Lucy and Rose Kitty

Lucy at 15 weeks

This is a funny one! Mama Rose Kitty was squeezing between the screen and glass patio door when she looked up to see Lucy's nose awfully close to hers!

Swimming

The girls took 2 weeks of swimming lessons so far this summer. They have learned a lot, but its when we go to open swim that they really learn to be comfortable in the water.

Emily is very good about helping Lila out. Lila has gotten much more brave since I took this picture and doesn't want us to help her as long as she is wearing her life jacket. She's still trying to get brave enough to put her face in the water though.

IT'S SUMMERTIME!

Yesterday was the last day of the school year. Emily and Alaina had an early release at 11:30 after enjoying their field day (which pretty much consists of playing outside and eating sno cones and hot dogs). Alaina's friend Jansi came home with them on the bus and then we headed to Portland to the Oregon Zoo to celebrate the end of the year! Rylan needed some help smiling in this picture.

After he ate his elephant ear he was a little more chipper!

It was a great day to be at the zoo - nice weather and not too many people.

The zebras were very exciting for the kids . . . but the highlight of the day was the giraffe. He was hanging out close to the viewing area and posing for lots of pictures.Looking for the sea otters . . .Rylan was very excited to see this tractor at the zoo in the farm animal section. We had to post this pic for Grandpa Far Away! This last picture is Alaina and Jansi at their Kindergarten Celebration. Next year they will be 1st graders and go to school ALL DAY! WooHoo!

Long Beach

We've had an exciting week! Last Friday night Ryan's cousin Dan brought a group of kids up from his church in Boise to do some work on our church building as a service project. We enjoyed lots of "cousin time" with Dan, Rebekah, and their kids Josiah, Ella, and Vani. We weren't sure exactly how to label our kids relation to their kids - is that second cousins? Ryan's uncle and aunt, Mel and Elaine came to join us on Sunday morning for church. We had 3 Pastor Franks in the morning service! Mel was my pastor for several years when I was in college so it was great to hear him preach again. After service we took the whole crowd out to Long Beach because people from Idaho don't get to see the ocean very often.

There's something about digging in the sand . . . just gotta do it! Ella was very brave - she stripped down to her bathing suit and ran out into the waves. Here she is being buried in the sand by Emily and Alaina in hopes that she will get warm again.

The whole group enjoyed roasting hot dogs and s'mores at our smoky campfire.

We were so blessed by our time with this group!

My Ballerinas

Both Emily and Alaina took ballet classes this year.  Last Friday was their big recital where they took part in a production of "The 15 Princesses".  Emily's class had the part of "river" and Alaina's class was "forest".  They were both so excited the night of the performance and nervous too.  

This is Emily with her friend, Ellie . . . and Alaina with her friend, Megan.  This picture was taken after the performance with the flowers they received.  My ballerinas . . .

Memorial Day Fun!

We took a drive Monday across the ferry and into Oregon.  We found a neat little county park called Camp Wilkerson that we will have to remember the next time we get to go camping.   We enjoyed a picnic lunch and had fun running around the large field covered in little daisies.  God granted us beautiful weather and we enjoyed our day in the sun. 

 Rylan picking flowers . . . . awwwwww . . .what a cute boy! 

A boy and his dog

a rousing game of baseball

 Alaina going for the home run!

Heavy hitter!

Emily is talented.  She can blow bubbles with her gum and hit the ball at the same time!

Alaina loving Lucy

A Trip to the Ranch

Alaina had a very exciting day last Friday.  Her best friend Jansi's Grandma and Grandpa have a horse ranch in Longview and they invited all the kindergartners out for a day of horse riding, roping, and games.   Ryan was the bus driver for the day and Lila, Rylan and I drove out with some friends so we could join in on the fun too!

 That's Lila, Alaina, Jansi and Taylor hanging out in the playhouse. 

 Alaina and Jansi riding with the rodeo queen.  

Alaina trotting with Jansi's mom leading her horse.

That's Rylan riding with Jansi's daddy.  Lila rode with me so I don't have a picture of that.