Two Week Count down to Kindergarten!

Already?  The last five years have flown by but my little girl couldn't be more excited or ready for the next stage in life! 

Evie around 6 months.

 Every family we know with a new kindergartner is going to do all day kindergarten and is surprised that we are not.  Our district offers all day for a monthly fee and half day for free.  Everybody is different but the most common statement about all day is that it's the best because the child gets more time at school.  While I agree that more exposure to education is a good thing, it's not the best thing for my child.  While I love and adore my girl, she is by all means, dramatic, which in it's self can be exhausting to deal with but she is also a perfectionist.  This means while most kids, if they can't cut a straight line, first time out, they generally keep trying and it's not a big deal.  Evie can have a complete melt-down and have to go out in the hall to gather herself.  I feel that my girl would benefit from a smaller class size and a shorter school day so she can have a fun time learning. 

First day of Preschool

Evie's schedule is more or less the same as last year.  We attended Leaps and Bounds Preschool and I LOVED their curriculum.  She was already working on a kindergarten level there 3 afternoons a week.  Now she'll have kindergarten for 4 days and every other Friday will be all day.  I am excited for the all day time twice a month.  She'll have lunch at and be able to ride the bus with Ally twice in one day. 

Evie and Ally, Summer 2012

Little Miss Ally will be attending kindergarten all day every day and I think she's ready for it! :) She was in preschool with Evie, in the same class and they were really competitive.  It's almost like having twins so I'm hoping that the separation will help them play more with each other at home.  So that leaves me with Mr. Jack all day.  He is such a easy kid on his own and will give us time to do more boy themed play.  That poor kid has played tea party so many times, I'm pretty sure he can properly set the table lol.  Not that there's anything wrong with boys having tea parties but a tea cup doesn't make the most convincing car. :)

Jack, Summer 2012

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Weekend FUN!

It was about time I stepped away from stresses in my life for a minute....and focused on some FUN things with my kids. I get very nervous sometimes when I go to post because I have a hard time finding energy, motivation or the direction I could post could be very negative and a "downer". Oh, I promise you there will be more "complaining" or lets just say it straight... BITCHING coming up but a girls just gotta have fun...with her kiddos! Thanks Christa for letting us tag along!
We went with our friend Christa and cheered her on for her 5K! She ran to raise funds for the Lise and Faith Memorial Run! They also had some great stuff for the kiddos too! SO FUN!!! Just what this little family needed! :) Enjoy our pics!

Focusing n whats GOOD OL FUN for us~

Bree and J

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Photo of the day

YES PLEASE.....

:)~

Bree and J

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Photo Help Website

I am dabbling into photography these days and I figured I would share one of my favorite websites! :) 

Mom and Camera

momandcamera.com

Her website is basically like a blog where she posts something informative, tips, photos, how to edit, take great pics, etc everyday. She also offers classses (in her home state). Can't make her class?? Then just sign up for her helpful email hints and tips! Feel free to check her out daily for new tips, inspiration and ideas!

Lots of Helpful Editing Tips!

Here's one of her helpful tips:

Take Better Photos: 2 Tips for Capturing Candid Moments of Kids 

Make your camera your friend and take LOTS if pics~

Bree and J

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Evie's Swing Set: Part 2

It's Up!  It's safe! It's hot!

We are hitting super hot for us here in the foothills.  The weather people are saying 92-95 but that they wouldn't be surprised if we get to 100!  Ahh, finally it's summer and just in time for us to be getting ready for back-to-school!

There's a few things left to do before I can say I'm done with the swing set for the summer.  One is giving it a good power wash and re-staining it.  The stain I have needs about 3 to 4 days to cure before you can be sure it won't rub off on to you.  Yeah, how am I going to keep 3 fun-loving kids off a new big toy in this heat?

The girls are all moved in!

Another is replacing the tarp.  I have the original but it's definitely not going to work.  I kind of like having it off, it makes for more of a look-out style fort.  Having the roof on would make it seem more castle or house like.

Our view from the top of the swing set, showing the haze from the Taylor Bridge Fire.

My total so far for this project is:

$50 for the swing set from Craigslist

$46.20 for new hardware

$7.74 for yellow spray paint

$5.92 for new base boards

= total of $119.86 (before taxes)

Not bad considering you can't even get something new for less than $200!  I love being thrifty!  What projects are you hoping to finish before the end of summer?

Stay hydrated!

~Jessi and B

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Easy DIY Wall Art

Easy DIY Wall Art From Origami 

Follow this link to:

Make Easy DIY Wall Art From Folded Paper

From Our Fellow Blogger: How About Orange

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"How are you doing?"

Before you read this you may want to catch up with Bree...

Read this post "Back to my routine...I guess..."

You know when there is something awful that happens and you never know what to really say?? Well let me give everyone some advice...(I sure hope I'm not offensive, I'm in a MOOD, lol)

When a married couple splits due to another man/woman involved here is what you should NEVER say:

"Are you sure you can't get past it and forgive him?"
All I want to say in return is....well I don't want to say anything in return. All I want to do is SLAP the s**t out of you! Really?? REALLY?? Do I LOOK like a push over to you? I also find it very odd that the people that say this to me have never been in this situation before. You know what I did the last time someone asked me this...I returned the same question and asked THEM if they could ever forgive. "Well....."Jimmy" would NEVER do that to me" YA! Well you ask me that 6 months ago and I'd say the same damn thing lady!

Here's another one I'm getting really sick of:
"I'm SO sorry!" Not just once but over and over and OVER again! "Oh NO, I'm so sorry...I just can't imagine..I'm SO sorry...Ugh gosh...really I'm so, so sorry"
I know your sorry, but it just makes things more depressing than it already is when you remind me over and over again! Then I feel I have to say "no, its ok" and start reassuring YOU cause your so sorry for ME! The craziness of it all is horrid!

Another:
"Are you sure that's what happened?"
Ummm...NO, I kicked the father of my 3 young children out because I wasn't SURE!! WTF! I guess I'm not really sure how to answer this one. For me its almost insulting. Like you think I'm so off my rocker that I'm delusional. Moving on...

So now that I've pretty well told you all your horrible for giving me sympathy let me tell you what I DO want to hear...

"What THE F**K!"
or
"Are you F**KING kidding me!'
or
"What a                           !"(you fill in the blank)

Whats the most difficult question?
"How are you doing?"
Do you really want to know? I doubt it cause you would probably worry about me more. In a matter of one hour I can go through almost all the emotions in the book...depression, anger, happiness, joy, sadness, sickness, stress, anxiety...you name it. When someone asks me this I usually have to lie or tell a muted version of whats really going on or how I'm REALLY doing. I don't think people really, truly want to know. So you tell them what they want to hear I guess. "I'm doing                 . " (Fill in the blank with: fine, ok, good, alright, better, not so good, bad but getting there, etc) Then you try to smile and change the subject.

Maybe I'm really deep into the angry stage but some more swearing would be real nice to hear these days! ;)

The one good thing that can come out of this (I guess) is I have always wanted to write a book...I've always had different ideas but never put them to paper. Who knew that my biggest inspiration would come from the day my husband came home and told me he didn't love me anymore...

Thank you everyone for loving me no matter what awful things I may go through or say and even though you may say the wrong things sometimes you really have no idea what is right to say. I do know your only trying to help and I could care less if you tell me your sorry a million times your there to catch me when I fall...well only after you laugh that is! ;) You are all so very precious to me! THANK YOU!

Yes, I know I use too many.....;)~
Bree and J Pin It

Mount Peak

 I have been very "motivated" to work out these days. A mixture of involuntary dieting, stress, tension, boredom and the NEED to busy myself when the kids are gone brought a friend of mine and I to Mount Peak this weekend. Twice. Well technically three times. LOL.
One of Enumclaw's main attractions and popular places to be, Mount Peak offers a very effective workout for any level. Pace your self if your a beginner or push yourself if your more athletic. Or do what we did the second day...hike it twice! YUP...once we came down we turned around and did it again. The second time really KILLED but SO rewarding once you reach the top. Don't expect many views up there but no worries there are some benches to collapse on once you do get to the top.
I have a feeling this will become my new found friend when my kids aren't with me. Great way for me to tune the world and my problems out! Pandora was very good to me this weekend. :)

Sunday we went up twice:

Round One Summit 

 Round Two Summit

Info for the "REAL HIKERS" out there: (lol) "The main route to the summit, the YDS class 1 Cal Magnusson trail is a fairly straight forward way to reach this summit. The trail remains at a constant moderate pitch and climbs a little over 1000 feet in 1 mile. There are no scrambles or even any severely steep terrain, but just a trail with a constant grade and with switchbacks from start to finish. This constant terrain and good elevation gain over such a short distance is the reason it is one of the preferred trail running routes. There is also an alternate trail that leaves from the same trailhead. This trail has one real steep section but has a good view of the town of Enumclaw. Both trails lead to the true summit." summitpost.org

Pretty cool geological finds all along the trail!

How to get there? From Enumclaw drive .8 mile east on state Route 410, then turn right onto 284th Street, drive 1 1/2 miles and turn right again on Southeast 472nd Street. In less than .5 mile, find the obvious trail heading uphill on your left and a parking area, elevation 770 feet. There is a very small sign at the trailhead (the park is administered by King County Parks and Recreation).

Can't wait to hike it again...and again, thanks Christa~

Bree and J

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