Six Kids for a Week

After learning that Natalee would be leaving for a few days the end of August to take the twins to BYU, I asked her what she was planning on doing with Riley and Trenton while she was gone.  When I found out that she was going on taking the boys on the awful, 14-hour drive with her to Utah and back, I offered to take them for the week while she was gone.  Since Trenton and Logan are best friends and Riley is the best nephew an aunt could ask for, I figured that it would be a fun treat to have these two boys join our family for the week!  Since Chris has the day off on Fridays, Natalee asked if she could pass the boys off to us on Monday morning on her way out of town for me to watch them until Thursday evening when we could meet Chris in Tacoma after work.  Luckily, we had a stunning weather forecast for the week with sunny weather in the 80s every single day.  As a result, I planned something fun for all four days that we had together including outdoor/water activities for the first three days.  We all had a great time together.  Logan and Trenton were inseparable and Lia, Ella, Emmett, and I all loved having Riley around.  The cousins played great together and had so much fun on all of our adventures and enjoyed playing in our pool in the backyard whenever we were home.  Although I was pretty pooped when Riley and Trenton left last night, I am so glad that we invited them to spend the week with us!

We met Natalee and the kids at our favorite splash pad park in Tacoma on Monday morning.  After saying goodbye to the twins, the kids and I spent the next few hours playing in the splash pad and at the park in addition to eating a picnic lunch.  Here I am with baby Emmett enjoying the splash pad together.

One of my all-time favorite photos of Emmett and me together thanks to the talents of my personal photographer, Lia.

All the kids posing for a picture after playing in the water.

Lunch time on the towels.  I just love how baby Emmett is smiling in this picture.

A close-up of sweet Emmett who enjoyed rolling around at lunch time.

Riley, Lia, and Emmett hanging out on the towels.

On Tuesday, we drove up to spend the day in Issaquah at Lake Sammamish and the grandparent's house.  Vivi and Bryce were able to join us at the lake for a few hours of fun in the water in the afternoon.  The cousins enjoyed some wild play time on the floating mat while we were there.  Notice how many of the kids are on the mat before Bryce jumps on it.

And notice how many were thrown off after Bryce landed on it.  I think these before and after photos are hilarious!

The gang recovering and climbing back aboard the mat after Bryce's landing.

The three girls giving me a smile.

Group cousin photo!

My cousin, Brad, just happened to show up with his two children while we were there.  Here is his son, Ryder, paddling around in the paddle boat with Logan, Ella, and Trenton.

Lia and Riley balancing together on the paddle board.

Logan and Ella cruising around in the paddle boat on their own.

Lia and Riley paddling towards the dock.

We headed out on Wednesday to spend the afternoon at our favorite, little water park in Tacoma called Kandle Park.  Emmett slept in his car seat for most of the time which made it much easier to keep my eyes on the kids. 

The kids relaxing in the wave pool before the wave machine started up again.

Ella wresting with Riley--one of her all-time, favorite activities.

Riley, Ella, and a bunch of other kids waiting for the large, dump bucket to dump on them.

And there it goes!

I splurged and let the kids buy popsicles from the snack stand.  Here is Logan showing me his bright red tongue after finishing his popsicle.

Everyone showing off their tongues after finishing their frozen treats.

After Emmett woke up, we headed over to the baby pool to play.  Here is the gang playing in one of the awesome, water features in the pool.

Splashing around.

Showing Emmett what it feels like to put his feet in the water.

I forgot to take any pictures on Thursday, but I took all of six kids to the movie theater to see Disney's live action movie, The Lion King.  I managed to get there with enough time to buy treats at the concession stand and get everyone situated in their seats with their popcorn and treats before the movie started.  This is the third movie I have taken Emmett to this summer and he did a great job sitting on my lap, nursing, and then taking a nap during the movie.  We managed to make it out in one piece!  After coming home for a late lunch and some play time in the pool, Natalee actually arrived before dinner to pick up the boys.  She had decided to leave Utah a day early and made it to Puyallup by the late afternoon the next day.  We said 'goodbye' to the boys and sent them off after a fun filled week.  It was the perfect way to wrap up our summer before heading off to Blake Island next week with them for one last final hoorah!

August Trip to Priest Lake

All four kid and I just returned yesterday from our second trip of the summer to Priest Lake.  Since Ron was unable to join us, my parents agreed to caravan with me to Priest Lake and back since I was driving with all four children including a nursing baby.  My mom agreed to take turns helping me drive every time she rode in my car which was a huge help.  Once we arrived at the cabin, we spent a quiet week up there as no one else in our family was able to join us this time around.  However, we still had a great time and enjoyed the beautiful weather that we were blessed with this past week.  In addition, we were treated to a visit the last two days from the Ryan family who are my parent's next-door neighbors.  My parents had invited them to swing by Priest Lake on their way home from a family vacation to Glacier National Park.  We have gotten to know them over the years since they have a daughter Lia's age who she has played with several times when we have been at my parent's house visiting for the day.  My children thoroughly enjoyed playing with all four of their children during the visit and it was a fun way to finish off our week at Priest Lake.

Although Logan was not interested in trying to water ski again, Lia was willing to go every morning until the Ryans arrived.  She really has gotten comfortable with getting up and staying in the wake this summer.

We had fun bringing baby Emmett done to the beach when he was not napping.  Here he is trying out the water with grandma at his side.

A close-up of our water baby.

Grandma helping him stand in the water.

Big sissy and baby.

All three kids had fun playing in the beach this week--especially making creations out of the clay that can be found beneath the sand at the water's edge.

Logan playing away.

A shot of Lia, Emmett, and grandma standing in the water.

Mama and her kiddos on the dock.

Lia and Emmett.

Ella playing in the sand.

My baby and me.

Emmett and I smiling at each other. I just love this photo.

Ella snuggling up in a towel out on the dock.

The Ryan kids really loved making clay sculptures with our children.  They all took home several creations at the end of their stay.  Her are the kids hard at work sculpting away.

Logan and Thomas playing next to the dock.

Thomas, Lia, and Amelia leaping into the water.

An action shot of the kids right before they landed in the water.

Lia, Logan, Thomas, and Amelia swimming in the water off of the dock.

Lia, Thomas, and Amelia getting ready to jump backwards into the water.

And off they go!

Flying backwards into the air.

All of the kids (minus Emmett) hanging out in one of the innertubes.

We took the Ryans in the boat to one of our favorite beaches the last afternoon that they were visiting us.  Here are Lia, Amelia, and Thomas getting ready to cross the river to the beach on the other side.

All of the kids lined up minus Emmett who we left back at the cabin with grandpa so that he could take his afternoon nap.

The kids and me posing on one of the beautiful beaches inside Canoe Point.

A close-up of our cute Ella before climbing into the boat to head back to the cabin.