Escargot

Secret keeper

Kenzie has a secret. She isn't very good at avoiding direct questions so she's trying a new form of self restraint

Great day for a party

Mason had many choices for his birthday...movies, bouncy house, bowling...but he chose water balloons, a Slip-n-Slide and a pinata. Luckily the weather cooperated.

All the kids got at least one turn at the pinata...

Soccer

I think that Felix has sparked a love of soccer for BOTH the kids, making it cool to play and have fun. We are super happy that Kenzie is loving soccer now, her first voluntary team sport! (Previously she had said, "Mom, I'm not really a team sport kind-of girl.") They won their first game 4-1.

Last night we had a party here and there were about 12 kids versus Felix, and he still won, even with 5 girls standing shoulder to shoulder guarding the goal. His fancy footwork has inspired Mason to try some tricks, including stopping the ball and fakes.

Tired and sweaty was the soccer theme this weekend. The weather has been beautiful, mid 80's.

Birthday Boys

Mason celebrated #7, while Grampy hit the milestone #80! Happy birthday to our September Nines.

Happy 80th Birthday, 60th Anniversary

Grammy and Grampy's kids hosted a weekend in Suncadia for them, including a 100+ person party on Saturday. We filled up the house with friends and family and had a great time hanging out together.

Swimming!

Football, lots of football

Kenzie led us in Happy Birthday, megaphone style

Scooter with training wheels

New schedule

I don't know how families manage without one full-time stay-at-home parent. Cindy is managing to a new level of chaos with the start of school for three kids, including our first year with a high schooler. On Monday, the day BEFORE school started, here was her schedule:

• Buy school supplies
• Meet Kenzie's teacher
• Meet Mason's teacher
• Come home, feed Felix before football
• Take Felix to football
• Come home, take Mason to Karate
• Wait for Mason then rush home to get Kenzie ready
• Take Kenzie to soccer
• Go pick up Felix from football
• Hurry home to get softball stuff for me
• Get dinner ready, eat, get back to soccer field to pick up Kenzie
• Bring 3 kids and softball stuff to the softball field
• Coach softball game

Fourth and First Grade!

Back to Clark Elementary they go!

Welcome Felix!

Felix, our 16 year old exchange student from Germany, joined our family today. After a long flight, he was quite awake and excited, so we enjoyed the 83 degree weather at Alki Beach. And, since he wants to play football, we watched the high school team practicing, then went home and settled into our new normal. He's a great guy and we are all looking forward to a special year together.

Wedding ready

Lisa and James got married! Kenzie and I got our hair done in Seattle in preparation.

pig party

We hosted a party for my work last week. We had a beautiful day and 175 people, plus the Maximus Minimus pig truck, and a 40' blow-up obstacle course!

The Guns

We have a no guns policy around here, with limited exceptions.

San Juan Island

We had the chance to spend five days on San Juan with a great group of friends and family. There were five kids in total. We watched the Orcas from the kitchen, walked to a calm bay, and spent a bunch of time cooking and just hanging.

One of the kids was an outgoing nine year old, Kendall, that quickly hit it off with both kids.

And of course we found time for some photo opps.

And to ride bikes...

The last night we celebrated Rick's birthday by renting a 21' foot electric Duffy. We all took turns being "captain."