where

Where have the days gone?  -- I haven't really stopped moving until yesterday. -- then everything came to a halt.  ... like Jeff and I haven't done anything really all day... it's been awesome.  We woke up at 10am! I was so happy to sleep in and wake up on my own! It felt incredible.

So... I guess I'll back it up a bit... where was I? Jeff was in Texas and the kids and I were home.

6 days flew by... we had tball, tennis, swim practice, swim meets, drama class, library programs, track, friends, playdates, picnics, -- I love Pullman, everywhere we go we know someone so we were never lonely.

Some moments that stuck out:
-Levi loves drama class... he is such a natural actor! -- they decorated masks, Levi loved it... Raya, not so much.
-Raya is 75% potty trained... if we are home she does perfectly... when we go out, she tends to forget.
-Seth brought home a handful of ribbons from his swim meets.  He loves his little trinkets -- he'll lay them out and just look at them.
-Seth tried out a track team with his friend and he got to throw a javelin.
-Levi's reading has really taken off
-Raya's writing has really taken off ... she may be starting to read as well... I'll think about that in the winter, summer is meant for outdoors :)

On Tuesday... was the longest swim meet... we were there for 5 hours!  It actually wasn't bad, I just couldn't believe how long it was, ... and we skipped warm up and left early because there were not enough boys for Seth to compete in the relay... some families were there close to 7 hours. That is beyond crazy.

Anyways, Tuesday; Jeff, Jane and Todd all came to Pullman that night after the match ...
The next couple of days... More tennis, tball, swimming... etc. -- and the summer reading finale: Victor Johnson in the park!
Todd found an apartment
Jane left with the kids on Friday for a week

I have never been away from Raya... and I have only been away from the boys a handful of times... two of which were when I was in the hospital having another baby!

I was pretty sad... but Jeff took me to Michaels (he knows how to cheer me up! ;)... then the movies.... we went on an evening bike ride and ate sushi.

As much as I miss the kids, it is nice to hang out with just Jeff too :)

So that's life at the moment, blissfully doing nothing .... well, today at least.  I bargained with Jeff -- tomorrow we paint!

Picture dump.... I can't remember if I mentioned we went to a wedding ...

Go Levi!

She looks way too grown up in this picture..

 It's great to have close friends :)

Wrestling, swimming, playing, bug collecting during the waiting time between races

We stayed for a couple races on Thursday so grandma could see Seth swim :)

The kids like biking though the sprinkler... :)

I took the kids to the Muppets -- movie in the park.  I loved snuggling with the kids and eating popcorn under the stars.  I took a quick picture of us all loaded up when it was over.  We missed Jeff while he was gone, but we had some really sweet moments too when it was just me and the kids <3

The kids made walkie-talkies (this is 1/3) and pretended to talk to each other on them.... you can't see from the picture, but they made a stand so they could be propped up when put down.

Took the kids to Taco del Mar one evening, while Jeff was gon, for dinner... and to look at the 3D chalk painting... who would have guessed?  We would find friends... and spent 2 hours at the bridge :)

We spend our weekdays with Evan and Nina; we found it comical that we couldn't even be separated on the weekends :)

Victor Johhnson at the Park!  + free ice cream.  

fast

I am doing an awful job at taking pictures this summer.... I don't think I took a picture of Seth's tball or Levi's tball... or their tennis lessons... or Levi's drama class -- the highlight of his summer, he is a natural performer! ... .. library programs... or just going to the pool or hiking, camping, wedding, little funny moments 

-- like when Raya ran off with Seth's friend (six), Jeff went to get her she said "They were having a private conversation" and basically that Jeff should leave!  She is two.  Ugh... she is too witty, beautiful,  for her own good, and the boys older friends are already chasing after her!  We are going to have our hands full.

   -- Seth won a 2nd place ribbon at his last swim meet and lost his seventh tooth. .

Today we went to... 

tennis

library (police officer's read)

swim team practice/picnic at park

swimming (Seth spent an hour and a half just going off the diving boards!  I loved seeing him stand in line for the high-dive.  He was the shortest by like 2 feet!)

sprinkler under trampoline

... and then I put the kids to "bed" at 6... really it's more like an extended quiet/reading time before bed.

Now, Jeff is gone for six days at a conference in Texas... 1 day down 5 more to go :) 

Quick weekend

This last weekend we traveled 20 hours for a 4 hour reception.
And it was worth it :)
A beautiful wedding at Olympic National Park.  It was fun to see old friends and catch up a bit.
The kids were amazing.
We were able to see family along the way which was great to help break up the trip a bit.
(Thanks for feeding us)

During the weekend we found out family is moving to Pullman!
We're so excited to have family moving closer to us!!!

insanity

I fit a lot in a day it's insane. -- and now we're gearing up to leave for a wedding tomorrow.

Quick jots:  Seth got a 3rd place ribbon for his butterfly stroke and a 6th place ribbon for back stroke.  I am amazed at the 3rd place finish... considering her learned the butterfly stroke hours before at swim team practice.

Wednesday... we had tennis... swim team... took everyone swimming... and tball.

Today ... gymnastics (fail, too full) ... Kharisma (girls were having a love-hate relationship today ;) ... Emerson and Elosie (failed playdate) ...  another swim meet.  Today was a bit challenging.  It ended up really enjoyable by the end.  I love swim meets!  Even if we don't get back until 9 and Jeff has lab so he can only make it for a little bit.

There was lightning at the end, and Seth wasn't able to do his last race.  He came home in tears.  I'm glad he loves swimming; but it's sad to see him so sad when he can't swim.

Tomorrow... pack'n it up for the west side.  A quick wedding weekend.  No rest for the weary!

... this goal may be hard.

Tennis at 9:00
Swim team practice 12-1
Swim meet 3:30-7:30

I'm a stay at home mom... I don't get staying home though.  I would go crazy if I stayed home all day.  What do you do?? At least I refocused the kids playtime a bit... Seth worked on sentence structure today and practice writing (in general).  Levi showed me that he could write all of his letters, well. -- actually I'm pretty amazed at how good his penmanship is!  And worked on counting and writing letters with Rae... and revisiting signing the alphabet etc.

I'm hoping for more book time though ... maybe tomorrow?

Here's some pictures of Seth's second swim meet!!  He did great.  He is having fun, and continues to improve.  This swim meet felt like a festival!

Refocus

after I decided I was done having any more children ... I think I might have gone a bit wild with my new freedom of mobility.  (me + pregnant = slow and haughty)

... which is great in some regards... my kids have incredible endurance are extremely confident biking, swimming, soccer, etc etc ... I mean c'mon I have a 2 year old who goes down ramps at the skate park on her bike... 

but now it is time to refocus.  BOOKS -- it's time to get lost in them again.

Goals for the week:
Raya: Write her name and recognize some three letter words like "mom," and "dad" -- go over again sounds of letters. Learn about insects.
Levi: Work on reading.  Read 10 beginning to read books.  Go over continents.  Explore plants.
Seth:  Work on writing paragraphs.  Start journal.  Start math workbook.  Pick out chapter book to read. Pick out history book.

Camping

I didn't take a single picture.  

But, we went biking on the trail of the Coeur D'Alenes.

Played at the lake...

Met with Jeff's lab group

somehow managed to get all the kids to sleep in our tent....

Packed up...

went swimming today.

It's been a fun weekend outdoors -- it helps that it's been in the 90's 

Seth's first race

Red, White and Blue

Those were the shades of Raya this fourth of July.

Bloody, pale and bruised.

Isn't this an awful blog post already?
I hate this blog post.

Rae got her fingers crushed in between the bike gear and chain of our add-a-bike.
We couldn't get her fingers out.
I have never truly felt the feeling of panic until then.

I don't want to think about it.
I have this picture of Rae's unnaturally white fingers burned in my memory.

We broke our add-a-bike in the scramble to get her fingers out.
I honestly thought she was going to lose the tips of her fingers.

But she is fine. We spent our Fourth of July evening in the ER for a couple hours.
Raya has come a long way since this post: http://ritterrecord.blogspot.com/2011/02/tears.html
She didn't cry during the ride to the hospital or waiting at the hospital, she was patient with the nurses and doctors proddings and having her hand x-rayed.

She even handled the doctor cleaning out the wound without any anesthetics.
The doctor looked at us and said we have a very tough daughter.  It's true.

I don't think Raya should ever get hurt; she is too special.

We left the ER at 9:00.... and Raya really wanted to see the fireworks.
So we stopped to see the fire works.

I am one tired, frazzled, grateful mommy!

1 day later:
I am amazed at how quickly our bodies recover themselves:

sharing

Raya pulled out a dollar from her purse (grandma gift)

Levi wanted to have a dollar too

Raya rips her dollar and gives one half to Levi.

All day

My kids would bike all day if I let them.

And I did.

by evening... they were getting incredible air! ... and they were so sweaty they were biking without their shirts on.  I'm going to have some ridiculously toned and tanned boys!

Seth showing off his treasures:

Lost his sixth tooth and received two ribbons from his swim meet on Saturday.

blessed day

Me: "Jeff, I need a break,  ---- HINT."

.. yes I really do say "hint" when I give a "hint."
Jeff never has to worry about what I am thinking ;).  

As much as I love, adore, dote my kids.  Today, I needed a break.  (Jeff said he was kicked out of his house)

It was a wonderful 5 hours ...

I took a shower, and wasn't interrupted once.
I got ready, uninterrupted, and as slowly as I wanted.
I went to the store and was amazed at how fast it was to leave my car and enter the building.
I decided I wanted to wallow in the blessed silence; I took a book to read at the arboretum.

This sign greeted me:

Sounds good.

I read ... uninterrupted.  (there seems to be a trend)

Really, it doesn't seem all the spectacular: showering, dressing, shopping and reading.  But trust me, it was!

(And if you're worried about Jeff... don't be. He and the kids had a lovely afternoon by the river with chocolate milk and donuts.)

First Swim Meet

Seth's first swim meet was yesterday!!!!!!

(we were all just a little excited... just a little)

Seth was probably the youngest kid at the meet.

And he did great!

Levi was his biggest fan:

After each race Levi would put his arm around Seth and say, "Seth, you did great!"

Ah, my kids are adorable!

The kids were practicing their coaching skills.... timing the other Barracuda swimmers and yelling encouragement.

Reading between the races.  

Before the meet Levi, Rae and I went to a Book Sale.  

An elementary school teacher was selling 1,600 books.  I love books!

Pre-race picture with his race slip. ... He is starting to get muscle definition in his pecks; Seth is so cute!

Back Stroke:

This was the second heat for his age bracket.  He won by 5-6 seconds!  We were all amazed.  

I leaned over to Jeff during the meet and said, "We might be doing this for the next 16 years."

Let the new adventure start!