me, looks me in eye and says, “I missed you” and gave me a big hug. 🙂

I got lots of kisses and hugs from my girl this morning who is not huge on giving those so I think she missed me too!

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Heading home

Last night we had a nice dinner with Ben- yummy Thai food. Andrew had pad kee Mao, his favorite. Andrew napped from 6 to almost 8 yesterday. We had dinner at 8 pm, his bedtime usually! He is on the college kid’s schedule!
And he went to bed at 11!

This morning we had a delicious breakfast at Maple Counter. Andrew got a bear pancake. We also got an apple pancake that was kind of like apple clafouti. It was yummy!


Now we are headed home!
I am excited to see my little girl and Kyle too of course:)

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Graduation

Andrew and I are in Walla Walla. My baby brothers graduated today!



It is very dry and hot here. I love it! Lots of wine tasting around here.

It has been a fun trip, Andrew loves being the only kid! Saturday we went to Starbucks with Sophie and Derek then went to golf course. Andrew had a great time hitting balls at the driving range


Poor little guy gave himself two blisters:( we need to get him gloves


We did a lot of cooking at ben’s – crawfish pie, Caesar salad, boiled shrimp, and crawfish étouffée . We ate some of it for lunch outside . Weather was wonderful. Then we rested and went to commencement- beautiful music. Then we had a party at ben’s . Everyone enjoyed all the creole food. When we got back to hotel about 9 Andrew said “that was a good party” when we met another Abigail at the party, he said “that’s interesting”

This morning we had breakfast at a Mediterranean restaurant, I had a wrap with scrambled eggs, lettuce and feta . Yum!
I had to leave restaurant for a bit due to Andrew meltdown about not having shorts on. The joys of two year olds:)

He has been a trooper the whole trip, we had a 6 hour drive to get here, didn’t arrive til midnight. He had to pee in grass on side of the road for the first time on way here. What a big boy! He traveled very well
Graduation was today. It was outside, sunny and gorgeous. The author of Fast Food Nation spoke. The campus is really pretty. We did lots of photos after, went to a gathering at the Chemistry building with Ben. Then we went to bookstore and took Seb for late lunch, got some yummy Mexican food. Now we are taking a much needed nap!

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Eve

The kids watched wall-e the other night and loved it. After the movie Abby sat and drew picture of Eve:


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Coast trip


Ice cream!


Abby had fun writing in sand and making sand castles


Above is her current signature – Abigail followed by a lollipop and an exclamation mark! That is how she writes her name now:)

View from deck! Incredible weather:)


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Milestones

A lot of milestones this week-

Andrew has potty trained himself very quickly – I think it took 2 days!

And Abigail is swimming like a fish. I had her swim to me about 100 times this morning at the pool and after that she just started to really get it. She stopped reaching for the bottom with her toe and really kept afloat and swam! Nothing is cuter than watching her swim through the water. What a big girl!

So proud of my little guys!

We are having a spell of gorgeous weather, we just had a 3 hour picnic with friends at the park. So fun being outside soaking up all that sun. We ended the outing with Popsicles! Now I have two kiddos konked out in their car seats!


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