Crescent Bar getaway!

We planned a quick little getaway to Crescent Bar in Eastern Washington. Doesn't that picture above look relaxing and so great? This place seriously has so many days of sun per year - except when we are there. We headed over and Avery could not have been more excited to go on a little mini-vacation. The day we got there was good...clouds and some sunbreaks, but warm enough for us to all be in the pool all day after we checked in - perfect and exactly what we signed up for!

The next day was not exactly what we were hoping for. See those clouds behind Avery? They were there all morning and eventually turned to rain - in Eastern Washington. We didn't let it damper our spirits, but we did leave a day early. When you are somewhere with a three year old and don't bring any toys because you think you'll be outside in the pool all day, the TV and being inside is not any sort of vacation! It definitely was not enough to dampen her spirits either.

We all rallied in the morning, when I think it was about 60 degrees to get into the pool, followed by the hot tub before getting ready and heading out. The rest of our staycation has been wonderful, we've had great weather and we are loving this special family time!

Simple Color & Fun

Sometimes it is the simple wonderful things that are so much fun! We made a spontaneous visit up to Mill Creek Town Center Saturday morning for a Caspar Babypants show! This is by our favorite kids music and Avery just loves them (she had them at her 3rd birthday with Jackson.)

We were fortunate that the Mariks' were around for a little gathering too since they live so close. We enjoyed some adult chit-chat, sat outside Starbucks, had a Jamba Juice and of course Avery and her sprinkled Top Pot donut! A wonderful, relaxing, and not too busy weekend!

Cousins Overnight

Avery adores her cousins, and we got to have them overnight last weekend to give the grandparents a break. Phil and Amy went on a mission trip to Guatemala, so all three kiddos were at the grandparents.

We picked up two of the three and traded cars - another need for a bigger car - and headed out. We had hot weather, came home and spent some time in the pool and then playing and visiting the big park in our neighborhood.

The next day we ventured out to the Bellevue Arts Fair and then to a pizza lunch. These pictures crack me up, I think playing with dough was more fascinating and interesting then eating any kind of lunch!

After lunch we took advantage of the wonderful summer weather and headed out to Grasslawn park, such a fun place! They actually have two play areas, one with this amazing rope structure that Corbin just immediately gravitated towards and scaled immediately!

PEPS Annual Summer Picnic

We had our annual summer picnic with our PEPS group in July on one of the hottest days of the year so far! Lake Boren was the spot and it was perfect with a great covered area right near the play area! It is so amazing and fun to see all these kiddos since we've known them for three years! (L-R, Brynn, Avery, Jackson) We had a couple friends missing from this pic, and not as many outtakes as pictures before, but it was a fun afternoon!

Kellen is a new addition to the group, Jackson's little brother and was having so much fun on the swings!

Tyler was one hot boy that day! He wouldn't take that hat off and just kept going and going....no pictures of his face, but you can see how much fun he was having all day long!

Jackson was hamming it up for the camera with his beautiful smile and enjoying some swing time. I'm sure the slight wind of the swing felt great.

Sweet Avery, she had so much fun too and enjoyed running around with all of her friends.

We are lucky that we have gotten to meet and become friends with all these families. Some of them we see each Saturday at The Little Gym and others we catch up with a few times a year based on where we all live. I don't think we all would have made it the first few months without this group. Shingo is missing from our pics as he left a little earlier, but we can't wait to get your smile at the next gathering!

There is no denying it!

This girl LOVES the water!

This is day ONE of swim lessons and she couldn't wait to get in the water, nor did she want to get out. We didn't sign her up for session two not knowing how she would like it, big mistake. Thankfully we were on a waiting list and they added a class for the month of August. Yesterday in the awesome heat of Seattle summer was another lesson, check out these smiles!

Catching on pretty well to the "reach and pull" method of getting these little ones to move their arms in the water.

After denying her all summer long of a sno-cone (only because Mommy and Daddy rarely carry cash - REALLY that is the only reason!), but yesterday she got one... and loved every bite of that Strawberry goodness!

Sickie

Poor little thing has been sick, sick, sick, with a stomach bug. We are totally on the mend now and this is mid-weekend after loads of Pedialyte and apple juice. I guess if being sick looks this good it might not be so bad.
Being on the mend is far better though as it has been the hottest day in a while, so hot that we had to bring out the air conditioner! Hope everyone is enjoying the start to summer!