Fun Get-A-Way....

We are back from the beach and we had a wonderful time. I have not been to Cannon Beach since I was a little girl. It is a gorgeous little beach town.....totally wanting to move back to the beach again! We needed more days though because just as we became relaxed it was time to come home. The girls had a great time at their camps too. Now we are getting ready for back to school next week. Summer is almost over:(

Off to the Beach....

The girls are off to youth group camp this week so Mike and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to take a little get-a-way ourselves. We are headed down to Cannon Beach Oregon for a few days of relaxation. I will catch up with everyone when I get back:)

Have a great week!!!!

Disco Due Again

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Disco Duo

I always wanted my husband to be a "Dancing Dazzler" but unfortunately dancing is not really his thing.....if I can't get him to boogie down with me for real I can always dance with him digitally!!! He is out of town this weekend but he still can take me dancing;).....I hope he doesn't kill me for posting this:)

Thanks to Daleea from http://jewels-of-my-heart.blogspot.com/ for this great idea....too much fun while the hubby is away!

Go make one of these videos they are too funny!

Shopped until we Dropped!!!!!

Kyla and her friend, Miriah, showing off some of their back to school purchases that they made today at the mall!!!!

Finally some sunny days in August!!!!

So far the month of August hasn't been the best in the NW. While the rest of the country has been having a heat wave....it has been down right chilly here and has felt like fall or spring atleast. Yesterday and today the sun decided to come back out and let us enjoy the outdoor activities once again....thank goodness...I was beginning to think it was time to pack up the flip-flops and floaties:)

What we did yesterday in the sun......

What we did today in the sun........

At the end of our adventure to the beach the girls and I were working on getting everything loaded up to the car when who should appear???? "The Popsicle Man" of course. Emma and Ellie wanted to have a little treat but I told them, "Not today girls, since I bought you ice cream cones yesterday and candy at the store earlier in the day" and we needed to be heading home....oh, I am such a softy because in about 30 seconds I changed my mind and told the girls they could have one after all. I told them since we only have about two weeks left together for summer fun that I would just go ahead and spoil them. They were needless to say very thrilled. In the car on the way home Emma said, "Auntie Lesie will you spoil us again tomorrow?" *****GRIN*******

August Update

I know I have been a bit MIA this month....but those little cutie nieces are keeping us busy. Just getting us used to what is to come I guess. Here are some photos of what we have been up to this past week.

Potty training has been a little slow....but at least she is trying....

Last week dad and Kyla went on a Kayak trip around the Lake Union in Seattle and today dad and Hailey are taking a bike trip on some trails in Seattle. Father-Daughter dates are the best way to keep teen girls from wanting to be with boys....at least that is what we are hoping:)

We took Emma and Ellie to the Water Park/Amusement Park called Wild Waves....after a little car sickness incident with the littlest one we ended up having a fun day....even it the clouds never burned off like the weatherman said they would. It was a little chilly for running around in the water but Emma, Hailey, Maddie and Kyla didn't seem to mind a bit. Elise and Ellie liked staying wrapped up in a warm towel while the other girls played.

Yesterday was a quieter day and Emma found a good pillow while sissy took a little nap during a Care Bear movie.

Have a great weekend!

Fun things in the mail!!!!!

Last summer the girls and I met with Gen from Going to China....,before her and her husband moved away to Montana.

In December they traveled to China to adopt 12 year old Lana and have been a family ever since. I have loved following their story this past year but wish we could be closer so my girls could get to know Lana. Since Montana is not too far away, I am hopeful that we will meet sometime soon:)

Well........

.......I was so excited when I read on Gen's blog last week that Lana was making beautiful jewelry and was opening up an Etsy shop online to sell her creations. I was even more excited when I got to be her very first customer! Yeah me!!!! I ordered three things for my three girls. Pearl earrings for Hailey and Kyla and a cute little pearl necklace and bracelet set for Grace. Well the package came today and not only was the jewelry fabulous but so was the beautiful packaging and I loved the little card too. Lana is on her way to a great little business! Gen was so sweet and added a little gift for me. I can't wait to use my ladybug book mark and I have the perfect book that it will adorn:) If anyone else is interested in checking out Lana's great jewelry pieces...... here is a link to her Etsy Store, http://www.lanasjewelry.etsy.com/

Love the box...with the big red bow!
The little boxes were so cute too!!!! I can't wait to see my three "pearls" in their pearls!

Sorry...photo is a little blurry but isn't this book mark just the cutest!!!

Thank you Lana and Gen!

Lollipop potty training....AND 12 MONTH LID TODAY!!!!!!!!!

We have been having a "little" success with the potty training with Ellie. I had to get an actual potty chair because the Dora seat for the toilet "scareded her". I got a bag of lollipops and she can have one if she is sitting on the potty. Needless to say she LOVES sitting on her potty now! Most of the time she does not "do" anything but at least she is eager to sit on it. The weather has been fabulous this week (in the 70's) so we have set up potty training in the backyard. Today, we will try again but I think I will have her run around nakie so she can feel it when she has an accident.


At one point I was in charge of the girls and I wasn't paying too close attention and I looked over and they each had about 5 lollipops open. I guess the honor system with the lollipop bag isn't such a great idea with a 2 and 4 year old.

"Look Auntie Lesie, we made lollipop bouquets"

*****I made this post earlier today and almost forgot the most important thing......today we celebrate our 1 year LID-versary....oh my gosh, it has been a whole year!!! I can't really believe it!!!!*******
Yeah for a whole year done in this journey....hopefully only another one to go????????