Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Surviving the summer heat

It was a very hot week. This was the most days in a row over 90 in Oregon history, since they started recording temps. Wow! I am SO thankful for a/c in our house, it has made a world of difference.

Miles is talking so much now. Every day he learns new words. Last night he started saying "book" instead of "boo" like he was before. His bed time routine is the cutest. I'll get his jammies on and brush his teeth, then I'll nurse him for a few minutes with the light on. He pops off and says "book," then we read two little stories and a Bible story. Then I turn off the light, put him in his sleep sack, and nurse him for a long time until he's really sleepy. Then I lay him in bed and say "Night night Miles, we love you." And even though he's mostly asleep he says "plehplehpleh" (which I think is "I love you"). It's the sweetest! First thing in the mornings he gives everyone hugs too. I love it so much.
 He's been loving climbing in things. He also learned how to climb on the couch this week.
 Reid adopted this baby bunny and carries it around all over. He's been handing us all stuffed animals to adopt as well.
 Train time during baby's nap.
 We took a HOT walk over to the school. The library was open in the afternoons on Tuesdays for a few weeks. It was fun to see Ruby's library and get a few books.
 Miles loves containers and lids. He's constantly putting things into them.
 And he's been obsessed with blackberries!
 Morning snuggles.
 Fort building!
 Another hot walk to the park.
 We couldn't stay too long, it was so hot out.
 It has been hard to get Miles to not unplug all of the cords.
 Ruby has been such a big helper this summer. From helping with Miles to cooking to cleaning up and packing up groceries at the store. I can't believe how big she is and I'm so blessed to have her. <3
 And she turned 6 1/2! We celebrated with banana walnut muffins for breakfast.
 We went over to the Sprunger's house to play. Miles loved the tractor.
 The kids loved the pool! It's so fun having them close by.
 My blackberry picking buddy in her blackberry picking outfit. Haha!
Miles loves to sit on the big kids' heads.
 On Friday we went to the zoo! These sturgeon were huge.
 Reid wanted me to take a picture of the bee keeping thing. He peeked in a hole and said, "Mom, there are no bees in there. It's for spiders instead. There are spider webs in there."
 They wanted me to take this picture.
 We had a picnic lunch on the lawn by the elephants.
 This is their favorite thing to do, roll coins in this thing.
 <3 Miles loved the elephants.
 Baby mountain goats!
 On Saturday we went swimming in the Willamette River in Sellwood.
 Miles did not like the sand, so he sat on the blanket with me the whole time. Lucky for him there were TONS of doggies walking by. Seriously, I counted 20 right around us at one point!
 Andy took the big kids out on a little boat ride. It was a lovely morning for the river.
 Then Ruby played that it was winter and she was going out on a winter trip. Ha!
 We had two birthday parties over the weekend, on Saturday afternoon it was for our friend Evelyn from our home group, and on Sunday it was for our nephew Conner. Busy weekend!
 Ruby legitimately fell asleep like this! We laughed SO hard.
 We had a big baptism festival at church! Ruby sat with us in the service (and enjoyed her tea).
 Then baptisms, then a fun carnival.
 Reid the tiger.
 Ruby the fairy.
 I've been teaching English most mornings at 5am, so Ruby wrote this sweet note on my white board.
 Playing games in the morning.
 We went to see another magician/comedian with our friends this time.
 Ruby got to help...
...twice! It was fun. :)

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

More summer fun

This week was busy finishing swimming lessons and just having fun overall! It has been really hot out, so we're trying to stay cool.
 Ruby with her teacher Jeff and Reid with his teacher Jessica.
 Reid wanted to wear his baby bunny.
 Andy was at dinner with his coworkers one evening and I got the kids ready for bed. I had to put Miles to bed, and the big kids were so good! Ruby read to Reid quietly on the couch. <3
 Climber!
 Ruby had been swallowing too much pool water and every day after lunch she felt sick. Then also she got a lovely summer cold (and then shared it with Miles and I). Poor Ruby.
 We played Sardines after dinner. This was Reid's hiding spot. Haha!
 The kids got free books for finishing the summer reading program at the library! Miles was reading his and blabbering, it was so funny.
 Ruby did SO good on her back floats and almost passed out of level one. She just has a little bit more to go with steamboats and front floats.
 Reid walked like this all the way into the dressing room after swim lessons every day... he was so cold.
 They wanted to potty train Miles! He thought it was pretty funny.
 He found his nose!
 They were playing wedding.
 After they finished swimming lessons they each got a prize for trying new things. We were super proud of Reid not being scared or throwing any fits. He got this fun take apart crane truck.
 And Ruby chose this makeup bag. She's been doing makeup almost daily since. Haha
 On Saturday we went to the Robin Hood Festival!
 We ran into some friends, which was super fun. Andy and Nathan learned some sword fighting moves.
And then the kids had a turn too. 
 They loved it!
Miles LOVED meeting this little puppy. We need a dog.
 Our kids with William and Juniper riding a magical unicorn.
 Ruby carried Junie all around the festival. Haha! She's almost two, but she's smaller than Miles.
 Then we met Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
 And we had fun watching BJ the Clown. That's Reid and William standing up down front.
 We busted out the Halloween buckets for some blackberry picking.
 Grandpa Del and Grandma Patty joined us! We got a bunch to freeze and they were delicious.
 Ruby found the Frozen microphone. :)
 He copies EVERYTHING we do.
 Ruby and Reid colored Elsas and put on a puppet show for us. Ruby wrote a little script and made Andy narrate. It was the cutest.
 BFD with some delicious blackberries.
 Nightly wrestling has become a thing around here.
 We've been putting the kids to bed in separate bedrooms, which works out well. Except I was starting to get sick so I wanted to go to bed early and Ruby was still awake. So we laid in bed and read our bibles together. <3
 On Monday I took the kids to see Presto the Magician at the Bethany fountain.
 I love her smile.
 Reid thought it was pretty great.
 And then we played Sequence after nap.
Neighbors

Family photos

For the week of August 18-24 Boy, with buying a house and moving and starting the kids' online school and starting my doula mentorship a...