And one more, Shane likes taking the kids with him when he runs out to Kasey's for tools.  The kids love it.  Shane texted me this gem while he had Levi with him one day.  I'm so glad Shane is cautious...

Lately from Carrie's Phone

 This was the view one morning at 4:15, after getting up to feed Levi.  It was beautiful, and I snapped a quick picture before I went back to bed for a couple hours. 

 Last night, Emma and I ran to spend some time at Derby Days.  Shane stayed home with the boys and we enjoyed a quiet evening, snacking on chocolate covered strawberries, playing Uno Spin, and watching the fireworks.  Luke, Lindsay and Maren joined us too.  It was a fun night. 

Here is Shane and Henry, waiting for the fireworks on the 4th of July to being, at Bellevue downtown park. 

 Emma dressed Levi up in her fairy wings and he spent an hour or so being a really big bug. :) 

 I found this old letter from my Grandma Doris this week while cleaning out my classroom at school.  She was always so sweet about sending cards and notes with a few dollars in them while I was in College.  I sure miss her.  She was one of the sweetest women ever to grace this world. 

 My little man Levi and I like to hang out on the grass while the big kids play.  He sure is a happy camper and is great company to share some strawberries with. 

Lately from Shane's phone

 Henry loves sweets.  Here he is enjoying a doughnut with Dad, at the Father's and Sons campout.  Shane had to work on Friday night, so they just got up early the next morning to spend the Saturday with everybody. 

 Last night, after a busy day of helping Pete and Becca move into their new house and being stuck in Seattle traffic after visiting Hardwicks' hardward store, we needed some quiet family time.  So we went and played at the beach of the State Park for a while. 

Henry and Shane splashed and played in the water until they were completely soaked.  Emma built sandcastles down the beach from where we were sitting.  Levi was exhausted, and was scared of the noise the little waves made from the boats as they passed.  It was such a fun time to just sit and let the kids get completely dirty.

Lately

 Emma has gained alot of independence lately, and loved making her own after school snakc each day.  She got to be a master cook at making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  She even made them for Henry. :)

 This is right before Levi started crawling.  He had so much strength, he could push up and stay there for ever, but it took him a while to get the coordination to crawl donw. 

 Grandma Reckling has been crochetting this for Emma for months.  Emma was thrilled that it was finally finished and she could bring it home.  She name her "Princess Celestia Unicorn Unicornia". 

 Shane was getting ready to go do some log and stump grinding one Saturday and Henry was very interested in his safety gear.  He wore around as long as he could. 

 Emma went with our neighbors out to Remlinger farm and picked a bunch of strawberries.  They were delicious and we ate them in smoothies and on our baked oatmeal in the morning. 

 Prince Levi.  Emma put this crown on Levi during dinner and he let it stay there through the whole meal. 

While the boys take naps in the afternoon, Emma does school.  We got a big workbook for her and she does a few pages a day to practice reading, writing, math and maps.  She loves it.  She really misses school.  

Lost Spring Photos

I'm not sure exactly when these photos were taken, but one of the nice days in Spring, we drove out to Preston to hike the Old Bus Trail.  Its a nice perfect hike for the little kids to do.  Its beautiful and we get to hike by an old burned out bus.  So fun. 

Emma's Dance Recital

 Emma's dance recital this year was so fun.  She danced in both performances, one for ballet and one for hip hop.  She loved her costume and called it her "princess dress".  For hip hop, she got to decorate a mask with glitter and feathers and then did a fun dance.  We are so proud of her.  We love to see her on stage, and while she is a little shy about performing still, its so fun to watch her dance. 

 Everyone who came to watch Emma dance!

Emma's Kindergarten Graduation

We can't believe Emma is done with Kindergarten.  Even harder to believe is that she will go to school next year for a full day.  It seems weird that my sweet little girl will be gone from home 7+ hours a day.  She still seems to little for that. 

She did a wonderful job in Kindergarten this year.  She made lots of friends, and loved her teacher Mrs. Duke.  She learned so much about reading, writing, music and art.  She misses school already and is working in a workbook everyday this summer.

 We all went to see her little graduation ceremony and they had a little reception in the classroom afterwards, with cake and juice.  She'll be graduating in the class of 2024.  Seems very weird.  

 

 Here are some things about Emma this year: 

• Favorites!
• food:  "pancakes"
• color: "purple, pink and red"
• toy:  "My innotab"
• game:  "Uno Spin"
• cartoon:  "My little Pony".
• movie:  "Brave"
• I really like to wear... "my flower shirt and my pink pants".
• When I grow up I want to be... "A ballet teacher."
• I would describe myself as.... "I am a dancer, cause I dance alot". 
• I wish... "that I had a pet bird, a parakeet". 
• My favorite memory... "going to Chuck-E-Cheese.  Cause it had so much tickets.  So much games.  So much quarters".
• I love it when... "my brother Levi laughs at me". 
• The best thing about me is... "that I'm a good ballet dancer and hip hop dancer".  
• When I get older I want to ... "babysit Levi and Henry".  
• I really look up to... "be like Savannah.  Because I want to learn to take care of birds like her". 
• I want to practice... "babysitting Levi and Henry all by myself with no grown up around".