Outside Fun, and a Fish

Happy 26th to us!!
We were finally going to be able to get away to the beach this year. We've not done anything away from the kids since the older girls were pretty little. However, "The Rona" had other plans. No getaway this year after all. Oh well.........we made the best of it. We went to Costco to pick out new glasses for me. That was an "experience".😳 Then we ordered take out and came home to our quiet backyard. Rhaevyn kept all the shades closed so the little ones didn't see that we were actually home. We turned on the backyard lights and enjoyed a nice breeze and each other's company as we ate our anniversary dinner.

I've succumbed to putting my hair up most days because I just don't want to spend the time to blow dry and straighten my hair, which now takes a lot longer since it isn't short anymore. I was able to put it into a cute bun this week, though. Family haircuts are scheduled for the 17th, and we cannot wait! The big question is......"Will I keep my hair long or cut it all off and go short again??"

We had some really great weather this past week!!

Three of the kids and I enjoyed dong bubbles, chalk drawings, monkey in the middle, and hopscotch. Myles even tried hopscotch and made our game take up the majority of the length of the back patio. I finally looked up the exact rules for playing. My knees really did not like the game at all, but I did my best. Meg just likes to place her trinket at the very, very end or top of the game. Elsa was our most graceful hopscotch-er, and Myles learned that it's not a good idea to hopscotch in flip flops or try to go too fast. Oh, I also taught the two little girls to play four square, and Myles joined in for a bit. That was one of my favorite games in elementary school.

 Friday night we did a hotdog roast and s'mores. The older girls thought s'mores would be a great idea, so they ran to the store for the items needed while Chris and Myles got the fire ready and Meg set up the chairs.

 Molly hoping Chris is really serious about sharing...............

 Meg enjoyed her s'mores!

 

 And just like that, dinner was over.

 

 A new nail color for the week. I love this red!

 

 Myles and Chris went to the fish store a week ago, and Myles picked out three snails and a fish.
This little guy is so cute, and we love watching him swim in the tank. Although, he tends to just stay swimming in one particulare spot. He doesn't have a name yet, and Myles is taking suggestions.

 And that's a wrap..................and I'm actually not behind this week!! Yay!

Fare Thee Well, May!

Wow, my last post was ushering in the month and now I'm ushering it out with this post. Well, here we go with the happenings around here.

We've still been in quarantine for the month of May, as I am sure most people are. I'm looking forward to June, and I'm hoping the quarantine ends because we are all pretty done with the lock down around these parts.

Here is what quarantine life for this month has looked like this for us:


Chris made me an awesome birthday card! A few years ago I asked that he not get me anymore store bought cards. I look so forward to getting his handmade cards. I know he puts a lot of time, thought, and effort into them.

 

 Aeva made me a sweet card, two pairs of earrings (one shown), and babysat the kids so Chris and I could go to Lowe's.

Meg gave me one of her stuffed animals for my birthday. I had to giggle because it's pretty rough around the edges, but I know it's one of her favorites to sleep with.

 

 Elsa made me a card and a bookmark.

I gave the kids the day off of school for my birthday and pretty much just pampered myself. I got up for my morning walk with my best friend, stopped at Dutch Brothers for a free birthday drink (grasshopper frosty),  and then came home to give myself a manicure and pedicure.

 

 FYI, I have found the best little foot bath. I have finally gotten rid of my yucky looking calluses (my badge of honor for all the ballet that I did years ago), and my cracked heels. I soak my feet in hot water, Listerine, and vinegar. Then I use a special pumice stone. My feet actually look kind of pretty now.

 

Chris watched the kiddos that Saturday, and I got to spend practically all day with my best friend. We had lunch and just perused four different stores. Nothing fancy............Walmart, Walgreens, The Dollar Store, and Fred Meyer. But it was nice to actually get to spend time looking at what I normally don't have time for. We found some cute clothing items on sale at Fred Meyer. We learned, after filling our cart, that we couldn't try anything on. Feeling a bit rebellious, I decided that, by golly, I was going to try stuff on. So, we found a quiet corner of the store with a mirror, and we tried our clothes on. Granted, shirts were tried on over shirts, but I did actually try on a dress and jeans. Yep, I felt pretty successful about that, and I bought the dress!

 Oh, I treated the family to a box of donuts. I don't even know the last time I bought donuts, but I have been wanting to try this local bakery, "Dungeon Donuts". Super good!! I judge a good bakery by how well they can make a buttermilk bar. They are hard to find, and it's my opinion it's even harder to find a buttermilk bar. This bakery passed the test!There was only one item I wouldn't get again. Their peach fritter, bacon maple bar, custard & raspberry filled donuts were scrumptious. Actually is was all good, except for the cannoli. 
 

 We found a little den of baby bunnies out in front of our brick wall. It was so fun to check on them daily. We think the mom is the one that sits in our front yard all the time and that Aeva has named David Bowie.

 I have seen some pretty birds on my  morning walks. I was super excited to see this little hummingbird. It just sat for several minutes on the fence. I loved how its head and neck would change color. We think it is an Anna's Hummingbird.

 

 I've been having fun keeping up on my fingers and toes; giving them fun and cheery colors!

Molly is getting to be quite the furry fuzzball with the groomer being closed. I've given her a couple of baths, but I cannot stress enough how I much I cannot wait for the groomers to be open!!

 

 

 Here is a portrait of me that Meg drew. Don't I look lovely??

 Rhaevyn has been continuing to paint her postcards. She mailed off two that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of, but here are four that I did manage to get a picture of.

 I have a friend who is moving and getting rid of a lot of unwanted items. I got some lights to put up in the backyard. I love having them on in the evenings. I even got a text from the neighbor in back of us who said that seeing them when she is doing the dishes in the evening just makes her smile.
I also got a mirror that I put in the front hall.

 Elsa's balancing act. Chris put this on top of her bun one afternoon.

Elsa and Meg received a bin of arts and crafts items from the friend who is moving. We went through it and kept only what we thought we would use. Elsa found bags of small rubber bands and spent a whole weekend watching tutorials on making bracelets with them. Here are a few she made.

 Myles took some birthday pictures of me. I think it's fun to document each birthday.

 

 Meg wanted to paint with Aeva this past week:

 The weather was so gorgeous yesterday. The kids and I went out and drew some colorful pictures with chalk out in the back. Then I soaked up some sun while the three younger ones played ball together.

 Aeva drew a Sailor Moon Cat, and Meg tried to replicate it.

 Molly seemed to love walking all over the chalk drawings. She got a little pink goatee and some pink on her little top knot.

 Myles is getting so tall and outgrowing everything. He's outgrown size 16 jeans lengthwise, and all his shirts are showing his stomach. I don't think it will be long until he's as tall as Chris. Pity that no stores are open so I can get him some pants and shirts.

 Molly and me hanging out in the sun.

 Chris wanted to have a homemade pizza night. We had a lot fun making personal pizzas.

 It was fun to see how they all turned out.

Myles made his with stuffed crust.

 
 Chris cooked his in the BBQ.

 

 Lastly, Elsa sent in a video for the Tacoma Highland Mini Games. She has been pretty bummed that all competitions have been canceled for the summer. She's been really looking forward to competing as a Novice and getting to do the new dances that she has learned. But, in the meantime, she is just working really hard on getting her dance moves tip top. She has been loving having private lessons on Skype. We'll see how long we can keep that up. I have noticed a great improvement in her technique. The Mini Games was online live this last weekend, but if you'd still like to see her dance here is the link. You don't have to watch the whole thing if you don't want. She is near the beginning. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-5Y3L4lu60

And there you have it....................I'm all caught up 😀