Book-Learning

You know it is summer when you sign your kids up for the Summer Reading Program at the library.  I love this time of year and look forward to the different themes I have planned.

It was so quiet this afternoon because Blake sat at the kids' table and finished a whole chapter book on his own.  I was shocked he had read the whole book in an hour and quizzed him on the content just to make sure he wasn't fibbing.  Sure enough, he told me all about the dragon battles and who was who.  

Shannon.I.Am

I was looking up the origin of someone's name and came across this website.  I had to be selfish and have a look at my own name.  Would people agree this is true?  FYI - I have only been constipated once in my life after taking some herbal tincture to reduce my breast milk! 

Below is a brief analysis of the first name only. For an analysis of your full name and destiny, see our full free Name and Birth Date Report service for further details.

• The name of Shannon creates a very quiet, practical nature and a clever and inventive mind.
   
• Being analytical and naturally studious, you are interested in a factual understanding of the mysteries of life.
   
• Your methodical nature requires that you like to finish what you start without interruptions and also to have everything in its place and properly organized.
   
• An ability to concentrate could take you into computer programming or accountancy or any work requiring concentration and attention to detail.
   
• You have, also, a flair for creative expression with your hands.
   
• You take life seriously and can be easily and deeply hurt and go into moods which can be quite extreme at times, causing much turmoil and unhappiness.
   
• Finding it difficult to join in conversation with those with whom you are not well-acquainted, you could feel quite alone and uncommunicative with new acquaintances or in a large crowd.
   
• As a result, you could be accused of being unfriendly.
   
• You desire so much to be understood, but your name has limited your verbal expression to such an extent that it is very difficult for you to divulge your innermost thoughts even to those closest to you.
   
• One of your greatest salvations is being out in nature, for it is there that you find the peace and serenity you so much desire.
   
• Physically you could suffer through tension in the heart, lungs, or bronchial organs, and also through intestinal problems, constipation, etc.

P.i.e.

I have been craving cherry pie.  Andrew brought home a huge load of cherries from the Farmer's Market the other day.  Today, I finally got around to making the pie.

Step 1: Mix cherries with sugar 

Step 2: Be lazy and buy pre-made pie crusts.  Two come in a pack so I pull out one of the bottoms and cut it into strips to make the lattice top

Step 3: Run around opening every door and window while this thing bakes so you don't set off the smoke alarm because you are on a Skype call with your Program Director trying to get your work website up and running

The recipe I followed was from a yummy website called Lottie + Doof

HTTYD2

...is a great movie.  

It was a kid rom-com.  That might not bode well for everyone, but it had me hooked.  I developed a crush on Hiccup (the main character guy) and want Piper to dress up as Astrid for Halloween: 

The movie came out on Piper's birthday so we had planned on going then.  I forgot the boys were still in school so I waited until the first day of summer.  We took Piper because we thought it was a good idea.  It wasn't.  Thank goodness there weren't a lot of people in the theater.  She spent the majority of the movie oozing up and down the stairs.  She liked the movie, but she gets to wait another six months before being invited back:

These were acquired at the thrift store.  They are imitation Legos, but Blake is so happy to have his own Toothless now.  Lots of dragon talk around here:

Uploaded

Here is looking back at a great weekend of camping:

Piper loved finding sandwich bags to wear as socks:

Proof that I have started liking beer!  

Creeping Along

We had a great time.  We met other Seattle people and enjoyed their company ($5 bow & arrow sets were a huge hit with all the kids).  We are filthy and the kids are pooped.  We just hit traffic so it might be a slow, last hour and a half.

Quiet-er

This is a quiet moment in the trip.  We went down to the river this morning and the boys played in the pool while Piper slept.  I brought out a mechanical science "cams & cranks" set I picked up at the thrift store for $2.  I built the fishing crane for them and now they are playing river games while Andrew gets to read.  We are taking the 5pm shuttle back into Leavenworth to whoop it up German style.

Day Trip

We visited the faux Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA today.  Cute and musical since there is an accordion festival going on.  Piper got her first swimming lesson from her daddy today.

Good Morning Campers

Day 2 - 5am wake up time.  We are the family that everyone hates because we let the kids out of the RV at 5:55am.

Reade's camp outfit.

Last Days

Here is Reade's preschool portrait:

Today he is a free man:

Today is Blake's last day of Kindergarten.  He smiled in the next picture I took, but it was blurry so this is the best we all get.  We have enjoyed our time at North Beach, but are moving onto another school in the Fall (more about that later!).  Big guy:

Cultural Care Au Pair

I got a part time job and put in my first working hours.  It feels good to be dusting off a back portion of my brain and getting it back in working order.

I am now a Local Childcare Consultant for Cultural Care Au Pair.

I learned about this position when I was a nanny back in Livermore, CA.  I was friends with au pairs and one of them told me I would be a great LCC.  I am really excited to be working in a liaison position between families and au pairs.  If you aren't familiar with au pairs, think of them as foreign exchange students who take care of children instead of focusing on school (although they do have educational requirements while here).  If you know of anyone looking to explore the option of having an au pair then keep me in mind.  I can direct them to the right place!!!  The wonderful thing about this position is it is a work-from-home position with super flexible hours.  I can start small now and gain more hours when Piper gets into preschool.  

Italian Food

I have a lot of chores to finish.  So why am I spending so much time reading this hilarious blog?:

survivinginitaly.com

Hop on Pop

Happy Father's Day

I was super excited to call my father this morning to tell him that I got tickets for him to be at next year's U.S. Open since it will be held on a golf course near Seattle.  The tickets are for the last Sunday and it happens to fall on Father's Day 2015.  Win Win!  My dad deserves so much for remaining calm and having so much patience with me and my new loud crew.  I love him.

And then there is my husband...

Father to three kids who adore him and hang on his every word.  I am so lucky to have chosen a man to head up my brood who: makes everyone smile and laugh with his wit, would rather spend time with family than alone, knows the answers to 92% of everything, is coordinated enough to play the majority of sports in the world, puts up with the woman of the house's whims, and is excited about all of the potential having to do with children's ages and stages.

They have an idea, but they have no idea how lucky they are to have such a wonderful father.

Happy Father's Day Andrew.

We love you.

::sorry Piper and I spilled beer all over you at your Father's Day dinner::

Sound To Narrows

Piper's birthday evening was spent in a hotel in Tacoma so she could prepare for her first running competition.  

This morning, she participated in Tacoma's Sound To Narrows race.

This was Reade's first 2K running race also.  Here he is with Band-Aids all over because he fell on cement while running around after dinner:

I didn't expect to be running the race, for I seriously thought Reade would walk.  He didn't.  He ran the  majority of it and ran it fast to keep up with Blake.  That meant I had to run up those hills with Piper in the stroller.  I was sweating more than they were:

Go Reade!

We did it!

Andrew ran the 5K portion of the race.  We missed capturing his grand finish on video because Blake was pooping in the porta-potty.  No cowbell, no family, no nothing for Andrew at his finish line!  Sorry.

We all went to bed way too late the night before and woke up way too early for the race.  We started racing at 8am and had to wait until 10:30am for Piper's Diaper Dash.  She didn't want to be around anyone so she sat on the baseball field playing in the sand:

Time for Piper's 20 yard Diaper Dash.  One cranky competitor:

Blake has been obsessed with going to Red Lobster for months now after watching their commercials.  We don't have one in Seattle so I thought it would be fun if we took him there for lunch in Tacoma.  He asked if we brought his swimsuit and needed to get on a plane.  He didn't understand it was a restaurant, but thought it was a beach vacation.  Boy did we ruin him with reality.  At least the server let him pet the lobsters in the tank and watch as they stuck crayons in its pincers:

Happy 2

Piper is Two today!

We threw a video chat birthday party with family at 7:45am this morning.

A morning started with cake and lemonade is always a thrill.

Proof that she is two:

Piper, I love your two-ness.  Here are the things I adore about you right now:

* You are so strong.  Your upper arm strength is amazing.

* You refuse to wear pants and insist on skirts or dresses (I had heard parents saying that, but I didn't really think it happens)

* You love dollies and everything pink.  You watch tons of Batman with your brothers and hear boy stories all day so this too surprises me.

* I love the way you talk and what you say

* You have your dad's wit

* Your skin is so peachy and all I do is pinch your squishy

* You count all the time

* You are loud and screech like a girl

* Are obsessed with doggies

Happy Birthday to my little girl of sweetness.