E in the Tree

I looked out the front windows this morning and saw this. . .  when I asked him what he was doing, he said it was his "panther impression."  It reminded me a lot of a "little" something we used to call . . .

 "the Ethan Cat"

Ethan's been spending a lot of time up in trees over the past week.  He's always wanted to climb trees but we didn't have any in our old neighborhood that were big enough to support a boy!  I even had to reprimand him for climbing trees at the bus stop the other morning, and we had to make a rule about no tree climbing before school.  Here he is out in our front yard yesterday. . .   a close up,

 and the perspective from the ground.  Can you still spot him?  I'm trying to remember he's a good climber, but I'm still a little nervous about all this climbing.  He respects my fears and doesn't go TOO high. . .

 Chandler discovered mail box climbing, and has been perched a top our mailbox for many a biking break ever since.

Cookies on a rainy afternoon

Gordon tells me that my transition to private is unacceptable.  There MUST be a new post.  So, I live to please!  Here is a fun little moment of baking fresh cookies here at the blue house.

The kids are completely fascinated by the fact that the oven light works!  A glory they have not previously beheld, as ours was broken when we came back from NY.  And, just for the record, those are the cutest curls I've ever seen.

Glorious Cookies!!!

rachel.e.wilde@gmail.com for access. . .

Going Stealth

ATTENTION!!!

Friday I'll be getting all stealthy with this blog and you will need to sign in to read. I know what you're thinking! "But I'll never remember to check it because my feedreader won't pick it up!!!" Well friends, I have a solution!

I have created a new blog, at http://rachelsfakeblog.blogspot.com This is the blog you can put into your feedreader. When I post a anything new on my REAL blog, I'll also post the title and a link to it on my FAKE blog. Your feedreader will pick it up. Then just click the link and sign in if you haven't already and be able to hang out with us once again.

Isn't that brilliant? Thank you Val for the idea!

So please add http://rachelsfakeblog.blogspot.com to your feed reader RIGHT NOW!!! Do it now!!! :)

If you'd like to be invited and haven't yet sent me your email, please do. . . you can leave a comment or send it to rachel.e.wilde@gmail.com.

See you soon!

Rachel

Go Chandler!

I looked out the window yesterday after Gordon and Chandler went out to play, and look what I saw! On his first day trying, he's got it! We're still working on braking and controlled stops, but we're getting there!

Thanks for chasing Chandler all over the neighborhood daddy!
We even had some other neighborhood kids who needed lessons come out with their two wheelers. Gordon spent almost two hours doing lessons and even bike repairs for Chandler and other neighbors. It was so fun! And Chandler was the champ!

Off they go. . .

It was a big day for the boys starting at their new school today. And true to Oregon form, there was plenty of rain to celebrate. Here they are, eager to meet the bus. . .

And then off they went, down the street.

I met the boys at school and helped get them settled into their classrooms, which didn't take long. Here's to hoping for a wonderful year!!!

On School Day Eve

Tonight was the night before school began. We decided to start a new tradition based on an idea I've seen a couple of times on a blog I frequent. A back to school feast. We chose a theme based on a favorite scripture, only had foods that the kids love, and talked all about the school year, goals, why we love school, what we're nervous about, etc.

The schollars got paper crowns representing their year in school, and Emilee got one because she is the princess, of course!

We followed it all up with chocolate cake and back to school blessings, another tradition we have always held.

We are all so excited about tomorrow!!!

Other stuff from Surf Camp

I just thought I'd put together an eternally long post of all the other stuff we did at surf camp! Chandler and all the boys spent hours in the frigid (colder than normal!) water boogie boarding. . .

There were sunbonnet babies

My children are the best (and by best, I mean MOST) dressed kids on the beach. But, we got away without any sunburns! I'm sure they'll thank me when they're 45. :)

We experienced a "white tide" as we called it! Miraculously, one day after returning from a long walk with the kids, right in front of our beach chairs, in about a 10x10 foot square, there was a HUGE deposit of beautiful and exotic looking shells, right there in the sand. The kids excavated for about an hour and found 25 beautiful shells. It really was amazing. . .

I mean, have you ever found a shell like this on a beach? It was almost like they were. . . Well, I guess it will always be a mystery. . .

When you're a baby and get sandy, you get lots of baths before nap time. On the table. In a bucket. Outside in the breeze. I wanted to hop in after her. But restrained myself.

And then you sleep. Wherever you darn well please.

And here I am ready to head out for a glorious round of surfing, which I gave up on after about 2 minutes of VERY cold water and stubborn waves that were beating me up. Maybe next year. . . I totally wimped out!

At surf camp there are lots of picturesque moments. . .

Grammy just might share her coke slurpee with you if you're cute enough. And you just might drink it all up even though you're FREEZING!!!

But that just helps you sleep well anyway.

You see! So much fun! A week spent in the dirt, sun, sand, water, and eating like a king. Long live surf camp!

Surfin' Safari

We've been back from surf camp for a whole week now, but it is still a wonderful fresh memory. This year the big boys got to try their hand at surfing! They both got up several times, and really enjoyed it! Here are some pictures of all the dudes at our surf camp rocking the waves. . . (everyone but Aidan (how did I not get a photo???).

Here is Gordon about to do wave combat. . . who will win???

Watch it!

They both survived!!!

Our little Ethan surfer. . .

Ho Daddy! Cowabunga!

And we mustn't forget the big Kahuna himself, and provider of surf arsenal. Go Grampy Go. . .

So you see! Such fun. . . more surf camp reports to follow soon. . .