June stuff

 I was so happy to see that I already did a post about May birthdays.  You can read about them here.  I feel a little less behind I guess.  I had thought I had saved one to post but then didn't find it.  I guess I posted it after all.  So now on to other things....  

This is some of the events from June:

I had signed up for the 5K Dirty Dash, basically just a mud run with obstacles too.  I signed up for 2.  As the day was approaching, I realized that we had soccer games that day with the girls, and there was no way Robert and I both could do it.  I asked the girls and Lauren was all up for it.  She hadn't been running or anything, so I knew we would be awhile to do it.  She had a blast, she likes doing the races and would like to do more.  We were one muddy mess!  I scratched up my leg pretty good in the last mud pit, got a nice scar now from it.  We asked someone to take our pictures before and after, but somehow, they were taken right, and we didn't end up getting ones.  I also left my purse behind so I didn't have money to pay for the warm showers, so we took freezing cold showers and then changed our clothes.  The picture of our dirty clothes, after our shower is all I have to show for it. 

I can pick out those use to be white socks Lauren wore that day.  They are pretty stained up now. 

Of course June isn't just for the Dirty Dash, it is also for the big Ragnar Race!  It is the race that consumes my hubby the whole year.  Prior to the race, we took a drive after church up on the race path to find some good spots for exchanges during his race.  We had a BBQ lunch at some resevoir or something.  The kids explored while Robert made lunch/dinner, or linner as Emily would call it.  We brough the dog too. 

 It was almost like the beach, all sandy and fun to dig in. 

 There were tons of drift wood type sticks and logs the girls played on. 

 Everyone seemed to have their own sticks.

 Samantha got tired of walking.  She got a ride for awhile.

 The girls found some evidence of some animals....

 But some of the animals seemed to have left parts behind.

I think it was the weekend of the Ragnar Race that I took the kids to the Farm Country.  I love the sign they have out by the entrance.  Pretty funny!

The girls found lots of things to do.  We made ice cream in a bag, played some farm games, got coloring books, stickers, and rode on a wagon ride in addition to petting the animals and riding the horses/ponies.

Samantha was loving the little calf and foal that were eating her skirt and licking her hands.  She could have stayed right there the whole time and not gone any where else.

The girls stood in line for what seemed to be FOREVER to ride the horses and the few ponies they had out there too.  About the time we were getting close, they switched out all the horses for different once including 2 small ponies.  The girls all had their horses picked out and then they put their horses away.

For the most part the girls were delighted to be riding the horses. 

Lots of big smiles and the little girls wanted to do it again.  I think Emily was wishing this was a real ride on a horse not stuck in the little arena.  She would have prefered a trail ride somewhere instead.

For the most part they were pleased and had a good time. 

Both Samantha and Amber gave their horses kisses as they got off and told them Thank you. 

This is a group shot of the group we went with.  We had lots of fun.  We need to go back to farm county again soon!

We left Farm Country, got some dinner and then we went to the Dog Days they had.  They had tons of vendors set up for dog related things and little botiques selling items for dogs like special dog treats along with normal food vendors too.  They had a cool diving dogs demostration where they dogs would dive into a huge pool to get their toy.  But for the most part, the girls enjoyed the giant slides. 

The girls wanted to go back to Dog Days the next day too. 

Time, time, time

I am so far behind again...  on posting all the events of our little family.  I think for the most part I am still back in May.  How did that happen?  I hope this week to get a little more caught up.  My list to do is long, and unfortunately blogging, is towards the bottom of the list.  I hope to get some more done soon, even though the stuff I will post will be pretty much "old stuff" I will feel better getting it down and wierdly, I feel like I can't do anything current until I catch up from where I left off.  Stuff to look forward to hearing more about:

• 3 yr old birthday
• 9 yr old double birthday
• end of school
• soccer
• Garden trip
• WA trip
• Camping
• back to school
• birthday for a 5 yr old
• halloween
• Thanksgiving in CA
• Christmas
• and more too!

Check back often, I hope you won't be disappointed in all our "old" news.

Laundry is piling up

On night I tried to turn my barely over a year old dryer on, and it made an awful noise.  We called for repair, they looked at it had to order a part and then resceduled to fix it once the part arrived.  The problem wasn't just for that week without a dryer but it was that the day after the repair, we were leaving for Washington for several weeks. 

I felt like the laundry mat was the answer.  I had washed towels and bedding and just hung them around on chairs and the stair banister to dry.  I couldn't see hanging up a load of little girls clothes all around to dry.

The girls that went with me had a super time. 

They helped me fill washers and dryers and Lindsey found like $17 in a washing machine.  (Turned out it was Robert's.)  I figured since I was mass washing I might as well wash and dry.  I had washed about 3 loads before going to the laundry mat.

We got in trouble for riding around in the carts.  We ended up washing 8 loads of clothes and drying 11 loads.  What a releif to have them all done at the same time.  Maybe I should invest in several more washer and dryers for my own home. 

All the laundry got done before our trip!  And my dryer got fixed before my trip too...but I didn't really need it for another several weeks.

Work at the Zoo

We didn't really work at the zoo, but Robert's work took us to the zoo.  They fed us dinner and the zoo was open late for us.  We also got special bracelets that let us ride the train and merry-go-round as many times as we wanted to.  Which of course we did.

I lost count how many times we rode the carousel.  I know it was enough times that I had to get off because my head and belly wasn't feeling real great. 

The kids got a kick out of Robert riding the snake and the ladybug, at different times of course.  (Some of his co-workers thought it was pretty funny too.)  He is a good dad!

And of course what would a picture be without Amber doing something really silly in it.  The girls had a good time.  We had a zoo pass one year, but it has since expired.  It was nice to go and visit the zoo again for free.

Exciting news for Lindsey

Lindsey shortly after her 9th birthday, got her braces off.  She was so excited. 

This is Lindsey the day she got her braces on...

Then after she got them on, the first day of braces.

Then this is her silly picture after she got off her braces.  Not the offical braces off picture, but I can't find it.  Our computer had a virus and I can't find it anywhere.... 

Her doctor presented her with a bag of goodies, things that she wasn't able to eat while she had braces.  Her favorite was the apple, she was excited about eating an apple without having it sliced up.

I found Lindsey in my bed asleep a few days later, with a carmel poppcorn still in her mouth.  I guess she missed eating sticky poppcorn too. 

Her smile looks pretty amazing, when she doesn't have carmel corn or some other sticky thing in her mouth.  I think she is happy to have them off, and I am happy to not have to floss her teeth in such great detail.  I'm sure that will only last for awhile, I'm guessing Emily will be getting braces.

Family Home Evening

One monday night after dinner we simply went to our favorite frozen yogurt place and had yogurt. 

The girls LOVE all the fun flavors and toppings for it all. 

They ask to go there often, but we don't go as often as they would like.

May Birthdays

I feel so bad that it has taken me this long to do the girls birthdays! May was a crazy month, then June went fast and next thing, it was July and I was on vacation! It seems like the months since that have even been faster.  I will attempt to catch up...  but it may take a while....

Samantha wanted a pink cake, and pink frosting, and she requested sqaure shape.  Easy enough.

Samantha turning 3 made me wonder what has happened in the last 3 years, how could she be 3 already?  I remember when I went to the hospital with her, 2 days before the Twin's birthday party that we had planned.  Had to cancel that party, we weren't even home yet.  Poor girls had to wait awhile for the party.

Samantha went upstairs right before her "party" (a.k.a. singing to her, blowing out candles, and opening up presents) and came back down in a total different outfit, which is the one she has on in the pictures. 

When I asked her why she changed, she looked at me and said, "Mommm-- I had to get ready for my birthday!"  Funny girl!

She enjoyed opening up her presents and finding all her treasures inside. 

Lindsey and Lauren share a birthday together which is just 6 days after Samantha's birthday.  Wierd thing about it, my due date for the twins was June 11th same due date for Samantha, but Samantha ended up coming even earlier than the twins.  Weird huh!

Lindsey wanted a soccer ball cake and Lauren chose a football cake.  Lauren likes to play football at recess at school.  Maybe it is just catch with the football.  Although that was last year for 3rd grade, maybe now that she is in 4th grade things are different.

These two girls crack me up!  Lindsey has a funny, silly personality.... but also very thoughtful of others.

Lauren can be silly too but is normally more compassionate and loving toward others and their feelings.

The girls turned 9 this year... at each birthday I find it hard to believe as I think back on the day they were born, I am suprised that time has moved so quickly.

And it makes me miss my little babies.... how much they needed me, how dependent they were on ME, and now I am no longer the center of their life, but more of an accessory.  I am afraid it will get more and more like that as the years continue on.