Church Talent Show

Caramel and her friend choreographed and performed a little dance. They danced to a song called, "I'll Follow Him in Faith." We even went to the store and picked out the matching shirts.

Anthony and Rhett had plans to do a robot dance. Two days before Caramel decide she wanted to join. Here is the end result.

How does the garden grow?

The garden is growing nicely. Lots of peas, flowers, lettuce, carrots, and even a watermelon (we will see about that one). We had eaten several strawberries this year. I am great at letting plants dry up and die. But we are trying harder this year. We have two wonderful garden boxes Anthony made. Spring projects were at a high with changing the garden area, reworking the retaining wall, painting new picnic table, installing garage door, building an awning, fixing a basically useless awning, dealing with a bug problem, and plunging the kitchen sink. Yes, the beauties of home ownership.

With all the projects Caramel has a club house now. There is a little pathway made from extra treated wood and a table on concrete blocks. She found on box, hung it on the bush and called it a mail box. The tall tree like rhododendrons even act like a roof keeping out the rain. She even planted a pea seed that was growing quite well until there were too many club house parties and it got smashed.

Love the beautiful plants at the front door right now. Lilies from my visiting teacher that keeping coming back each year. Strawberries hanging out of children reach (no more bird house for bees to occupy) and fun simple sunflower decoration.

 

Caramel's Writing and Fish Update

After being gone for a sleep over at a friends and playing at the mall, we finally arrived back home. Caramel went up stairs and wrote this lovely note. Love how she used a hyphen before love to emphasize the important part like I explained to her once. Great note especially because she was being a little grumpy girl from too much fun.

"I am so happy I am home I - love family and snail and fish."

 

Caramel returned home finding out that we had purchased 4 more fish and a car decoration. Rhett's fish Cooca died. So sad. He wasn't eating and finally was too small to survive. When I told Rhett he just said, "Oh." I said Daddy would take him to the store to pick out another fish. Later he looked at the tank and asked me if I was joking about Cooca. He thought he was maybe hiding in the fish castle. Rhett also believes Cooca died because Caramel added some small rocks to the tank she had collected. The new fish names are Penny, Denny, Lenny, and Den. 

4th of July Shirts

 Made some 4th of July shirts with a friend that had the sweet idea.

Love it especially because it was a project that actually got finished.

 

To the Zoo

Enjoyed a trip to the Woodland Park Zoo with the wonderful sunny June Seattle is having. They have this fun building called Zoomazium. It is a nice break from the stroller for Myles. He crawled around even played some drums with Rhett.

Most interesting thing I saw was at the flamingo exhibit. All these flamingos standing around on one foot with their necks resting and what is the duck doing. Well, the same thing flamingos do.

Fun picture of Doctor Rhett with Patient Caramel.

 Caramel made some paper with Elephant poop (like we need the word poop reinforced at our house) and recycled paper. Rhett decided to just watched, don't ask me why he is licking his lips.

Ended with some pictures on the lions and of course cries of tiredness until we were passing a park when magically energy was restored.

 

Last Days of Kindergarten - Caramel

Caramel is done with Kindergarten! I think she will miss the nice and short school day Kindergarten provided. 8:30am to 11:15am is a lot different than 8:30am to 3:10pm for next year in first grade. Returning from school or from any play date, the normal question is always, "What did you do while I was gone." I totally remember asking this question when I was young. I would be so frustrated if I missed out on any awesome like pizza dinner :)

Field Trip!

I was a chaperone for a field trip to Seahurst Beach,

a beach the Kranz family has visited frequently.

First thing Caramel said when she woke up was,

"Do I get to ride the bus today?"

Yes, riding the bus on the freeway down the speed bump hill to the beach was thrilling.

With low tide and the sun shinning it was a great field trip. Fun to see Caramel with school friends and reaffirm my belief- she likes to entertain when there is an audience.

Caramel had two other girls in her group

 and I even had a chaperone buddy with two boys in her group.   

Most exciting object to locate on the beach was Mrs. Twiss, her teacher.

When they spotted her it was a straight run for group hugs.

There was a school spirit week with the first day being crazy hair day. Caramel didn't want anything that involved extra combing or tightness. So headband with curling ribbons is what we came up with.

 

Another super fun school day was Field Day. Weather was nice and overcast for running around all morning. Basically the field is covered with games that each class rotates through every 10 minutes. There is also a popsicle station for a little break. I volunteered to help and was placed at the hockey goal station. It fun and entertaining seeing the skill level. I didn't even to hit with a hockey stick once unlike one parent volunteer. Myles was on my back most of the time until the end when a friend snagged him. Rhett was running around with another mom and 3 boys his age. At the end of the day there was a tug-a-war with 3rd to 5th graders. Great energy filled day at school.

Mrs. Twiss and Caramel on the last day for school.

 

Details of the Trail

 

I see this view a lot. Love going on the Cedar River trail. I don't usually bring the camera though. Anthony joined us on an evening ride. Even got to show Anthony the eagle we look for next to his nest watching the river.

Spot the Rhett. Anthony took this picture under a bridge by the Cedar River. Anthony is entertained by judging graffiti. Sometimes, he wonders why people would tag their name when the graffiti shows no skill. An odd picture with cute little Rhett in the corner. At one point Rhett rode off the path going into the thick bushes. Another walker pointed out where he went off. It would have taken awhile to find him just listening for him. Funny Rhett.

Went under the road and stopped to throw rocks in the river. Myles loves splashes! You can hear wonderful laughs from him if there is water and splashing involved. (If Myles hears the bath water, he goes straight to the tub. I always tell the kids not to get him wet, yet his clothes are always soaked. Seriously, loves the water.) Caramel of course found "treasures" for her collection near the river. The little bag attached to her bike is so useful.

Rhett is usually the first person to be done. One time Rhett and I just went on the trail for a 5K. I learned that if Rhett is going on a bike ride, Caramel is a key ingredient. She keeps him going, a great pacer, a concrete visual goal. There was way too much bug and slug watching with just Rhett riding. 

Cousin Flynn - Age 2

Flynn turned 2!

Our cousin in Lake Stevens had a cute birthday party. A fun yellow theme with an adorable chick cake. Kids had fun celebrating with him. Caramel picked out an educational gift for him and Rhett of course thought a monster truck was a fabulous idea.

 

 

 

Last Day of Birthday Fun for Anthony

We also tested out a new skating rink in Federal Way- Pattison's West skating center. Nicest skating place the family has been too. I highly recommend it. The kids rented out "skate trainer" which are wonderful devices. Caramel and Rhett were able to skate with the trainers. In fact Caramel skated so much that the next day her legs hurt, she could barely walk. It took 2 full days for her to recover.

Anthony was skating up a storm, even tried to be sneaky and totally wiped out. Grandpa Neil and Grammy Pam enjoyed skating as well. Myles watched from the sidelines. Had some pizza and even a licorice rope!

Last event was driving to Seattle to ride the Seattle Great Wheel. Great views of Seattle. Caramel rode a Ferris wheel once with her Aunt Chanel and cousin Olivia, she didn't enjoy the ride even started crying. Didn't know how she would do on the Seattle one. She was very concerned especially when any rule breaking was going on like standing and not staying seated.

 

 

 Grandpa Neil getting some video which is always well narrated.

Cute picture of Myles and me. It was a long day of no crawling around for Myles.

 

Happy Birthday Anthony

The kids and I made Anthony a birthday cake or a "cheeseburger" (quoting "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs") cake. The kids quickly pointed out it looked like a cheeseburger before all the frosting covered the cake. Caramel drafted the frosting designed. She started the frosting process but I finished it. Rhett was on quality control, test tasting, a must.

Presents were opened. There was victory birthday skate down the street. Luckily no neighbors were out, maybe they did witnessed the rollerblading backwards with random cheering from the safe indoors.

Anthony hadn't rollerbladed in years and was quick to test out old tricks.

The was even a remembrance of gifts that have past on. Fun cards and gifts with fun family.

Calculating.....

 

I-Fly

Anthony got lots of surprises for his birthday. Aunt Charity with Benny D. came up Memorial weekend for some birthday fun. The girls picked up some pizza and Grandpa Neil at the airport, another surprise visit! After eating we went to I-Fly. We didn't know too much about the place just always past the tall building driving on 405 around Tukwila.

Anthony, Benny, Caramel, Rhett, and I all got trained and suited up for indoor skydiving experience. Myles tried on the helmet and looked a little concerned, so he didn't go. Myles had snacks with the Grandparents and Charity while watching the flying.  

First you sign the document and get weighed then you watch the video learning the important hand signals. Lastly you suit up and wait your turn. Suiting up was a process- hair back, earplugs, goggles, helmet, and suit. Caramel wasn't to happy about the blue suit and earplugs but pulled through. Rhett was ready to go.

 

Caramel in position

Riding the air

After you are all dressed appropriately, you enter "the flight chamber" (this what it is called on the website) with your group and take turns. You fall into wind tunnel with hands crossed on chest then are positioned by worker to help controlled flying occur. Position yourself like a banana was the thing I remembered.

 

Once dressing was over, Caramel did great and even told me how she wanted to fly to the top, an option on your second turn. Everyone in the group gets to go twice. 

 

When my turn was almost over I realized I had been looking down, something they tell you not to do. Guess it wasn't too bad, because I never got the hand signal to stop. I also felt like it was hard to breath or maybe I just forgot to breath. One hand signal is to relax.

 

Going to the top

When Rhett go in there, he was flying all over the place at one point. It was pretty funny to see 3 year old Rhett in there. After the second turn Rhett was pretty much done. Wanting all the head gear off. Holding him, sometimes his head would just drop. His neck most of been tired from the helmet weight. Near the end I got to take him next to the exit and take off the helmet and goggles.

Anthony on his last day of being 30 years old

Rhett, flying like dust in the wind