BBQ w/the fam

Last Sunday some of my family got together for a BBQ at my dad's before school starts/summer ends.  Always a fun time and the kids were pooped by the time we left.

Austin and Olivia finding treasures

Olivia and Uncle Randy

Blurry pic but the only one I got of Peyton...he's too busy for pictures up at Grandpa's house!

Livia and cousin Brandon

Sherri and Rissa :)

Catching up with friends

Saturday we finally met up with Kate and Ethan for lunch and to play at the park.  We hadn't seen them barely at all this summer due to Kate and I's work schedules changing.  We ate lunch at Red Robin and then headed to a park to play.  Olivia had fun chasing the boys and being newly park-independent.  She found a slide just her size and she did the big girl swing all by herself!

Tire swinging!

She did this slide over and over and over...

Then on Sunday the kids and I met up with my good friend Diana who was in town from Spokane for her hubby's softball tournament.  We went to Wow! Burger at Cascade Station and then had a treat at YoCream.  Peyton talked her ear off and Olivia was playing Ms. Shy.  Olivia finally warmed up to her before we parted ways and gave her a huge "BYE!!!"  Diana is one of those friends where we can go months without seeing each other and we pick up right where we left off.  I love her.  But I'm sad I didn't even think to get a picture with her!  :( Love you Dee!

Zoo day

Last Tuesday I was over scheduled at work and got an unexpected day off, so I decided to take the kids to the zoo.  Oh how I miss having the day free to do fun stuff with them.  It was a fun morning for us.  

Blurry but the bears were so close! 

Olivia checking out the bears

Fishies

Making music

Train ride

I think the sea lions were our favorite this time.  It's so peaceful to watch them.

5.5-years-old

Peyton is coming up on a milestone with Kindergarten starting on Tuesday so I thought it would be a good time for a little Peyton update!  This summer has been HARD! Boy do we have an independent and stubborn kid.  We've been battling with him...working on making good choices and having a better attitude.  I'm hoping it's all just a 5-year-old phase.  I think the lack of structure of school is part of the issue.  I know our sweet, kind boy is hiding under there somewhere.

On Tuesday Peyt starts ALL-day, EVERYday Kindergarten.  He is SO excited.  He's been counting down the sleeps until school starts.  He met his teacher last spring before school was out and he loves her.  Last night we went to back-to-school night and got a run down of the curriculum, etc for the year.  She is STRICT which I love!  No nonsense, but she also is very sweet. We are really excited for Peyton to start his school journey. 

Some things Peyton's been up to and into:

~He's all about ninjas.  He turns everything into a sword and loves to watch Ninjago.  Not my favorite but hey he's a boy.

~We've been working all summer on reading and he's doing awesome!  The deal we have is that however many books he reads to us before bed is the number of books we read to him.  He gets so excited when he finishes one with no help from us.

~He's made friends this summer with two sets of brothers in the neighborhood.  The five of them spend a ton of time together outside playing and riding bikes/scooters.  I have to drag him in for dinner some nights!

~He starts soccer league this fall.  He's been playing at the park with Aunt Marcia, who watches the kids during the day and she said he's got great control of the ball.  I know ZERO about soccer so maybe he can teach me a thing or two!

~He still loves legos, especially Ninjago legos.  His current reward for his goal (for behavior, reading goals) is a new Ninjago spinner...he's reached his reading goal but still working on behavior!

~I can tell Peyton has had a growth spurt again...none of his pants from spring fit, his feet are huge and he's totally thinned out.  He's a total bean pole.  He still eats pretty well and will eat almost anything but hasn't been eating as much. 

~This summer Peyton gave up napping.  I still think he could use a nap with how active he is all day during the summer, but I don't think he really needs it.  We do use Olivia's nap time as a quiet time for him.  He usually will watch a show or play legos quietly. 

~He still loves to help me in the kitchen, or help me clean.  I started using a homemade all-purpose cleaner (vinegar, water and lemon oil essential oil) and he asked to have his own special spray bottle filled with it.  He loves to wipe down the counters every day for me or polish windows.  Our favorite thing to whip up together lately has been guacamole...the 4 of us can't get enough of it! He loves to smash and peel the garlic and squeeeeeeeze the lime.  We started have him do some chores around the house.  He will take recycling out to garage to sort into the bins, vacuum (still likes it!), clean his room, fold towels and dust.  Most of the time he loves to help...sometimes not!

I can't believe our boy is growing up so fast...and we're excited for him to start school and grow even more.


We love our boy!

Onick Wedding

I was honored to be a part of my GREAT friend Melissa this weekend.  We met my freshman year in high school...she was a year older and we were instant friends.  We went to college and even at different schools we got even closer.  We were attached at the hip, especially the summer after my freshman year in college.  We went every where together and had so much fun.  We laugh so hard when we are together, it's ridiculous.  She is one of the strongest, most independent women I have ever met.  She has met a man who compliments her so well to create a perfect balance.  I think they bring out the best in one another and they have brought together their kids to make a happy, and ever-so-loving family.
I had such a fun time all day yesterday...primping and watching Melissa transform into a STUNNING bride. Just when I think I can never see her more beautiful....she shocks me once again.  Such a breath taking bride! The wedding was at Columbia Edgewater which was so gorgeous.  Great food and a party of a reception to follow!!
Congrats to Vernon and Melissa...I love you guys!

We met at Melissa's Salon and her and her fellow hair dressers beautified us.  

Melissa's hair was gorgeous

She designed her own dress....I literally got goose bumps when I saw it.  So pretty

Isn't she so beautiful!?

A shot of the bridesmaid/bride's shoes.

Karrie, her maid of honor helping her in her dress.

Mama helping her out

Almost time for her and Vernon's 'first look'

Final touches

Melissa's beautiful daughter Makari

Kari and I 

Melissa's mom Bernie looking so sassy and classy

Little Cameron, the flower girl.  She is so adorable

Little Zakai giving mommy a bite before she walks down

LOVE!

Some iPhone pics...

Christina and I 

Cutting the cake!

Sharlene and I...we also went to high school together

The amazing bride...she should be a model!

Bad lighting...but had to get a pic with my dapper husband!

River Day

Sunday after the clouds burned off Peyt and I met the fam down on the river for an afternoon in the sun and water! Olivia is sick (again!).  This time with croup...so she stayed home with B :(  We ended up taking her to the emergency room that night.  

I love being at the river, it reminds me of all the days we spent there when I was little. Peyton had so much fun playing in the water and riding in Grandpa's boat. I hope we can squeeze one more river day in before school starts.

Pics all out of order..whoops

My boy loving the boat ride

Randy's boat decided to break down so we towed him back to the boat ramp.   We had fun taking pictures of each other and throwing the licorice bag back and forth.

Lots of big ships

Randy wearing Jen's hat...dork.

haha

Some iPhone pics...

A day in Salem with friends!

Last Thursday the kids and I drove to Amy's house to meet her and her kids to carpool to Salem to have a play date with Jill and Zoie at a park.  Jill is due any day with baby #2, and Amy is due in October with baby #3!  They are both having boys.  We all played basketball at GFU together.  It was a very hot day so the splash pad was perfect.  As usual, Peyton loved the water and Olivia had nothing to do with it.  

Wes and Peyton had a lot of fun together.

Zoie is totally out of focus, but it was the only pic I got of her! :(

Olivia kept taking off running the field.

Wes and Peyton found a bunch of flags to play with 

Abby and Livs had a lot of fun exploring together...so cute

The preggos!

Then we headed home, stopped back at Amy's house for a bit and the kids all rode bikes and trikes before we headed back home.  It was a fun day!