Eben's Trip to the IMAX

On July 25th, Eben used his Special Helper Rockets to take Dada on a trip to the Seattle Center to see the IMAX movie - Speed.  

Here's Eben's blog on his special day, "Dada and I took a bus ride to Seattle and we got hot cocoa, then we saw a pool that we could swim in on a hot day, and we saw the Space Needle. And I got to do a water thing. I got to see a movie called Speed about race cars. I liked how it was too big to be a movie screen  - it could be a wall!  We went through a maze, we played tip tap toe against a robot. I got to sit in a big chair, and I played instruments. And I went in the butterfly room, and I did a big zipper. Because I had 6 Special Helper Rockets. Thank you Dada for bringing me to Seattle."

This is a picture of me listening to music on the bus.

This is me and Dada playing tip tap toe against the robot.

This is me looking at a butterfly. I liked how I saw

This is me in a space ship. I pushed buttons and levers.

This is me having a big head. Because I was in a funny mirror.

Opal Eats Food!

On July 24th, 2 weeks before she turns 6 months old, Opal tries her first solid food. 

Rice Cereal - Yum!  (I've always waited until 6 months, but this girl was hungry!)

She doesn't know what to think at first. 

But soon she realizes it's a good thing. She really loves it but can't figure out how to get it in her mouth. So she sucks it off the spoon. 

It's taken almost a month for her to figure out if she opens her mouth, she gets more food in there.  She is now experimenting with squash, peas, carrots and prunes. Carrots, so far, are her favorite.

Dora The Explorer Camp

July 22-24 Eben and Kivi went to their first camp all by themselves.  It was a gift from Grandma for Kivi's birthday. Kivi was a little scared at first but soon realized that "Eben and Grace will take care of me and not leave me right?" They had lots of fun making all sorts of crafts. Eben liked making maps and Kivi liked making her mask the most. They both really enjoyed following the map to their own special treasure box.

Each morning before camp started we would play at the playground at Fort Steilacoom Park.

Eben and his mask.

A group shot of the little campers.

We're Keepin' Our Street Clean

Our family adopted Lake Louise Dr. from 104th to Holden this July. The kids love it! They put on their orange safety gear, get their grabbers and pokers and clean up the town! Okay, so it's just 3 blocks. Our interesting finds so far have been 3 speed bumps, a little action figure, and a bike! We just put the bags of garbage on the side of the road and the city comes to pick it up. Our kids are having a fun time learning service and the difficult art of picking up a cigarette butt with a grabber.

The Air Show

On July 18th, we went to the Mc Chord Air Force Base to see the Air Show's special viewing for military and police officers.  We had no idea where to go and ended up far away from the main hub of excitement - the stands and food concessions, but we still saw the planes. Besides the kids were way more into the stationary ones anyway.

At every plane that was on display Eben had to stick his head into the hole where the wheels went when the plane took off.  Every plane was a new adventure. He would find the wheel, stick his head up into the hole, find the little door that led to the middle of the plane and say, " See Mama! That's where Buzz and Woody come out!" It was funny at first and then I was thinking, "Oh man, He's gonna do this for every one!" And he did. And by the time we were done sticking our heads up every wheel hole the Thunderbirds started. And then it was time to go home. 

Here he is showing Kivi how to stick her head into the hole. He had to lift her up to get her head into the hole.

Sittin' on the wing.

The Boys.

The Thunderbirds. They were loud, but they were cool!

I love this picture. It was way harder than I thought to get a picture of them. They're really fast!

SWIMMING, SAND CASTLES, and SUN!

This July we have been blessed with great Washington weather! We have been in the water at least 2-3 days a week all July. We've been doing a lot of swimming, Eben and Kivi are getting really good at floating with their life jackets on. Something they've never attempted before. They kick out to the end of the dock and then float back.

Eben and Dada doing swimming lessons.

Kivi floating!

 Little Opie feet. A usual view from my chair.

We love to have friends over to swim and play! This day Trey, Chase (the bathing suit free one), Logan and their dad, Rich came over. We built a huge drip castle, complete with it's own lake.

I even got in the water. A summer miracle! Surprisingly, the water was warm!

Dada's second favorite beach time activity - after riding the jet ski.

Jasper - the Big Brother. He's so cute loving his little Opo.  Usually he's gentle - like this time, but sometimes he gets a little too loving!

Fun on the Fourth!

This year was really fun and relaxing. The kids stuck to their schedules since the party's at our house, so they were in good moods. Except for Bubba's constant fear of losing me in the crowd, but he did alright. We had a lot of great friends over who swam, jet skied, played, and ate. We had burgers and dogs as usual along with the surprise dishes everyone brings.  The highlight food had to go to Adeliz for her fruit bouquet. (Although I think Eben was the only one to eat it because everyone thought it was a beautiful center piece.) 

Our family on the 4th of July.

Daddies and kids went in the water, Mamas watched them go in the water. 

It wasn't too cold, but it wasn't exactly warm either.

Cutie babies in a boat!

Jada, Hannah and Jayna

Jada and Kivi - All American girls

Peter and Al with their loot of fireworks! Al went with Peter this year to help get fireworks and strike a deal! Thanks Al!

The kids had fun doing roman candles.   Boys and fire!

Michael, Eben and Hunter

Watching the fireworks at the end of the night. The lake show was great this year - it actually happened! Yeah! 

Thanks everyone for coming - we had a blast!

More 4th pics are at:   http://picasaweb.google.com/Peterandabby/4thOfJuly08