Kindergarten cuties

 We surprised Harper and Ava Wednesday when we came in their room to get some instructions from Mrs. Macindoe.  She lent us a book to read to the girls while we did a lesson that they had missed.  It was "Pete the Cat and His 4 Groovy Buttons"and they liked it so much they wanted to read it again at bedtime.  Harper was working on a picture for us when we got there, and Ava was drawing flowers

on a big dry erase board on the floor.  They were having "choice" time, I think they called it. 

Lady bugs

 We took the girls to the Clark PUD Home and Garden Idea Fair today.  They give you rides in and out on a golf cart and Harper got all excited thinking we were going to play golf.  But they had fun learning about insects, recycling, electricity, and fire protection.  They made mason bee houses,  Smokey the Bear buttons, planted a sunflower

 and made pine cone bird feeders.  We bought a plant for their new secret garden and

last of all, bought 1,500 lady bugs.  Last year, Rielee wanted to buy some but we were out of money, so this year we got them.  They released them all over the yard, naming several.  We went back to check on them a few hours later and found some were still around.  

Norma

We visited with Norma this afternoon.  She's here for a week, staying with Joel and his family.  She, Joel, Parker and Rielee took their traditional walk down to the creek, then we had pizza and carrot cake for dessert.  Norma never changes a bit, always vivacious and funny, full of stories of her travels around Europe and her life in Milan.  Her next trip will be in June, 3 weeks in Bali with Joel, celebrating her graduation from college.  They found a place to stay for $13 a night, we can't wait to hear about it.  After that she and Joel hope to spend a year in China teaching English.

Jeep chases, Wormy

 Papa got the Jeep out for the girls Sunday morning while I stayed inside to clean.  Suddenly, I heard screaming and squealing, over and over, until I finally went out to investigate.  It sounded like they were on the wildest ride ever, I just couldn't imagine what was going on since the last time they drove the Jeep, they were half afraid of it.  Well, Rielee and Papa had gotten the lawnmower out, too, and were driving around, which the twins perceived as a chase!   Papa said it was really frightening because they both  kept looking back over their shoulders and then almost going off the side of the driveway! 

 They traded places for a bit and let the girls chase them and then the lawnmower went back to the shop.

Rielee showed the girls how to make frog habitats out of rocks and grass with a little water in them.  Very cute but they couldn't find any frogs.  They did find lots of worms though and Ava made a special friend of one, she named him Wormy and kept him in a bowl of dirt for awhile until I made her put him back.  

James and Luke baseball, Lexi's Junior Prom

 We watched James play Friday afternoon, Alan gave me this picture since I'd forgotten my camera.  James made some awesome plays at 1st base, he caught this wild throw but was off the bag.  He also had the only hit to score their only run in a loss to Woodland.

 After James' game, we went to Tam O' Shanter in Kelso where Luke was playing in a tournament.  He played really well but they lost.  We went again to watch Saturday.

 The girls stayed busy playing Tic Tac Toe and Hang Man with everybody.  Des came with Rielee so they had her to play with, too.

 Luke has changed so much this 8th grade year, he is leaner and, I was going to say meaner, but no, he's not that, ever, but just the handsomest guy.

Lexi went to her Junior Prom last night and did she ever look stunning!  Wow, such a beauty!

Rielee gymnastics

Papa took Rielee to gymnastics this week.  She's taking lessons in Rainier and she loves it, she said it's her favorite sport.  The instructors said she's strong and has natural ability and moved her up a level the second week.  Papa said she was very determined and concentrating hard the whole time.

Remembering Mary

We have heavy hearts today as we mourn the loss of Mary, beloved Grandma of Emmy, Will, and Auna.  She and I were bonded by our mutual love of the kids, and boy, how she loved them.  And they loved her back, we would hear about it all the time-especially about her chocolate cakes and the special birthday dinners she would cook for them.  She knew how to make the kids feel special.  She liked reading this blog to follow what was going on with everyone and got a kick out of reading about the twins.  Mary was a thoughtful, kind, and loving person.  Always pleasant and fun to be around, always dressed so nicely, she was truly beautiful inside and out.  She had a quiet strength and dignity that I admired so much.  She leaves a wonderful legacy of love in her family. 

We will miss her.

Rest in peace Mary. 

 

Twister, Harper's old blanket, swing time

 The girls had a ball playing with the Twister game Rielee got at a garage sale.  We ended up marking Ava and Harper's hands and feet with "L" and "R" to move things a long quicker. 

 Harper was so happy to have found her old blanket.  We were talking about it last week and she didn't remember it so I described it for her.  She said Daddy had been using it for his back when he reads to them in their beds.  She was really anxious to go to bed because she was sure that old blanket would help her go right to sleep (it didn't but she was distracted by having Rielee spending the night also and not being able to sleep with her).

 Dan and Emmy came over to the play fort while the girls were swinging.  Dan entertained them letting them kick the ball and pushing them.  They really like playing with him.

He had his hands full trying to keep everyone, including Sam, happy.

A fun day with Rielee

We were out early this morning going to garage sales and our route just happened to take us by Mr. Bill's.  Rielee assured us that it was okay that she had her own Irish Cream Mocha.  The garage sales were good to her, she found several toys for the twins and found herself a hoola hoop, an air mattress and 4 outfits for the Build-A-Bear she hopes to get next week from Mom if she reads the 19 chapters she has left in her Harry Potter book. 

 We went to the Farmer's Market, briefly, it was very cold and windy, but Rielee got a couple of plants.  Then we headed to Woodland for the Tulip Festival, the flowers were beautiful and  Rielee planted some lily bulbs in a pot to take home.  From there it was Tsugawa's Nursery where it poured down rain and hailed, we ran from one greenhouse to another looking at plants.  We stopped to visit Linda and Ben's on the way home, it was nice seeing them.

Our last stop was PetCo.  After seeing the Koi and goldfish at Tsugawa's, Rielee wanted to get a few new fish for our pond.  She picked out a big fantail and a bright orange comet and I picked a yellow comet. 

 

 

Ava's new old blankie

Ava woke up cold again Monday morning after trying to cover herself up with just her poor little blanket, it's way too small, and she kicks off any other blanket we cover her with.  I sat her down and asked her what we could do to fix the situation?  What if we gave old blankie a new back with bigger sides so it would cover her feet, and the front would still be same?  Once she understood the concept she was excited.  She first picked out white fabric, Harper helped me talk her out of that.  Then she found the bright pink, soft and comfy fabric.  She was happy with the way it turned out, old blankie was still in tact, threadbare as it is, and she slept all night cuddled up, and covered up, with it. 

Twin hug, Playland

 When the stone fell out of Ava's ring yesterday, Harper asked for the glue so she could fix it, and we put it up to dry.  She gave it back to Ava this morning, and the hug she got in return was huge. 

 We had Rielee this morning, then Emily came up with her Aunt Doni to play.  All four girls played really well together.  When Rielee left, we went to Joann's for fabric to enlarge Ava's blanket, then met Emily and Doni at Taco Bell so the girls could try out Playland there.  They needed lots of water breaks, they were climbing like mad. 

I tried but couldn't get them all together for a picture.  They went straight into the tub when we got home, their feet were so dirty.

Seaside sunshine

The girls were up at 7, they had to eat and get ready since the pool opened at 8- they were the first ones in it.  They played and then hit the Jacuuzzi again, ate some more breakfast and we checked out.  They helped Papa load the car, we didn't exactly pack light.  I got a laugh last night-Rielee had packed a huge duffle bag, I asked her when we left what she was bringing, we're only going for 1 night, but she didn't answer me.  I found out when I looked in on them when they got into bed, she brought her enourmous white tiger to sleep with!  That thing is as big as her. 

Thank goodness, we were blessed with a sunshine-y morning, they rode their scooters briefly on the Prom, but the sand was calling them.

Time to build something,  Harper and Rielee worked together and

Ava worked by herself.  She made her castle with Papa's coffee cup.  They had a great time, the weather was perfect.

We ate lunch in Astoria and then stopped at the bakery for donuts.  We always stop here because Mom loved their cinnamon toast, she would buy it buy the box. 

We stopped at the Gnat Creek fish hatchery, too, and the girls got a kick out of feeding the huge salmon.   Then it was time to head home.

Monday at Seaside

 We took Ava, Harper and Rielee to Seaside.  It was a rainy out so we went to the Aquarium.  The girls were really impressed/creeped out by a giant octopus.

 They got to touch lots of different sea creatures,

 and Rielee even held a crab.  Rielee bought some fish to feed to the seals, that was a wet endeavor as those seals slap the water to get your attention, we all got wet.

 Next we went to the Arcade.  Money went fast there since most of the games were too hard for the little girls.  They tried Skee-ball, but were frustrated when their balls went every where but in the holes.  No tickets, darn!  Between the 3 of them, they had enough tickets to buy 3 candy bracelets and 17 mini Tootsie Rolls.  They did enjoy playing air hockey though.

 Next we went to the Carousel mall, they had fun there.  From her horse, Ava was able to spot some little purses with puppies in them at a toy store, and they made a beeline there as soon as they got off.  They begged for the purses, but after they confessed that they already had several little puppies like those, the answer was "no"...Harper also found a giant stuffed animal snake she really wanted-  "no" to that, too.  We had to leave the store to see if our motel room was clean yet and they could go swimming, they were okay with that, got out of the store without buying again, yay!

It was a salt water pool, and not terribly warm.  Harper got right back into paddling around with her floaties on,  Ava was a little nervous and stayed by the side or in the hot tub.  After swimming, they took a long hot bath in the Jacuzzi tub in our room, we played some Who Nuu and they watched a movie.  They were worn out and went to sleep easily.

Easter

 We had a wonderful Easter at Cathy and Bob's again this year.  It's always fun, lots of laughs and great food.

The cousins hunted for eggs.

Rielee found one on the arbor.

Wow, she looks so grown up.

 James, Parker, Tierney and Macee counting their egg money.  Macee had $15 in change.

 The egg toss was funny, Emmy cracked up when Uncle and I went out on the first throw...my really bad throw.

 Auna and Parker were the winners and posed with the coveted egg toss medals.
Papa won the egg roll, beating out Des.

 Ava and Harper had Easter at Papa Mike's house but made it up in time to see Jillian and Bridget, there were hugs all around! 

We brought them home since they are staying with us for a few days during Spring Break.

They hunted eggs with Rielee,

and when they found their baskets they were ready to go inside and check them out.