Building Blocks

The kids were so funny about our schedule while Grandma and Grandpa were visiting. Every morning we ate breakfast, they played blocks, and then to play outside. In that order. Every morning. That was how it was the first time they visited us in Valdez and the kids haven't forgotten!

Mineral Creek waterfall

Flying Kites

10-Year High School Reunion

Some of my bestest friends. Please ignore my goofy smile...pretty sure we were laughing at something while the photo was being taken.

It was fun to catch up with the few that made it back for the reunion.

Memorial Day camping trip.

Our annual camping trip to Squirrel Creek was amazing this year. Nearly eighty degrees every day. The kids lived in the lake. We had a blast relaxing, playing, 4-wheeling, and hiking.

Sprinkler

May was BEAUTIFUL this year! When my kids asked to play in the water one eveing I didn't have the heart to say no even though it wasn't all that warm any more so I let them stay in their clothes...they thought I was a bit crazy but they didn't ask twice!

28th Birthday

I started my birthday the same way I started nearly every other day this year summer with an hour long walk. Since it was a Saturday (I walk early so Dave's home with the kids while they're still sleeping) I was able to wait until Kali was up and she rode her bike and came with me. It was a beautiful day. It was community clean-up day so we then spent a few hours cleaning up the property and then prepared for my birthday picnic at the beach. There we met several families of friends and my parents. Everyone BBQed, we played water balloon volleyball, regular volleyball, and had cake. It was probably one of my favorite birthdays so far.

Working hard.

While Dave was building our shed earlier this summer Corey stayed busy "building" as well. He could hammer away at those pieces of scrap wood all day! I'm sure our tenants loved it!

Kindergarten Graduation

Kind of gives me butterflies seeing her in a cap and gown!

Mother's Day

Love them.

Corey & Kyle's Room

We decided the boys' room need a bit of a makeover. I saw this color scheme on a quilting blog I follow and loved it. I would have never thought I would like grey walls but I do! For now the walls are kind of bare - they need a little more something but I'm just happy they're clean. The room they're in used to be ours so I had painted with a flat paint...not good for kids. I've seen every finger print and smudge for the last few months. So much so that I went overboard the other way and used semi-gloss which we would normally only put in a bathroom or kitchen but seemed the easiest maintenance option for our boys. They stayed the night with grandma last weekend so I got up at six on Saturday morning and CLEANED out their room...six "banker boxes" of toys out of the room. AND they still have plenty! We're planning on rotating them but to be honest I don't think they even miss them and other than making the beds their room hasn't needed to be cleaned since. I think we'll do our first toy rotation on a really rainy day so that it'll give them something new to do inside. So far we've been blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather and have enjoyed long days outside!

Playing with the Remer cousins!

Bounce House!

Butterfly Pavilion

Kali and Corey touching the sea stars.

Corey illegally trying to touch a butterfly.

I LOVED the butterfly room - so fascinating to see so many species and so much fun to take pictures of!

Grandma helping Kyle pet the sea star.

These leaf bugs were Corey's favorite. He's pointing to one - they are absolutely amazing - they look exactly like a leaf. These and the 'stick' bugs were a bit hit!

Kyle was fascinated by the whole experience - he would have loved to hold Rosie the Tarantula but you have to be three...perhaps they're afraid of Rosie being squished? :)

Kali was hesitant at first but then went back a second time.

I held Rosie because I didn't know when I would have an opportunity like that again. I didn't love it.