Taylor's birthday

 Due to traffic we where an hour late to Taylor's birthday party but we arrived in time for pinata, cake and then jumped right into swimming.  Happy Birthday Taylor and Grace.  It's fun they get to share a birthday.

cousin jumping

My little fishie

Turning 7

Grace's Puppy-tastic party

Once again it's time to celebrate Grace.  We had fun planning her simple party.  Grace wanted puppy ears, a pinata and to play with her friends.  No games.  Since her friends would be out of town on her birthday we hosted her birthday party a week in advance.  

We rushed back from Packwood and started the birthday party prep.  Gwenevere and Grace made the pinata while I sewed puppy ears.   

I stayed up till 2am the morning of the party but the puppy ears where complete.  

Grace went with my to pick up her friends for the party.  When we returned home Papa and Gwenevere had decorated the living room with streamers.  

Then I left the kids alone to play while I decorated Grace's cake.

Getting puppy tattoos 

 A little later I noticed it was pretty quiet for a party.  This is what I found them doing.

Reading books at a birthday party.  That's my favorite thing.

lunch time

I wanted to make hotdog for the puppy party but Grace asked for Pizza.  

 While the kids ate lunch I read a few puppy stories.  After lunch the kids decided they wanted to do a treasure hunt with the birthday presents.   Each kid hide the present they brought.  We made cluse for each hidden present.  Grace hid in the bathroom while the presents where being hidden.  Then everyone had fun helping Grace on her treasure hunt.  She opened presents in the garden, in the basement, in the bedrooms and in the driveway.  It was so much fun.

Grace received some facepaints and everyone got a little paint on them.  I had planned to watch the movie Rock dog and eat pup corn but the kids where having so much fun playing we just decided to let them play.  

 Then we inflated tail balloons and played chase the tails.  

Then it was time for a pinata 

Everett came at the pinata running.  

Papa finally finished the pinata.  

I love you Grace.  I love this age and stage.  I love how happy you are.  I love how smart you are.  I love that you like to dance and sing.  I love that you like to help.  I love your giggle. I love your sense of adventure.  I love that you love spending time with me.  

I hope your 6th year is filled with learning and growth.  Happiness and Love.  

Packwood

James came home on Saturday and I had really missed him.  I had originally planned a trip to Packwood to spend a few days at my friend's cabin on Monday but I missed James so much I didn't want to leave him again.  James however, knew I would have fun so he encouraged me to go.  His reasoning went like this. "I'll be working during the day and I would like to start working on the siding project in the evenings while you are away".    So with less than expected excitement.  I loaded up the kids and we made our way to Packwood.  A tiny community right next to Mt. Rainier.

James was right.  We had a lot of fun.  The drive was beautiful and we listened to an audiobook while we drove.  Hayley and Candy made us feel right at home once we arrived.  Shortly after we arrived Esther and Kirsten arrived with their kids.  We settled in and then went swimming.

The little gain.  

After swimming we roasted hotdogs over the fire and then had a movie night before falling asleep exhausted and happy.  

Tuesday morning we woke up happy.  All the kids immediately went off playing while the Mama ladies made breakfast.  After a yummy breakfast we went on a short hike to a waterfall.

after a fun hike we went Swimming again.  Gwenevere started diving and Grace was a swimming fish. Everett and I chilled together in the shallow end soaking up the sun rays and loving life. 

Gwenevere

Grace

After swimming we came back for an early dinner and otter pops.  The kids painted rocks and bird houses and themselves.  LOL  Then we said goodbye to Esther and Kirsten because they needed to go home.  Hayley and I took our kids back to the pool for one last swim night swim.  We stayed up late talking while the kids watched another movie before bed.

My dear friend Kirsten and I

Running back to the swimming pool

In the morning we helped Candy rearrange some furniture.  Then I took the kids back to the waterfall to build a fairy home while Hayley and Candy did more work on the cabin.

Searching for fairies.  I think I found one.

a little fairy home modeled by Bootus.  

Gwenevere making a fair sail boat.

Her maiden voyage

 When we got back from our hike we loaded up our car, ate lunch and said goodbye.

I was so excited to see James when we got home,  he was right we had a wonderful time.  James was able to start the siding project too.

taking down the damaged siding