Goodbye Summer & Hello PreSchool!

If you scroll down to last month's blog you'll see the extreme disappointment in Sam's face as Audrey took her 1st day of school pictures. He knew he was starting school this year, but didn't get the concept of . . .
Mom = Sam honey, you start on September 6th, after Labor Day. Audrey starts on August 31st, before Labor Day.
Sam = LABOR WHAT?!!!! I WANT TO GO TO PRESCHOOL!!!!!
Well here's your chance knucklehead . . . but you better take school seriously!

"OK guys, I'll take is super-sam-serious!". Oh boy, expectations are low for this little guy!

If you know our kids, you know that the concept of sibling love takes a MAJOR backseat to sibling rivalry.

Here Audrey is holding Sam's hand at his school before his first day started. She's telling him everything is going to be ok. Safe to say daddy tears up everytime he thinks about this little exchange.

Alright Sam, one of these knuckleheads next to you will either be your best-bud, or your playground rival . . . choose wisely!

September ended summer with some great final days of sun.

"Hey kids, let's go to the fountain park!".

"Yeah dad, lets go. Hey dad, where is the sand? You told me to bring my swimsuit!".

"SAM!!! Don't trust that boy! He will bait you in to the water cannon!".

In the end, both kids got what they were looking for.

Sam had to be pulled away from the fountain . . . and by pulled I mean "Hey Sam, do you know what cotton-candy is?".

Who remembers hugs so hard that they smash your face? That gives me a good idea, hey Lisa, come here . . . .

Sam decided to practice his cannon-ball instead.

We headed up to Anacortes for a simple bbq and unbelievably we couldn't fit everything in the car. I had to break-out the roof top storage thingy.

"Hey dad, give me some juice and a snack and I'll ride up here!".

Really Sam? What the heck are they teaching you in pre-school?!

"Well Dad, they're teaching me this awesome swing trick. You wind it up, climb on, and then let it gooooo . . . Ummm, Dad . . . I feel kinda sick".

"Oh yeah, and I learned how to chill-out. Audrey taught me this one".

Sorry Sam, I know your sister. In no circumstance do the words "chill-out" apply to her.

OK, so school may not be Sam's thing. He'll have to support himself somehow, so we went to the driving range to see if golf would be "his thing" . . . .

"DAD!!! WHERE DID THE BALL GO?!!!".

Well, I guess we'll keep trying to find "his thing".

Hey! I think we've found it! A couple of streets away from us a new housing development has started construction. This is darn-near Disneyland for a 3 year old boy!

See you next month!

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!

Chelan!!!

Chelan 2011 baby!!! Lisa had a great idea to take an annual picture by the Wapato Point sign. Next year we promise to actually put pants on Sam. Sorry. : )

The tradition is to go with our wonderful friends Greg and Jessica, who bring their niece and nephew Jackson and Sophie along. As a kid, is there anything better than vacation buddies?

Audrey and Jackson are definitely graduating to the lake. I know I've said this before, but my little girl is growing up. Dagnabit!!!!

And Sam and Sophie are still 100% content with otter-pops and beach balls. God bless their little hearts! Sam is trying to show off while Sophie is making sure to keep up. Oh Sophie, you'll soon learn what a little knucklehead he is.

Greg, an absolutely wonderful childhood and adult friend, knows Sam's weakness.

"Ahhhh, how nice is Mr. Greg now that he is whipping you around in a tube behind the boat!". "Don't worry, Daddy has you safe.". I'm not ashamed to get a little love where I can!

In another Chelan advancement, the kids actually made a few trips to the putt-putt course this year. Audrey is doing her best to teach Sam the nuances of golf.

"Sammy, this is where you tee your ball, pay close attention Sammy!".

"And now you follow through like the boys daddy watches on TV. Hold the follow through . . . hold it . . . hold it!".

"What?! This is the last hole?! Come on, where did the ball go?!".

Am I a total romantic, or is seeing your kid's foot prints in the sand a precious moment?

The precious moment depicted in the previous picture was actually just the every afternoon journey down to the ice cream shop. Sam went rainbow sherbert every single day. He didn't realize heaven was this close to earth.

"Fine Sam, just don't eat the styrofoam".

And here we have Audrey mid brain freeze on a snow cone. She couldn't believe Sam wouldn't try it. "Audrey, I think you only need to see yourself to realize why none of us were willing to try it!".

If you're reading this blog you are probably on our Christmas card list . . . and now you have a preview of what is likely our 2011 Christmas card.

Of course, we got back to Seattle to mid-60's July weather. What?!!!!"Okay kids, it's time for smores in July. "."But daddy, it was so nice in Chelan, why is it so cold here?". "Well kids, we live in the northwest where the weather is very unpredictable.". "What?". "Never mind. We'll go to Chelan again next year to enjoy the summer.".

Summatime!

Audrey resorted to wearing mom's shades in hopes it would spring some summer weather. "Mommy, All these sun dresses and nowhere to wear them!".

Ahhhhh, finally some summer weather. You can tell by Audrey's stance that it's early in the season. She commented "daddy, I'm usually better after Chelan" (our annual July trip). Honey, we're all a little better after Chelan.

Sam didn't even attempt the water. He's more of a "toes in the sand" kind of guy.

Right after our first blast of summer weather we were back into some good old NW June Gloom. Heavy coat, hiking, and mossy trees, so very Seattle.

A few months back Audrey took her first pony ride. She's now graduated to the real thing. Sedro Woolley horse camp, here we come!

One of those classic pictures that makes you gasp at how they are growing up without you even noticing.

"Hey Sam, want to ride the horse ?". "No way dad, only gas powered rides for me!!!!".

"Preferably the diesel variety!!!!".

"I'll even roll battery style, as long as I can wear a manly hat!!!".

We've officially entered the age with Audrey where she can attend summer camps. Here she is at her dance recital. The songs ranged from Elton John to Todd Shaw. If you don't know who Todd Shaw is, he's a.k.a. Too Short. If you don't know who Too Short is, you aren't freaking out like I was the first time I heard her dance to him.

Here she is at the finale of her acting class. Our little drama queen definitely flourished in this camp. Pay attention to the dragon costume above.

Yes, Audrey helped supply the camp production from her own personal supply. Sadly Sam did not get to attend the camp. He didn't deal well with the rejection.

I felt so bad for Sam that I told him I would put on a "camp" for him. Sam, welcome to landscaping camp!

Next we moved on to bubble camp.

Safe to say he excelled at bubble camp. I mean, look at that bubble production!

Nothing says summer like a lemonade stand.

We recently snapped the above photo of Sam at our favorite park and I immediately remembered a similar photo of Audrey. Turns out they were almost the exact same age at the time of the photos. Ahhhhhh, slow down time!