That feeling you get when someone is watching you.

Yup. I got that today. 

Avarys 2nd swim meet.

Parenting is tough.  Not saying 'I told you so' is even more tough.  Avary went into this swim meet wanting it all.  ALL.  Her goal was to do all 6 events AND get all 1st place ribbons.  Not even the 12 year olds do 6 events.  That's a lot of swimming.  Good news is that she met her goal of events, bad news, if you will, she got slower and slower as the day went on.  I could see the look of disappointment in her eyes, but knew she was learning a great lesson.  Tough on a mommys heart, but also proud that she did today all on her own.  She swam her determined heart out.  She got in the pool every single time her event was called.  She high-fived friends as they competed for the same 1st place spot.  She made me SO proud.

Quick pep talk from daddy during lunch.  He's a swimmer.  He knows the swimmer language.  I do not.  I am there for moral support and sunscreen application.  And, occasionally the tightening of the goggles.

She's amazing.  

Amazing Grace.

Update:

2 - 1st place

2 - 2nd place

2 - 3rd place

Maybe 6 events isn't too many. 

I told you so. 

Nothing says 'you're old' like being the parent of a teenager.

Hold on tight, Jackson is 13.  How did this happen?  It seems like yesterday that we were waiting for him to be born.  He was due on July 2nd, but made us wait an extra two weeks.  Even now, there are days that we sit and wait for him.  That's just how it is.  We all know and love that about him.

We began the day by driving to Krispy Kreme to get the birthday boy his breakfast of choice.  Then sat by the pool for the afternoon with friends.   Dinner was at our favorite hibachi style restaurant and followed by picking up friends to stay the night and frozen yogurt instead of a cake.   

It's hard to get a photo of this one.  He is either 'not in the mood' or just too quick.  Either way, we wish him an amazing 13th Birthday.  

He is how our role as parents all began.  

Perfection.

Found this beauty on my walk this morning.

Hydrangeas take me back to my childhood.  My grandma and grandpa had an amazing Hydrangea plant in their front yard.  I would cut basketball size blooms to take home.  Now, as an adult, I can't grow one of these plants to save my life.  So, I walk the neighborhood full of envy.

When life gives you lemons, make AND sell lemonade.

My lemons were tired, cranky, bored kids.  

This kept them busy for a couple hours.

Update: 4 hours of fun and $14.33 in sales. They were even able to pay back their supplier for product.  ;)

64,207 people in the stands

That includes the 5 of us plus

the 4 additional children that we were responsible for.  

Stressful at times, but so fun!

Craig surprised the kids with 10 tickets to see the Seattle Sounders play the Portland Timbers, their biggest rivals.  With this month being our families 'Christmas in July', we decided to let the kids bring a friend or two.  It worked out great.

Evalyn and Avary ready for kick off!

Brayden and Griffen. 

This was Braydens first Seattle Sounders game live!

He was SO excited!

Adam, Ryan and Jackson.

This was Adams first time to Seattle and to a Sounders game.

Talk about pressure to make sure he and Brayden had a good time.

The sunset during the game.  Not bad, huh?

And here they are!  All smiles after the game.

Mission accomplished.

Driving in my car beep, beep!

Craig and Griffen got up early yesterday and drove to Redmond, WA to visit a car show called Exotics at Redmond Towne Center.  It was a parking lot full of yup, you guessed it, exotic cars. 

He loves fancy cars.

Lucky dog, lucky dog, I'm a lucky dog!

Today was a big day for Ally.  She not only got to go on her first back of the truck ride,

she got to go swimming!

Avary has been asking for-ev-er if Ally knew how to swim.  I told her we would find out during a time that Craig was with us, just in case.........

She was NOT interested. 

 G & A had to coax her with a ball.

She eventually did prove that she could, then quickly headed back to shore.

With disgust.

Avary and her crabs........

At one point she just stood still.  

Didn't budge.

The beach we went to had a giant tree swing.

Fun times!

"take me home, please."

Oh my gawd.  

I'm sounding like my mom.  

My dog doesn't talk.  

Avarys first swim meet is in the books!

We don't call her Amazing Grace for nothing!

She did SO well.  SO well. From the moment we walked into the clubhouse, she rocked it!

Each swimmer has to fill out a card and mark down which events they would like to participate in.  She chose Freestyle Medley, Backstroke, Dolphin and 25 Freestyle.

Warmed up and ready to go!

This video is her doing the freestyle 25.  

And the relay.

And the results are in!

STOP THE CAR!

Griffen and Avary supporting a small business.

Best .75 cents ever spent. 

She's Back!

Lucky us!  Haidyn got to come back to stay with us.  These two have been friends since preschool.  At one point during Haidyns stay they started singing songs their preschool teacher used to sing with them.

A-dor-A-ble!

Haivry 

Something of his own.

Sometimes the stars do align. 

Griffen has started tennis!  

Every morning, on the way to Avary's swim team practice, we pass kids playing tennis.  They obviously looked like they were having fun because he had shown absolutely no interest to tennis before this.  I've even asked on several occasions if anyone would like to start playing tennis.  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?  

We have about 6 courts here in our neighborhood which makes it super convenient. 

Finally, someone took me up on it!

Here we go!

Crazy 8

Happy 8th Birthday Avary and Griffen!

First time walking through these doors as 8 year olds!

We spent the whole day at the pool.

And the tennis courts.

Griffen starts tennis lessons this week so he is determined to be a pro before he even starts.

What says Happy Birthday like Hibachi for dinner?!

May all their wishes come true.
Except for the one of Avary wanting a puppy.