Baby Nathan Pics

Here is a little guy at three months. He was such a content little subject, so we got to try some new things. We really liked the bucket effect.

Then there were fireworks...

Oma and Opa came down to enjoy the party and fireworks with the kids.

If this expression looks scared, it isn't. She makes this face a lot when she is in awe of something, "oooohhh, ooooohh."

I was really surprised that Alice wasn't even the slightest bit scared of the fireworks. She watched intently and after awhile, she walked around collecting firework garbage.

Julie, Leah and Mimi.

Maybe five or so families were still around for fireworks. We were up until about 11:30 watching the men and kids light stuff up.

Two kids that I like taking pictures of...

Camden and Ellie. They are such cuties! I always get good goofball pictures of Ellie, and then there are the supermodel shots of Camden.

Dancing Queens

Ellie and Kaylee were such entertaining dancers!

Ruby and Ella

Our Fourth of July

We ate good food!
Enjoyed good company!

Set up a waterslide for the kids!

The men played pickle ball inthe driveway, and went on a bike ride!

Viola Swamp

Ruby's favorite book is "Miss Nelson is Missing." It is mine too. She has always had a fixation with scary or mean things, especially kids in her class who don't listen to the teacher, it is funny how she will talk about it after church. She doesn't judge the kids, she just gets a kick out of their free nature. She was born very aware of pleasing others and avoiding getting in trouble, so rewards or punishments that wouldn't phase your usual four year old are taken very seriously by Ruby.

Anyway, so from the very first page of the book when Miss Nelson's class is the worst behaved class in the whole school, Ruby is HOOKED. It progressively gets more riveting when sweet Miss Nelson is replaced by scratchy voiced, black dress wearing, no story time-ing, arithmatic emphasizing, homework giving, Miss Viola Swamp. Ruby is wide-eyed and on the edge of her seat, though clearly a little nervous.

At the end of the book, Miss Nelson returns to her class that has learned to appreciate her and they are transformed into respectful kids. The last page shows Miss Nelson in her bed and she says, "I'll never tell." If you pay attention, you'll notice there is a familiar black dress in her closet, and black fake eyelashes on the dresser along with a box marked, "wig" in the closet.

After many a discussion about Miss Viola Swamp, I decided to break the news to Ruby that Miss Viola Swamp was really Miss Nelson in a costume. That was life changing for Ru.

Everyday, at least two or three times for the past two weeks, there are questions coming my way about how it is possible that Miss Nelson and Miss Swamp are the same person.

"Where did Miss Nelson buy Miss Viola Swamp's tights?" She'll ask.

"Where do you think she bought them Ruby?"

"At the store."

"How did she make her hair black?"

"Just like when you wear Dora hair from your dress up things, she was wearing a wig on her head that was black."

"Oh."

"How did she make her nose like Miss Swamp's nose then?"

"I don't know, what do you think?"

"I think she just bought a nose at the store and stuck it on her other nose."

"I think so too."

The questions are often repeated, but not really because she is bored of things to think about, but because she really still tends to think that Miss Viola Swamp isn't the same as Miss Nelson.

"How does Miss Nelson talk with Miss Viola Swamp's voice?"

She almost stumped me with that one.

The real deal

"Alice, can you smile?"

I am so enjoying Alice's latest phase. She can now understand everything I say to her and sometimes the result is surprisingly fun. Here is her attempt to give me an artificial smile. Totally Alice.

New Umbrella

Last year, our patio umbrella broke in a storm, so we needed a new one. This one will do, it is from Walmart and Chris brought it home one night when it was unbearably hot outside. Ruby is thrilled to know how to open and close it, so she spent a few sessions a day out there for the first few days just practicing her new skill. Alice is always interested in anything Ruby does.

Eden is One!

Some pics I took for my friend Sommer. Little Eden is already one!

Happy Father's Day!

(and please don't die from eating the breakfast Mommy and Ruby made for you)

Father's Day was fine. I don't think I spoiled Chris enough. He told me that for his present he didn't want me to buy him anything, so I didn't. He bought himself some nerdy stuff for the garden hoses to coil up nicely, and they do. He seemed happy with that, but then on Sunday, I just didn't feel like he was very thrilled with his day.

At any rate, he has three girls who think the world of him. He is Ruby's favorite because he is silly, playful, creative and takes her swimming. She wrote him an email this week that said,

"Daddy,

Umm. I’m so glad to see you. I want to give you hugs and kisses tomorrow when you get home. And I want you to whenever you want to give me a surprise, I want you to. I want you to always make waffles. I want you always to be silly.

I love you,
Ruby"

Realize that her time references are off. Today and tomorrow--yesterday and last night and next week...they are all interchangable.

Alice loves him because he takes time to play, read, rock and sing at bedtime every night. Her needs are simple, and he is always there to help her with what she needs.

I love him because of all the things that he does for me by being such a good dad. If it sounds like I am saying I love him because he is a good father...I AM...that is totally wrapped up in his fulfilling the role of husband. When he comes home and I am ready to be de-kidded and I know that there is nothing he would rather do than be with the kids...I get to be guilt-free and kid free and know that everyone I love is enjoying their time just the way they would choose--INCLUDING ME! Even if Chris needs to go to Lowes and get something, he swings by to take the girls with him to "the daddy store." Even if he is helping a friend put in a sprinkler system, the kids go along with him. He is never put out by them, he loves to be with them!

Aside from that, he is patient with me and he tries to pick his battles and he forgives me and willingly seeks forgiveness when he's in the wrong. He cleans, takes care of the yard, provides for our family and supports me in all my activities in spite of how busy I make our lives sometimes. He is a leader in our home. He uses only nice, patient voices and words, and reminds me (as much as it drives me crazy) to do the same.

Happy Father's Day.

A Great Park

I know it is probably paranoid of me to not say the name of the park, but there are lots of sickos out there and I try to keep confidentail any details of where we live other than that it is somewhere closeish to Seattle.

At our favorite park, there is a little stream that is directed through the play area for the kids to play in. It is just a few inches deep, but it has a little current and is clearly a magnet for any kid to go play in. It is also in a very "treed in" area and for this reason we only go when it is hot out. Otherwise, the kids get all wet and then get cold.

This was our first visit to the park this year. Alice went straight into the water. She was quickly so wet that I stripped her down and put only her coat back on. She loved trudging up the little current and splashing in the water. Ruby played more at the park, but she had her rain boots to keep her dry in the water.

California Girl, Laura...

Laura was amazed by the overwhelming presence of GREEN here. She loved the park in the middle of the trees.

Laura is a good friend of mine for many reasons. She is WAY more than meets the eye. By that, I don't mean that she is more than just beautiful...though she is. I mean that she is more than she lets on...even to her linkup friends, I think. To the casual friend she is smart, stylish (come on!), confident and quirky. To me, she is all of those things, but maybe she's not as quirky as she comes off to most, she just enjoys the shock value of saying and doing outlandish things. She is sincere, vulnerable and gorgeous.

The best thing about my friendship with Laura is that she is on the same page as me. We had such a nice time while she was here, but we didn't do that much. She usually woke up around the time Alice went down for her nap, so we'd lounge in the sun and hang with Ruby. We went to the city for dinner the first night (and went on the water taxi), but other than that we just played with my kids at the park, got sunburned in my backyard, watched a movie and talked about every subject we could think of to cover.

Thanks for being like a sister Laura. I love you!

Seattle Water Taxi

A friend of mine turned me on to a great option for tourists to see a great view of the city for cheap. It is called the Seattle Water Taxi. It is part of the public transportation and the only cost is $4 roundtrip. You leave from Pier 54 and get to sit up on a deck on the top of the boat while you ride over to Alki and back. If you want, you can get off the boat at Alki and get dinner or enjoy the beach before taking the taxi back over. Anyway, I did it with Monica and then with Laura when she visited, but I didn't have my camera the first time.

Ruby's Ballet Recital

Ruby with her classmates all ready for the big show to begin.

Kiley, Alexis and Ruby dancing on stage.

Oma, Ruby and Jordan. Her big fans for the night. We

went out to dinner afterward and Ruby got to order dessert!