School's Out, Scream and Shout!

(You know the High School Musical song, right?) Here's hoping the neighbors won't be hearing me "scream and shout" too much this summer. I have mixed feelings and, admittedly, a bit of anxiety over summer break. I really do look forward to school being out: not being on a schedule, fun vacations, trips to the beach, and all the (good) memories that come from being out of school for 2 1/2 months; however, it's a challenge for me to have all four kids home every day all day long (this is the anxiety part). I stress about the thought of fighting kids, too much TV and not enough reading, a messy house (you know they go through 10 outfits a day when they're out playing in the sprinkler, etc.), and getting them to do their chores.

It's gonna be good though. Opposition in all things, right? The inevitable not-so-good days will help me cherish the good days.

Things we have on the calendar:
Our New York cousins are coming next week!! We haven't seen them in 3 years. So looking forward to that.

Our trip to Great Falls, Montana, over 4th of July weekend (w/ NY cousins) to visit great-grandma Mang and see Keith's dad and his wife who just moved there from NY a few weeks ago. It will be nice to have Keith's dad a lot closer now.

Annual Fuller trip to Lake Roosevelt (going for 5 days this time!)

Other things we want to do:
take a hike and/or do camping up at Mt. Rainier

go to Steilacoom beach (and possibly Jetty Island)

take Papa's boat out on Lake Washington

go to Wild Waves

take a trip to Sequim

get a trampoline!

Take a road trip to Utah with just me and the kids. O.K., not very realistic, I know. Every year I fantasize about doing this, and I always chicken out. Every year I think, "Maybe next year when the kids are a bit older." It's a 13 hour drive (I'd break it up by staying a night in Boise), but I just don't know how it would go all by myself with 4 little kids. Maybe this will be the year?! Anybody want to do it with me?

I'm also looking forward to just hanging out at home. I love having a bit of land to let the kids run free and roam (no worries about them getting hit by a car). I love that they can come and go from the house, and I don't have to stress about that. When we lived in Lake Stevens I was always stressing about, "Where are the kids?" and threatening them they had to stay in the back yard.

And speaking of summer kicking off, we took a trip to Lake Chelan over Father's Day weekend...

Father's Day Weekend in Lake Chelan

My sister and her hubby and 2 kids were in town from Utah, and since they won't be able to make our Lake Roosevelt trip in August, we were able to all get together and go to Lake Chelan and stay at a condo my parent's rented.

It was a good time despite the fact that I woke up Saturday morning with the stomach flu. It was a bad one, but luckily only 24 hours. By Sunday I was feeling much better; however, now everybody else has been barfing the last two days - Keith, Anne Elyse, my newphew, and my sister! I feel horrible. What bad timing to get sick when you're on vacation! But as you can see, luckily, I was still able to get some good pics. I did not get one single picture of my sister-in-law Stevie (don't be offended, please)! Next time I'll make sure to get everyone.

Seven is Splendid!

Anne Elyse turned 7 on May 25. The Saturday before her birthday (which was my birthday), her and I went to the mall and got her ears pierced. She was very brave and didn't cry at all. Considering the fact that she likes to have a band aid for every nick and scratch she gets and that I've had several phone calls from the school nurse this year regarding her being "hurt" or "sick," she didn't shed one single tear. She really wanted those ears pierced!

We had a party for her and her friends at Roach Gymnastics (more pics to come later...)

She also got to spend the night at Papa and Grandma's house all by herself and went clothes shopping at the mall and got a lot of really cute summer things - thanks Grandma!

What we'd like to remember about Anne Elyse right now:

She's a good student (she has earned several "Kelso's Choice," awards at school this year).
She's an awesome big sister to Tori (umm, not so much to Tyler...smile!)
She loves to sing and dance
She loves jewelery and finally has those diamond (cubic zirconium) earrings she's been wanting!
She is our social butterfly - always wanting to have playdates with her friends, "do something fun," or go to a party
She loves to make cards for just about anyone.
She likes to play school and pretend she's Mrs. Rose.

Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

From Misc

Lemonade!

Anne Elyse participated in her first school musical called, "Lemonade!" It was a cute story about all the different fairy tale characters who were having a "bad day," and were able to cheer up by turning their lemons into lemonade, and sharing "a glass or two," together. She remembered all her lines, and she played the Princess Frog.

From Misc

Raingutter Regatta

Austin participated in his first Raingutter Regatta for cub scouts. (I was a bit disappointed that we didn't do the Pinewood Derby instead, since he's never done one). I ended up helping Austin make his boat, and let's just say Dad should've been the one to help. I glued the rudder in backwards, so he didn't win any races. It was just one of those things that got put on the back burner and then before we knew it the race day was here and Dad not available. So, lesson learned: some things are just meant for Dads. It was decorated pretty cute though, right? :)

From Misc

My Birdhouse

As promised, here's a picture of the birdhouse my dad made me for my birthday. I love it. It hangs right outside the big front window of my family room.

From Misc

Katie

I never blogged about my trip I took to Salt Lake City in April to meet my new niece and namesake (my nickname when I was little was Katie). The main reason I've neglected the post (besides me just being busy - smile!), is that I've been working on editing her photos. Here's one I did today. Isn't she a beauty?

I had the best time just hangin' out at my sister's holding her, helping out, seeing our extended family, and believe it or not, relaxing. I just took Tori, and having 1 kid is a piece of cake. My parents also flew down at the same time as did my Grandma, so it was a good time enjoying everyone's company.

From Katie