Kids

 

Leah- she loves playing with babies.  She sits in her chair and rocks them and wraps them in blankets, etc. She can entertain herself for a long time.  Whether it be reading books, playing with her babies or Aly's toys.  She is very self sufficient.

Blake and his crazy style

Brother and sister getting along nicely.  It doesn't happen like this all the time.  Usually Blake annoys Leah and she screams as loud as can be. 

Jet skiing

Brian took the kids jet skiing this summer on Black Lake. Some amazingly generous people from our church let us come out and play. They all had a great time. Brian is a little on the

crazy side, he had just had minor surgery and probably shouldn't have been jet skiing. But as you can see from the smiles on their faces, everyone loved it.

   

I need to look at this picture on my bad days

Just looking at this picture makes me smile.  Leah is such a silly, cute, girl with lots of personality. She definitely has her moments of screaming and just not being consolable.  So on those days when life seems hard I must look at this cute picture.  It just makes me smile.  I love these kids that God has blessed us with.  I know he gives us the strength to make it through the tough days.

Bend Trip

We have been going to Bend for years.  Now we have a too many kids to stay at the condo.  So we branched out to a 3 bedroom house.  We have the nicest friends they gave us the biggest master bedroom.  While they stayed in the very small bedrooms.  But the house was great and perfect for all of us.  The pools were fun and all in all it was an amazing time hanging with our friends.

 The electric bike tour was so much fun. I would do it again for sure! Blake might have jumped off the bike, but thankfully he knew how to roll.  Aly's tag along did not have enough screws and almost fell off.  With all the problems we got the tour for free but it was so fun.  We had 2 tag alongs which Aly and Blake rode on.  Then we had a trailer which Carter and Leah rode in.  Carter was hilarious he did not like it when I went fast.  He asked me to slow down, which just made me laugh.  Kyle is such a big kid and he got to ride on an electric bike along with the adults.

 The whole electric bike crew.  Thankfully Leah took a nap in the trailer.

 Our whole family in the hot tub!

 Kyle and Blake riding scooters

Braidy was awesome carrying Blake on our walk. He got a blister on his foot and so he was way too slow.

Hot Summer

This summer has been extremely warm for Washington.  Which has meant we have found many ways to cool off.  We bought this lovely slip n'slide at the neighbors garage sale.  Leah enjoyed the pool; sometimes a little too much.  We need to watch her whenever it is filled otherwise she just jumps in.  She loves water.  Having so many days without rain I don't mind the occasionally rain and hopefully I will feel that way for a long time. Because I know the rain is coming.  It is Washington.

Summer 2013

The kids are finally loving the trampoline.  They jump on it a lot.  We also use it as a punishment but really not much of a punishment in my book.  But it is nice to separate the kids so one kid has to jump 100 times.  It is great living in a neighborhood they love to go and ride their bikes.  Anything to keep them outside and active for the few months that the sun is shining more than it is raining here in Washington.

Kindergarten, Zoo and good friends

Blake had a great year of kindergarten.  He loved his teacher, his class, etc.  What a great way to start his great career of schooling!  He has had some great friends.  His best friend was moving at the end of the year which is sad.  But it might have been easier since Blake will not be at the same school again.  Both of our kiddos got into East Oly (Aly's old school) and we are delighted to have them back there.  Here are some pictures of Blake and Ian at the zoo.
Then as a bonus a picture of Leah.  We love Leah. She is our handful but she is so adorable we can't be irritated for too long.

Girl's Trip to Ephrata to visit the Stadelmans

 Leah being silly wearing her daddy's shoes.

 We had a fun girl's trip to Ephrata to meet Jody's newest addition. Kate!  Who is adorable by the way.  The first night we stayed in Seattle at Alisa's house and then we got to see Rachel's mom for breakfast. It was fun to see Becky (Rach's mom).

 The girls getting ready to drive to Ephrata!

 This was a moment when Leah wasn't screaming in the car. She is trying to look so innocent in this picture but she really is not. 

 Shelby and Leah being the cutest girls ever.  I am sure the next time they hang out they might actually play together.  This time they were both in the same room but they weren't quite at the playing together stage.  Shelby is about 20 months and Leah is about 14 months.

 Rachel holding Kate.

This was the best picture I could get of Leah and Kate.  I think they will be great friends too!  Love the Stadelman family!

Love these crazy kids God has blessed us with

 This is such a silly picture of Leah.  Her crazy big smile and light wild hair.  This picture just cracks me up.  I love her!

 I got this jacket for Blake because he loves wearing a button up shirt and tie.  But he has only worn it once so I am guessing it isn't exactly the style he is going for.  Let me tell you he definitely cares about his clothes.  This morning he woke up and immediately began figuring out his skull outfit. I mean he had a couple skull tattoos(which he put on before 8 am), skull backpack and even skull underwear.  He was mad when he couldn't find a skull skirt he wanted to write on a blank shirt.  I being the uncool mom vetoed writing on his shirt.  But thankfully after a double take in his drawer he was able to find a skull shirt.  Sorry no picture of this outfit. 

 Leah loves her daddy.  I can't say she is a daddy's girl all the time but she loves her dad. 

Children's Museum over Spring Break

I took the kids to the new kids museum over spring break.  They had been there without me before but the kids had a great time along with the rest of Olympia kids on Spring break.  We did meet some friends there so it was even more fun!  Blake enjoyed dressing up as a cop.

 Leah liked riding in the car with him.

 I had wanted to get a cute kid picture but of course with 3 kids it is hard to get all 3 smiling and with their eyes open.

 This picture is just funny because Aly would never be caught dead on a stage with a microphone.  Really she almost wouldn't pose for a picture.  But Leah and Aly looked so cute.