Kayak And Yet Another Birthday Party!

With all the nice weather we have been getting we have been spending a bunch of time outside.  Who could blame us?  When we aren't doing our chores we are playing!  This last week or so we headed out to one of our favorite are parks, Kayak State Park.

The first time out there we went with some friends and killed the day staying for six and a half hours.  We spent time at the beach, park, snacks, beach, park, lunch, park, pier, and finally home!  My friend Michelle brought some shells and hid them for the kids to find. 

The girls loved looking for the shells and I have been trying to figure out a really cute project to do with them.  We got a good fire going and roasted hot dogs and what to do next but make s'mores!  The kids loved it!

Everyone had such a great time and got along really well.  Cory came out to see us for a little while with Harley but didn't stay too long.

We headed home around three.  It was a very long day and I thought for sure the kids would sleep on the twenty minute drive home.  Nope!  When we got home they ran through the sprinkler.  Let's just say it was a nice easy bed time which made me very happy!

That weekend we had a birthday party to go to for Alyssa's "boyfriend" from school, Mason.  Alyssa couldn't wait for it and even asked to go get a new dress!  When we got there Mason came running out to her.  They were super cute and for everyone who knows how shy Alyssa is she wasn't this time. 

Mason has a Gator, like the one we have, and he was taking Alyssa on rides all over the property it was so very cute!  We were there for four hours and the kids were wiped out when we came home.  Knox had a blast playing with all the new "boy" toys.  When we were getting ready for cake and ice cream he had no interest in it and I had to beg him to come out! 


 Of course Alyssa and Mason gave big hugs when we were leaving and we are planning some more play dates before school starts.

Other Fun Happenings

This summer is starting to become a blur!  If feels like almost everyday we have something going on, which I'm not going to complain about, but when asked at times what we have been doing it's hard to even remember!

Here are just a few happenings for the last week in June.  We had a family day which is rare for us given the work schedule Cory has in the summer.  We were trying to figure out what to do and Alyssa wanted to go to a bounce house so we went.  There was a somewhat new place in Monroe we went and checked out.  It was OK.    Of course the kids had a blast jumping away and they also played air hockey and foos ball.  I think Knox liked the air hockey the best.
Afterwards he went and got lunch at this amazing little burger place.  It was so good and cheap for what you got!  Which is always a plus!  After lunch we came home and enjoyed the sun in the back yard.  It was a perfect family day!

The kids went to another birthday party.  It was accordingly to Alyssa her "best friend Eva's party."  I have to laugh at that because she calls everyone her best friend.  Not sure where she got that but it's kind of funny.  She will always ask Knox if he is hers and depending on his mood the answer can be a little funny.

It was fun to go over there and hang out with friends.  The kids all had a great time.  Eva had got a bounce house for her birthday so the kids enjoyed playing on that.  We spent about two and a half hours there and then headed home for baths and an early bed time.  I love days like that!

Later that same week we celebrated my sister's birthday.  She is up here staying with us and trying to find a job.  We were trying to figure out what we were going to do.  Cory was working Mariners and hooked us up with amazing tickets and food vouchers.  Not sure that was exactly what she wanted to do on her birthday but needless to say I think we all had a good time.

The kids were sooo excited!  They have been before but this was the first time for Knox when he really got where he was.  He kept yelling out baseball! Baseball!  It was really cute.  They got to see their daddy working on his friends.  I think Alyssa thought that was pretty cool!

We had amazing seats right behind the Mariner dugout.  The kids were really good and got lots of goodies!  The weather was good although we were in the shade so it was a little chilly.  After the game we stuck around and talked with a few of the officers that we know before heading on home. 

I can't wait to take the kids to more Aquasox games and even Rainier games....Papa Ron do you want to join us!!!!

At the end of this busy week we had a play date with another friend from preschool.  Alyssa and Hanna really enjoy playing together and we met up at the park for some playtime and lunch.  The girls are really cute together.  I'm so happy that the kids and I are meeting such wonderful people in our area. 

This was a nice close to a busy week where we started gearing up for the fourth!  I know these posts are out of order but what do you do!?

Remlinger With Friends

The other day I bought a Groupon for Remlinger Farm in Carnation.  We love taking the kids there and killing a day.  We have fun, they have fun, and the main part is they are exhausted by the time we leave!

Our first time going this season we went with my friend Kelly who happens to be the one and only Mason's mom!  For those of you who don't remember that is Alyssa's "boyfriend" from preschool.  They were running a little late so we went ahead and got started before they got there.

We made our away around on some of the rides but Alyssa couldn't wait to go on the roller coaster.  I wasn't sure if Knox would be big enough or how he would do on it.  He loved going on all the other ones so far.  We got to the front of the non existent line and I asked the guy about him.  He said he was big enough.  They got in and were all smiles until the ride ended!  I'm not sure who had more fun.  Alyssa doesn't stop laughing and Knox had the biggest smile on his face!

When we got off our friends had arrived so we went up to meet them.  Alyssa and Mason were so excited to see each other.  They went running off in front of us holding hands.  Kelly and I joked how it felt like we were chaperoning a date!

The first stop was the train ride.  Alyssa and Mason were pretty cute sitting next to each other, of course.  After that we did a bunch more rides and then headed over to listen to Eric Ode perform.  He is a local singer who performs for children.  The kids went up and joined him playing instruments etc.  and had a blast!  At the end they got free t-shirts. 

After our lunch we went and killed a few more hours.  The park wasn't crowded so that was nice for Kelly and I to be able to chat.  When we realized that it was almost four we decided it was time to head on home.  The kids were starting to get a little crabby and I think we were exhausted too!

 We are planning more outings together this summer and we can't wait!

Fourth Of July

Every year we have been having people over on the the 4th and this one was no different.  Our usual crowd changed a little bit and we missed those who couldn't make it but we had a great time hanging out!

All the Grandparents were able to be here and the kids were thrilled about that!  That morning we went into Everett and did the parade.  The kids enjoyed that and Alyssa was happy after she started getting candy.  She was happy before that but when it was getting handed out she was a little shy and would get passed over.  There were two older kids by here who kept handing over all of theirs.

We were able to meet up with one of my good friends and her family and Cory's mom came with us too.  The parade was actually pretty long I thought, two hours.  The kids enjoyed it and had fun.  All the kids had a great time and it was a beautiful day to take it all in.

After the parade we headed on home to hang out with the family who had already arrived and start in on the celebration!  We decided to just BBQ brats and do some snack items from Costco.  I made some red, white, and blue chocolate covered strawberries along with a cheesecake.

I think everyone had a great time hanging out all day and just enjoying each other's company.  That evening we moved everything out front and started watching the neighborhood firework show.  It's nice to have other people waste their own money on fireworks and we can benefit from it!  A little after ten the Everett show started and we watched that.  It was a pretty good show and the kids had fun.

Everyone headed back to the hotel afterwards and the kids finally went to bed around eleven thirty.  I have probably said it before but the 4th is starting to be one of my favorite holidays.

Dance Recital

Alyssa had her second dance recital  when we came back from vacation.  She was so very excited to dance on stage!  My shy little princess really comes out when she is up there and the lights on her.  We did the same as we did the year before and had a little celebration afterwards at the house.

We got her some Hello Kitty chap stick and the "Brave" princess for a gift.  She had an absolutely amazing day.

The recital itself was a  lot of fun I thought.  Alyssa's class went on right before intermission so we were able to pick her up then and leave.  I wasn't sure how Knox was going to do but he sat there the whole time which was about an hour and watched it and clapped.  I was so proud and mainly relieved!  I kind of laugh at the stuff he has had to do because of his sister but I'm sure within the next few years that will start to change too!

I have to say the dance went off without any hitch and all the kids did great!  Some of us parents were a little worried because it had changed a few times over the last few weeks.  Alyssa's teacher was diagnosed with Cancer and has been gone so they have been having subs.  This is really the saddest thing and I hope everything goes accordingly for Mrs. Brenna.


Dance is now over for the summer and she has said she wants to take it again.  She will take another combo class of ballet/tap before picking something specific she wants to do.  She absolutely loves dance and I hope it's something she will always take.  I also hope she gets into sports.  She keeps telling me she wants to take soccer, only because I told her Knox was going to do it next year! 

Vegas Baby!

Cory and I got away for four nights over Father's Day weekend.  We were planning a trip with some friends and were going back and forth as to where to go.  There were a few options put out there where we could stay for free here and there and when we started doing the numbers with the air fare it didn't make sense to go to some.  Our final destination was Vegas!

I will admit it's not one of my favorite places to go, I can get bored there really quick.  For us though the price was right.  We used our air miles for the airfare and we got our stay, all four nights, comped at the Hard Rock.  Don't get me wrong though I had a great time getting away and hanging out with some great people.

We arrived early in the morning and were able to check in and we headed straight to the pool with our friends.  After several hours down there we headed back up to get ready for dinner and the evening out.  After some debate as to where to go we hit up Firefly which is a tapas style restaurant.  The food was pretty good and service amazing, especially for how crowded they were.

After very little debate we headed over to Harris to go to the Toby Keith bar, I love this bar.  There was a band playing there that night and it was Ladies Night.  Ten dollars for a wristband and ladies had free refills all evening.  It was a lot of fun and the band was amazing!

The next day we hung out by the pool again all day and headed back up late afternoon to get ready for dinner etc.  This night we went to Nobu.  One of my favorite places to eat.  It did not disappoint and we got some amazing dishes.  Of course we got the yummy yellowtail jalapeno tuna!  Let me tell you for all of you who are turning up your nose at sushi.  When it is prepared correctly and fresh it's the best!  You won't get a "fishy" taste etc.

We decided to head to Fremont Street afterwards because a few of us had never been there at night.  This was probably my favorite night while we were there.  We saw the light show, there was a great 80's band playing and I got my picture taken with some impersonators.  Oh and after some disagreement we did head of and see the shark tank at the Nugget.  Everyone was able to ooh and ahh....This is a joke so it probably doesn't make a lot of sense but we still laugh.

Saturday our other friends arrived and we spent more time hanging out by the pool, shopping, and getting our tickets for the dinner and show we decided to go see with them on Sunday.  We actually had a lazy evening and it was really nice to catch up on some much needed sleep!

Sunday was another day at the pool and it was heavenly!  All of us spent the whole day there and around four thirty headed on up to rest and get ready for dinner and the show.  We were going to see the Burlesque show at The Flamingo.  I thought it sucked.  Dinner was OK   I ended up choking on a piece of meat but my friend Marisa and Cory came to my rescue.

Monday we came home late that afternoon and I was glad.  It's nice to get away and I like Vegas for a short time but we both missed the kids and wanted to get back to reality.  As far as vacations for us I think we are done for awhile except with our little trips to Chelan.  I have two somewhat big vacations I want to start trying to save for and planning.  I wont get into any of that now but again