6 Years Old = 1st Grade Baby!

Audrey turned 6 and not one boy made the invite. Note: Not even her father or little brother! Sam and I were invited for the cake and ice cream portion . . . but I'm 99% sure she didn't even notice us. :(

Audrey's birthday has always been plagued by extremely hot weather. I realize that only in the NW do we lable mid-80's as "too hot". But regardless, I asked Audrey if she wanted to go see the snow during her birthday month.

"Impossible!!!" she screamed.

"Alright kiddo, strap on your hiking boots, we're hittin the trail".

Of course, "hittin the trail" with two little ones means that you immediately break into the lunch you brought along for later. Jeesh. Sam's doing a quick survey of Audrey's lunch to make sure they're equal. Good lord those two are competitive!

"Daddy, I want a picture with my little brother!". If you know how she treats her little brother you immediately recognize this as yet another stall tactic.

"Yes kids, I agree . . . the river is beautiful, but if we don't keep moving we'll be eaten by BEARS!!!". About this point they learned the chant "Less Talkin, More Walkin . . . Less Talkin, More Walkin . . . ".

Ahhhh, finally we get to the snow! In her defense, Audrey was much more the trooper than Sam.

While he may look a bit like an old pro, he's wearing the jacket because it turns out you get a little cold when you get a shoulder ride up the steep parts vs. actually hiking them yourself!

"Quick dad! Take the picture, this is actually real snow!". No stall tactics necessary.

Margarett, our wonderful nanny, put the kids through a week of "nature camp". What 6 and 3 year old doesn't love to hike around the NW looking for slugs! When I see this picture I immediately yell out "Less Talkin, More Walkin!!".

The kids did remind us that while hiking may be fun, when you live in the NW you get precious few opportunities to hit the beach in your swimsuit.

Nice goggles Sam . . . . nerd. : )

And here we are ready for 1st Grade! I've never heard of school starting before Labor Day. Good thing I married a wonderful girl who tracks these apparently important details!

Audrey wanted to make sure we got the side view of the new backpack as well.

"Audrey, the backpack is to actually carry your school work, it's not an accessory".

"I know dad . . . . but does it look good?!".

Uh Oh! Not only did Sam not realize that school started before Labor Day, he didn't realize that he wasn't actually going to school yet! Yikes. Sorry Sam, we should have seen this one coming.

Nothing says 1st day of school like a bus-stop photo with Mom. Man I love those girls.

Oh lord Sam! Keep it clean at the bus-stop! If he was feeling down before, seeing Dalanie perked him right up. Dalanie was also at the bus-stop seeing off her big brother Dylan, so she and Sam were able to console each other before heading back home for the day.

See you next month!