One of our kid’s (and our) favorite places in the world to be is the Grand Forest.  It’s been a long time since we’ve visited.  Enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch and walk through the woods.  Weather was perfect, kids and mama were happy.

Took the kids on an outing to the old Cannery, which has been tagged by a zillion rebellious high school kids.  Made for some great pictures!  If I do say so myself, I’ve got some attractive kiddos.
Alice was along with us, too, so it was nice to get a family picture with “all” my kids.

 So the boys wanted to do an experiment and see if they put a note on a balloon and let it go, if someone would find it and contact them to see how far it traveled.  So, I thought it would make a good Science Fair project.  Off to the store, got balloons in “their” colors, wrote out the notes and were ready to release them when all of the sudden, Trey’s popped.  Three happy boys went quickly to two happy and a tantrum.  I promised to get Trey another balloon and he could do his again and went ahead with the other two.  Some cool pictures…fingers crossed that we get a response.

 I love the sunshine!  Impromptu spring BBQ/Nerf Gun/Water Balloon Fight/S’mores party.  Love love love.
Can’t wait for this weather to stick around so we can do this more often.

 We have been blessed with amazing weather over the last 3 weekends.  Doesn’t usually happen for us in WA.  We are lucky to get a decent weekend in July.
The garden is starting to look great.  We’ve got a lot planted, too.  There is always a lot to do to get things ready to plant but when we bring in the first fresh, tasty veggies we know it was all worth the effort.
The boys were shirtless in the yard most the day, we had friends stop in for a glass of wine in the garden while the kids played and ended the day with dinner with Nana and Papa.
Great spring day.  Tomorrow is supposed to be 75.  Can’t wait.

I am begging for a bottle of wine/liquor. No. Not for me, I promise! It’s for the Island school auction, and we are putting together an “instant liquor cabinet”. Basically we are asking friends and families to donate a bottle of their favorite wine or liquor which will then be grouped as a whole to be auctioned off to the lucky bidder. Last year we had 30 bottles that brought in over $1200.

So, I am coming to you, begging for a bottle to be part of this auction. If you would prefer for your business to donate, all donations are tax deductible, and you will get a special business tag that will have your business card and other information on the bottle, so your company will be featured! All of the proceeds from the auction go to the scholarship program at the school, which we are not ashamed to say we are beneficiary’s of. So it’s a win-win!!!

We will need all donations by the 2nd of May and I am hapy to come pick up if needed. You are also welcome to swing them by our place as well. Feel free to share this post Island school folks and alumni! let’s get the love going!!!

Also, if you want to support the school, but you live far away, you can paypal funds to me with a note about what wine you want us to get, and we will procure it for you. see, we make it easy!!!

Erin went for a photo shoot for the company, Kicky Pants.  Here are the pictures…isn’t she cute!?  I think she has a future in modeling, just gotta find someone to hook a girl up.
Love the clothes, too…www.kickypants.com….super soft, bamboo and so comfortable.

Today, as I struggle with other things…I got 2 amazing compliments about my boys  that lifted my soul.

First was a mom at school who found a note written from Carlos to her daughter that said “You have a very kind heart.  Carlos”  She’s going to put it in her forever memory box.  This is a little girl he just adores and tells us daily how much he “loves her as a friend”  So sweet and nice to see that side of our tough guy.

Second was an email from Levi’s teacher (to us and another family) that read:

"Just wanted to let you two know that both of your children write the
loveliest, most heartfelt birthday letters to their classmates.  I realize
that those are letters you never see, so I wanted to tell you!"

I know Levi is a sensitive, sweet guy but to hear that he can express that to friends 

on their birthday card was very special. 

In all the chaos and daily life I always wonder if we're raising them right and today

I'm feeling really good about who our boys are on the inside.  No, they aren't perfect 

they are good, cool kids.

Here’s a little something Carlos has been asking me to type for days…we finally had time to sit down and have him dictate it to me.  I’m not reading too deep into this one!

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