Summer Vacation- Day 12- "IKEA"

We went to IKEA today to buy some new things for the kids rooms.  It is time to decorate.  They kept asking on the way if they could go to the kids club, but I kept reminding them that they were going to help pick out new things for their bedrooms.  It turned out to be a really fun trip.  The kids kept running from room to room, telling me what they liked and who's room would belong to whom if it were our house.  This was James' room.  

It was so fun to shop for the kids.  We needed so many things, like lamps and bedding, and since it was so cheap, the kids could get what they wanted.  It was a win-win!  They particularly liked the kids section and the lighting section.  

We made it out with all our loot and we were ready for lunch.  So we put our stuff in the car and went back in to the cafeteria.  I will post pictures of their rooms tomorrow.  They look sooo good!  

I went around the house chanting while decorating, "Mom is cool, mom is great, mom knows how to decorate!".  Hailey's eyeballs rolled into the back of her head.  I think she was jealous of my super cool rhyme.  

While Hailey, James and I put furniture together, Jacob created some Lego fireworks.  Hailey quickly made the TNT sign.  Some people are getting ready for the forth of July! 

Brennan took Jacob out again for some fishing.  Here is a photo of Jacob reeling in his first fish.  Brennan casted, then handed Jacob the rod and Jacob hooked a fish and reeled it in.  

Jacob said that on his birthday, all he wants is to go fishing with his whole family.  Brennan says he is really liking it.  

Here is another fish.  

Someone was playing with fireworks tonight at bedtime.  A firework would go off and James would scream and run over to jump on daddy.  Then he would run back to the window.  

Summer Vacation- Day 11- "Sunday"

I told Hailey that she is very creative with her pictures and that she should create a children's book.  When creating her characters, Hailey says that she imagines them coming to life and playing with each other.

Dog &Cat

Fish & Butterfly

Dragon

We had our neighbors over tonight for S'mores.  I'm glad they moved in because we get along great and the kids play well together.  

James and Kushi sat at the table and made each other laugh for quite a while with their toddler talk.  

While the adults sat and talked in our backyard, the kids ran over to the neighbors house to play on their new teeter totter, that spins around too.

James loves the water.  He loves to stick his head completely under and open his eyes. I tried so many times tonight to get a picture of him doing it, but my camera is slow.  This is the best picture I got.  It was fun to watch him stare at me under water.  He's my adventurous one.  

Summer Vacation- Day 10- "Fishing and Date Night"

Brennan took Jacob fishing today to the South Fork of the Snowqualmie River.  Brennan wanted to take Jacob alone so he could focus on teaching Jacob how to cast.  Jacob didn't catch anything, but Brennan let Jacob help catch some fish on his fishing rod.  

Isn't the northwest so beautiful?  

He's a stud.  A Brennan mini- me

Jacob seems to be liking it.  

Brennan and I went out on a date tonight.  We were supposed to go to Montalcino Restorante Italiano, but they were reservation only (we've heard it's amazing!), so Brennan suggested we go to the brewpub down the street.  It was definitely a down grade from what I was expecting, but they cook a mean Kobe burger and the root beer is on draft.  (Awkward photo.  I didn't know I was getting a photo taken of me)

After dinner, we went to see the new Transformers movie.  Brennan kept making funny faces. 

I took two photos and the flash nearly blinded us, so Brennan said no more and now we're stuck with two silly photos of Brennan ;)

Summer Vacation- Day 9- "sleeping Habits".

Rub-a-dub in the tub.  Don't let my big belly trick you.  I eat like I never seem to get enough.  

This is how I have been finding the boys at night before I go to bed.  Jacob has been reading James his Biscuit books before bed and they end up snuggling together as they fall asleep.  

Summer Vacation- Day 8- "Unwanted Treasure"

We spent some good time this morning reorganizing the kids toy room.  For months now I have left all the cleaning up to them, which meant they threw half there toys in the closet.  So I pulled out all their containers and we started storing everything where it belonged.  While going through some drawers in the closet, I stumbled upon loads and loads of candy wrappers and granola bar wrappers.  Jacob for some reason refuses to throw his garbage away.  I think he thinks he won't get caught this way, for eating things he shouldn't be.  

After we cleaned the toy room, the kids miraculously wanted to play in there again.  Genius.  I always knew the best way to get your kids to play in their toy room is to make them clean it.  

After playtime and lunch, it was time to put James down for a nap.  I wanted to try something new today that I hadn't done in the past; make Hailey and Jacob have quiet time in their rooms.  Summer time means I'm with my kids all.day.long and as much as I desperately love my children, I need a break from them during the day where I don't have to think about them constantly, if you catch my drift?  I think they need it too.  So I took a nap.  It was amazing.  I think we will do this for now on.  

After nap(s), we went to the library to get a load of books to read.  Hailey picked out some chapter books about horses that she can read before bed and surprisingly Jacob picked out a Lego Super Hero comic book ;) They both excitedly agreed on Captain Underpants as there chapter book that I get to read to them before bed.  It is a funny book! 

Oh, hey James.  Whatcha doin there?  

Summer Vacation- Day 7- "Play Hard, Sleep Hard"

We started the day off at the park.  

I was impressed that James could climb the rock wall.  He's a fearless stud.  

The kids wanted to feed the ducks in the duck pond.  Then they all dipped their feet in the water.  

I had to return something to Costco, so of course we stayed for lunch and some delicious gelato.  

We went swimming with a friend.  James had to skip his nap, so he fell asleep as soon has we got in the car, on the way to swimming.  

The kids had a blast and little miss Myley Ahlstrom was in love with James.  She wouldn't put him down.  She would carry him all over the pool.  

Mmmmm, 20 pieces of licorice for $1 :)

Is it strange that I found a lego in the fridge or that I just shut the door and left it in there?  

The kids chose 500 Hats of Bathalomew Cubbins for bedtime tonight.  It is literally the longest children's book out there (and if there are longer ones, you burn them before letting my children know). It takes 20 minutes to read.  My throat always gets dry when I read it.  

We found Jacob and James snuggled up on the floor tonight.  This is how James fell asleep and how Jacob tried to.  So sweet.  

Summer Vacation - Day 6 "I See You"

Hey deer, I see you eating my flowers!  I had to chase you away this morning, but I wish I didn't have to because you are sure pretty to look at.  

The kids indepentantly started their school work as soon as I agreed to let them play video games afterward.  This little routine is starting to stick.  They know before they can play that they have to do their school work, make their beds, get dressed and brush their teeth and do whatever chore mom has for them that day.  They haven't complained since Thursday. 

James kept saying, "No picture!".  

James put his own shoes on by himself today, so naturally they are on the wrong feet :). 

Summer vacation- Day 5 "It's Summer!"

Someone got a haircut in the sink this morning while watching Cars.  He didn't want anyone else to comb his hair, but him.  

He sure looks pretty cute.  

I caught this little man with a jar of fresh strawberry jam.  Look at how much he ate!  

The weather was perfect for slip n sliding, so we did quite a bit of that today. 

James needed to warm up a bit.  He had forgotten how to slide from last year.  

Mmmmm, chocolate cake!  

In the afternoon non the less and the kitchen is a mess.  It must be summer!  

Hailey had drawn this picture and I'm just wondering who "you" is?  

Brennan took the kids fishing today for 4 hours.  I wish he had taken photos.  The kids all had their own fishing poles and Hailey collected quite a few worms from the yard before they went.  I had to run a few errands, so I couldn't go.  Oh well, the kids got special time with dad.