August began with pretty hot weather, which we love.We could not be happier than when we have to wake up to sunscreen and swimsuits and we spend all day outside playing and eating popscicles! Saturday we spent some time at our park, followed by some quality time on the slip-n-slide in the backyard. 

Sunday we had dinner and fun at our friends’ house and the kids enjoyed driving the John Deere and eating ice cream cones (Haley’s first!).

When stuck inside, the kids are both enjoying playing their harmonicas. It sounds pretty nice, actually, and doesn’t bother me at all (unlike the recorder someone got them…).

Haley has also perfected her two-foot jump. She can jump off a stair, for example, and land with two feet flat. This is what she set up for herself the other night.

We had such a busy month that I just noticed all of these pictures I hadn’t done anything with yet. One evening we took a walk down to the Port Orchard pier with Jim’s parents. It was lovely!

Looking at jellyfish

Awww…

 

 

Stopped for frozen yogurt afterward!

We also had a motorcycle ride date with our friends Carl and Katie. We got a babysitter, went to a yummy milkshake place, and rode in the sunshine. Awesome!

We met some friends at Lake Wilderness for playing in the sand and water. 

After playtime, we had lunch and listened to stories during Storytime at the Park, a library tradition in the summers. It was so fun!

Since it was so hot, we stopped and got smoothies before heading home. 🙂

This year at Banks Lake, JT enjoyed skiing. We thought for sure Haley would want to ski too, but she didn’t.We did get video of JT skiing at Banks Lake that I forgot to post earlier:

Then we were skiing at Long Lake this week and JT reminded Jim to bring the kids’ ski because he wanted to ski as well. We love that he is enjoying skiing!

We told Haley that she could go after JT if she wanted. She said she did… and then JT proceeded to tell her all the reasons she shouldn’t go. I knew that would do the trick: “I SKI!” she yelled, and there she went.

It must have been a lot of work, because she fell asleep soon after her turn was over. Or maybe it was because she was out in a boat at nap time. 🙂

I didn’t get video of Haley skiing because I simply wasn’t fast enough with the camera while driving the boat. Next time!

There’s more… click “older posts” to continue!

JT asked to have his pedals put on his bike before we left for Banks Lake. He and Jim worked together on some pedaling.

 But then, at Banks Lake, there was a nice sloping bike path right behind our campsite. Preston took JT out to practice pedaling and suddenly, he was doing it!

Pedaling – all smiles!

Haley got a tricycle for her birthday. We gave it to her early (her birthday’s not until late August) so she could enjoy it at Steamboat Rock. She has been wanting her own helmet too – doesn’t she look adorable?

I didn’t get video of her opening the bike (sad) but I do have video of her first ride.

JT and Haley loved riding their bikes all week long.

For JT and Haley’s birthdays this year, we decided to have one big family birthday party while my family was here from out of town. Haley has been looking forward to her birthday because then she will be “old enough” to “eat ice cream, oreos, licorice.” We had to explain to JT why he had a friend birthday, then a real birthday, then a family birthday, and finally a checkup for turning four. That’s a  lot! He had a great checkup. He is 41 inches tall and weighs 37 pounds. He has grown a little more than the average three-year-old over the past year. He told me it’s all that great food he’s been eating!

Age 4

Almost 2

We kicked off the party with hamburgers, corn, and more.

Then we let the kids open presents, one at a time, alternating. It was hilarious to watch Haley. It was really the first time she has understood what was going on. She was so excited and kept saying, “Open it?” and she was so animated about everything.

JT has been asking for a watch for a long time. Good thing Aunt Gena and Uncle Jeff had heard that!

Haley has been wanting a backpack like JT’s. Good thing Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Matt had heard that!

Both children were spoiled with a lot of great gifts!

Time for cake and ice cream… Grandma Cole has a long standing tradition of making the birthday cakes. JT requested a car and Haley wanted a kitty.

Everyone put on their party hats for the group pictures… because that’s what JT thinks a party should look like.

We did celebrate JT’s birthday a little on the actual day. He got his new car seat (which meant Haley gets his old one, and can face forward now!) and we sang him the traditional song to wake him up.

Our annual trip to Steamboat Rock State Park is our favorite part of the summer. We spend ten days camping in the sunshine and playing in the water and sand. This year was no disappointment. The weather was a little volatile (one storm had over 60 mph winds!) but we made it out unscathed. We had an amazing time continuing old traditions, like movie night in the boat, breakfast in the boat, Mexican dinner, hiking Steamboat Rock, rock jumping, cousin photos on the beach, and more. We also began some new traditions: Sunday service in the boat and family pictures on the tree. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful time with our family each year! We also had some visitors: the Bonnell family, the Topliff family, the Shuck family, and Grandpa and Grandma Keene. Between family and friends, we were busy.

JT had the trip of a lifetime. He learned to pedal his bike, swim in deep water with his life jacket on, and chew gum without swallowing. He started reading Magic Tree House chapter books at bedtime. He asked to ski behind the boat and tube with his friends and loved both. He spent countless hours in the water every day.

Haley enjoyed playing in the sand, riding her tricycle, and walking in the water up to her knees. She was not interested in swimming, tubing, skiing, or other water sports. There is time to convert her. 🙂

There is too much fun to write about, but I will sum up with captions below.

Haley napped each day in the shade of the tree on her cot.

JT took a few practice sets on the beach before

Aunt Gena and Uncle Jeff in the boat

Haley’s favorite pastime

The first of our visitors: JT’s friend Brady

Jim in his favorite spot :the boat.

JT fell asleep in the bow – still hanging on to the handle

JT’s favorite spot: in the water

Aunt Gena conquers Steamboat Rock

JT hiked over half the trail on his own, and Jim carried Haley in a pack

Cousins’ view from the top

Haley enjoyed skiing on the beach but didn’t want to try it behind the boat

Sweetie pies 🙂

Ali and Haley

Haley and Mom

Boat smooches!

So silly…

Roll Tide!

JT and Uncle Jeff: Go Army!

Coming back from a walk down the beach

JT’s big smile after pedaling his bike all by himself

On a bike ride with Dad

Boat naps

Swimming with Dad

Skiing behind the boat

My handsome men

Preston’s turbo tubing

Badmitton tournament

Early morning runners’ picture

Good morning in the tent!

JT enjoyed a ride in the Shucks’ canoe

Family pictures on the tree

Going into town for dinner

This is how JT and Haley got to the beach – “you want it, you carry it”

Sunglasses are a must

Morning ski run

JT tubing

Dinner in the boat: Jim took his in the tube

Ladies’ rock jump

Preston’s rock jump (!)

Annual girls’ boat trip picture

Preston gave Grandpa and ride in from the boat

Evening ski

We were all set to take a family picture… until the sprinklers came on!

JT and Haley riding bikes

Popsicles on the beach

Swimming in the warm water

JT on the rope swing

The ride home: relaxing in the passenger area while Preston drives There’s more… click “older posts” to continue!

Every year we look forward to my brother’s family arriving from North Carolina. It is a three-week reunion that includes lots of fun, memories, and family time. It is the highlight of the summer!

One afternoon we spent some time at the park in my parents’ neighborhood.

Aunt Gena taught JT how to stand on the swings.

Haley taught us all how to climb to the top of the slide.

Aunt Gena spent some quality time with JT building a whole city for his cars.

We also did some family running… here we are getting ready to leave on a run with the kids in a stroller.

JT and Uncle Jeff enjoyed watching the original Superman movie together in two chunks. Haley learned how to say “Uperman!”

Ali and Madi played games with the kids like Connect Four and building with Tinker Toys. JT and Haley sure love their cousins!

Ali and Grandpa

Trampoline fun

It’s arrived. That wonderful time of year when we eat on the deck, ride bikes, go to the lake, play backyard baseball, and enjoy the sunshine. Things move a little slower during the summer: I feel like I have all this spare time because I’m not going to work, and I have a lot more time to play. What’s not to like? Last week was my first week off but we were out of town for a lot of it, so now we’re settled in to days at home for a bit. I couldn’t help but snap some photos of my two cuties enjoying watermelon last night at dinner.

Today our friends the Joneses invited us to the lake by their house. We went over in the late afternoon and played hard until dinner time. JT got brave and was jumping off the dock (it’s about waist deep on him in the water there). Haley contemplated a lot but didn’t do much other than walk around. I love this picture of her because of her little round toddler tummy, and also how she’s looking at her friend Ashley, who is saying, “Come on, Haley, I’ll catch you.” Really!

After dinner tonight we went out for a bike ride/wagon ride. JT is increasingly confident on his two-wheel bike and is asking for the pedals. Jim told him to practice up tonight and that he’d put the pedals on tomorrow. There will definitely be a blog post about that if it goes smoothly. I took a quick couple of videos tonight and this is the best one. Haley enjoyed sticking to the wagon until the last block, when I offered for her to get out and walk. She decided to pull the wagon too.

Our neighborhood throws a pretty great party. Jim was at work but the kids and I walked the block down to our park and joined in the festivities. JT loved the sparklers but wasn’t impressed with the loud booming fireworks that started later on. Haley didn’t like any of the noise and was happy to play until it started, and then she came running and wanted to be held.

We had a yummy BBQ dinner complete with healthy turkey burgers and juicy watermelon.

JT got to enjoy a cupcake… or two. 🙂

Haley wanted me to take a picture of her, so I did. She also picked out her dress. Love. Her.

Then it was time for a Haley and Mommy picture and she went running… my neighbor Kelly snagged this fun shot with my camera, and then took a very nice one as well.

We went home about nine and tucked Haley in bed, who was so tired she knocked right out and slept through the mortar shells going off everywhere. JT, on the other hand, was wired and didn’t know quite what to do: watch outside from a distance, watch from the window, or watch a movie. In the end we did a little of each and tucked him into bed after 10:30. We’re making up for it today… I let JT sleep in until almost 9:30 and Haley has been napping for well over three hours. It’s hard work having fun!

We had such a great time with friends at Lincoln Rock this past weekend. It was our first (hopefully annual) “Ditch the Kids” trip, and we spent four days kid-free camping and skiing. We had a great time! The Schmalzes have a huge fifth wheel so we had the luxuries of home like microwaves and refrigeration, plus the Bonnells came ready for anything with bikes, kayaks, tennis rackets, frisbees, and more. It was the perfect combination of relaxing and playing… with a LOT of laughter. We are so grateful to have good friends. Special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Cole for making this possible. The other two couples had to leave Monday night but we stayed through Tuesday morning, so we even got some time just the two of us, with s’mores and a lazy morning and a Harley ride when we got home.

Parting picture before we left the camp.

First wet suit run of the season – hooray!

Relaxing in the boat

The group: Jim, Becky, Elisa, Christian, Katie, and Carl

Getting ready for a bike ride

Sunny and 80 degrees!

Sometimes people forget that it’s my boat, too. 🙂

Beautiful but very cold water.

Enjoying a late dinner – enchiladas by Katie