This week the boys are spending time with their grandparents.... so that means it's just Raya and I this week!
It's kind'of ironic, but you don't really appreciate how easy having one child is until... you add a couple more. I've been loving every minute with my little Raya! Being the third, she's never had a lot of one-on-one time, so I'm making the most of it!
Yesterday... we slept in ... unlike the boys she'll cuddle with me on the bed for a while, had a very leisurely day with not activities or anyone to entertain... and then we went to Reaney Pool. Just Raya. 1 is definitively easier than 3 in the pool!
Today, after my spin class, I was feeling pretty ambitious... I've never rode my bike long distance before.. (like not more than 8 miles) ... and I've never pulled the trailer either. But what the heck right? I've gone from 3 kids to 1 child -- everything is easier!! -- Well, Raya and I biked down to the Moscow Aquatic Center, swam around for two hours, then on our way back to Pullmlan we stopped to buy a book at Hastings for Raya -- all-n-all I biked 20-25 miles today! I know that isn't a lot to... well to a lot of people -- but it felt awesome. And now I am exhausted.
Moral of the story: Mother's with only one child at present: Take advantage of the mobility that you're allowed with one child!
Whale Watching
Thumbs up for whale watching!! It was an absolutely beautiful day... really we couldn't ask for a better one. The water was calm, and the sun was out -- the whales were out too! It was a great experience.
Raya really likes her otter...
She was pretty tired too...
Levi was pretty excited:
Reading the guide with grandma
A number of seals were basking in the sun: (Picture does not do it justice, I have a poor lens for this type of photography)
I didn't take many pictures of the whales, because my lens was so bad, but there were two pods that were surrounding the boat -- and many times the captain would have to shut down the boat because the whales got so close! it was awesome!
What a fun day!
Strongman
It was the Ritter Strongman this last weekend.
Seth and Levi participated as well... :) -- it was really fun for them, except for the mile run, it is a bad idea to have a three year old and a five year old run alongside a street, next year they'll have a timed race on the driveway.
Josh is a happy jumper.
My camera was dead for half of the competition though..... I missed pictures of the mile race, caber toss, bench press, and pull-ups.
Jeff did really well, considering the last time he did any extensive excerise was last year's strongman. He ran the mile in like 5:40 (I actually can't remember the time, but it's under 6 minutes)
I love that the boys got the hang out of the window during the car push...
It's too gross to write down, but those who were there know what was in that can before they had to blow the balloon.
Down time in between the obstacle course
The winner... TODD!
... Jeff was excited for him ... ?
The best toy ever.
We bought these styrofoam planes last week, and the kids have played with them nonstop since. I have been pretty impressed at how far they can fly!
Mini-Jeff:
Levi
He's so loveable! Looking at the pictures above makes me want to squish him! I forget sometimes that he is only three, because he can hold his own with Seth. He has a huge vocabulary for a three year old and uses complex sentences. He loves to rhyme words together to create his own words. He can write his letters well, and read three letter words. I love to listen to him play because he narrates the actions like he is reading a book. He loves to swim... and has no fear (which sometimes I wish he had a little more of).
Some randoms:
-He wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up
-Favorite color is yellow
-Has a very soulful cry and laugh
-Never wants to go home
-Wears a size 5
Father's Day
You know when we are having too much fun when I can't keep up with the blog.... so... Father's day:
Jeff's not much of a morning person...
but we let him sleep in: Isn't it sad when 8 is sleeping in?
We made him breakfast in bed, and had him open presents
We had bought and wrapped Jeff's present like 2 weeks before Father's day, and the kids did a great job of keeping his present a secret.... but seconds before he was opening the box Levi shouts out with excitement, "WE GOT YOU A MOUSE!"
Jeff got a Razer StarCraft II gaming mouse ... nerd alert... it has a lighting system. And also the new David Bazan Cd. He requested strawberry cheesecake...
Seth
I love these pictures of Seth. You can really tell he loves tball.
I thought I'd do a little update on the kids, since it has been a while.... so firstly ... Seth.
Seth is still amazing, still has non stop energy, still scarishly smart. I wake up the the morning to find Seth already awake, dressed, and has read two books, and maybe made an artwork or two. He's just always on the go, it's a good go though.... very productive. That's a good word for Seth: productive.
At the moment he wants to be on the Mariner's baseball team, but also be a wild-life scientist. He's really concerned about endangered animals. He's showing signs of wanting to be a vegetarian, and doesn't like the thought of animals being hunted. His favorite animal is the cheetah, because it is the fastest land animal. I should say that the animal he is obsessed with it the cheetah.
Seth's reading level.... I'd guess the fourth grade. math.... he's teaching himself multiplication. He's a sponge (seriously). Today we were driving to his tennis lesson and ... I can't quote it directly, but he started explaining to me that the Hessian soldiers were defeated by the Patriots and that Thomas Paine inspired the men, and that the Revolutionary war was fought between America and Great Britain, and that the civil war was between the north and the south that they were the union soldiers and the confederate soldiers and that the union won. -- It was a bit of a random explosion of thought, that he just needed to say it out loud to make sure it was all straight in his head. What five year old is pondering about America's wars??? Anyways, that is Seth. He is amazing (have I mentioned that before?)
Mondays
5:30 -- Rachael spin class
8:30 -- Seth tennis
5:50 -- Levi swim lesson
6:00 -- Seth tball
7:00 -- Jeff swim lesson
I've been wondering what our days will be like when we add Raya into the equation...
8:30 -- Seth tennis
5:50 -- Levi swim lesson
6:00 -- Seth tball
7:00 -- Jeff swim lesson
I've been wondering what our days will be like when we add Raya into the equation...
Visitings
I guess I better blog about our trip to the west side a week and a half ago... since we are making the same trek again this weekend!
We headed over to the west side to visit with Jeff's Grandma and Grandpa Horning. The kids had a lot of fun as usual:
Grandpa's lawn mower was one of the main attractions:
I was able to lay down in my squishy mossy western Washington grass... Raya decided to lay on me.
Went to the beach... oh how I love the ocean. I love feeling so small. And the perspective gained, that life is more than just yourself, that you're really just a small spec in time/world/etc. It's an uplifting, peaceful feeling (really). I used to go almost every day... now it's once every two months. I love Pullman, but it sure is ugly. Green fields for 2 months doesn't cut it for me.
The boys' beach artwork:
Helping Grandpa tear up the deck. The boys' thought they were so big and tough with their crow bars. Seth insisted he needed his shirt rolled up, to show off his manly arms. However manly he looked, the fact that he called his shirt a "tankie top" reinforced to me that he was still my little boy... even if it's just for one more summer :)
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