2014 family pictures

We went over to campus the other day and had a neighbor take some family pictures for us.  It involved lots of bribing (**cough*marshmallows**), and encouragement, but we got some good ones.








But I'll be honest, I kinda prefer the real ones.  The pictures that show my wiggly, squiggly, giggly family.






And I think this picture is the perfect, and I mean PERFECT, visual of Len and Bev's little personalities.  Aaaah, I kinda can't handle it.

it's still july, right?!

I realize the fourth of July was two weeks ago.  And I fully intended to post these pictures shortly thereafter.  But then we were bombarded with life. 

We took the kids downtown to visit the Center for Wooden Boats.  It was awesome.  I definitely think we'll be making this a yearly thing. 

After we drooled over the beautiful boats they had docked, and watched the miniature sailboats soar around the pond, and the REAL sailboats, and the ice cream, and the shrimp and chips, we helped the kids build their very own toy sailboats.  Rauland was so good to let them make each and every decision about what to put where, and helping them drill and hammer and cut.  It was so much fun, and they use their sailboats in the bathtub all the time now!

So OBVIOUSLY, after their boats were made, we had to test them out on the lake. 

By the time we got home it was already four, and we all just crashed.  We didn't wake up until about six, just in time for hot dogs and burgers.  This year we skipped out on fireworks, but we could hear them all. night. long.

Maybe next year.  But maybe not.  It was pretty great just the way we did it.

how'bout'dis

Tonight at bedtime, Rauland ended up with Bev's favorite blanket and started teasing that he wouldn't give it back.  So the girls and I huddled up and started brainstorming ideas to get it back.

Me: "Let's tickle him.  When he laughs, we'll grab the blanky and run."
Fail.

Bev:  "OK how'bout'dis, how'bout'dis, how'bout'dis."  Then she ran up to him, full speed, arms extended, and shoved him in the gut.
Fail.

Len: "What if I sit on him and smack him with a pillow, then Bev can get her blanket."
Fail.

Me: "Let's lul him to sleep.  When he doses off, we'll grab the blanky and run."
Fail.

Bev: "OK how'bout'dis, how'bout'dis, how'bout'dis."  Again, she ran up to Rauland, full speed, arms extended, and shoved him in the gut.
Fail.

Finally, Lenna got smart.  She started to pry his fingers open (with surprising success), until the blanket fell out of his hands, and Bev then grabbed the blanky and ran.
Success.

It's so much fun watching their quirky silliness, and discovering the world through their eyes.  And "how'bout'dis" is definitely going to become a staple phrase in our home.

she tried to take off her pants, too, but i had to draw the line somewhere

Yesterday I took the kids to the park.  It was a last minute thing, so I just scooted them right on out the door without much thought.  When we got there, they had no interest in the playground... they just wanted to get down to the lake.  Hoorah.

LAKE > PLAYGROUND anyday.

I was just starting to regret leaving their swimsuits at home when this happened:

So worth it.

our washington winter

The girls and I have been going on a lot of nature walks, lately.  It's a whole new adventure, having a fifty-degree winter!

We're learning that tree roots are free spirits, and grow in every which way.  We're learning that rocks are really fun to sketch, and even more fun to throw.  We're learning that moss will make a home anywhere and everywhere in this wet, wet place.

We're learning that a little bit of fresh air does wonders for the winter blues. 

when rauland is in charge of thanksgiving

Rauland has always been so excited for the day that he got to plan and prepare our very own Thanksgiving meal.  And boy, did he go all out! 

ON THE MENU:
turkey (yes, he cooked it with bacon)
homemade stuffing
mashed potatoes and fancy gravy
menan corn
macaroni (with homemade pasta)
rhodes rolls
apple pie & pecan pie (both made from scratch)

I didn't have to prepare a single element of the meal, he had it all completely under control.  He even did most of his dishes as he cooked.

After dinner, as per our agreement, he and the girls took a much deserved nap while I tidied up the house.  Everything was cooked, eaten, and cleaned by 3pm.

Rauland really enjoyed making this meal (but not as much as I enjoyed eating it).  He's even told me that I may never need to learn how to cook a turkey, because he'd love to do it himself, whenever possible.

DEAL.

extended

our little family