crazy all up in here.

Is every summer going to be freakishly busy like this from here on out?  Someone please tell me it’s not…  of course I have loved the things we’ve done, but I think I would love them more if I wasn’t so tired.  Though I pretty sure that parents of older kids have told me it just gets worse!  Ack!

Last Monday night was a softball game which I (wisely) skipped because Steve was gone and the boys and I needed some time at home.  (because this was a busy repeat of the previous week).

Tuesday night was an evening BBQ with old TTR friends down at their cabin on the river.

Wednesday I worked late and had a late softball game.

Thursday night I volunteered at the Pantry food bank all evening with the boys.

Friday night my in-laws came to stay with us and we had a big family dinner next door.
Saturday was a birthday party next d

oor for my sweet nephew, lots of outdoor housework, and then a date night for Steve and I in L-Town.

Sunday was Church, the boys and I spent all afternoon with Jaimi, Mariya, and Jaimi’s boys, then softball practice and a softball BBQ for all.

Monday was a family dinner at the Krenz’s and then a Pampered Chef Party.

All those weekdays I had work.

But the evening social events... those are self inflicted! I don't think my boys went to bed before 9 any of those nights... oy vey.  (they loved it by the way)  This week I am working hard to get them back on a better sleep schedule so we don't get all grumpy but so far I am not making a ton of progress.  But hey, 8 is better than 9 right?

This week’s schedule looks similar to last… 5-6 busy nights a week.  I am going to lose my mind…  not that I feel there is much to lose these days!  Luckily softball ends this weekend and we can get some normalcy before school starts in a month.  Gulp.

Anyway, that's what we are up to these days!

we had fun

A lot of fun was had in the first few weeks of July.

I have been running (jogging) a lot.  Of course, I think running a lot means getting out 3 days a week and logging 10 miles total for the week.  I mean, that's almost two hours of my life gone to running!  Which is a lot for this girl.  I signed up for the half marathon in October again, so at least this consistency will pay off somewhere, though I know I'll have to log more miles before then.  This year I've got Jenny and her friend Stephanie, my little sister, and my dear friend Katie from Seattle all running with me!  I can't wait!  (I can't believe I just said that I can't wait to run...  what is the world coming to?)

Fourth of July was celebrated with friends and food and a lively game of croquet up at the Jenkins' home in Merritt.  (No seriously.  It involved getting cliffed-out, and waterfall type drops of ledges, teleporters, extension latter wickets and stump jumping.)  A good time was had by all!

Steve went on 6 fire calls that weekend.   SIX.  Oy.  Being a volunteer firefighter's wife is definitely a sacrifice.  Next time you want to poke fun of a volunteer firefighter crew stop yourself and remember THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS and they do this on top of their regular jobs, unpaid.  I have a giant soapbox I like to stand on for this subject, but let's not do that.  Instead I will just say, phew, glad that weekend is over!  And now I will move on.  Though I reserve the right to come back to this soapbox later.



July has been busy busy busy.  Good busy.  We went to the lake one day, hiked the ditch, went to Church, had playdates, played in the pool and got all tuckered out :)  Also we cut everyone's moppy hair (hallelujah!).  The littles look so grown up with short hairs!  Agh!

Lake Wenatchee on a calm day!!

These photos are all from a little hike/picnic we did at the Fish Hatchery.

 

Playing in Grammy's dirt pile.

Bee sting?  Spider bite?

Too much fun at the lake...

Dipping our toes into the ditch on a Saturday afternoon.

More adventures to come and July isn't even over yet :)

 

Summer Lovin'

It's finally warm enough for a little bit of wading pool action!  We really do need a bigger wading pool... ah well.  This one seems to be serving it's purpose.  Steve had just asked the kiddos to show him their muscles :)  They are so funny.

Recently Olaf has been very into hiking.  But ONLY if that hiking is "in the mountains".  Which is fine by me, though there are few mountain hikes in the area that a kid can summit easily.  Luckily we've get Beaver Hill so close to home, and you can drive a good part of the ways up!  Steve took Olaf up there the other day during Foresty's naptime (we are phasing out Olaf's naps).  And they had a blast!  Olaf really liked that he could point out our house down below.