Quotes

Caramel
As we passed 2 police cars with 2 officers standing near their cars, Caramel starts the hundred question game. Why are there police? Why are they out of their car? What happened?.......
Then the quote as we drive away, "What is this world coming too?"

As we drove pass a freeway entrance there was a no hitchhiking sign. Caramel sees this sign then the quote."What no thumbs up!" (We give a lot of thumbs up to Caramel when we are in public places to tell her she is doing a good job.) It was difficult explaining the word hitchhiking.

Rhett
We are just home from church, everyone is tired and hungry and getting into trouble for hitting their siblings. Rhett passes sweet 3 week old Myles sitting in his baby chair then the quote. "Ow Myles kicked me." (Really, Rhett, really, priceless)

Ear Tubes and Adenoids

Caramel had ear tubes put in and her adenoids taken out. She could not hear for months and months. I could not wait for her to get this done and see improvement. So glad it was before school started. The day before, I told her she was going to the doctor to have her ears cleaned out so she could hear. She wasn't too happy about that. In the morning, she got to take the I-pod with her to Day Surgery- that made everything better. The cute little hospital outfit was fun seeing her in. The doctor said that there was a lot of fluid in there. Caramel got ear tubes when she was 18 months. She constantly had ear infections but they stop after 3 years old or she got use to the pain.

The recovery wasn't bad except that is was nice sunny weather and no swimming for Caramel. She will use ear plugs whenever swimming now. She did have a sore throat a couple days after and sneeze out blood.

 

Funny thing is now she will copy cat things you say to show you she can hear.

New Outfit Myles

Here is Myles in the first new outfit I bought for him. I didn't buy him any new clothes having Rhett's and gifted clothes. It will be his Sunday outfit until it gets cold or he grows out of it. It came with a hat to that is way too huge.

Caramel was laughing at him so hard because he went cross eyed when I was taking these pictures. He is in a pink swing I covered with a white blanket, it was hard to keep Caramel out of the picture and to not push the swing.

Faces of Rhett Bennett Kranz

THE BIG CHEESE

THINKING ABOUT THE DUNGEON

SUPER CHUBBY

Yes, this is RHETT

Family Portrait

This is the way Caramel draws our family. Daddy has always had "pokey" hair and is drawn as shown. There was a time when Rhett wasn't included because Caramel didn't know how to draw his hair. She has gotten over that now and he is usaully bald as shown. A pregnant Mommy looks the same as a Mommy that has a 3 week old baby- before it was like an x-ray and now I am always holding Myles.

Alki Beach

With Grandpa Neil visiting and the great weather, we took off for Alki Beach with Grandma Brenda as well. After parking the car way too far from the beach area, we looked at downtown Seattle and the cruise ships at port. Currently, the Space Needle has an orange top in remembrance of the World's Fair in 1962, the 50th anniversary. The Space Needle's official birthday is April 21st.

I brought the stroller for Myles and scooters for Caramel and Rhett. Scooters were used for maybe 5 minutes. The rest of the time Myles's stroller was carrying them. Caramel and Rhett both got shoulder rides. Good thing Grandpa Neil was there so two shoulder rides were available.

Every so often there were stairs off the walkway to the water. The kids enjoyed walking down them and cooling off.

After we made it to the beach area, we had some pizza and bathroom breaks. For the walk back we rented a surrey bike. Anthony did most of the pedaling. Grandpa Neil and I switched off on stroller pushing.

A ladybug landed on my arm while we were walking. Caramel was excited about that. She picked it right off me and held it for awhile before it flew away.

Grandpa Neil Vacation

Grandpa Neil came up to see his newest grandchild.

The kids were excited to show Grandpa their new baby brother, Myles.

Caramel has been dying to go on a vacation (macation). So I told her we could go to Grandpa Neil's hotel and swim at the pool like you do when you are on vacation. The kids loved it. The adults not too happy about the cold pool the kids liked when compared to the hot tub. Myles was at the pool too hanging out on the bench with mom.

Renton River Days

Another July event the whole family went to was Renton River days. I think we have gone every year since we moved to Renton. The one event we had never gone to was the Wenatchee Youth Circus which I wanted to go to. It was entertaining with clown acts then aerobatic routines. Anthony called it the Billy show because this youth named Billy was the most skilled and was in every routine. Rhett got a little bored at the end and as rolling all over. I could not sit still either so I was standing or sitting in the back (this is two days before the birth of Myles).
There is always a small farm animal set up that we visit. Rhett loved the animals and didn't mind sitting or feeding them. Caramel used to be like Rhett but getting older she has become more afraid realizing that you can't control the animals 100%.

We played with sticks on the big metal instrument that is always parked near the food. I got an elephant ear that was delicious and Caramel tried a roasted corn on the cob.

Caramel played on the bouncy courses and one that was a big ball you crawl in. Rhett didn't like the bouncy idea. Both decorated a framed mirror with stickers and markers.

We played at the regular park area then saw some friends on the play bus. The bus has an gymnastic like course in the inside. Rhett and Caramel both enjoyed the course.
It was a great day not too hot and the kids got to play by the river for a bit too.

Evergreen Drift

Anthony and Rhett went to the Evergreen Drift event in July up in Monroe. This was actually Rhett's second year going and will probably be an annual event. Rhett was all set to go wearing one of his many Lightening McQueen shirts and new Lightening McQueen light up shoes from Grandma Brenda. The boys spent a full day there leaving late in the morning and coming home late in the night. It was a nice hot day for racing.

Rhett got a little drifting magazine you can see him holding in the pictures below. Since this event he has carried his car magazine many places and loves to sit in his car seat captivated by the pictures. He came home with the magazine, a lanyard, and earplugs.

His favorite racing was the miniature car racing (seen in the last picture). Anthony said it was hard to get Rhett away from that race track. Since this day Rhett has aksed to go back, "Daddy, we go see race cars again."

Sweet Myles

Myles is getting so old.....okay not really. But he has his eyes open more these days. He is out of newborn size and moving into 0-3 months. He was 10 pounds at the last doctor visit and is leaking constantly out of his newborn diapers so on to size 1. He is pictured with lovely gifts from friends. Rhett received a blue blanket from Sister Wright just like Myles did. Rhett ran and got his when Myles received his. LOVE IT. He looks similar to Caramel and Rhett as newborns but has a skinner face and nose even though he is the biggest baby.

Water Fun

Fun in the Sun this Summer

- Green Lake in north Seattle

We hit the play area first. Rhett liked the huge sandbox area and sitting in the canoe in the sand.
There is a rental area that has paddle boats and other stuff for Green Lake which would be fun to do with Caramel and the other kids when they are older.
Caramel found a friend to play with - an older boy that looked twice her age. Parks are a lot more fun for Caramel when there is a friend.

Then we traveled down the path to the wading pool. Caramel searching for the perfect spot- being a great big sister holding Rhett's Cookie Monster floaty.

Finally finding the perfect spot!

Together they roamed the wading pool like this- it was really cute watching them. The water is so shallow they just moved by walking with their hands on the bottom. By the time we decided to leave it was way passed nap time and Rhett would not give up his position in the water with Cookie Monster around his chest. One of those great moments when I had to carry him all wet crying being 8 months pregnant.

- Henry Moses Aquatic Center

This swim area is at Renton Community Center where Caramel has had ballet and gymnastics. She would ask all through fall, winter, and spring when this swim park will open and when can we go. She loves the wave pool. Rhett gets cold super easy and wanted to be completely in the water at all times.

- Rolling Hills Swimming Lessons

This year was the first year at Rolling Hills swimming lessons; last year we went to Henry Moses Aquatic Center swimming lessons. At Rolling Hills there were only 2 in the class- Caramel and Molly- who Caramel knew from preschool. Caramel enjoyed it and has asked when will swimming lessons start again. Mmmm....next year.

- Tukwila Spray Park

This is an easy to not lose your kids spray park by the Tukwila Community Center. There is a bigger and better one in Redmond/Bellevue area but it is farther and harder to keep track of kids. Caramel and Rhett loved waiting for the water to magically spray out of the different holes.  



- Newcastle Beach Park

When Caramel is at the beach she brings her yellow bucket and fills it with treasure. Treasure- rocks, shells, lids, rotten corn on the cob, feathers.

Rhett has to have some kind of vehicle to wash and load usually he looks around and finds other construction vehicles kids have and leads me over to look at them with him.

Newcastle Beach Park is very well maintained. I like it a lot more than Gene Coulon in Renton.