The Most Fun of All

After a week of so much fun, the house was a MESS.  I trained clients, fed my kids (although we did eat out several times), did laundry and that was it.  So yesterday, we had a cleaning day.  Each kid gave me time in 20 minute increments (they each cycled through 2x).  We cleaned the house ALMOST from top to bottom.  (Didn't get to the playroom or my bathroom).  They rotated giving me 20 minutes.  Then at the end.  I had a flash of inspiration.  Okay.  You guys gave me 20 minutes of doing what I wanted you to do.  Now I will do what you want for 20 minutes.
It was so fun and interesting to see what they wanted to do.
Libby wanted me to watch Episode 1 of "Liv and Maddie," one of her favorite shows. "So I would understand it," she explained. So I sat down for 24 minutes and watched with her.  It was really sweet for her to share that with me.  There were lots of side hugs and snuggles while we watched.
Sarah earned her kindle this week by finishing her 5th marathon.  So we spent 20 minutes adding stuff to her kindle, and figuring it out.  (I have one too, but I am still figuring it out.  It isn't like an apple device, sadly.)
Ben didn't actually get his 20 minutes because we had to go run some errands and get some dinner.
(Note to self, I am the only one who likes Chipotle, and even I prefer Cafe Rio.)
I owe him 20 today.  I'm guessing we will play with his new marble run that he earned by finishing his 4th marathon.

Chariot cart at Home Depot.  We got some supplies for their art project on Monday morning.  Sarah pushing with the other two riding.  This is worth documenting because I am sick of these huge carts.  I told them it is the last time we will ever get a chariot cart.  

I snapped this when I was out watering after I got the kids in bed.  I love our yard.  

Tour de Terrace

The kids do gymnastics in Mountlake Terrace at Cascade Gymnastics.  I'm still learning to navigate the gymnastics world.  But when the kids found out they could be in the Tour de Terrace parade with Cascade Elite, they abandoned the previous plan (Hamlet in the park) and decided to walk in the parade.  (This is the same hot day as the wading pool...man, were we busy or what!)

The parade route is right by the gym, so they first got to warm up and play in the foam pit.  Libby joined the tumbling group and Ben and Sarah got to play around with the coaches.

This is Ben's coach, Coach Doug.

It was hot and sweaty while we waited.  But it ended up being an amazingly fun night!

Libby in the tumbling line.  She must have done 50 cartwheels and several handstands along the route.  

Our friend from church Samantha also walked with us.

They gave fliers to all the parents walking to give out.  Derek decided to pay the kids in candy to give out his for him.  I think Ben is saying he earned 4 pieces of candy by giving out the Cascade Elite fliers to spectators.  

Sarah was the star of passing out fliers.  She gave out hundreds.  She worked tirelessly and helped give out everything they had!

Ben wasn't so sure he wanted to do this whole parade thing. At about this point he said, "Hey, this is actually fun!"  He started waving like crazy and got lots of people to wave back!  Notice that Derek is wearing his Wrestling Rhinos shirt.  A little subtle advertising.  

At the end of the parade they have a huge carnival/festival.  Food, bands, and (most importantly) carnival rides.  I took Ben on his rides.  This little boy with Ben was too scared to go alone, so Ben rode with him.  It was super cute.    

Then Ben went on the hot air balloons.  Ben yelled, "Can't this go any faster?"

He was pleased with the rocketships.  They went fast and up and down. 

Derek got to take the girls on their rides.  Sarah and Derek flying around and around.  Libby went on the Gravitron for her 2nd ride.  It made her pretty sick after a very long and hot day!

Aqua Babies

It was a hot week, and the kids got wet basically every day!  I put up our backyard pool on Monday.  They swam Monday, Tues, Wed, Thurs back there.  We also did swimming lessons at the Shoreline pool on Tuesday.  On Friday (the hottest day!) we went to Seattle Center and splashed in the wading pool with Aunt Maren and Jed & Rory.  It is such a fun place.  Maren and I stood with our feet in the water chatting, and it was an afternoon of perfection.  

With Jed & Rory

More Library Fun

We went to 2 more shows at the Shoreline library this week.  Who knew our library had so many fun and free things to do!  The first was a clown act where my kids volunteered again.  The clowns were hilarious.  Ben especially laughed and laughed.  The girls ended up being in the "Symphony Orchestra" where they played "Ode to Joy" on the bells.  They love that song, so it was really cute.  But before they played, one of the clowns inspected the symphony and "fixed" their hair.  She made Sarah's little bang spikes stick up, so when she got to Libby, Libby wouldn't let her touch her hair.
At the end the clowns let the kids ask questions.  Out of about 10 questions, 7 were asked by my kids.  Yep, they are a chip off the old block.

We also went to one on Thursday that was called "Games from Around the World."  I didn't take any pictures, but we got to take our "sisters" from last summer, Caitlin and Cora.  It was awesome to have them with us again!  (Ben told me his is going to marry Caitlin, so that should make our connection permanent!)

This may look like a high-5, but it is actually a "Don't touch the hair!"

Summer Fun

So I am not, by nature, a fun mommy.  I am a hardworking, let my kids play on their own mommy.  But this summer, I have decided to take my kids to have fun more often.  And, it has been FUN!  (Having older kids is the best!)

A few weeks ago we went to the Locks to see the Salmon running.  It was incredible.  

It is really fun to see the boats in the Locks.  

The last week we also had a fun night with a bunch of cousins.  Derek's cousin Blake Bunton and family came to stay with us.  This is the best pic of Liddie that I got (she is the one with her head down).  She is 8 and the girls love having a cousin their age.  Emma and Kaj love these cousins too!   The Buntons will stay here one more night on their way home from Alaska, so I'll try to get a better pic.

Edmonds City Park has a new splash park.  It was amazing.  We went with a few friends from church. 

We are so lucky living next to Cromwell park.  It was the Shoreline "Swinging Summer Eve" on Wednesday.  We got cheap Sno-cones, cotton candy, bouncy house time, and most importantly (to the kids) free face painting!  We saw a bunch of friends from school and were reminded how much we love our community!

We also met up on Friday with some friends from church at Richmond Beach Library Park.  We played for about an hour, then it was preschool story time.  The kids went in and colored and listened to stories.  Bonus!  It was as if I planned to be there for the story time!

Friday we were supposed to go to the Seattle Center to splash in the wading pool and fountain.  It was raining, so we stayed home for some much needed R&R (and a chance for mom to get work done!)  Whew, being a fun mommy is tiring!

Awesome Accomplishments!

I was telling one of my clients that used to teach swimming that I wasn't very happy with the swim lessons I paid for last summer.  By the end of our conversation we had come up with an awesome idea.  Trade training for lessons!  So once a week, she comes with us to the pool and works with the kids on their swimming.  They have made huge strides!
This week, Libby swam laps in the deep end!  It was amazing!
Sarah's kicking is getting much better.  She is learning to side breathe.
Ben is working on treading water.  He can do the motions, but somehow his head is under water.  He also loves to dive for things on the bottom (of the shallow end).  I give him a little push to help him get down there, but then he can gather up to 3 or 4 items, swimming to get to each.  It's pretty amazing.

Also, we have been rocking the walking!  The kids are getting miles in like nobody's business.  A few friends have been joining us at the park in the mornings, so there has been a little more playing than walking, but the girls still usually get in their 4 laps.  Then they all usually get in some treadmill time once they are done with their piano, chores and school work.

Ben, it turns out, has been practicing the monkey bars (see video below).

Their research projects continue to come along really well.  Libby came into my room the other night just as I was falling asleep (and she should have been asleep) to tell me she wants a model of the Globe Theater for her project.
We made one of the recipes from the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook this week for Sarah's project.
Ben has had 31 people respond to his Monster survey already.  Want to take it?
{Scary Monsters?}

Happy Birthday Libby!

When I first joined the Norton Family, I fell in love with one of their birthday  traditions.  On your birthday, Geneva would pull out your box of pictures and put up a whole bunch of them over the fireplace.  It was so fun to see all the old pictures of my siblings-in-law.  We don't really do that anymore, but here is Libby's digital equivalent.

I love you Libby!  Happy 9th Birthday!

2007

2007

2007

2008

2009

2010

2010 (Choosing Barbie instead of Binkie.  Boy did she wish she had chosen differently come bedtime that night!)

2011, Auntie Rachel's Wedding

2011

2012

2012

2013, last party in our Lynnwood house

2014, Shorewood Drill Team Party

2014, On Fox and Friends

2015 Baptism Photo Shoot

AND, 2016.  The Costco Cake of her Dreams

Rollerskating with her Bestie!

For me the highlight of yesterday was that I bought you 4 articles of clothing (that you need because you are growing finally!) and they ALL FIT!  It is a total miracle!