summer 2018

Washington Trip 2018

At the end of August, before the twins started Kindergarten, Jake took the twins and Meredith on an epic summer finale trip to Washington state. The girls had been looking forward to their trip all summer, and after having everyone home all summer long, it was a much anticipated break for me! Eleanor and I bid farewell to the jetsetting quartet and they were off! Needless to say between the squabbling twins and a two-year-old in a full length cast, Jake received many awed looks and “World’s Greatest Dad!!” comments from strangers in the airport!

According to Jake, the girls were great on the plane, thanks to snacks, Ipods and in-flight movies. We had the three girls sit together, with Jake beside them in the aisle.

After a flight, layover, another flight and an hour’s drive, they were excited to arrive at Uncle Kip and Aunt Gigi’s farm in Mattawa, WA.

Since there’s no town or anything nearby, I was worried the girls wouldn’t have enough to do and would drive everyone crazy for the five days they were on the farm, but I definitely underestimated the power of wide open spaces! The little wild animals roamed freely around the farm and exerted all their energy outdoors so that they conked out at bedtime without a fuss!

Raspberry picking in Aunt Gigi’s amazing raspberry patch.

Pizza night– the girls loved helping make pizzas and watching them be fired up in the outdoor pizza oven.

The girls’ favorite part was touring around the farm and seeing all the animals, especially the adorable baby cows.

Meredith didn’t let her cast stop her from hobbling around the barn to pet each and every cow. Poor calves looked terrified of her!

Pure joy.

So exhausted she conked out standing up!

Meanwhile, back at home…

Elle and I had the dreamiest staycation of all time! We got to bond, cuddle, enjoy relaxing walks and afternoons by the pool, and I got more things done that week than I had all year! I’m thinking this will definitely become an annual tradition, as the timing was perfect with it being the week before school started. It was such a refreshing break and I was able to recharge and get totally organized for the new school year.

Kip and Gig have five kids, but only the youngest, Mason, was around the hang out. Meredith became his best buddy and tagged along with him like a little puppy.

Climbing rocks at Wild Horse Monument.

Overlooking the Columbia River.

Sammy was here.

Throwing rocks into the Columbia.

I guess we need a treadmill! Anytime the girls slipped away, Jake would find them in the basement trying out the exercise equipment.

Lounging with their new doggie friend by the pool.

Endless activities!

Movie night!

The entire trip I kept hearing about all the delicious treats Aunt Gigi treated them to.

Four wheeling excursion!

The girls loved going to a local fair and all of the animals/greasy food that came with it!

Gigi and Kip said the girls were great, but the times that they inevitably did get cranky or whine, Kip would say, “No speaking Waaaaaahmby!” Meredith loved it so much that we’ve since adopted that phrase here and whenever the twins whine, Meredith with chime in with, “NO SPEAKING WAAAAAAHMBY!”

Jake found Meredith chilling with Mason and a bag of doritos while he played his video games. This was basically her heaven.

More “resort” activities.

The twins raved about how they were allowed to put as many m&ms in the cookie dough as they wanted.

Their reaction when Jake told them they were leaving the next day:

Aunt Gigi helping with the girls’ hair before their early am flight the next day.

On their way home.

Layover in SLC– hi Grammy and Grandpa!

Ginormous breakfast.

Elle and I were so happy to have the girls and Jake back and the girls couldn’t stop talking about the next time they want to visit. Not being there myself, it was a little nerve-wracking wondering how they would behave, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Gigi that they did awesome.

She posted: “My little brother Jake came to visit with three of his darling daughters this week! He is Dad of the Year in my opinion! Keeping up with these energetic gals is one thing but to keep them on a schedule, and do all the little things too?! He made sure they picked raspberries each day, had a physical activity, cleaned up after themselves and used their manners. The girls were so well behaved and funny I’d have them back tomorrow. Thanks for visiting us on the farm!”

I was so grateful for Jake, Gigi and Kip making my staycation a reality and thankful that everyone had a great time on the farm!

Lots of love,

Summer Bucket List and July 2018

Before school got out, we came up with our summer bucket list as a family. We got a surprising amount checked off, considering we had a new baby. Jake took charge of almost everything on this list, so props to him! There were a few things we didn’t have time for because we ended up adding different things throughout the summer instead, so we actually did a lot more than this list!

Going from preschool three days a week to having all four girls at home for the summer was a learning curve for everyone. By the time everyone ate breakfast, got ready for the day, went potty, washed hands, and I fed the baby, it was time for lunch and no time to go out! We went on very short excursions (e.g. the park a five-minute walk from our house, or just scootered around our neighborhood) and played in the pool most days. Since it was summer, the high school age young women from church were out of school, as well as many who were home from college, so we had lots of babysitters to choose from! Emily and Bri were our regulars who took the girls to the park and played with them at home so I could get things done in peace or just take a nap (maybe one time!)

When I asked which summer camps the girls wanted to do this year, they were enthusiastic about doing Vacation Bible School again. Their birthday twin, Grace, happened to be in their group this year, as well as another friend from their old music class from years ago. The leader of their group was also from the same music class, so they felt comfortable immediately. This year’s theme was “Shipwrecked: Jesus Rescues” and it was so cute, although I got sick of listening to the cd of songs they learned after we played it ad nauseam in the car!

Meredith, Eleanor and I stayed for the beginning of the program one day to watch Samantha and Amelia’s group sing on stage. Meredith was fascinated by the skit, which included someone dressed up as a giant sloth, and a fake toucan stuffed animal that flew around on a zipline.

The girls were eager to show me their crafts each day.

The girls were in the Joyful Jaguars group this year.

Another summer camp they did this summer was Camp Galileo, a science and STEAM camp. It was held at the elementary school a five-minute walk from our house, so each morning that week, we loaded everyone up and dropped them off the twins at camp. We drive to their preschool, so walking was a fun and welcome change. Meredith screamed and threw a tantrum on the ground the first morning we dropped them off, because she thought she was going too! I guess a morning home with me and Elle was not exciting enough.

The camp leaders were fun and enthusiastic and the twins loved it. They definitely want to go back next year! Each week had a theme and the week the twins joined was “Space Explorers.” I had only signed them up to stay through lunch, but after the first day, they loved it so much that they asked to stay for the full program, so the rest of the week I picked them up at 3, which gave Meredith a little more time to nap, which was nice! They were nonstop busy with crafts, science experiments, and games each day.

Showing off their space helmets:

Jet packs!

Blast off!

We didn’t go to Utah this year for Pioneer Day, but celebrated at the park with some pioneer games, bbq and lots of pie!

The girls won three goldfish, which are miraculously still alive, despite Meredith constantly dumping in food when no one is looking.

Upset that her first plate of pie fell on the ground.

The girls were excited to display pictures of their ancestors at the craft table.

Two legged race!

Bbq and swimming with the Wrights:

Maliyah, Jodi and almost 1-year-old Corbin.

S’mores time.

We whiled away the hot summer evenings with swimming, swimming and more swimming.

I was pretty lax this summer with popsicles and ice cream, and the girls took full advantage! “What can we have for a snack, mom? A popsicle?” Me, distracted with Eleanor: “Sure, whatever…” Girls: “Yay!!!”

Our friend, Debi, ran into the girls and Jake at one of the city’s outdoor concerts and sent me some videos of the action. I was glad Eleanor and I weren’t there for the chaos.

The amazing part is that they weren’t even exhausted when they got home.

On some of our very short outings, we only made it out to the end of our cul de sac and back. Sometimes, we only had time to scooter there with Bandit, climb a tree, and then head home to feed the baby/lunch/potty/change a pooplosion/etc.