Joel turns 8!!

We had a really fun pirate party for Joel...complete with scavenger hunt!

The kids had to follow clues (written by Greg) to find all the pieces of their pirate costumes.  They got bandannas, eye patches, tattoos, beards, and then pirate lessons.  Greg did a GREAT job on the clues and on making it fun!

 

 

(Pirate lessons...they had to say things in pirate speak!) 

Joel wanted root beer floats and sprite floats (rainbow sherbet with sprite)...

 

It was a big hit! (and super easy!)

Joel has been wanting roller blades and I found these BRAND NEW ones at a garage sale in May... 

His friends got him a lot of really fun presents...thanks friends!

Each friend went home with a bottle of root beer and a pirate pencil.  The little tags say "thank ye matey!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!  We love you so much and are so proud of you!

June

The beginning of June brought...

More soccer...Maren improved every week and scored a goal almost every game!  She is a really fast runner and is so determined! 

The last day of school...she wanted to wear a pretty dress and have her hair blow-dried.

Afterward, I took Maren and Kylie to Menchees to celebrate officially being Kinderarteners! (Aren't they cute in their coordinated outfits?!  This was NOT planned!)

A neighborhood interest in Pokemon...sigh...

Silly self-portraits...

 

The last bit of 2nd grade homework!

Big carrots...

A reading award - he was 3rd place for the whole 2nd grade class (100-ish students).  We are so proud of Joel and his love for reading...he was in the top three all year and this is a BIG accomplishment!

Birthday treats for Joel's class...they celebrated his birthday the Friday before school got out.

The best teacher ever...Mrs Hickman was Joel's 1st and 2nd grade teacher and she was so wonderful.  We will definitely miss her and hope Maren will be in her class in 2 more years!!

Home made ice cream - the old fashioned way!  

It was really yummy but didn't make much...will have to make more soon!

The end of soccer...great job Maren!!

May Stragglers

Here are a few final pictures from May...

Joel can mow the lawn!

We went hiking at Flaming Geyser Park...beautiful and fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our yard is so beautiful right now!

May, continued...

Here are some more pictures from May:

Mother's Day - we went for lunch at the Spaghetti Factory...

...then hiking at Point Defiance.  Even though it was really crowded, we had a great time together!  I am so thankful to be mom to these two great kids!

 

 

 

 

 

cool driftwood...looks like an owl to me!

 

Maren had her last preschool program.  

I think she looks so grown up!

We went for a little treat at Starbucks afterward!

Joel reached 200 AR points!!  His teacher got him a GIANT kit-kat!

Maren continues to do so well in soccer!  This is right after she scored a goal!

It's really fun to have Molly and Greg doing the coaching.  They are a good team!

Joel spends Maren's games reading a book :)  

Joel got his big rocket k'nex set out again and is diligently building it...it's amazing how focused he is!

nice shades and headband :)

picking lettuce for our dinner - it ended up being really bitter, so we didn't eat it :)

Our "new" car!  The old white (and primer) Chevy finally bit the dust.  We were able to sell it and then buy this one from my mom.  It is a great little saturn that should get Greg to and from work for a couple of years, at least!