Summer Hiking~

this summer has been spent around home

powell was home for the summer and worked his car detail biz

blake and bennett both had jobs 

so lucy and i spent alot of time

in the car :)

we did make a point on several sundays

to get out as a family and take a hike

sometimes there were four of us

and sometime  onetime :)

all six...but i will take it!

A little catch up ....

Here is a little "catch up" through pictures from my phone...it seems 

that is the only camera I use lately...need to change that!

Just a quick outfit of the day from Lucy Joy!

Blake received his acceptance letter to WSU!  He has decided not to attend there and pursue a career as a firefighter...we are excited for him!

Lucy and her bff Camryn tried out for the school talent show and made it!  They are going to do 

a little fashion/cat walk/dance number :)  Should be cute!!

Blake started feeling bad this past week, took him to the Dr twice...Mono test was negative, 

strep test negative...by Saturday afternoon, he was miserable...took him to the ER...dehydrated, iv of fluids, iv of steroids for his VERY swollen tonsils and blood work determined he does indeed have Mono!  Poor Guy!

We need him feeling well, as he is going to the DECA state competition this week!

My seasonal second job has come to an end which has given me more 

time to get things done around our house that have been neglected...

and I am planning a Polka Dot First Birthday party for a friend's little Girl!

So, that's a little update of the past week or so...I am going to 

try to get back to my regular blogging schedule :)

♥

 

Yesterday I....

Started my day with my favorite

green juice

met my sweet Aunt for lunch

before

I started my second part time job,

didn't really think I had time for one

let alone two :)

but...desperate times call for desperate measures

right??

I treated myself to a
pumpkin spice latte on the way home
to make the traffic not seem so bad...
it was worth the $4.98!!! I spent on it
but seriously???? that is c.r.a.z.y!!
I will be making them at home from now on!

I came home and visited my friend Pam...
pretending like I too had just rode the metro home
and drank my latte at a charming sidewalk cafe!

She and her family moved to Paris for 3 years
you must visit her...her days in Paris are dreamy with a huge dose of reality
she is such a great writer!

I skipped yoga,
since all the boys were out watching the football game
and ended up watching the last 5 min...
Seahawks win???
Lucy turned it on
knowing her Daddy was watching at a friends house...
this game confirmed why I don't watch football :)
I went to bed with elevated blood pressure :)

My day in a nutshell!

First Day of School!

Here we go again!

The Sophomore!

 The Senior!!!!!

 Little Miss Second Grader!

Lucy was thrilled to find out this year that her beloved Kindergarten teacher moved up to 2nd grade!!  Seriously, could life be any better??

 We took inspiration from my friend Catie, and last night at Back to School Night

asked Mrs. H her favorite morning drink

and treated her on the first day of school with a steaming hot vanilla latte!

Last night at Back to School Night

Lucy found her locker, found her desk 

and dropped off all her supplies!

Cheers to all 4 of my babies for an awesome school year!!

 

Help!!! An amazing Eagle Scout Project!

Our friend Jensen Brown is working on his Eagle Scout Project. 

 He and his family are very good friends and neighbors, and we have shared in the joy of watching Faith become a part of their family.

Jensen is organizing a local walk to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit group

International China Concern

ICC is a small christian organization that provides much needed services to abandoned and disabled children in China.

Jensen's project is one of 3 walks happening in the United States on 

September 22nd...our family will be walking with him!!

Why Walk the Wall is Important to Me?

My name is Jensen Brown. This is my little sister Faith Brown. International China Concern saved her life in China when she was abandoned as a newborn. For my Eagle Scout Project I would like to pay it forward and help ICC by organizing a Walk the Wall in Auburn Washington On September 22nd. With your help we can raise awareness and much needed funds to help other abandoned and neglected children with disabilities in China.
Your contribution supports International China Concern, an organization dedicated to providing hope and care for these vulnerable and neglected children.

If you are able to donate to this great cause, and a great kid working towards becoming an Eagle Scout
You can go HERE to donate!

Thanks so much for your contribution to such a great cause!

 

What's new??

This past week...

We celebrated these two

I made a couple of fun desserts I found on Pinterest...I am a little addicted :)...I have officially pinned over 1000 things...oh my!

 I made Bennett, Mountain Dew cupcakes :)

They were actually really good, and basically taste like lemon/lime. 

 The other dessert I made was REALLY good!  It is called a Chocolate Eclair Dessert...everyone LOVED it as much as our beloved Cookies and Creme dessert!

We have had some great weather this past week, so anytime we can get outside and play...we do!

We still have a month left before school gets out, and we are getting excited for summer!

In other news :)

Blake started Spring football

We ordered Lucy some new glasses ( I stepped on her old ones, the first time she has ever left them on the floor, of course :)

I took Lucy to LUSH over the weekend..we walked in the store, and the staff instantly recognized her from her video...it was so funny!

That's the latest :)...hope you're having a great week so far!!

xo

 

My New Job & Cavalia {in the same post :) }

I have a part-time job!

(actually I have HAD a job since the beginning a February :)

A friend of mine told me about an opening, and after being a stay-at-home Mom for 19 years :)

I applied, and now work at Junior Achievement

I LOVE it!

  It is like being paid to chaperone a field trip.  Junior Achievement was always one of my favorite field trips that my boys' took in 5th grade and middle school

 I work 1 to 3 days a week and the hours are perfect to be home in time to pick up the boys from school and get Lucy from the bus

I am so grateful for this opportunity

Last week JA received tickets to Cavalia, an equestrian and performing arts show and they offered employees the tickets!  

So, Saturday night we went!

Here is how the website describes the show...

"Cavalia is a fresh mix of equestrian and performing arts, multimedia and special effects. Conceived by Normand Latourelle and often labelled an equestrian ballet, Cavalia is a spectacular and moving tribute to the relationship between men and horses throughout history, a dream of freedom, cooperation and harmony. In a fairy tale setting filled with poetry and emotion, the show innovatively integrates acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts, live music and equestrian arts. Under the White Big Top, a 50-metre stage permits the horses to express themselves in all their splendour, nobility and strength, often completely free."

pictures via Cavalia website

We loved the show....the music was fantastic, and the performers talented

  We would not  have chosen to go had we not been given the tickets, but we are so happy we were able to see this great show.

We all left in awe of what amazing beautiful creatures horeses are!

 

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

Monday my friend Dawn B. and I took the kids on little field trip...they had been home since Friday, the weather had been grey and rainy EVERYDAY...and we just felt like they needed to get outside (and away from the video games!)

I had been told about the Wildlife Refuge and thought that would be a perfect day trip, since it is about an hour from our house.  NONE of the boys were excited to go :), but what usually happens is by the time you get them out the door and on the road, their attitude changes and they always end up having a good time...plus with the Brown's they each have a friend their age!

First thing on our walk...this is what we saw!!

 See...doesn't Bennett look excited??? 

Dawn B. has worked really hard getting to know photography, and knows her camera well, so she got me to switch to Manual while we were out...I have not been practicing much since my photography class, so this was the perfect opportunity to just snap away!

photo by Dawn B.

photo by Dawn B.

I LOVE moss...mossy rocks, tree trunks, branches, anything

and living here in the northwest there is LOTS of moss!

Sweet Kylie and Lucy!

photo by Dawn B.

The refuge has lots of trails...we stayed on this boardwalk path that took you out to the observation deck

There really wasn't much wildlife to see besides ducks...but there was a gentleman who had set up his BIG camera with a live video, and was able to zoom back into the wood 100 yards or so and show us an Owl's nest...very cool!

I am just crazy for these barns!!

These four look like they might be related to the Twilight Cullens!!!

Dawn B. and her little Faith!

The Girls and I (photo by Dawn B.)

We took the kids out for Pizza after all that exercise :), and then took them to Cabela's, a GIANT sportsman store that is practically a small museum of animals inside along with a waterfall and aquarium!

It was such a fun day, and I am sure if you twisted the Boys' arms they would tell you they had a good time!