Time with some "Greats"

Our kids are blessed to have many wonderful grandpas and grandmas. In the last couple weeks we were able to see some who live further away. On our way to Sunriver, we stopped in Sisters to visit with Grandma Carrie (my great-grandmother). It had been a while since we'd seen her, but the kids jumped right in and got reaquainted quickly.

We also have been able to visit with Great Grandpa and Grandma Arnold. They came down for my cousin's wedding and made it an extended visit. It's been fun to catch up with them, too. Someday we're going to have to make it up to Alaska to visit them and all our family up there--someday.

Sunriver

We got back Wednesday from the Moffat family vacation in Sunriver but haven't had a chance to blog. We had a really great time. It's always a little crazy (10 adults & 8 kids, ages 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 16 months, and 1 year), but the house was big, the weather was nice, and we all kept busy doing fun things--never a dull moment!

(click on the collage for a closer view)

The whole group

"We coordinate"

I admit, I'm a sucker for matching/coordinating outfits for my kids, and so Kari has known and used the word "coordinate" for quite some time now. I wasn't about to make my son and daughter exactly match, but sometimes they did "coordinate." Now that we have Aubrey, Kari has a little sister with whom to coordinate and sometimes even match. This post only has the girls in it, but it's been fun to watch relationships develop between all three kids. Joel has really been enjoying Aubrey's company more and more, at least when she's not messing with his things, and Kari enjoys mothering Aubrey. That four years between K&A seems like a big span right now, but someday it won't be such a wide gap, and hopefully, they'll be good friends.

This photo is for you, Tiffany. There shall be more to come, thanks to you and your fun garage sale. :-)

This photo is compliments of Uncle Eric. It was at the Sunday school end-of-the-year bowling party yesterday. Kari loves to hold Aubrey, and Aubrey was content to sit with her for about 30 seconds, long enough to snap a photo. Then she was done, much to Kari's dismay.

On the mend, once again

Four of the five members of our family were on antibiotics this last week (ridiculous, I know), but I'm happy to say, we're all getting better. We have a family vacation coming up soon, so I'm thankful all the sickness happened last week and not this week. Greg even started installing some new windows in our house this weekend, but that'll be a future blog post.

Father Daughter Messes

We are having another one of "those" weeks around here--nothing too terrible, just not great. Colds, soar throats, sinus infection (what did I have that surgery for again?). The week's been full of doctor visits, doctor phone calls, and pharmacy runs. Kari's going strong as the only completely well one. Good for you, Kari. Keep it up!
Early Monday morning Greg sustained a basketball injury above his eye that sent him to urgent care for six stitches. Aubrey went to the doctor Tuesday for an ear infection.
So, here's the pair on Sunday.

And here they are on Tuesday--aren't they pitiful?

This one shows the black eye better. Aubrey seriously was a wreck yesterday, but she still managed a little cheezy smile for the camera.

So, we're just laying low around here. I'm getting absolutely nothing done, but I'm enjoying the extra cuddles from my sad sick baby, playing with the kids, and reading more books with them. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb and Hop on Pop are Aubrey's favorites, so they've been read multiple times a day. I'd rather not have a sick baby, but there are some positives. Gotta look on the bright side, right?

Mission Accomplished

The kids' last swimming lesson was today, and they both showed great improvement in their own ways. The primary reason we enrolled the kids was to get Joel accustomed to the water (ie, not be so afraid) before this summer's pool season, and after watching him in the water today, I'd say we accomplished that goal. Joel completed every step of level 1 and could move on, but the instructor thought he probably would be more comfortable staying with Level 1 for another set of lessons, as he still moves pretty cautiously in the water--a correct assessment, in my opinion. Kari completed every step and then some beyond. She could skip to level 3 next time. She is able to swim on her own across the learner pool. I was amazed at what they accomplished with her. She's a little fish in the water! I'm tempted to enroll her in the next class, but we'll see.
We got home just in time to witness the severe thunderstorm from the safety of our living room.

Park time

We sure had a great weekend at our all-church retreat. The kids did really well and had a blast. It's definitely one of the highlights of the year.

We're all recovered from our fun and getting back to routines, once again. Today we met some friends at a neighborhood park and had a little picnic.

Kari working on her rings skills.

Aubrey loving the slide.

Taking a "story walk" through the forest. They had the pages of Olivia posted along the path--pretty fun idea.

We are not a dealership

This morning Kari asked, "Mommy, how old will I be when we have a new baby?" (I'm not sure whether she just really wants another sibling or whether she's heard us discussing the possibility, but we're NOT expecting at the moment.)

Me: "Do you think we should have a new baby?"
Kari: "Yes!"
Joel: "NO!!!"
Kind of surprised by his adamant "no" and curious, I asked, "Why not, Joel?"
"Because I want to keep Aubrey!"

Apparently, "new" meant "different" in his little three-year-old mind. No wonder he was upset. His mother had just asked whether we should trade in his sister for a new model.

Sick Kari

Kari missed her very last day of preschool and her "graduation" because she was sick, sick, sick with a high fever and some kind of stomach bug. Thankfully, the tummy troubles didn't last very long, but the fever persisted over the next couple days--kinda put a damper on our weekend. By Sunday afternoon she was feeling much better, though, and we were able to do some BBQing with friends and family and even squeezed in some pool time today.

Sprinkler

Last week it was warm enough to finally justify some backyard sprinkler time.

So much to see, so much to do

The library passes I had on reserve to go to The Portland Children's Museum arrived this week, so I took the kids yesterday, and this time Grandma M. was able to come with us. (These kids have it pretty good-- they got to have a grandpa come to the zoo and then a grandma come with them to the museum.) The Children's Museum is such a fun place. It's amazing the creativity and thought the designers put into each exhibit. They just know how to think like kids.

Grandma brought her camera and documented our morning for us.
This is outside the theater/stage. We used the "R" for Kari's name (all the other R's were in use on the other side of the wall, I found out later) since Aubrey doesn't care about such things yet.

In the Bob the Builder exhibit. Joel says this is "Roley"

Playing in the water

Small Victory

Joel entered the pool without crying today at swimming lessons! We had the beginnings of tears in the locker room because Daddy wasn't there yet. Apparently, Mommy isn't good enough when it comes to feeling secure at the pool. Greg took Kari and Joel to the swim lesson pool Friday night for the open swim time. We were hoping that maybe a positive, safe, fun experience in the same environment as swim lessons might help Joel feel better and not panic. It appears to have worked (for today's lesson, at least--no guarantees). Just better make sure Greg can make it to the next lesson!

[Sidenote: Kari is doing GREAT! She's already swimming (I use the term loosely) across the pool and treading water a little.]

Almost summer

It's been feeling more like summer these last couple days. We've been enjoying the sunshine and warmth.
We had popcorn and fruit smoothie pops for dinner one night this weekend, and the kids thought that was pretty funny. (Greg doesn't understand popcorn for dinner either, but he wasn't very hungry that night, so...). The kids were pretty cute in their chairs. Aubrey was so proud to be in a chair just like the big kids. I had to hose down the chair when she was done, as it was pretty well covered with strawberry smoothie.

Miller Picnic

This is everyone who was able to make it to the Miller family (Greg's mom's side) gathering today. It was a beautiful day for a picnic, and we had a great time together. Click here to see more photos of the day.

Spoke too soon

Swim lessons 1 and 2--great! Lesson 3--horrendous. Joel cried and cried and wouldn't go in. He finally entered the pool, after much coaxing, for the last 10 minutes of the 30 minute session. May lesson 4 be a more pleasant experience for all.