Mattawa, Day 4

Today everyone left except us.  Trina and Stephanie and their kids left this morning.  We managed to play with Betsy's kids for a little while before they had to go as well.  The kids pulled out the face painting kit and everyone participated in the fun! 

Betsy's painted Ella's butterfly face and I did Madeline's, it's hard to see because it's pink.  Mike did Anna Elise's blue disco diva, Lilah's crazy vampire, and Calvin's Spiderman.  Anna Elise did a good job on Mike's tiger face.

Mattawa, Day 3

Here are all the cousins in their new shirts  (we are missing my brother's 4 kids).  Tanner didn't feel like having his picture taken today.

We are on our way to a friends house to swim in their pool - we had a blast!

This afternoon we played a game with cheetos and cream (we used some whipping cream and some shaving cream and I think the shaving cream worked better -but didn't taste as good).

 Lilah throwing her cheeto balls onto Madeline's whipped creamed, shower capped head

 Anna Elise

 Talia started a shaving cream fight and smeared some on me

 I may have hosed her down in retaliation

Here I am just helping clean up the shaving cream ;)

We ended the afternoon with our annual water balloon fight.  They had more balloons then ever before.  We also had more wet adults then ever before!

 Ella gets Lilah while Anna Elise hits Ella

 Liam got a lot of water balloons popped on him - he stood still and let you do it because he loved it!

 Tanner ruined Lilah's plan and she ended up missing him, so she told him in no uncertain terms what she thought of that - poor kid was just trying to protect himself!

Celeste stole someone's balloon and had a good time playing with it.

This evening Celeste got a hold of a couple of swimsuits and decided to wear them as purses.  She carried them around like this all evening.

Mattawa, Day 2

We usually get up before anyone else, it takes us a few days to get on PST, so we go outside to avoid waking anyone else up.  We play in the yard and jump on the trampoline in our pajamas and watch all the workers busy in the orchard.   This morning we found a cold  butterfly that couldn't fly.  We spent a few minutes holding it and then set it in a safe place to dry out and warm up.

 Everyone got a ride in the wagon too!

This afternoon we went for mattress rides down grandma's stairs!  The kids had a blast.  Even Celeste went for a ride.  Grandma has the perfect set up for safe rides.  I'm hoping my kids don't try this at home and fall of the edge or smash into the wall!

Mattawa, Day 1

We made T-shirts this morning.  They are fake tie-dye shirts made with freezer paper and fabric paint.  We make them every summer and my kids look forward to it. 

We then hit a pinata.  It's a good thing that the older cousins were there or we may still be there hitting it!  The kids got a ton of candy and toys. 

 Madeline and Calvin each taking a wack.

That afternoon Talia gave Anna Elise a makeover with Taylor Swift hair and makeup!  They both had a good time with Talia's new makeup!

Washington, Here We Come!

We got up bright and early this morning (4:30am) to start our trip west!  The kids did remarkably well on all three flights.  I was expecting to really struggle with Celeste and she surprised us by being as good as could be.  On our third flight almost everyone fell asleep.  Lilah fell asleep coloring, with marker in hand.  Here is Calvin asleep - it doesn't seem like it would be the most relaxing way to nap...

  

We started in Mattawa with my family.  We were so excited to be able to see 3 of my sisters and their families.  We missed my youngest two sisters and my brother - but we will catch them next time!

Seashells

We went to the beach last week and collected a bunch of shells. Calvin found a piece of coral that looked like a fish head (the kids thought it was a fish head).  They tried to find the rest of the fish and ended up collecting lots of shells, coral, and rocks.  Today we finally put them all together and made our fish.  I think it turned out well.   I'm going to find a way to hang it on the wall in the playroom. 

7-11

Our free slurpees from 7-11 on 7/11

 Yes, she did make a huge mess - but she loved it.

 The girls in the back (and the top of J's head)

 Calvin was very excited

My 8 year old teenager didn't want her picture taken