In May we decided it was time for a boat. The pandemic helped speed this decision along. Earlier in the year we had discussed renting boats over the summer, but this no longer seemed like a viable option and we now owned a car that could pull a trailer. This little 19′ Triumph gets our family out on the water and has proven to be a ton of fun already!

First time taking it out on Lake Sammamish

Just a little bit happy to be on the water again!

Happy hour

Aver LOVES driving the boat

Silas is getting used to it

We found Seeta and Phani’s house

First time bringing the boat back in. It’s a little hard to see, but the look on Jonathan’s face says it all. First time was a bit stressful!

Another (more sunny) day on the boat, this time with a bigger tube.

Yet another day. This time the Lotts came with us.

We pulled to boat up on this little sand bar
 

We’re all suffering our own losses during this pandemic, but one group I really feel for are the teenagers and people in their early 20’s – but especially the high school seniors. There are so many rites of passage, from prom to senior parties, to graduation to college visits. Our community came together and put on a parade for the Mount Si seniors and I thought it was WAY more fun than a graduation ceremony! Residents came out and lined the parkway to support our seniors. Avery and Layla joined me and the Lotts  to cheer them on. This experience also helped get Avery excited about high school, which is only a little over a year away!
 

Coolest ride!

Whoever these parents are, they went a TAD overboard. I also think it was tacky to include their seniors name on the banner. Class of 2020 would  have been sufficient!

I got totally verklempt when Caroline’s daughter, Ashlyn, drove by and saw us.

“Yay, Wildcats!”

Our little princess turned four this month! Honestly, she has grown up so much this past year it almost felt like her birthday was overdue! The Covid situation had mellowed a bit at this point, so we felt comfortable inviting three of her closest friends over for a backyard party. Per Layla’s request the theme was a Frozen/Unicorns hybrid.

Layla is such a sensitive, spunky, strong and fearless little thing. I love it! She is a girly-girl, who can hang with the big boys. Anything they can do, she can do too. She has a positive attitude and a generous spirit. Layla loves dancing, swimming, hiking, biking, baking, playing dolls and building Legos. She doesn’t like spiders or witches. She says when she grows up she wants to be a mom. She is such a sweetie and is a natural at keeping her big brothers (and the pets) in line and melting our hearts. We love you, Layla Blythe!

A baby Phoebe!

Party ready!

Getting ready for the party!

Freeze dance with Maggie, Savannah & Clare

Time for the unicorn sprinkler!

With Maggie, Clare & Savannah

The unicorn malfunctioned pretty quickly

Time for cupcakes! (Whole cakes are a thing of the past now.)



 

The sun went behind the clouds but that didn’t dampen the mood

The girls danced in the rain until the sun came out again

And then we got the sprinkler out!

This is why Phoebe begs!

Last night as a three-year-old

Sporting a “Jojo bow”

Building her Legos with Silas

At her well child check – the last one with vaccines until she’s eleven. Whoo hoo!

Eye exam

It’s been heart-wrenching hearing about case after case of police brutality, disproportionately against people of color. When some of the high schoolers in our community organized a peaceful protest in downtown North Bend, I knew I wanted to be there. It was energizing and uplifting to see so many in our community come together to raise our voices, even out in the suburbs of the Cascade foothills. Caroline and I went together and her daughter, Ashlyn, volunteered to register new voters.

Ran into the Lotts

Twede’s Cafe was all about supporting the cause and providing a gathering place for protesters. Yay Twede’s!

Notice the guy on the building ready to snipe us at a moments notice! The property owners insisted the tenants board up their buildings. They would not let the business owners paint on the boards so they taped up posters of support instead. There was zero violence or looting at this event.

The guy in this old beater was awesome! He lifted protesters spirits by driving through, revving his engine continuously. Kind of took what the jerks in the pickups did and turned it on its head. Everyone loved him!
 

Ran into my friend, Jessica

I have so many pictures from May! Here’s what we were up to during another month in quarantine.

Playing in the back yard with Phoebe

Box forts

The boys love Dungeons and Dragons

Brushin’ her hair

Nana made a mask for her dolly, Sally

Swim team is about to begin for these three (once we move to phase 2)

Layla helped Avery with a science experiment for school.

Kieron’s caramel and apples

We ran 2.23 miles for Ahmaud Arbery

Found a snake along the way

Timber Ridge Elementary had a parade where all the staff and teachers drove by their students homes. It was SO sweet!

Silas’ teacher, Mrs. Kilian

Little Suki

Dog walkers

Layla is so much help setting the table

These two are becoming friends!

Playing Mother, May I? In the back yard.

Helping Avery with another science experiment

We did an experiment of our own with water, vegetable oil, food coloring, and alka selzter

Checking out something interesting together

23&Me kits for the boys

Getting puppy snuggles

A drop arrived from Hayden – an invite to his Fortnite birthday party

Full of party snacks!

They played Fortnite for a while, then did a scavenger hunt over Zoom. Meanwhile look who was getting into the party drop!

Cake time!

Layla loves her Elsa braids.

Monopoly!

Trying out filters with Caroline

We went to Issaquah for pizza one day

Never eaten in the parking garage before

Eye doctor visits

This girl cheats at Memory!

Pantry home improvement project completed

Outside Home Depot

Thanks to me taking a grass plant from a friend, when Jonathan went to dig a hole for it we discovered a buried drain in our back yard! This should solve our standing water problem.

Homemade sour dough

Practicing parkour rolls

Horse riding with Flash

At the car wash, baby

We took the kids for a big outing in Seattle. Picked up Dick’s to-go and picnicked in the Woodland Park Zoo parking lot along with a few other families who had the same idea. Saw zero exotic animals. Did see a few squirrels though.

Frenchies love French fries!