Warning by Kenzie

We had a strange summer storm last night, even lost power. (Weather has otherwise been in the 80's to 90's.) Not sure, but perhaps she's looking for some assistance in predicting Mother Nature's extremes.

She handed me this picture tonight. It says, "these animals warn of approaching earthquakes by behaving strangely."

New routine

Cindy started teaching summer school this week. It's the first time that she's worked in five years. You know what I mean. It's the first time she's worked outside the home. It's the first time she's taught in five years. Well, of course she teaches Kenzie and Mason all the time. And, yes, that is the most important job, but I mean taught kids other than hers.

It's the first time that her homemaker position has been supplemented by a paid public instructional opportunity, alright?

We're all settling into a new routine. It's the first time in Kenzie and Mason's lives that they haven't had one of us home with them every day. Cheyenne and Lane are up here and they've been doing a great job with them. Cheyenne had to put Mason in a time-out today. She followed through and he listened to her, so perhaps the hierarchy has been established.

Stay tuned...

Bring on the sun...or the rain

Kids are ready for a fun weekend in the sun! They're with Grammy tonight (Grampy is in Alaska), then they're headed on Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary's boat tomorrow for the 80+ degree weather.

Mason tried on his life vest, "safety" belt and all. Perhaps tomorrow they should loosen it a bit. And try sandals.

Fly

Posin'

Schools out for Summer

Today was Kenzie's last day of kindergarten - hard to believe she's going into the first grade!

Fish!

The kids are finishing up their second round of swimming lessons and they both got promoted to the next level. Mason can put his face in the water, blow bubbles, open his eyes underwater, float on his back and front with assistance, and kick in the water.

Kenzie is one level up from Mason and she swam unassisted for about 15 feet today! It's been a remarkable change for her as she has learned to overcome her fear and turn it into a love for water. One day Cindy told me that Kenzie was, for the first time, appearing afraid of the water. So, that night Kenzie and I went to the pool and spent about an hour just playing. With a little bit of encouragement (AKA 1-on-1 attention) she took some risks and just had fun. At the beginning of the night she wouldn't put her face in, but just one later I was throwing her up in the air and letting her fall backward! She even asked me to push her down so she could put both hands on the floor (something that I did despite my instincts). Her growth has been outstanding and she is so, so proud!

Fairy tales

We all went to celebrate Jaidyn's first birthday in full fairy tale costume (ok, not all of us, but Cindy and I get credit for dressing four kids). We had a butterfly, Captain Hook, Peter Pan and Mulan.

Mason admired Kenzie's hairstyle and asked if he could also have a helicopter on his head.

Six years, one cheesy grin

Bear...not gone but forgotten

We had started to forget about our bears, dismissing them as nocturnal animals that we wouldn't ever meet. Our neighbor Molly came over today to tell us that a baby bear was playing in the creek behind her house AT 1:30 THIS AFTERNOON. I'm resisting the urge to say, "awh, a baby bear, how cute."

Sailing

We went for a sail on Uncle Randy and Tia Jo's boat. When I told Mason what we were doing he said, "with life jackets?" Couldn't have asked for a better day!

Happy Sixth Birthday, Kenzie

Finally, the day has come. Kenzie turned six and many of her friends came to help celebrate. Her birthday present from us was a dome-o-bars. You can never have too many bars.

Fortunately we got a nice break from the rainy weather and the kids were able to run wild. Between the dome, trees and the blow-up-fun-house, there was enough mayhem to call the party a success.

Her friends included school buddies Olivia, Mia, Kaitlyn and their siblings Cameron, Diggory and Kila; church friends Julianna, Hanna, Isabella and Alexandra; and good friends Luke, Josh and Nathan. And, of course, cousins Lane and Cheyenne!

But, by the time the cake arrived, she was highly skeptical of the candles. Good thing her friends were there to help her out.

The cake was made with love by yours truly, based on special request by the birthday girl for a cat cake. And, what could be better than pink and purple?

Drama program

For the last five weeks Kenzie was in an all-grade after school drama class. She was the cat, a flower, a tree and a tea-pot.