Update

Well we spent yesterday going to the store and picking up school supplies and then tried to swimming in the afternoon, but nobody lasted very long because it was cold. We are slowly making the move to the beach again this summer, but we were able to watch some river otters and the kids thought that was great. Then we were able to play some outdoor volleyball with friends in the evening. We haven't been playing much this summer because Phil hurt his shoulder and has a hard time taking it easy when he hits the ball so we feel it is safest to just not play. I forgot how much I love playing volleyball.
Well the kids have enjoyed the summer even though it wasn't as warm as last year and we have had a lot more wind. They have enjoyed getting together with friends, eating a ton of snacks and swimming. Miya is swimming without a life jacket and Cannon became brave enough to jump off the pole. On his second time up the pole he did a flip which shocked me because he normally isn't that brave. Lyla is a great little swimmer too and loves swimming out to the dock and hanging out with the older kids.

The kids just wanted me to take their picture the other day before they got picked up by Nana for the weekend. Miya lost her first top tooth recently and she pulled it herself because only mom was around and I couldn't do it for her. They made a float train with friends.

12 Years

Seriously, did we have any idea 12 years ago that life could be this fantastic?

Say What?

Lyla couldn't go to church on Sunday because she had a cough and she was crying that she had to stay home with dad. Cannon just as we were heading out the door said, "it is funny that Lyla is crying because she wants to go to church and can't go and I just want to stay home and I have to go." Phil reassured me that he thought the same thing about church from about 6 until 15. I had to laugh because I remember LOVING primary and singing and trying to out sing Felicity Hanson. Then I skipped ahead a few years and remembered skipping Sunday School Class to walk to KwikWay with Nate. I don't think I turned out too bad even though I skipped out a few times.

Miya, while we were up in Seattle was watching me paint and asked "mom why do you like painting so much?" I just laughed and thought I must be doing a pretty good job at masking my anger at having to re-paint the whole house after the tenants moved out. We are finally done with the place and we were able to work on cleaning things up around here.

Tenants

So I went to do the move-out inspection with the tenants at our home in Seattle and it went something like this...

1. Fleas X
2. Filthy Carpets X
3. Broken Garage Doors X
4. Broken Kitchen Sink X
5. Broken Toilet X
6. Boogers on Wall X
7. Tubs that Smell like Poo XX

I have spent the last week cleaning the house when really all I wanted to do was light a match and burn the place down. I was there for over 50 hours last week and Phil put in 15 hours with two large loads to the dump to get rid of all the garbage they left. This week will be about the same, but the kids can finally play inside because the fleas are gone, the boogers have been scraped off the wall, the carpets have been cleaned and I have scrubbed ever last inch of the place. This week we will be doing repairs and painting. I love what people can do to a house and in such a short amount of time. I can't believe people lived in that filth and feel a little sorry for them after I have been so mad. We have learned that the three favorite things of our tenants were cigarettes, beer, and nose picking.

The kids have been having fun up at the house now that they can come inside and have been really great about having fast food for both lunch and dinner while we are up in Seattle. They were not happy about not having McDonald's for dinner tonight, but will be excited on Wednesday when we are back at it again. Good thing it is super cold and rainy right now so I don't feel like I am missing the last of the nice weather this summer.