Fountain Fun

Sorry all you folks who follow both Kaylee and me, because we are practically living together at the moment and doing everything together, so all our pictures and activities are going to be the same.  I take pictures, she takes pictures, we swap memory cards and download each others pictures, it's just the way it's gonna be for awhile.  It looks like you're gonna have two new posts to read, but nope, it's the same post, just on two different blogs.  :D

We decided to venture out with the brood today.  Now that Kaylee keeps popping out new kids, we can't all fit in the same car, so we have to drive separate everywhere we go.  It's quite a production to get us out of the driveway and we're both really paranoid about leaving someone behind.  With 2 cars with extra seats and car seats, and my kids playing musical cars each trip, it's totally possible!  We went down town in Olympia today to the water fountains by Capital Lake.  Right next to my old favorite yarn store.  I didn't even get to go in.  Maybe next time...

The 3 older boys ran around like crazy people.  Willow and Easton were much more hesitant.  Willow didn't even get wet.  Easton only got wet because he ventured out when there was only like 1 or 2 water fountains going off and then he kinda got trapped when all the other ones started going off around him.

Westport

The weather man said it was going to be 70 degrees, sunny, and under 10mph winds at the beach yesterday.  Big. Fat. Liars.  It was in the low 60's, overcast, and super windy!  Oh well, it was still a lot of fun!  Kaylee has this awesome pop-up shelter that at least provided some relief from the wind!
The crazy big boys spent a lot of time in the freezing cold ocean water.

Annabel got dressed up like it was winter (check out her sweet socks!)

Sand castle's with moats were built

Wyatt did some cliff jumping

A hole to China was dug

"cheese!"

I love the beach!  I'm hoping we can get back there again before we head back to land-locked Kansas.

Teresa's Birthday

Yesterday, we went and spent time with my very best friend from my childhood, Teresa.  It was her birthday, and while we used to spend every birthday together, neither of us could remember the last time we we around each other on our birthdays.  The weather was beautiful and her parents had a small bbq for her at their house on Oakland Bay, which was pretty much my second home growing up.
After dinner, Teresa, her husband Teddy, and the kids and I went for a boat ride.

There were lots of tug boats coming in and out of the port, pulling and pushing barges full of wood pulp and gravel.

Then we took the kids over to the log boom where the seals like to hang out.

Once the tugs and barges cleared out of our way, Willow really wanted Teddy to "drive faster!"

Both of the kids got to take turns driving the boat back into the dock.

It was really fun to hang out with the Gardner's and Wenner's again.  Happy Birthday Teresa!!!

3rd and 4th of July

The 4th of July always manages to spill into 2 days over here.  When we were on Mason Lake, there was always a huge fireworks show on the 3rd, and now that we're not on the lake, we still seem to seek out a show.  So, this year, we watched the fireworks show out at Alderbrook.  Alderbrook is where my mom is just now moving into a new house, but instead of going down to the resort and paying to get in, we found a clearing right up above it and watched from there!  They were a little far away, but it was still an awesome show to watch.
Jayden lost another tooth while biting into a strawberry.

Our view from the top

The boys playing in the dirt waiting for it to get dark.

Willow started collecting rocks.  She claims she wants them for painting on.  So far, we still have a pile in the back of the truck and there has been no mention of painting...

Sisters!  Together again!  Finally!

And some fireworks!

The 4th of July, we packed up and headed to Tumwater's 4th of July Parade.

Sadly, it was a very lame parade.  It was long, and mostly politicians running for office, businesses around town advertising, and hardly any horses, and no one was throwing candy!  Well, no one, except for this one and only clown.

I mean Albertson's came by with a huge truck advertising their new remodel and they were pushing 2 empty shopping carts down the road - they could of at least fill them full of candy!  I didn't even see/hear one marching band.  Lame!  We ended up leaving early.  We fed the kids some food and put everyone down for a rest.  Including the 3 older boys!

Later in the afternoon, we blew up some parachute fireworks.

Then walked around Kaylee's property and the kids did some ninja moves on the rope swing.

Then we let Sam run around in the orchard.  He. Is. Loving!  the long grass to run through.  His ears look like bat wings!

Later in the evening, we lit a bonfire, did some sparklers, lit off a few little fireworks, and roasted s'mores.  It was a perfect 4th of July and it is SO FUN being parked right next door to my sister!