Overalls

So we have some incredible retired neighbors that love gardening. The sad part is that no one can see their yard. We are the closest neighbors to them and we can' t even see their yard. They said we could come take photos there anytime we wanted. They must have seen us always taking photos in our yard. So a week or so ago they specifically e-mailed Max saying we should go take photos in their yard while they are out of town because the flowers will all be gone soon. We can't say no to a photo shoot so early one morning I dressed the boys in overalls and went into their yard. The boys were being adorable at first then I just got really nervous as they were picking flowers and destroying the rock water fountain. Anyway, I still feel like we got some good photos...

Then we got back to our not-as-pretty yard and Charlie pushed his brother around on the tractor and they looked like little farm boys and it was sweet!

Anyway, there's a random rapid photo shoot for you. Also, I've been on a blogging roll and have done about 5 posts in the last couple days...so keep scrolling and enjoying our exciting life :)

A Grand Old Tree

So, I'm realizing that both Charlie and Miles have sponge-like minds. They are thrilled to explore and gain more knowledge. Miles' vocabulary is increasing daily. and he is using correct words in context. Charlie is so interested in inventions and anything outside and in nature. I completely believe that kids are natural learners and I don't want to force some curriculum on them too early. But I do love finding ways to enhance their natural interests. A couple weeks ago Charlie picked out a book called "A Grand Old Tree" from the library. It's a non-fiction book about the long life cycle of a tree. We read it a lot at home but I thought it would be fun to go read it in our forest while sitting on our fallen "Grand Old Tree" 

Charlie was excited for this idea and was running with the book in hand and tripped and scrapped up his elbows within minutes of us arriving in the forest. After that he didn't want to do much. So he sat on a bench and I pulled out some graham crackers until he was feeling all better and forgot about his injuries. 

Miles was happy to be cruising through the forest with Big Brother!

It turned out that neither of them wanted to sit still to listen to the story. But we did enjoy applying the knowledge that we had read previously. We took time to notice falling leaves, forest creatures, large roots, and fallen trees. That was a lot more exciting for my boys. 

Oh and Miles loved this hollowed out stump, it was the perfect space for him.

He didn't like when brother crowded in his little space. 

Ok...so I may be a little obsessed with forests!

Tacoma Day trip!

Before we had a chance to breath from returning from our rafting trip, Max had to go back to work on Monday and I decided to jump in the car with my kids, drive up to Tacoma and help surprise Grace for her 4th Birthday Surpris party. We hadn't made our way up to Tacoma in a long time and we had never been their for Grace's birthday so we really wanted to make it happen. The boys did great in the car. We made it in time to be there before Grace showed up with her dad so it was perfect. The surprise party was at Pump it up. A big bouncy house indoor playground! My boys were excited (Note: all photos of from Elizabeth) 

Grace peeked under her blindfold and she got a really loud surprise when she walked in

And then she got tackled...mostly by Charlie who is all about wrestling these days!

My boys loved it! And we had the whole rooms to ourselves.

The party-ers

After a bunch of bouncing madness we made our way into the party room where Grace got to sit on her thrown. We ate pizza and cake and she opened her presents and went to hug everyone to thank them.

Afterward, the guests went home but we followed James and Elizabeth back to their house to have some more cousin time. It was so fun to just relax and watch our kids play and check out the bee hives and vegetable garden and the shed that James built. We also played in the yard. We stayed until dinnertime and then had a wonderful living room dance party and then loaded up in the car and went home. The drive back was pretty uneventful and we were happy to be home and start getting back into somewhat of a routine. We were very happy to celebrate with Grace, she is really such a sweet girl and we are so lucky that are cousins are really only 2 hours and 14 minutes away!

Bubble Run

About 10 hours after we got home from the rafting trip we were off to participate in the bubble run, we had members from my side and Max's side of the family participating. We got there early and met up with Lisa and her boys. I didn't take many pictures so I gathered pictures from everyone else :) Thanks family!

We killed some time by doing tricks!

We (I) couldn't figure this trick out. 

But Bray got it!

When my aunt Val and cousin Stephanie came we were able to get our shirts from them, we were also able to meet up with James and Elizabeth's family. A little later, Max's brother came with August and Max's parents. 

Gwenevere and Lexi

Grace

There were a couple large bubble bogs that we had to run through.  

I ran ahead with Charlie and James and Elizabeth's family, I was hoping Charlie and I would be able to run for awhile. Max stayed back with his mom to get her started.

We ran in spurts. Charlie was all turbo charged and running for a couple seconds then he got really tired then I ran with him on my back for a little bit then he was ready to walk, then he wanted to run again. We went through that cycle a couple times.

Max was able to run and catch up with us so we were able to finish the second half of the race together.

We made it through the finish line with Steph and James and Elizabeth's family. And then played in the large bubble bog for awhile. It was pure madness!

It was a fun event even though there were multiple times I thought people just go to these things to take selfies...But we were some of those people too..so.... Charlie had a lot of fun and it was great spending time with family. Also, Max's mom walked it and she was able to finish it even after having a heart attack and major open heart surgery at the beginning of the year. 

Also, the race was at the International Raceway, so there was also a Motorcycle race going on and that was pretty exciting to watch. 

In the end I was just anxious to go home and get my baby that I hadn't seen in a week, and shower and sit on our couch!

On our way home we say my mom on the Freeway taking Miles to our house:) It was pretty exciting to peek into the windows and see him sleeping. When we got to our house, Miles was clinging to my mom! Silly boy! I'm glad he bonded so well with her, but it did take him a bit to be happy to see us. We fed our boys, showered and then went over to my grandma's house to celebrate the August birthdays. We didn't stay long since we hadn't had much time at home and had a huge list of things to get done.