Hans is 6

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet baby boy Hans!  The day was spent with classmates and in the evening family.  "I'd say it was a pretty great day mom", Hans said as I kissed him good-night and wished him sweet dreams.  What more could a mom ask for.

He got lots of fun gifts.  Everyone needs a pair of underwear gloves. 

Son, we love you to the moon and back.  Make a wish.

A day at the Beach

There is no more than sand, ocean waves and a fire that I love more so forgive for this HUGE post. 

We have bit of a routine when we are at the beach, first the kids start hauling wood.

Then the kids begin there work of making a fort and digging in the sand. 

 

Once the fire is going it's time to enjoy and relax.

The beach is the one place they always get along and work so well together.  A mothers dream come true.

Got to love a girl that can dig right in and help out with all the work.  She is such a helper.

Hans got to enjoy an earlier birthday gift from Grandpa Lyndsy while at the beach.

One of my favorite things about this trip was being able to watch both my brother and dad enjoy the ocean with the kids. 

Alyee now has a dream in her future....

....to ride a horse on the beach.  Something Grandma Sally is going to have to do with her since her mom doesn't ride.

The one regret I do have is that this picture doesn't have Dad, Mom, Uncle John and Aunt Brynne in it.  There must be a next time.

These are some of my favorite pictures of Alyee with Grandpa.  There is just something about a granddaughter and her grandpa.

And the grand finally....  my EAGLE pictures!!  I couldn't believe this,  but as we were leaving the ocean there he sat just waiting for me to take his picture.  Isn't he beautiful?  It was a great note to leave the ocean on.

Fort Stevens

This Fort was the first Fort Josh and I visited together.  We actually stopped here on way home from our honeymoon and we hadn't been back since.  It was so fun to take the kids here and experience it with them.

Some rules are worth breaking, and this was 1.  You are not suppose to climb on this huge machine gun, but of course Josh thought it was one of those rules worth breaking.  After seeing the huge smile on Alyee's face I realized maybe he was right.

Alyee got to see a real Bambie passing through. 

I might be bias, but can our kids get any cuter.

Quote from Winston, "hey mom, can we drive this home?  This is Awesome and Grandpa would love it!" 

Yes he would son, but that rule shouldn't be broken.

This gun is still used for when they re-enact the day the Japanese sub bombed Fort Stevens. 

Hans just loved the jeep they had parked at the visitors office.

He was sure he looked good in it.

He even had grandpa take a look because he was positive he could unhook it and drive away in it.  I'm a little worried about my boys and them thinking they can hot wire and drive away in things they want.  In the end, Hans did come to terms that it wasn't happening.

A day of history

Some of the best memories I have from family trips are when we visited Fort's.  There is limitless fun to be had at them plus education to be taught. 

Our first stop was Fort Columbia.  It was so much for to watch the boys run from one thing to the other as well as run through the bunkers down below.  A boys dream come true.

Alyee seemed to just walk around and take it all in, but when we got ready to leave she was ready to take down her enemies.  Not sure how she does it but she can take her brothers down no problem. 

If you notice behind us, you can see the Columbia River meeting up with the ocean.  It was a beautiful day.

Thanksgiving in Long Beach

1 hour, is that too much?

Well it was family picture time again for my family and I am puzzled by how hard it is for them to just give me 1 hour of extra good behavior and cooperation.  I don't know what it is about me, but I always have high hopes that this will be the year that all goes well, I forgot I still have a 2 year old. 

Although I was frustrated with them all and their whines, I have to say that after looking at what pictures we did get, it is a memory.  I can't expect great pictures all the time because that would just be boring.  So I will continue to have high hopes because family pictures are important to me.  Not because I want them to be perfect but because I want my kids to have family pictures of their family for the future as well as the stories that go with each and every photo session.  It's always an adventure and every year has a story and memory of mom threatening Christmas. 

A HUGE thank you to Staci and all her patience's and understanding each year with us.  You are the best and I love having you be apart of my craziness. 

Pumpkin Popping Party

With so many pumpkins still in the pumpkin patch Grandpa decided to have a pumpkin popping party.  I bet your asking your self what is a Pumpkin Popping Party?  Well here you go...

I know it looks a little unsafe

  But I promise the tractor was hardly moving

and the older kids were in the back just in case

I'm sure we could have fit a few more if we needed to

 Pile in kids and hold on

It's going to be a bumpy ride.

It was such a fun day filled with laughs, cousins, kids, and GOOD MEMORIES!!

Soaring!

Parent/Teacher conferences.... one of my favorite times of the year.  Josh and I both absolutely LOVE conferences.  Its the first really chance we get to sit down with teachers and find out just how our boys are doing. 

First up... Hans

Kindergarten couldn't be going better for him!!  Mrs. S says he is a huge help and a delight to have in class.  As for school work, well he is SOARING and completing goal after goal.  It is so much fun as a parent to watch your child love learning and be excited while doing it.  It's going to be a year filled with mile stones for Hans.

Next up... Winston (got to just love 2nd grade pictures with teeth missing, we all have 1).

Winston is loving 2nd grade.  He enjoys school and is continuing to accomplish so much with each and every new day.  His teacher said he is one of the hardest working 2nd graders she has but also fears he puts WAY too much pressure on himself.  I'm afraid it's something he gets from me.  But with that said, he is doing an excellent job in 2nd grade.

Josh and I are both extremely proud of our boys for their hard work and dedication they continue to have toward school.  We love you both very much and hope this year brings great things for both of you.

Hello November