Kivi's Surprise Pioneer Party

The day after the fourth of July we surprised Kivi by having her open a gift of five bonnets and aprons (which I spent the day before making). She knew right away that meant we were going to pioneer farms because she had been talking about how she wanted to have her 9th birthday party there, we just had no idea when we'd have it.

Since our good friends were there from Germany and Poppie and Nonnie were around we decided it would be a great time to do it and (almost) everyone dawned their pioneer clothes and we headed out to the farm.

Kivi had actually said she wanted a very small party this year, just three friends and Julia, Claire and Reagan were all able to join us! The girls played along the creek, and in the school house before we started our tour.

First we went to the old log cabin and house where you could try out the old fashioned way of homemaking. 

Then we headed to the barn, wood working shop and blacksmith shop for everyone's favorite part of the tour. We were able to saw, chop, hammer metal, milk the cow, ride the horse, play with the animals, and jump in the hay! All the stuff that's really fun when you get to do it there, but would probably be a pain if you had to actually live it to survive everyday.

We strung up a "Happy Birthday Kivi" banner, got out the raspberry chocolate bars (Kivi doesn't like cake) and brownies and sang to and kissed our girl-o.

It was a great, memorable, fun party for our pioneer loving lady.

Kivi, you are so special to us. We don't know what we'd do if you weren't in our family. You are amazing! You take on so many responsibilities and are a beautiful example to not only your brothers and sisters but also the world of a loving, selfless young lady who wants to please the Lord. You love, love to wear skirts, long skirts, many skirts, colorful skirts. You usually Heeley everywhere you go, which combined with the skirts make it look like your floating everywhere. You still love your American doll, reading, memorizing tons of scripture, winning, playing with babies (You are very excited for Baby Bear to come!), and wake boarding. We love you (and your old fashioned ways) so much! Happy 9th Pea!

Fourth of July 2014

We decided to host a non stressful evening event for the fourth so folks could come over to see the fireworks and have s'mores. That afternoon we went to the super cute Steilacoom parade and the kids loved picking up all the candy they threw our way.

We had the week of guests as family and friends stayed with us. Poppie and Nonnie had been staying with us. Our friends spent 2 nights with us from Germany. My dad's twin brother and family came and stayed for a night in their trailer the night before this. My cousing in law, Vy, made me the most delicious cupcakes while she was here since I'm having a cupcake baby. All the while we had already arranged to host families for dinners so we had a full house - but then we're pretty much used to that anyway. 

Pella and her little friend from Germany, Pippa had fun playing down at the beach together.

Picking their laps for the fireworks viewing.

The Millers brought tons of fireworks with them when they came over for dinner that night. Jennifer made four desserts! And good thing too, cause there were way more people there to eat them.

 The kids had so much fun lighting off the Roman candles on the end of the dock. Eben especially loved lighting them this year and Mr. Miller even let him light off most of the big ones!

Pella wasn't so sure about the lighting part.

Kivi was so excited to have her far away friend, Reagan, there and they swam until dark.

Berg was Grandpa's special helper making the traditional root beer floats for everyone and helping cousin Emma and Viviana hand them out. (And yes he picked out his amazing all plaid outfit all by himself!)

Rich insisted that we reinstitute the "Sparkler Picture" and so we gathered everyone together and got a picture before anyone caught on fire.

They started the firework show on the barge so early that we didn't even have time to decorate the beach and dock with all of the cool paper sacks that the kids had spent so much time filling with sand and candles! Oh well, we saved them for next year!

Two Year Old Pella Waterskis!

On July 2nd, as we are all down at the lake, swimming, wakeboarding and wading Dada asks Pella, "Do you want to go training boarding?" Nonnie and I are shocked. She's never even floated in the water by herself! She says yes. So all of a sudden we are getting her on the board and I run up to the house to get my camera, in case she actually goes through with it. I'm sure she's going to change her mind at any minute though. Poppie and Dada are in the boat, Nonnie is on the shore to steady Pella as she takes off and away she goes. She's doing it! Our two year old baby is boarding around the lake! We all scream and yell and cheer her on. Just as she was about to finish her lap around the lake, she fell off the board and we all started screaming, "Get her, get her, hurry, hurry!" Peter turned the boat around and got right next to her and jumped in and Poppie took over driving. She was screaming too, but as soon as Dada got her, she was fine, smiling even! Brave girl!

Day Camp Week

June 22-27th was Day Camp Week! We had so much fun doing this with our friends the DeyArmins last year, we couldn't wait to do it again. Our friends, the Ericksons let us borrow their trailer again and we slept in that in front of the house each night, but dinners and breakfasts we ate together in the house. 

We had such a fun week. Camp takes up most of the day, from 9am until 4pm but after that the kids have so much time to play with animals, run, explore and just be kids together. 

 One of the families we took to camp let us have a farm day and visit their pigs, chickens, horses and cows after camp.

 The cows were so skittish, but we learned that if you lay in the middle of the field, the cows will just come up to you and check you out. It sounded scary because they are large animals. Kivi was the first brave one to try it out and was quickly surrounded.

The 3 older boys got courageous and laid down too, but they kept moving so the cows didn't get too close.

 The kids all tried to have a sleep over in tents the last night, but it rained so hard they all backed out except the 3 oldest boys.

Hopefully at some point they'll post pictures of the actual camp and then I can put some on here. We learned about the entire Bible and memorized words and motions that help us remember every part of the old and new testaments! It was a great week.

Lowest Tide of the Year Day!

June 14th was the lowest tide of the year so after Kivi and I attending our church's Morning Manna, we headed out to go see some sea life at Chambers Bay. I didn't have high hopes for seeing very much there. I never even really noticed a beach you could walk on in the past. Boy, was I wrong. We found soooo many creatures!

One of the first cool things, after the ever abundant little crabs and hermit crabs was this bright orange sea pen. It was all closed up because it was on dry land, but it was still neat to find and hold. 

Dada got on his waders and found us lots of big crabs to hold for those who were brave enough.

Opal loved the jellies and held this one for most of the time we were there along with her collection of locks and keys. The tide was so low that we were finding all sorts of keys from the people who had locked "love padlocks" on the pier above and thrown the key into the sea. 

Many types of little and big starfish were fun to find and touch. Our favorites were this bright red and gray colored one and

this huge, spiky, purple one that was under a pier.

Dada gave under the pier water tours in his waders too.

We were pretty enthralled with these cool sand collars which are the egg casings for moon snails.

The kids kept many creatures including this little sea slug in a bucket they called their "mobile aquarium" the whole time until we left and then released them all into the ocean.

One of the two sea snakes that Eben put back into the sea when it was time to go.

There was just so much to see and it was so colorful and beautiful! Too bad the tide was already coming back in!

 As we were leaving we brought our collection of about 20 keys up and tried almost every lock. We actually found and opened five locks!! Then we hooked them all onto each other and locked them back on the fence. We'll see if their still there another day!

Berg's Motorcycle Birthday!

Berg turned 4 on May 17th, but I was at our church's women's retreat and the next couple of weeks were booked up as far as having a party was concerned, so... about a month later (June 11th) we got to celebrate! Berg didn't actually know it was his birthday because we never told him. We've made this mistake before and unless there's a party to go with our birthday wishes it's just confusing for little ones. He was so excited for this motorcycle party and talked about it forever!

He wanted it in the church foyer just like his last party, which actually had to be moved there last minute because of rain!

We set up Berg's Burger Bar for dinner and Uncle Chris grilled up some tasty bacon cheeseburgers. 

After dinner Dada got out the motorized vehicles: the go cart and a little, yellow motorcycle that the big kids can actually ride themselves.

Uncle Chris even brought another little, blue motorcycle which was perfect because the go cart blew a chain.

Everyone had such a fun time taking turns riding around the church parking lot!

It was even fun to watch everyone drive around and cheer them on.

Of course we had to kiss our new, big 4 year old!

 We ended the night singing "Happy Birthday" to the birthday boy, making ice cream cone creations, opening presents (lots of motorcycles made for one happy Berg!) and hugging all our friends goodbye!

Berg, you are one amazing four year old! You are so happy, cuddly, encouraging and loving. I always hear you tell your brothers and sisters that they are awesome and you tell me everyday that I am cute! Wow! What a boy! Right now you love motorcycles (of course), trucks, sand and playing/taking care of/teasing Pella. We call you Squishy because you're so fun to tickle and squeeze and you feel like you're filled with squishy goo. You love being a big brother, but sometimes you love her too much and she is done having you hug or smother her. We love you so much you can't imagine. We are all blessed that you are in our family. We thank God for you everyday! We know you will do amazing things in your life, you already do now.

Nonnie, Poppie and Buggy Time

 The rest of May was filled up with Women's Retreat, Peter's Lodge Boy Reunion and Peter spending a week in San Antonio for work. Nonnie, Poppie and Buggy came up on June 10th and we made the most of the day going on a nature scavenger hunt, walking around Lake Waghop and napping.The kids were so excited to see Buggy and play with her. While they were all here we also had Berg's birthday party and went to Shmee's graduation. It was a short little time, but Nonnie and Poppie would be back two weeks later for a longer summer trip.