Our Happy Halloween

My spooky cupcakes. I wish I could say I thought of it all by myself, but anyone who knows me knows I am way to type a to have even an ounce of creativity in me. I copied them from a magazine!

Ruston is holding Zach, he was Robin; Josh is the green dragon that has his backside to the camera. Sadly, we aren't the best picture takers and this is the only picture we have of Zach or Josh in their costumes. Luke and Zach were even Batman and Robin and they looked so cute together, but do you think we got a shot of them together . . .NO! Maybe I'll put their costumes bak on just for a picture!

Luke, after about the tenth car, he finally figured out what the deal was and then he was off!

Brooke and Kendall at trunk or treat

Josh thought these tractor bikes were so cool. He spent a lot of time driving his around.

Zach and his tractor out for a spin.

Luke did a great job driving the tractor.

Zach found a pumpkin just his size. Sadly, if your at the pumpkin patch on a field trip, that's the only size pumpkin they give you with your entrance fee. However, last years was only about half that size, if you can have a pumpkin be half that size and still be called a pumpkin.

Brooke and Zach are riding in Bossy, and just a coule of seconds after this picture was taken a tractor started pulling them along in a huge cow train.

Josh and Luke riding in Babe

These were just some fun pj's I found, but they glow in the dark and I think they're every bit as cool as their "real" costumes!

The Beach House

It wasn't until I looked back at our blog that I realized we never even mentioned the best vacation of our lives that we went on this summer. Needless to say, I'm having an affair . . . with the Oregon Coast. It's so beautiful, and woodsy, and beachy, and . . . perfect. The kids had a blast. They were always busy having fun, and I don't think I ever heard anyone say, "I'm bored, there's nothing to do.
Back in December I found a beach house on VRBO.com, and then we found some friends who were interested in going to split the cost with us, and then at the end of July, off we went. And really, can you go wrong with a huge beach house four blocks from the beach, hot tub, pool table, Foosball table, fire pit, amazing food and great friends? Ya, did I mention we had fun? Here are some pics from our adventure.

Don't worry, it's a marshmallow on his lips. Should I mention that it was 10:30 in the am when we were already roasting marshmallows?

I think the crab survived his encounter with Brooke.

Luke enjoying the beach.

Josh loved the wake board, sadly though he never actually did more than stand on it and let the waves come to him.

The First Days of School

It's funny to finally be posting Brooke and Josh's "First Day of School" pictures since I know of several places where school isn't just starting, they're well into their second month. But out here in good ol' Bonney Lake, we milk summer for all it's worth, and we don't start until the Tuesday after Labor Day.
In reaching that oh so exciting first day of school, and for Brooke her first day of kindergarten, as a mother I have also hit a milestone, the beginning of packing a school lunch. The first night while Brooke and I sat smearing PB&J across bread, I felt like that car insurance commercial, "I am so there".

(anxiously awaiting the school bus)

(Brooke's already going up the stairs)

The first day of Kindergarten for Brooke was a hit. She was so excited because on the first day they didn't do any numbers or letters. She is also really enjoying music class and all the new friends she gets to play with. However, I think she's taken back a bit by the "rules of the playground". Mostly by the rule that says, "even though we're friends at home, that doesn't mean we play together at school. I have my friends and you have yours, but when we get home again, let's hang out." What is the deal with that rule? I guess I kind of get it, but Brooke is all sorts of confused by it. Fortunately, she does have "her" friends that she can hang out with during recess, so she's handling it very well.

Josh is also had his first last day of preschool. For two years now we've taken our kids to Ms. Shauna's for preschool, and the kids just love her. She does an amazing job, and like every good teacher is so underpaid. Josh loves her, and we love her, and he's so excited to go and learn.

Josh and Ms. Shauna

Stories Yet Untold

I read some of my friends blogs, and I'm always so amazed at how well they keep on their lives. Anyone who follows mine, knows I'm terrible at that. So here our some of our summer activities and cute things that have happened thus far.

Luke found the Josh's vacuum and is actually vacuuming my floor. I thought he was having fun but. . .

maybe not.

Luke and our friend Ammon at Lake Tapps. Lake Tapps is about two miles from our house, and the kids really enjoy going there for a swim. We recently acquired a row boat, and although we look like total dorks next to all the really nice ski boats, the kids have a ball on the water (once Ruston has convinced them we aren't going to sink).

Ruston's birthday. Don't worry, he's not really turning one. It was an ice cream cake and one candle was all I could manage to stick into the darn thing.

Josh and Luke enjoying the water hopscotch Josh got for his birthday.

It's called sticky rice . . . I get it. We had to take him and his high chair outside to hose them both off.

For Luke and Zach's birthday we got them a Cozy Car, and they have loved it all summer. However, sharing is hard; we NEED two more!

Josh loves the trail-a-bike, he calls it his one-wheeler and is always wanting Ruston to take him biking, and tells him to "go off the big jumps". Scary!

Brooke learning how to roller blade. She's kind of getting the hang of it.

Our first camping trip this summer.

Not quite as adventurous as we were hoping to be, but we all had fun. Actually, by about midnight, the air mattress Ruston and I were on went flat, so we went upstairs to bed. A nice benefit of staying so close to home!

Josh's fourth birthday and his dinosaur cake.

Father's Day with the Pack Family tradition of orange rolls; they ate the rest of the breakfast downstairs.

And lastly, yet again there are times when you only need one, and everyone still has fun.

My Boddy

There's one, maybe two people who prior to reading this entry know that "boddy", is not a typo. Way back many eons ago, when friends used to write notes to each other in class instead of texting, I received a note that I thought was signed "your boddy" instead of your buddy. My friend and I got a good laugh, but from that day on, we always signed our notes "your boddy". She, Kellie White, now Conde, became my best friend.

We played basketball together in Junior High and High School, created only minor mischief together and about a month ago, I got to go back to San Ramon and visit her.

You know you have a true friend when you've fallen in and out of contact over the last fifteen years (when my family moved to Denver), for real lost contact for four of those years, and yet when you get together it feels like yesterday.

Kellie is one of those friends for me. We always have a good time together. My only regret about my most recent trip . . . I went to Great America without her. Next time.

Thanks Kellie, for always being a best friend.

The reason for the maddness, Denver Third Installment

But back in May I embarked on an endless journey, 1700 miles . . . one way, to drive myself and four small children (all five and under) to Denver so that I could "indulge" by doing none other than running 6.2 miles. I think somewhere a bolt or two has come loose.

However, running a 10K (the Bolder Boulder) with your mom, dad, sister and brother is priceless and therefore obviously worth the bolt or two lost along the way. (Not my fastest race time coming in at 58:45, but like every good person, I'm sure I can blame that on someone else!)

This is me and dad after the race and getting ready to watch the pros do it, my dad did awesome and finished the race in just under 51 minutes! not his goal, but wow, he's FAST in my book!

Popcorn and Popsicles, Denver Second Installment

Popcorn first. You should have seen the "fun" these two had together. If only we could see Lisa's little boy Carter more often.

If your reading this entry and a Bown, you will at least understand the second half of this title. Apparently, the love of popsicles is genetic; going back at least three generations, and therefore cannot be helped. Ruston's grandpa loved them, his dad, I'm sure at least enjoys them, Ruston is addicted and MUST always be able to find them in the freezer or will immediately remedy the problem, and as you can see, the kids . . . obsessed. (I'm a little concerned, Ruston, elated.)

Denver, First Installment

Since I'm soooo far behind in blogging this is going to take a couple of entries. I finally made it home after being away for about two years. We came so that I could run with the fam in the Bolder Boulder (I'll have to tell about that later!). I love going home, and wish I didn't live so far away. Here are some pics from our trip.

This is taken from my mom's kitchen window. I love that they get deer in their backyard and yet the grocery store is still just a block away!

Brooke and Josh is Lisa's hammock, we had a good time there.

Brooke experiencing what we called "extreme swinging".

If you think this is nuts, just imagine when we used to do it on the most broken down old wood ladder, and really you were more worried that the ladder would break than you were about swinging or jumping from so high. You can see the old ladder in the background.

I love it. It's so much fun!