Grandpa Les & Other Random Fun

Joe's dad recently bought property in Idaho, so we get to visit with him during some of his trips over from the westside (WA). He came for dinner one night this week & we were able to celebrate his birthday with him. The kids were excited to see Grandpa Les & sat on his lap for story after story (they can't get enough stories lately, I love it!). That afternoon they "helped" me bake a cake for him, and as the pictures attest, they enjoyed eating it even more than helping with it!


Story time


Lovin' the sugar


I've never seen her lick her bowl before!


Les got a kick out of the kids devouring his birthday goodies!



We have enjoyed a few playdates with Olivia & Isabelle lately. The kids all piled in the wagon on this particular day & it was quite a site. Unfortunately, Grace's pigtails were blocking sweet Belle's face.



Joe will hate that I'm posting this, but I laugh out loud every time I see this picture, so I have to share it. Isaac has been especially intrigued with his sister's hair when it is up lately (pulling it, of course), so I decided to put his up the other day, just for fun. He didn't like it one bit, but Grace & I got a good laugh out of it. I always thought he was boy through & through, but with his hair up, he could almost look like a little girl. Almost.

Water + Dirt = Fun

The last time the kids & I were down in Moscow, Isaac and Grace decided to help Grammie water her roses. It started out that they just got a little wet playing in the water...that is until they discovered that water + dirt = MUD!! I don't have time to post much commentary tonight, but I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves. Just know that they both ended up completely naked being hosed off in the front yard before going in for a bath & that the tub was coated in a layer of dirt when they got out. Oh, the simple joy of dirt!

Beep Beep!

Many of you know my good friend Nicole, otherwise known as Auntie Coco around here. The other day the kids & I were out front watering plants, and she pulled up on her Vespa (scooter), honking the horn. She was, of course, wearing her helmet, so it took a few minutes for the kids to figure out who she was. Isaac was immediately enthralled with the scooter & all of its gadgets. Grace didn't seem to care too much until she got to sit on Auntie Coco's lap. Nicole stayed and played for a few minutes and then pulled away, again honking her horn. The kids stood and waved as she drove down the street. After she left, Grace got on her Big Wheels and was scooting around the yard saying "beep, beep." She's never done that before & it was too cute!! She loves her Auntie Coco (which, I'm convinced, is also why she loves shoes and jewelry so much, because Nicole is so stylish and always wears fun shoes and jewelry that Grace loves to play with). We snapped this picture on her new i-phone just before she left.

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, that is NOT our political sign in the yard. Our sweet neighbors (and they really are sweet) love to put up political signs & they always put them on the border of our property so it looks like they're in our yard! Each time we mow, we use it as an excuse to move the signs, but they always seem to end up in the same place...

The Boardwalk, Park, and Friends

We had a full weekend of time as a family & time with friends. Saturday we went to Coeur d'Alene for an afternoon adventure. We had lunch with Megan, Lucas & Stella as they celebrated the grand opening of the new Mary Jane's Farm store in CDA. We then went to the city park down near the water & the kids had a blast exploring the wooden park structure. We spent part of the afternoon with my good friend Shai & then finished out our day with a picnic on the boardwalk. We were also able to spend time with some other fun friends this weekend - Ben & Emily, Eric & Lynn and Andy & Kelli - we feel so fortunate to have such good friends. The bummer is, the only pictures I took all weekend were of our little family.



On the boardwalk. Apparently its one of the longest in the world!




We had quite the photo shoot trying to get a good picture of the three of them...this is the best of the bunch...the kids were distracted by the seagulls.



Peeking at Mom.



I love that face.



Joe was making them laugh on the swings.




More laughter.

Kitchen Kids & Jones Girls

I can hardly believe how fast these two are growing up! They are super active these days and getting into all sorts of mischief anytime I turn my back on them. As you'll see, one of their new favorite places is the kitchen...which can be fun & trouble all at the same time.


They LOVE to sit at the kitchen counter and eat their lunch. I'm amazed at how easily they keep their balance on such high stools. They seem like such big kids!



Mischief Example #1: I was cleaning up their high chairs in the dining room after dinner & heard Grace playing with something in the kitchen...black beans were everywhere! She has copied her brothers' antics and figured out how to use the kitchen drawers as a ladder to get things off of the counter. What a mess!



Mischief Example #2: I was changing Grace's diaper and came out to find Isaac sitting in the drawer, alternating between sucking on a lime and taking bites of an apple. Both had been on the kitchen counter.



Grace had to give it a try.



Mischief Example #3: The kids have discovered the paper goods drawer! They now have a ball pulling out stacks of paper plates and handfuls of plastic silverware. I guess its time to find a new home for those items.



Olivia & Isabelle Jones are two of Grace & Isaac's best buddies. They are my dear friend Julie's girls, and they are really sweet and fun to be with. Julie & I try to get the kids together to play (ok, ok, we like to get together too!), whenever our schedules will allow it. Here are a few pictures from one of our most recent times together.

Olivia & Isaac have a lot of fun together. Liv was especially fond of Isaac on this particular day & kept giving him kisses. She'll forever be his first kiss! :)



Due to a series of events, the kids all ended up with wet or dirty clothes, so we ended up with four nearly naked babies jumping on Olivia's bed. There was an awful lot of squeeling and laughter!



Sweet Belle



Isaac can hardly believe he gets to be practically naked AND jump on the bed!!



A little tuckered out...