Here's to a new yard!

We have been planning to re-do our yard...since before we ever moved in to our house.

It has been one of those typical "later priorities", as there were ALWAYS things that were more important.

Not too mention, it is expensive, as anyone who has ever done it, knows.

BUT...it was time.

A few weeks ago, Kevin and his friend Mark took down some of our smaller trees (which were still big...)

Kevin also started taking down the AWFUL pond that has always been back there. When we bought the house we saw such potential in it. However, then, it just became a hazard with kids. I mean...the thing was HUGE! Totally concrete all around, so it couldn't just be taken apart...It had to be DEMOLISHED!

So....like I said...IT WAS TIME!

Here is a bit of the BEFORE!!!

I know it doesn't look like it but we have spent A LOT of time and money trying to landscape year after year! This year we did let it go a lot because we knew we were going to rip it all out, so we didn't want to spend the money...

This is the back. All prepped for the tractor the next day.

This is the GINORMOUS stump that was here when we moved in. It would literally crumble in your hand when you touched it, so we figured this would be the easy one to take care of. However, it IS HUGE!!! We figure that whenever the tree was cut down, probably when they built the house, it was would have been around a hundred years old.

In the background is the pond.

Here is the pond. It doesn't look that big...however, it was about 5 feet deep. Before this point it was solid and would hold water. Kevin would drain it, but then with rain, it would just fill again. So it was always a worry back there with the kids playing. We put up a fence for peace of mind. Basically...it just completely cut off the yard, making it completely unusable back there.

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THE MORNING ARRIVES....

the kids were really excited!

They started in the front...years back we cut down a huge tree and they worked for HOURS digging up the roots and the stump. The roots were GIGANTIC! Bigger then the kids. It took them more then a day to finish the front yard alone.

The pipe sticking up is the water line. Yep, they hit it. That had to be fixed...twice.

Here, Tyler is standing with one of the roots. THIS is just a ROOT!

Makylie was actually afraid to stand with it.

So, this is the next day. They are in the backyard now, working on that big stump...the one that we all thought was going to be easy because it crumbled in our hands. Ummmmm Yeah....

NOT SO MUCH

It was good entertainment....

But it took the better part of the day to remove it. Piece by piece...because it was too big for this HUGE tractor to take out...It filled up the dumptruck all on its own. It left a crater that was at least 12 feet across.

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On Monday...they finished.

And it looks GREAT!

Of course, remember it isn't landscaped...we are doing that.

They were purely tearing it all out.

Our yard literally looks twice as big as it used to.

The back yard is almost unbelievable. It has always been unusable...that entire back area, with the pond and the stump. It just looks enormous now, especially with the rest of the back, which we didn't tear out!

Where the two pillars are in front of the fence, we will be putting a vegetable garden.

This Saturday we are cleaning up the dirt...bringing in topsoil...and then spreading seed!

In the front, we are doing mainly grass, with some edge landscaping which we will do later. And in the back we are grassing, and putting a child friendly material under the play structure.

So happy it is done!!

GOAL!!!!! GOAL!!!!! GOAL!!!!! GOAL!!!!!

Tyler had a game today.

HE MADE HIS FIRST GAME-TIME GOAL!


He has made one other goal, but it was during scrimmage at practice!

He was so happy....can you tell?

It is a beautiful sunny day...probably one of the last we will have around here.


It is Tyler's second game...

He has made such a change this year. He is focused and really learning the game and the positions. He is really enjoying it, ESPECIALLY the games! He really opens up and takes it all in.

We are so proud of him!

HE WAS SO PROUD OF HIS MOMENT...he just beamed. Everyone gave him high 5's and he was just ON-TOP of the world at that moment!

GO ZEBRA'S!!!

Below is Ty's cheering section, by the way.
And CHEER she does....she says "Go Ty-Ty, Go Ty-Ty"
She is ONE very cute cheerleader in the outfit her grandpa got her!

My baby's first day of PRESCHOOL

It was a hard decision for us. Makylie has had a speech impediment since...well...she should have started talking, but didn't.

It was determined at her 3 year old appointment that she was going to need to be evaluated for speech therapy. So we did.

She was accepted into the Washington State no child left behind program at a local school. Basically, a preschool which includes speech therapy. OR, she could do speech therapy by itself.

We opted for school...because we TRULY felt that she needed socialization. She is SO completely dependant on Tyler. She sits with him, and plays with him, and copies him. When he isn't around, she talks about when he will be. We knew she had to learn some, how to make some of her own friends.

School was 3 days a week....2 hours a day...it was good.

So all summer we new she was going. She was excited...we were excited.

Then they contacted us to create Maky's goals for the year...so we met with them, and that we did.

Then, I found out, that Makylie was going to be in a class with only 4 kids...3 being boys! The teacher told me that 90% of the time, the boys are there for behavior issues, but couldn't tell me about these boys specifically for confidentiality reasons. All of the sudden I was having concerns. It was certainly not going to help her socially.

Since my SOLE reason for sending her TO SCHOOL (rather then just doing speech therapy), was for her own benefit of learning how to socialize, especially with other little girls...I didn't know what to do...
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I stewed on it some....and was really feeling like it wasn't the right decision...in my gut, I knew it wasn't going to be what I was looking for.

So I quickly took her out of that program.

I enrolled her in speech therapy at Tyler's school, right down the street.

Then, I got very lucky, and found her a different preschool program! Because we still did know that she needed some social interaction with other kids.

So, here is her cute little school...

The program is at a church that is as close a walk as Tyler's school, just the other direction.

And her playground.

She goes 2 days a week, for only 2 hours a day! Which is SO perfect!

She was so excited on her first day. She looked so darn cute, and was so brave.

This is her school bag that she made! She is SO proud of it!

She was brave, but I thought when it came right down to me leaving, she was going to panic, and cry, as she has never really been away from me.

However....THAT WAS NOT THE CASE!!!!! She barely even looked back at me. I had to go say goodbye to her...

Then, from the other side of the room where she was sitting in circle-time, she yelled...

"Bye mommy...look 'dis giwl has me same sues"

So cute....

I held back a few tears, and walked away...

All alone on a weekday, for basically the first time in 6 years.

Oh she is just such a bright spot in my day...it was strange, very very strange, starting the car and pulling away.

Then when the day was over, I picked her up, and she ran into my arms, which was JUST THE BEST!

She made a Fruit Loop necklace, which she then proceeded to eat.

She told me all about her day...the songs they sang, and the book they read. Sitting criss-cross applesauce, and that she even didn't eat snack because she didn't like it.

Makylie, you are just growing up so fast.

You are so much a part of my every day...and I can't believe that you are experiencing the world beyond me. I am happy for that...but it is so hard to for me at the same time.

As I sit here now, you are still my tiny little, long haired, baby, with such a spark in your wild little brown eyes.

As those eyes become more independent, I cant help but, feel a little left behind.

But, I am SO proud of you!

We love you!

Welcome to preschool baby girl!

Day one as a JUNIOR...

(FYI...I don't know WHAT happened to the below pictures. I must have had a wrong aperature set at the time. I tried to fix it...by playing with color and softness etc...but IT DIDN'T WORK!!! I am only posting 2 of the pictures for now...just for the sake of having them on here...I am going to retake them...then will post more.)

Karman started her 11th grade year on September 10th, 2009.

The last couple of years, Karman has really struggled with fitting in, and finding her place, which has unfortunately also played havoc on her grades.

This year, however, is going to be her year. She has a really tough schedule...which we hope will keep her focused...it is a great tough schedule though. She is taking her first honors class. Honors American Literature. She is really nervous, but also very excited!

She is doing Debate again, which she worked very hard on during the summer...spending literally weeks, EVERYDAY at the library. She is also going to do Grizzly Cubs again, which is a mentoring program with the neighboring elementary school...and she is going to look into the T.A.T.U. program...which is Teens against tobacco use.

Like I said...this is her year...
Karman has struggled with many things in the last couple of years, making us have the VERY stereotypical...teenage daughter/mother (and father) relationship. On the day to day, we get along fine..but there are huge battles when it comes to disagreements.

It is typical...she THINKS she knows EVERYTHING...
And Kevin and I...do KNOW what is best for her.
They just don't always match up.
we don't claim to know everything...but during these turbulant years...we know her better then she knows herself.

However, through it all, she does amaze me.
She is a very bright, loving, and VERY outgoing girl. Her passion for things shows in everything she does.
Even, and maybe especially, in our arguments.
I admire her strength. She has gone through an awful lot and always been optimistic.
I so wish I had her talent for being able to stand, with ABSOLUTELY no fear, and speak to people. To compete in debate. Are you kidding me...I would love to do that!
She wins people over with this talent, all of the time.

She has the potential to do amazing things...and I so hope this year, she finds her place...
or MUCH better yet...
Stops giving a damn what everyone else thinks...

I hope...
She stands up for her beliefs...her goals...her talents...her morals...HERSELF.

That is my hope for my oldest daughter this year.

So that she can KNOW that she is as good, and beautiful as we KNOW she is!

A First day in First...

As usual lately...I am behind.
I have just not really been in the mood. Don't know why.
I was savoring the last couple of weeks of summer with the kiddos...then all at once school started.
I guess I was sad...and excited all at the same time.

So Tyler started THE FIRST GRADE on September 9th, 2009!
Yes, today is the 22nd...so sue me. :)

He seems so much bigger then last year. He has lost so much of that little baby"ish" face and seems to be so much more put together then he was last year.
Last year, he was quiet and shy...very tiny in a great big world...
This year, he was laughing and smiling...and just seemed so...
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...
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READY!

Oh, he was so excited...but about this time, below...is when he started getting a little anxious.

He was still excited...but sort of wished that we would stay with him for the day.

I know, for sure, that Makylie didn't want to leave him. She wanted to take him home and keep him forever...tucked in her pocket!

Daddy took the morning off, which Tyler adores! Of course, so does daddy.

We got to go in the classroom, put our supplies away, and listen as the teacher explained a few things to everyone.

Then slowly, the parents started to trickle out of the room.

We knew it was time...

He seemed so confident, but so insecure at the same time.

I could have stayed with him all day...

but, of course, I knew I had to go.

We said our goodbyes...everyone stronger then the year before.

Tyler, though a little nervous, said goodbye...more confident because this year he knew, that I would be back to get him, everyday, without fail...

Then came Makylies turn to say goodbye...

It was so cute...she sat there for a good minute...

Just like this...

She was sad....She literally, DOES NOT know what to do without him. Last year was one thing...only being a few hours...and it was alone time with mommy...however, now it is ALL DAY!

She cried.

Oh I love how much she loves him!

It is nice to be back on routine...but...hard at the same time!

Tomorrow I will post the 10th, which was Karman's first day of school....

Here's to soccer season...

Soccer season is here again....

Tyler is SO excited! He loves it so much...and oh my goodness...he is SOOOOO much better this year.
Last year...he paid more attention to the other kids then the ball. He wouldn't assert himself into the game by stealing the ball from anyone, and he really had to warm up every single practice/game before he would start (really) playing.

This year...we have only had 2 practices and one game...but he is SO in it!

He participates fully at practice. He has a REALLY great coach...infact, he is the most requested coach they have. He was honored as coach of the year! We are really happy that he has a motivating coach who goes out of his way to make the game fun!

He has really taken to the sport this year...and has literally improved ten-fold since last year!

Seriously, what a difference a year makes!

He even made his very first goal this last week! AND it was the only goal that was made!!! He was BESIDE himself! He is still talking about it! Sure wish I had gotten his face in picture!

This is the first game. We sat up high because it was so hot and sunny, and we had already been at the beach all day, so the pictures are distant....but Ty has the red shorts on, with the black and white shirt. He dominated in the game...it was great!

Can't wait to see how much he grows this season!

Our new ride...

Finally......and it is SOOOOOO about time!

Dear Old Van (VERY affectionately name ROCKET by Tyler back when he was around 3)...Thank you for being so good to us...you managed to make it 134,000 miles and 12 years...and, may I add, you were still kicking.
Let's get real though...you were taunting us with your age. I mean...we had to plan my route around traffic, because you would overheat in it everytime--Your AC didn't work--Your radio wouldn't show the real time, or station anymore--the "really cool" feature of having an external thermometer was nonexsistent anymore because, you said it was 60 degrees, basically all of the time. Your belts squeaked, and hoses burst--and you were only 1 MPG away from the "cash for klunkers" program.
But still...we loved our years together, and thank you for your service!
Many trips...many years...you were all our little kids knew.

Signed,
Owners, who are just thankful we always made it home...in the end I guess that is most important!


HOWEVER,
It was time!

Here is our new car...
Yep, still a van...but OH so nice!

It's a Mazda MPV. Comparatively, it looks more compact, and more SUV-like. It is a SUPER smooth ride, and well, EVERYTHING works!

We love it!

The color is diamond white. And I don't know how well it shows, but it is a really pretty glittery, irridescent white.

The interior is a nice beige...it has sliding bucket seats, and all of the back seats will fold flat into the ground if they are needed. There is AC that works...and there is also AC in the back that hits the middle seats AND the far back seats! NO radiator problems...and the clock works! :)

It has the top safety ratings for a minivan, and a lot of features like open locks (so that the sliding doors lock open and no kids can get fingers slammed etc...)

Its lines are also smaller, so it feels like it actually fits me correctly. The old van never felt that way.

The kids LOVE it! Their FAVORITE NEW feature is that the back sliding doors have windows that actually ROLL down! That is HUGE for them! :)

We did have to give up some really nice features that our old van had...but it was worth it...to have it, oh I don't know, WORK, all of the time!

Dear NEW van...we already love you, but would love more then anything to have many good years with you! We have many miles to add to you, and trips to take. Please know, that your windows will get lots of use as the kids roll them UP and DOWN, up and down, up and down AND that your seats will get moved together when the kids are getting along, and apart when they are not...which is different by the minute...so be strong...they will be adjusted often!

We love that there are no leaks, or squeaks...we love that it is OK if we get stuck in traffic...we love that we can actually see what time it is while we are driving. Of course, it couldn't be better then the fact that the kids can stay cool, and so can we. For all of that, we are already so thankful! More then anything though...we have VERY precious cargo!

Please take care of us, and we will take care of you!

Signed, super excited...

New owners

Tyler's Late Birthday Party...

So Tyler's birthday is actually at the end of June...Of course, we had a birthday party for him at home, but we didn't have a "friend" party...(it would have been his first by the way)

I was so so busy with school, that I just couldn't bring myself to plan another thing...so I put it off until July....THEN...next thing I new, July came and then was over, and we still had no party.

So I told Tyler that I thought it was a little too late, and we would just make sure to have one next year.
OH THOSE EYES...
They welled up with tears, and his giant blue eyes just turned so sad. He didn't say anything except..."Okay, but could we at least have all of my friends over to just play".
ARE YOU KIDDING ME......
How can a mommy deny that?

How did he get such an adorably cute demeanor? Where did he get his own personality, and his own thoughts? How did he get to be so nice?

So I knew, even though it was late, that we had to have a party for him.

I started planning right away...we sent out invites...and then we had the party last week.
It turned out SO perfect. The weather was great...the events for the party were great...almost everyone came, and it was the perfect way to get much of the class together right before school starts and play together!
His birthday is always going to be kind of forgotten at school, because here in Seattle it will always be right around the time we get out. In fact, this coming year, given no snow days, we are getting out ON his birthday.
However, for now on...I will make his birthday the priority, and not the end of school...
'CAUSE THOSE EYES WILL GET ME EVERY TIME, IF I DON'T!"

SOOOOO....a pirate party it was! Tyler was so excited. He decided everything. Whether to have a cake or cupcakes, and what the shape would be...etc.

These are some of his friends from class. We were to have 11 kids...but 2 were unable to come.

First they did a craft. I collected paper towel rolls, and toilet paper rolls, from everyone...and then I covered them with black paper mache. The kids were given stickers, and foam pirate pieces, and jewels and glitter glue to decorate them with, in order to create telescopes! They were a huge hit!

We did this while everyone arrived and then for about 5 minutes after that. Some of the kids were done really fast and just wanted to go play pirate on the playground, and others took until the very last second.

The first game was PIN THE X ON THE TREASURE MAP. I made the map with printouts that I found...and created names for all of the "places"...and then I bought wood X's and wrote each kids names on with glitter paint. We blindfolded with two eye pirate eye patches...and then each child was spun, pointed in the right direction, and they plottede their "X".

We had prizes that the winners got to choose from for each game...then when the games were all done, everyone who didn't win, got to choose a prize as well.

Here is our group picture. Gotta get my pictures. :) The kids in back are being "pirates". :)

I painted this shark on a piece of fiber board. Kevin cut out the mouth for me. This was going to be a toss game...either a beanbag type toss or water balloons, based on the weather. THEN, of course, I knew it was a great picture opportunity...so I took a picture of each of the kids behind it.

It was REALLY hot...so we did water balloon. LOTS and LOTS of water ballons. Somewhere in the vacinity of 90 I think. The kids LOVED it, and could have LITERALLY played this and NOTHING else! About half way through they got brave...and stood behind the shark in order to get wet. They had SO much fun!

This is just me with my pinata...not a great picture, but...

The last game was a hidden coin dig. We burried gold and silver pirate coins in the sand here...and the kids were given on a spoon, and a cup and they had to dig and find the coins. Whoever found the most in 5 minutes won. It was fun, but I should have bought double the coins, so that the kids were finding more as they went along, because some of them got frustrated.

In the end...they still had fun with it though.....

So then it was time for presents. Tyler has never gotten presents from friends...he really enjoyed it, and did really well...thanking everyone and not going fast etc. I was proud of him.

Then it was cake time!!!!

The kids all had the cupcakes, which were frosted to be the "jewels" from the treasure chest cake. Then they were topped with a lifesaver and had a pirate toothpick flag, from Michaels, through the hole. We also did ice cream, and we scooped it before the party, into muffin tins and re froze it. That way, come the time, all we had to do is pop out the pre-portioned cups of ice cream, instead of having to scoop, and make a mess! It worked out beautifully!

FINALLY!!!!!! PINATA time!

Like I said, the hit of the party. Between the pinata and the water balloons....

So in the pinata...we decided to equally separate the candy into bags, so that each child was guaranteed the same amount. Then all of the left over candy just went into the pinata and was up for grabs...so that way, if someone didn't get any of the loose candy, they still had the bag. It made up for the kids different abilities...size, age, and just plain maybe never doing a pinata...

We of course told all of the rules before they even started hitting.

It was all perfect, because literally as the pinata finally broke...the first parent showed up! We got to finish everything! Then we got the goodie bags together...handed them out, and everyone left with their pinata candy and their goodie bags in tow.

Pirate Tyler and Pirate Sean!

The kids all had a great time! It was a hit, and Tyler can't wait for the next one.

I had a great time too...I love, love, love these kids! We had THE most amazing group of kindergarteners!!!! I can see him being friends with all of them even if they aren't in class together this year. They really did form a bond like I don't think I have ever seen before!

I too, can't wait for the next party!

To think I was nervous...

Now, I am bitten!