Big boy bed!

Due to the constraints of a small toddler bed on a growing boy, we bit the bullet and got Owen his big boy bed this weekend. We start with just the mattresses on the floor to get them used to being up off the ground. He decided on Wolverine for this bedding which is totally against the sports theme we have going on in his room, but oh well, he likes it.

Update Time!

I have had a hard time keeping up with the blog since school started so this will be a quick update of all the fun we have been having. I will do my best to keep up with it regularly so that you all know we are alive! Life is very busy. Emma is loving first grade and doing very well. She is also progressing in swimming and loving watercolor. Her current project is a horse. Owen has started Sunday School and while Scott and I have been worried for his teacher's sake, she reports he is doing well and a great participator in song time (he sings all the time now!)

We had fun at the Puyallup Fair riding the rides and clowning around!!

We went to Salmon Days with Papa, Nana and Aunt Bonnie and enjoyed the salmon, toys, and ice cream with chocolate as Owen is demonstrating in the picture.

My partner in crime at school, Jean, and I won a state wide award for our program the Academic Success Academy that we started last year to get seniors who are so far behind in credits to graduation on time. We figured out that we monitor over 560 semesters worth of credit retrieval in addition to teaching two senior level classes. No wonder we are tired! We won the award from the WSASCD (look it up it takes to long to write out) and were honored at a great luncheon to which we were able to invite our spouses. It is important to note that it is a STATE WIDE organization!!! Cool huh!

First Day of First Grade!

We can hardly believe that our little girl is in first grade and attending school all day long now. We talked a lot about the first day of school and being in first grade and she was very excited. Owen also wanted to know where he was going to preschool (he gets lessons from Mary at daycare). Her goal right now is to be the first girl to get Tiger Club which is given to students who demonstrate positive behaviors. So, Emma has decided she will be the best person she can. Good goal, huh?

Next to her is William a boy she hadn't met before. Her favorite boy, Tristen, moved so who knows, maybe William will be the new boy in her life...although chasing the boys is still the main activity at school recess.

Becca and Morgan (the girls in the middle) started 2nd grade.

Because we value education so much and want our children to as well, we make it a priority to have a celebratory dinner on the first day of school and talk about all the wonderful things our children have experienced. We went to Red Robin again this year and celebrated with a hot fudge sundae after dinner.

I am afraid for his teachers...

Emma the Artist!

We have known for years that our Emma was a talented girl, so we decided to put her into a watercolor class at the Centre (actually the only art class offered nearby for kids her age...weird huh?). Anyway, she loves it and she has produced a tremendous portfolio of beautiful materpieces. Here are a few to enjoy...

Remlinger Farms

With the sun shining and great company we head out to Remlinger Farm in Carnation today for animals, trains, and rides. It was a great way to end our summer field trips with Papa and Nana and while the kids didn't have naps they were generally enjoyable today...and that can't be said about every day without a nap!

A New Hip for an Old Dog

After watching our beloved dog suffer with a sore hip and paying the high price of medication we bit the bullet (and boy was it big) and got her a new titanium hip. She will have to be pretty quite, no running or jumping, for 12 weeks but as she lays at my feet right now she is laying on the new hip so we have to assume the pain has decreased considerably. Sadly though, her leg looked like a chicken leg when it was shaved...she was a little embarrassed!

Snoqualmie Falls

The kids have never been to the Falls and I don't think have ever really seen a waterfall so this was really fun to see their reaction to it. We hiked down and reminded Owen he would not be carried...ever...because his legs conveniently get tired when yours are. The kids threw rocks in the water at the bottom and then we had lunch at a nearby restaurant. I don't remember loving just throwing rocks in water like my kids do but every chance they get, they throw rocks. And generally miss each other which is nice.