Camp Pictures

Jordynn is always posing for the camera.

Braelynn loves to eat dirt.

I was trying to take a picture of a pretty butterfly that landed right near me and as I took the picture I caught Jordynn's hand as she snatched it up!  She was so excited to catch a butterfly.  Poor butterfly.

These three are always bent over next to each other discovering new things.



Back to School!

I think I'm suppose to be excited for my kids to go back to school, but honestly, I'm bummed.  I can't believe Trayton will be gone the whole day.  He is the BEST helper EVER.  I'm going to miss him.  He was excited to start first grade.  Excited and extremely anxious.  But he put on a brave face and there were no tears and no clinging to me as I tried to leave.  I backed out of his classroom slowly waiting for the melt down that never came.

 

 Kade is growing up too fast.  We went to his kindergarten orientation today.  He was amazing.  So confident and carefree.  When we were leaving he told me not to walk with him cause he could handle finding his way around without me.  I explained we were heading the same direction and that he needed me to drive him home.  He responded with, "Mom, just stop and wait.  I got this."  So I did.  Kade, Please don't outgrow me too fast.  I miss you so much and I hope you LOVE kindergarten.

This morning during breakfast Trayton was excitedly telling Jordynn about how he gets to spend the whole day at school.  I walked out to the kitchen to see this.  What happened? Apparently Jordynn was heartbroken that Trayton would not be there to play with her and Trayton just kept telling her that he would miss her.  Jordynn and Trayton have always been very close.  They sat there, holding each other, for maybe ten minutes.  Crying and hugging.  Once they finally broke apart Trayton found one of his "special" rocks and gave it to Jordynn.  She carried it in her pocket all day.

Bullies

People often ask me if the boys are good big brothers or if they pick on their little sisters.  They always seem surprised when I say the girls are the bullies.  Here is evidence.

Kade was lying on the floor minding his own business.  Braelynn viewed it as an invitation to attack.

She laughs and giggles and bounces on them.  Over and over and over.  Stomping on their tummies and sitting on their heads.  What a little bully!

TROUBLE

Don't let their smiling faces fool you.  These master manipulators are nothing but TROUBLE!

Swim Lessons

Kade is finally overcoming his fear of the water.  He actually stuck his face in the water this summer.  Huge accomplishment for him.

Jordynn learned how to blow bubbles out of her nose.  Hilarious.

Here is Kade jumping off the diving board all by himself.

 

And this is Trayton coming off the slide.  Trayton LOVES the water and had a blast.

The kids all really enjoyed swim lessons.  I on the other hand was disappointed.  They played games and splashed around but none of them learned anything of great value.  If they fell in they would have no idea how to reach and grab the side of the pool.  Shouldn't that be part of swim lessons?  I have a two year old niece who learned that concept in her swim lessons.  They just barely introduced the idea of floating to my seven year old.  At least the kids had fun.  Right?

Chocolate Fountain

 I realize this is out of order and should be down wth my Alaska trip but I forgot about it.  How do I forget the giant chocolate waterfall.  This is at the Alaska Wild Berry Company.  Yummiest place ever.  Their chocolate is so good and they do amazing things with it.  The chocolate fountain makes the smell of chocolate so strong that it nearly knocks you over when you walk through the doors.  Heaven on earth.

Camp

I have always considered myself very simple.  I enjoy being pampered but they aren't necessities.  I don't mind getting dirty.  Work is satisfying.  And I love being outside.  I have very fond memories of camping as a child.  Camp fires, smores, hikes, playing outside all day without a care in the world.  Camping is magical.  However, for years I have pathetically sighed and not so silently complained every time Jonathan has mentioned camping.  I hate squatting in the woods.  Call me spoiled, High-maintenance, snooty I don't care.  I'm not squatting anymore.  Jonathan finally saw things my way and started showing me toilet seat lids that screw onto a five gallon bucket that is lined with plastic bags.  Eww. I should have been more specific.  But all I said I needed was a toilet.  Sigh.  I agreed to camp with a bucket for a bathroom.  And then Jonathan did the unthinkable.  He took me shopping for a camp trailer.  {insert choir of angels singing here}.  We went to several dealerships and viewed dozens of trailers.  Our biggest trial was convincing salesmen that we didn't need a t.v. in our camp trailer.  What's the point of camping if you are inside watching movies?  But eventually we found a beauty.  I realize now that I don't actually have a picture of our new trailer but trust me she's beautiful.  Now not only do I have a toilet (THAT FLUSHES) but I also have a kitchen and a bed.  Oh happy day.  I love camping.

Here is Jordynn showing you her marshmallow covered hand.  Smores, yummy.

Here are the men roasting their marshmallows.

Braelynn took one bite of marshmallow and then dropped the rest on the ground.  Apparently she's not a huge fan of them.

Kade likes to burn his marshmallows.

Now here is an interesting photo.  You might have to try to enlarge it to see what's going on.  The boys LOVE climbing trees.  They climb up about ten feet and act like they are kings of the world.  When I went to put Braelynn down for a nap they got a bit more adventurous.  You can see Trayton in the red shirt about five feet off the ground.  Can you see Kade?  Look higher.  Much higher.

Here is Trayton about halfway up the tree.

This is as far as Jordynn climbed.  Thank goodness.  But she truly loved just sitting in the tree hanging out with her brothers.

And so our camping adventures have begun.  I can't wait to go again.