I’m sitting here watching my family and I’m truly happy.  The boys are lying on the couch all snuggled together, shirtless in boxer shorts and talking about Ninjago.  Erin is wandering around in a diaper playing with random toys. All are quiet and content.  A lazy summer morning.
So many moms can’t wait for school to start, for the kids to get back into routine and be gone for the day.  For me it’s different.   I always get sad when summer comes to an end.  As much as they can drive me crazy, I just love being with them.  I don’t find it to be a burden, being a mom is what I was meant to do. Oh it’s not all rainbows and unicorns over here, believe me.  The kids misbehave and I lose my cool, same as the next family. 
Sorry to be sappy but I’m seeing the years go by so quickly and my sweet little boys turning into young men.  I wish I could freeze time but it keeps getting better so I’m also excited for what’s to come.

I kind of love this video!

 I love playing tourist in Seattle with the kids – we walked over on the ferry then walked up to visit our friend at Goldmine Jewelry at Pike Place Market, then picked up some freshly made mini powdered doughnuts at the market, wandered around and people watched then headed down for a visit to the Seattle Aquarium. 
No matter how often we go, our people love the aquarium. 
I’m sad to see the summer winding down, love these outings with the kids!

Fresh doughnuts – what a treat!

Making sure the elevator is secure

Trey still on patrol

Boy facepaint – an orca eating a fish

more boy face paint – an octopus eating a shark

and yet more boy facepaint

 Want to be a part of something COOL!?  Then go out, buy a lock, decorate it and lock it onto the fence just over the viaduct in Seattle.  It’s the Bridge of Love Seattle!
Our boys were excited to click their locks on today and can’t wait to see how it grows. 

 Our boys have been training for many years at Island Aikido and on Sunday there was an aikido seminar and going away party for Owen and Kayla (who are leaving for college). 
We get asked sometimes why we would have the boys in marial arts…honestly, they can punch, kick and fight with the best of them already.  Aikido, however, isn’t about hurting your opponent, it’s about being able to protect yourself and use the other person’s energy to bring them down.  They are learning so many life lessons and discipline through their training and it’s been fun to watch them progress through the years.  Erin has been going to the dojo since she was 3 days old and she LOVES being there.  It’s just a challenge trying to keep her off the mats, she wants to train, too!

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 We went camping with the Malloy’s last weekend and had a great time.  Our boys all play so well together and they are at the point where they can ride their bikes through the park and the grownups can hang out and have semi-uninterrupted chatting time. 
There was lots of biking, sliding down dirt hills, s’mores, playing at the beach and even a nap or two.  Can’t wait to go again!
Erika had just posted “Camping, beach, great friends – only fresh crab could make this better” on Facebook when one of our friends pulls up in their boat and had just set crabpots!  They hung out awhile on the beach, then came back and gave us 3 tasty Dungeness to eat.  LOVE LOVE LOVE where we live and the amazing people we have in our lives.

Carlos and Erin both needed a nap!

It was cool to see my kids sliding down and playing on the same dirt hills I played on as a	kid and loving it just as much

Juice boxes are a camping plus, just ask Erin

The only time our guys get sugar cereal is when we are on vacation and they inhale it!

So Mary and Alice have been on their adventure over a week now but through the marvels of modern technology we get to see them all the time!  I love Skype! 
Monday nights are “Family Dinner” and last night was no different.  We set up the iPad so that Mary and Alice could see everyone at the table and we could all see them.  We all ate dinner (except for Alice who added excitement to the meal by dropping some spaghetti sauce on their white rug and we got to be there for the clean up efforts) and chatted.  Trey even got the “elbows off the table” reminder from Maymay all the way from Mexico!
Looking forward to many more Family Dinners (17 to be exact) before they come home!

 Our dear friends, Mary and Alice, took off on their adventure of 4 months living in San Miguel, Mexico. 
We will miss family dinners every Monday night and so many other things but can’t be sad because this is such an incredible experience for them.  I can’t wait until they come home, show us their pictures and tell us their stories.
Rounded the kids up before they left for some photos, LOVE THESE KIDS!