Lately: May + June

We've had some amazing weather lately, weather that keeps us outside and keeps the flowers blooming! (Allergies too, but oh well...) There have been several field trips lately, we had a wonderful Memorial Day, and Madsen's baseball season came to an end.

Celia's class got to go to Junior Achievement Biz Town, where every kid has a job, a paycheck, checkbook, and can purchase things on their "break." She dressed up for her interview to be an animal shelter's assistant, but ended up getting a bank teller job instead. Which she totally LOVED. From pictures I've seen, Biz Town is in a big warehouse set up to look like a real town with businesses on the streets. She and Madsen will both get to go next year!

Fun at Lowe's with B, as we planted more in our garden...

...he was super confused as to why this door wasn't opening.

We got a big coloring poster from Pirasta.com, which should hopefully give me some quiet time this summer...fingers crossed. :)

Evening baseball games:

Boys went to a church campout, so we go to paint our nails and eat a dessert or two. ;)

Bowen and I take occasional bike rides to the park. There's a short nature trail, and when I told him this was a "sword fern", he immediately took the stick in his hand and began to sword fight with it. Obviously...(rolls eyes). Boys. Ha!

Hot days meant lots of popsicles, swimming, and crashing in the afternoon...these poor Northwest kids just can't handle much heat. :)

Finally! Daddy had a free Saturday to do some yard work! These kids were ALOT smaller the last time they did this... :)

A field trip with Madsen, as he walked in the Cultural Day Parade:

Each 3rd grader in every school in the district (there are like 20 elementary schools!) researches a country, and makes a poster and flag. Madsen chose Denmark (Celia did last year as well) because of our many Danish ancestors on both sides of the family.

Look at those buses! They stretched on in the other direction too. LOTS of kids!

The parade ended inside Fort Vancouver, which the kids really liked. We couldn't go in the buildings, so I need to bring the kids one day. They'll love it.

Cora was matchy-matchy with our gorgeous rhodo bush:

Madsen has gradually gained confidence as the season has gone on, and had an in-the-park home run at one of his last games. It was great! A big boost for him. (And of course, it was the one time we didn't have a camera on.)

Memorial Day was just the perfect temperature, with clear blue skies. We had a Richardson breakfast all together, and the kids had so much fun just playing with cousins, we ended up having lunch together too. They're never eager to leave Grandma and Grandpa's house. :)

Putting flags in the flowers:

And look at them all, trying to salute:

Before going home, we headed to a local cemetery. Cora is always surprised to find her name on so many grave markers. We remind her every time that her name was popular a long time ago. :)

Thought this was the sweetest little headstone for a 3 month old baby, Ida Estella Carpenter. Such a pretty name, too.

Big news - we gradually moved B out of the crib, taking off just one side at first...

...then took it out altogether...

...moved the dresser there, and now there is more space to play! He sleeps on the crib mattress, on the floor and LOVES it. He's pretty good about staying there when it's time for bed and an occasional nap too. I think that crib has been up for almost 11 years. ELEVEN!

It feels good to let go. :)