Prepping for Halloween

Ashten, AJ, and Ayden Ashty cutting off his lid

AJ scooping out the guts

Ashten making his pattern

Ayden marking his pattern

The finished pumpkins

Ayden and his pirate

AJ with his snowman

Ashten went traditional My boys

Today we started Halloween weekend by preparing for the holiday. We turned on some Halloween music that they play on cable. Then got ready to carve pumpkins. Grammy and Papa had grown pumpkins in their garden this year and they were nice enough to give one to each of the boys. The big boys picked out their designs from a book, and I helped them tape them onto their pumpkins. They marked the outline and cut them out, for the most part, by themselves. Anderson's pumpkin after he and I scraped the insides, turned into a snowman. While the kids were cutting their pumpkins out. I made dinner. We had Halloween shaped macaroni, the kids LOVED it! Today, Ayden was the first time Ayden got to bring a book home from the library. He chose one called Halloween Pie. So while they ate, I read to them. After dinner, Ayden and Ashten finished their pumpkins and cleaned up. We had so much fun:)

Ashten and AJ

AJ loved standing here for some reason, he spent a lot of time here over the weekend Dad doing dishes, lucky them (and us) they had a trailer
Aj, Wes, and Kristin

Ashty, Armand, Dad, and Mom playing games

The weather cleared up for a little bit today. The ranger came over and taught the kids about some fungi, trees, bugs, and animals. This and picking up litter certified them as Junior Rangers.

Ashten and Ashley listening to the Ranger.

Ayden learning about fungus that grows on trees

AJ lost interest after about 2 minutes

Picking up litter to become Jr. Rangers

Receiving their certificates

Presenting the newest Junior Rangers

Ashten and Ashley playing with play dough Ashten, Armand, Mom, Ayden, Dad, Toni, Wes, and Kristin

It was a long day for Ayden

and Ashten

Armand, Mom, Ashten, and Toni

We went to Potlatch State Park over Labor Day Weekend. The forecast: RAIN, RAIN, and more RAIN! Tent camping in the rain is ridiculous. We actually stayed dry the first night, the second night was a little wet, and by the last night everything was soaked. We had to run a load of blankets in the dryer. Anyway, we had a great time nevertheless. We played a lot of dice and card games as well as a game of croquet in the middle of a down pour! It was a blast. The kids spent time making bead necklaces and bracelets, playing with play dough, and coloring. We will never forget this trip.

Silly Boys

These boys are SO funny!

Pool Party

Ayden, Ashten, and Anderson

AJ- loved the pool!! I mean LOVED it!
Ashten could not even strip down he was soo hot

Ayden - Swimming in his underwear

It was a record breaking 97 degrees today! YIKES!! It has been a nasty week for heat. One time I looked out and saw the kids including the neighbors huddled around the hose. I felt so bad for them and then I remembered that last year at the end of season I picked up a big pool for a great deal! It took awhile to set it all up, but it was well worth the wait. Every time we leave the house and come home the boys strip down and jump in. It's a pretty funny site, but we have gone through a lot of clothes this week. Some kids don't quite get that we shouldn't swim in our jeans.

Snoqualmie Falls

Ayden making dirt angels...ewwAJ and Ashten these are some dirty kids
On Sunday morning we had breakfast, packed up camp, washed the kids, and took off. We decided that it would be fun to stop in and see the falls.

Checking out the falls

Ashty and AJ

Cheese

Anderson and Daddy

The boys

Ayden thought it would be good to roll down the hill. It was too hot and the grass was too dry which meant it was not fun!

There were SO many people there in Snoqualmie. I had never seen it like that before. We had to park across the street up the hill in the furthest parking lot. I didn't even know that this place existed. We walked around and found a place to sit after we finished looking at the waterfall. We found a table in the shade and ate cherries that we had picked up at the Thorp Fruit Mall. They were great! After not too long we took off (it was too HOT!) I believe it was in the high 90's today.

The Potholes Day One

Uncle Wes helping Ayden fly his kiteand helping Ashten too Me, Papa, and Daddy getting ready for dinner
AJ
The name Potholes, doesn't really make me think WooHoo this is going to be fun. But it was! We had plenty of things to do to keep us busy and entertained. We got to camp in the afternoon and set everything up, then headed over to the lake for dinner. There was a pretty lake, and a huge field for the kids to run and play. By the time we got to the lake it was time to start dinner. Everyone took a meal to be in charge of, and mom and dad had the first one. We had teriyaki steak strips and noodles. It was delicious. The kids ran around, flied kites, and threw rocks in the lake. When it started getting cool and dark we headed back to camp for a campfire and some roasted marshmallows. It was tons of fun, and we can't wait until tomorrow.

Valley 6 ... or 5

Anderson, Ashten, and Ayden having juice and snacks while we wait for the movie to startThanks to Ayden for taking this picture. Mommy, AJ, Daddy, and AshtenThe boys We decided to go to the drive-in today. The kids were so excited. We had them change into their pajamas and headed down to the theater, after picking up some snacks and some dinner. We went to see the latest Harry Potter movie. Everyone except for Armand fell asleep at some point during the movie. It definitely wasn't our favorite Harry Potter movie. Anyway, the kids had a blast even though they didn't last long. The worst part of the drive-in is having to drive home. We did not stay for the second movie. Neither of us would have been able to drive home.

The Beast

Armand watchingAJ wants to come see but it's too dangerous
Ayd

Ashten and Ayden in their fort
Ashty hiding out

The fig tree had become completely overgrown with blackberries. Sad, cause figs are so yummy. Maybe next year the tree will get more figs!

James and the Giant Beast

Today, I was so happy for two reasons. One Armand came home early! Two him and his buddy James brought over what I like to refer to as...the Beast! At first he jsut mowed the lawn becuase the allergies are killing me right now. We doubted the beasts powers, until he started knocking over trees!