Seize the Day!

Sequim has funny weather. We can never count on having warm summer weather. June and July rarely see warm sunny days. August is somewhat more prone to sun, but not always. Then there is September. September is usually marked with warm sunny days. It seems a same since the kids go back to school and can't enjoy the sun as well. This Septemeber was particularly busy for me. Cameron especially kept asking to go to the beach. I just felt like I couldn't, because I had so much to do. On one day is was gorgeous outside, and I had 3 different invitations to do fun outdoor things. However I HAD to finish something for that evening. I vowed in my heart that tomorrow I would take the kids to the beach. Tomorrow came and it was the first day of a cold streak for a couple of weeks. Well, on Monday the 29th it was warm (well, for here!) I surprised the kids after we picked up Ethan from school and went straight to the beach. The kids were screaming to go home and put on swimsuits, but it was not THAT warm. The water was still very cold. I'm glad that some days I am able to seize the moment and have fun with these kids. All too soon the moments will be fewer and farther between. I hope that they will have some magical moments to remember when they are older.

Luke turns 1!

My baby is one! He is such a joyful guy. This has been a hard year. He wasn't the easiest to care for of my four children. He just now is sleeping through the night. He also spat up constantly for the first six months of life. Even with the difficultly he has been delightful. I can't imagine our family without him.
Before I became pregnant with Lucas, I felt so strongly that a soul needed to come to our family. It was an extremely stressful time in our family's lives, and in my head the idea of having another baby seemed crazy. However, my heart was broken at the thought of not having this baby. So, we put it into the Lord's hands and we were blessed with Lucas Scott. I know he is here for a reason. Already he has blessed our lives.

The cake. Pretty simple, but I have been meaning to make a caterpillar cake since Ethan turned one. I finally did it. Very cute.

One happy birthday boy. Mmmmm, chocolate!!

So good it couldn't all be contained inside! He got dirtier and dirtier as he ate. Perfect picture of one.

Earlier in the day I took Luke and Laurel to a park to play. Laurel insisted on wearing "school clothes" because her brothers did that morning. She is jealous that they get to go to school.
Luke loves wheels. Such a boy! He is usually found with a car or two in hand. This day he was tickled by this big truck. Here he was frustrated, because he wanted it to go.


Here's to a fantastic second year of life my sweet baby Luke! I hope that you grow in body and mind, and that you SLEEP! That would really make life great.

First day of school 2008

September 3rd marked the first day of school for 2008. Cameron was one excited little boy to be going off to Kindergarten. He wants so much to be just like Ethan! Now he gets to go to school!
Ethan is in 1st grade. I hope that they will be able to challenge him this year. He is pretty advanced and has is an avid learner right now. He is a sponge for knowledge. Walt and I try to challenge his keen mind at home, but I hope he will be engaged at school as well.

I'm not sure what was better to Cameron going to school or coming home on the school bus! I'm pretty sure the bus is the highlight of his day. He watched Ethan ride the Kindergarten bus all last year, and now it is his turn. He was glowing when he got off.

Cupcake Fancy!

I was invited to a baby shower this week and asked to bring a salad or dessert. Well, I have been on a dessert streak, especially cake. I don't really want to eat it as much as make it. I am trying to expand my abilities, and this was a great chance to experiment.
Cupcakes are wildly popular right now. Don't ask me why, but they are. I just thought it would be easier for serving in this case. I made these cupcakes and then called to see if they were using special colors or themes for the baby shower. Lucky me, I was in tune! Blue and brown were the colors of the evening. I enjoyed making these little blue baby footprints. I was glad that they turned out well.

Cameron's 5th Birthday Party

Cameron really wanted a snake cake for his birthday. So we naturally had a jungle theme. It began with our guests being greeted with a "Welcome to the Jungle" sign. Little did I know there's a song called "Welcome to the Jungle". What do I know, I have always said that I missed the 80's.
Personally, I am not very happy with the way the snake cake came out. I have been experimenting with frostings and wanted to try fondant. Snake formed cake was a bad choice for fondant. Despite my dislike, my cute little boy thought it spectacular. He was radiant in his lizard shirt.
You can't see it, but I hung crepe paper and stapled leaves to it to make it a festive jungle. Cameron blew out his candles and said, "Now I'm FIVE!!" Never mind the three days until his birthday, he truly felt he was 5 after that ceremonious ritual. Cameron will always be my best birthday present ever. He has blessed this family with his compassion, smiles, and laughter, just some of the reasons I love Cameron.

20 at 30

This is picture is not going to win me any beauty pagents, but it is one that I am very proud of. Last Friday August 8th, the day before my 30th birthday, I ran 20 miles. I started at 4:10 a.m. and finished seconds before 7:10 a.m. I was completely soggy from sweat, with salt encrusting my face, and I was tired, but I was so happy! I did it. I think I can actually run that marathon come October. You may see sweat and matted hair, but I see strength and determination.

MUD FIGHT!!!!!!!!!

What a mother I am! I let my children fight, with mud, in crazy clothes (Cameron's still in his pajamas!), in the heat, in the middle of a dandelion jungle! And yet, it was too funny not to document. As you can see they were having a blast. It was actually fairly warm, at least for Sequim, and they all had on long sleeves. Laurel, who is out growing the lion costume, still insists on wearing the costume as regularly as possible. Cameron most days refuses not to put on real clothes, unless we are most decidedly leaving the house. I have stopped fighting it mostly. I figure I rarely feel like getting dressed too, although I do.
A dirt encrusted dimple! That one dimple of his can't be covered up! It's one of Cameron's most endearing features (even if he is about to devilishly hit his brother with a mud clod).
Mud, costume and all, this little girl is so beautiful to me! Now if we can just subdue her screaming, she'd be perfect.

This picture shows the excitement and action of the whole event. I think Ethan was the master mind behind this entire scheme. What a fun boy his is.