More Summer

Go Fly a Kite.

We discovered that most evenings we get a pretty good breeze blowing down the canyon, which makes our side yard ideal for flying kites!  It was amazing.  The kites went right up and stayed up.

One day we came home and discovered we'd missed our friends!  They had taken a bike ride all the way past our house.  Fortunately we'd left out some sidewalk chalk, and we had a delightful note left for us on the driveway :)

Hang Loose

Skateboarding lessons with Uncle Dan are always popular.  Lizzie admitted to me, though, that when he was saying "Hang Loose" when they were sitting up high for the picture to be taken, she was confused and wondered why they'd want to do that.

Daddy's Birthday

Who could turn down a stick with a string and a plastic spoon stuck on them (I think it was supposed to be some sort of catapult?).  At least, who could turn them down when given with such great anticipation and a huge girlish grin?!  Kate used some of her own birthday money to buy a little chalk board and paint to decorate it.  It is in Michael's office so they can leave notes on it and it won't have to be erased every time, like on the work white board.  I made an iPad case using a text book (bought from the library sale), felt, and a zipper.  It's handy when you don't mind if your iPad looks like it isn't an iPad ;)

Kate's Birthday Activity

Last year we started a tradition in which the birthday girl gets to choose two friends and an activity.  Then the family takes the two friends along and we go do something fun together.  Much easier, less stress, and more fun than worrying about a big party.  Kate wanted to go to the Nickelcade.  

 The kids all had a great time!  Michael finally won the  "Monster Jackpot" on his favorite ball-drop game (637 tickets!).  Lizzie won the "huge prize" of 2,000 tickets on a game (bottom right, below).  We used some of the tickets to get fun prizes and saved the rest for another visit, saving up for something larger.

Then we went to Krispy Kreme and ate donuts and juice or milk and opened presents.  It was absolutely delightful!  And I didn't have to vacuum specially afterward ;)

This is what we look like in the car.  Yes, it's kinda crazy.

We had a Jarbh family gathering to say farewell to my brother, sister-in-law, and their son.  They've moved off to a good job in another state and we sure do miss them!  We took cake and cupcakes to the party, and learned that if you buy eggs in bulk, the paper holders are great to transport cupcakes in!

Sabrina "accidentally"(?) got some frosting on her arm on the drive there.  Poor girl "had to" lick it off.
Each of the kids got a special fancy chocolate box from friends in China.  These kids love all things Chinese!

A couple of weeks ago we had some cousins (and Aunt J) stop by to hang out for a while.  Their mama was having a baby!  Our house is closest to the hospital she was at and the kids were hoping they'd be handy to see their brand new baby sister.  After a few hours, though, they decided to go home to bed.

M got a bow and arrow set and Uncle Michael taught him how to shoot it.  It ended up being a fun night of archery.  Kate pulled out the bow and arrow she made out of sticks and they all had fun.

They were well chaperoned by a very curious Ginger.

Michael pulled out one of the kitty toys and easily tempted Ginger down.

 After some fun with the kitty wand she discovered a lonesome ant.  The ant provided quite a period of amusement for Ginger, and subsequently the rest of us.  (Yes, Sabrina knows how to make an entrance!)

Lizzie was ready to go home with her cousins!  Or actually I think she just had to say good bye about 20 times ;)  Yay for a healthy new niece, born later that night!