Reading Program Reward

Every Summer, almost every place we have lived, I have tried to keep the kids involved with the local Library's reading program. We always start off with good intentions but by the end I think we all sort-of forget. I did it real good with Steven a few times...
anyway, we made it this summer!!

The theme this year was bugs! Sean and Sam read 1000 minutes each and was awarded some binoculars and a Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut.

Seth had the pre-school level program where we did a variety of book related events. He got a Dr Seuss book about bugs (and mom bought the pizza).

Then we just got crazy!

Don't know who the guy in the background is...that's what happens when you take pictures of yourself! Hope I didn't need a release form to post this photo!

I love that all of the kids are getting to be good readers. Steven tells me about books he had read that I didn't even know existed. Sean is starting to challenge his reading skills and Samantha is just trying to keep up with her brothers. Seth won't let me read him books, he likes to pretend he can do it himself but then ends up letting Sean or Sam help him out!
They are all doing much better than their mother did at their age!

Hot Dogs and Drive-in Movies

We got to get out and enjoy more summer time fun!
When my friend and I were talking about what we were going to do for dinner we decided on a Weenie Roast. It is truly amazing how quick and easy you can through together a whole bunch of fun!

But when I told Seth we were going to "roast weenies" he got very upset. I couldn't understand until I realized that I should have been saying we were going to "roast HOT DOGS". I can only imagine what was going through that boys mind.

Later that night we went to the Drive-in movies! We have a great 6 screen drive-in move place! They always show a double feature and I can get my WHOLE family in for under $20. We went with our friends the Migilores. This night Steven and Brian had other commitments so they weren't around.

Brian had a hard time going to the movies mid-week anyway cause it can run quite late and he has to work in the morning while the rest of us sleep in.

Sam and Dazee Dog chillin out in the back of the Suburban! We always bring in our own popcorn, M&M's and drinks. My kids didn't even know there was a concession stand until the Migilore's went up to get something and Seth and Sean tagged along.

The big blue chair was were I was sitting. The weather was good and didn't get to breezy for Sawyer like sometime is can. Seth almost made it to the second movie which is real good for him. I can't believe how good these pictures turned out cause when I was looking through the view finder all I could see was pitch black!
Oh ya, the movies we saw were Mummy #3 and The Hulk.

Building muscles

I caught Steven!
(who was suppose to be watching his little brother) doing bicep curls with Sawyer! He also did a few push ups too! Steven was watching out carefully for any spit up that may erupt.

Sawyer seemed to think it was pretty cool! He was giggling and having a great time (Sawyer and Steven)!

Take me out to the ball game!

We went to the Mariners vs Rays game.
My friend, Rebecka, her husband, Jason, had invited us to a suite box at Safeco field for his birthday. Unfortunately the Mariners aren't doing very well this season but the environment and company was great! Just look at the great time Brian and Sawyer are having!

We were just over third base! The view was great! It was raining when we first got there but then it cleared up and we got to see them retract the roof then it was clear and nice for the rest of the night.

This is my friend and her honey! We work together at the hospital and her baby daughter is just six weeks older then my Sawyer.Just in case you were wondering what the inside of a box suite at Safeco Field looks like...they bring food in to you but it is still fun to go out and walk along the concessions and get some peanuts!

Sawyer got grumpy and the Mariners were down a couple of runs so we decided to take off. When we got to the car the Mariners tied up the game and they went into extra innings. But in the end the Mariners still lost and we were home in bed!

Pioneer Breakfast

We celebrated our Pioneer History with a Ward breakfast! We got lucky and the weather was perfect! Steven got it started with a flag ceremony by our Boy Scouts...handsome boys!Then we got to eat yummy pancakes with blueberries or chocolate chips, fresh fruit, sausages and OJ. Plus good conversation with our ward family. The primary had a bike parade. The goal was to decorate your bikes to theme then the kids could ride them around the parking lot while being judged and ooo'd and ahhh'd at. I came up with last minute horseys. Seth won for best Wild West Theme.

Sam disappeared when the parade was being judged, so she didn't an award but I think she was one of the cutest. We got the pioneer dress given to us by a friend in MS and she just now fits it. It's so cute!

Great Wolf Lodge

I had miss placed my camera for awhile...that's why my postings have been lacking. Anyway, now I found it and have some catching up to do.

We went to The Great Wolf Lodge for our summer family vacation. It is a resort/water park Hotel just south of Olympia. It had just opened in July and is offering great discounts so we took advantage of it. It was a great time! The park wasn't too big and I didn't lose any of my kids (Steven was at High Adventure Camp) and it lots of age appropriate stuff for Seth. It was great fun!

Sean is trying to get me wet! Stinker!

Do any of these look like me (minus the freckles)?

Or just like the dad (minus the facial hair)?

Sawyer just hung out and had fun playing peak-a-boo!

It was a great time. We are definitely going to go again on a rainy day (did I tell you it was indoor?) this winter to overcome the winter blahs!

Keepin' the kids afloat

We have only one more session of swimming lessons before we accomplish our swimming goals for the Summer. We wanted to get Seth floating on his own and out of his life jacket when in the pools and Sean and Samantha ready for swim team next season!
They all have surpassed that! Sean got told they can't teach him anymore and Seth is getting a pretty good start on his front crawl!

On the last day of the session they get to climb on this big slide!
It's quite a challenge to climb to the top but worth the ride.

It is a lot of fun and this was Seth first year that he got to do it!

His teacher thought he was very brave!

They let him and his sis go together

They are all waterproofed!
Now I hope I am still this motivated about lessons when it is Sawyer's turn!

The book

I got my book! You know, THE BOOK...Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. I tried to say I wasn't that concerned about it coming out. I could wait till I went to town to run errands. But I knew when it was midnight...I knew all that I had to do was run to the Walmart store and I would have it in my hands. I joked with Brian, just in case he said "go ahead and go get it" but he didn't...so I went to bed. Then the morning came...I jumped up and got in the shower and was out the door. I couldn't stand it anymore! I also had to work this weekend. I have been carrying it around with me in hopes I would have a moment to sit down and read it. I know a lot of people have already finished it! My sister, Cheryl, looked at the cheats online and I have forbidden her to call me! (cause she blabs) I have been slowly wittling away at it and I am loving every moment! Don't ruin it for me!! I might be slow but I am savoring it like sucking slowly on a chocolate Hersey's Kiss! YUM!