China Bound...

Heading out to see my favorite kids in China today! Mind you, I won't be able to blog, but will do my best to beg get my husband to post some things.  I will do some follow-up posts when I return and can be more wordy.  For now, time to Go.Be.Love!

Along with praying for my team, would you please keep my niece Hayden in your prayers? Yesterday she had a tumor on her cheek and 3 lymph nodes in her neck removed, due to a rare cancer. She has radiation and more to come. You can read more about her journey at her Caring Bridge Site named Merkel Miracle. I wish I could keep up with it when in China, but I'm not positive it will make it through the iron wall.  She will have prayers going up from Asia though!

The Fourth...

The beautiful weather continued into the first week of July. My parents came up for the holiday, so we spent some time at the beach, and went to the parade and carnival on the fourth. If you ask me, the carnival is a little anticlimactic following Disneyland, but the girls still had fun.

This is how Kaia fishes at low tide!

Kellen hanging with the grandparents.

This is what we came back to following the parade; note the car next to us is perfectly clean! Not sure if this was a flock or one very ill seagull...

Claimed our spot on the hillside, waiting for the fireworks that will be set off over the water.

Hanging out still...the wait was worth it though!

Finishing out June...

So I left off at the end of the school year. Picking it up at our anniversary and Father's Day.  Father's Day should have come first, but instead, we celebrated our anniversary almost a week early. Since we are both sports fanatics, what better way to spend it than an afternoon watching the Seattle Sounders, followed by an evening cheering on the Mariners! Since the two stadiums are only a block apart,  it was doable.  In between the two games we walked up to China town for dinner. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we thoroughtly enjoyed our time. The only disappointments were that the restaurant didn't have the eggplant I was craving, and the Sounders lost.

27 years and still smiling!

The next day Kellen drove the girls to meet up with us to celebrate Father's Day, starting with lunch in La Conner. We had a delicious lunch at Seeds, then off to see Jurassic World.

Just missing Josh...

Yeah, a new Sounders beanie!

 Other recent activities worth mentioning; robotics camp and volleyball camp for the girls, Jaelyn's 3 vs. 3 soccer tournament, and a day spent beating the heat at Double Bluff Beach. So far having an extremely busy but oh so amazing summer!

Jaelyn's Islander team split into two teams for the 3vs.3 tournament.

Watching the girls from the beach. You can barely see it from the photo, but you could see Mt. Rainier and the highrises in Seattle from here. Love this beach because the girls can go a long way in the water, yet it still only comes up to their knees.

Still loves the sand!

Mike's shirt matches the blue sky!

First time flying a kite for Jaelyn. Background shows why this area is called "Double Bluff"

Where did June go???

Wow, I completely missed the month of June! The first two weeks were completely packed with the ending of many activities, including the end of the school year for all of us.  The rest of the month? I simply have no excuse, other than I was completely lazy.

It all started with the all-school talent show that both girls participated in. Kaia had a tumbling routine with two of her team mates who attend her school, and Jaelyn played a song with the other fifth grade students who did band with her this year. I was able to take 1/2 day off to watch them, but the videos and photos aren't worth posting. But here are some videos and photos to catch up on some other events...

Starting it all off was Kaia's recital, to close out the tumbling season.

Next up, Jaelyn's band concert. This was no ordinary band concert; it was a district wide concert. That means it consisted of two fifth grade bands, two sixth grad bands, two 7/8 bands, one high school band, one symphonic band, and one jazz band. I may have even missed one or two. Needless to say, the gym was packed. Each band played one or two songs, and the entire district played two pieces together. It was actually quite impressive. Here's one of all the kids together. You can see Jaelyn hidden behind her baritone.

Two nights later the girls had their fifth grade school music program. Kaia loved her pirate role, because she got to sit there and play cards nearly the entire time.

And Jaelyn got to be a part of the back up singers who were more interactive with the main characters.

Nope, not done yet. Next was Kaia's first piano recital. She had only been playing for a little over two months, but was so confident, especially when compared to some of the other kids who have been playing much longer. Check out the song choices.

Nothing says fun like an 80's dance night. Not sure who had a better time, the girls, or Mike and I.

Finally, last day of school. Since my school got out a couple days earlier, I was able to attend their moving on ceremony. Again, the school gym doesn't make for good photos, but here's some shots afterwards with friends.

Kind of dark, but Jaelyn got a special award from the Lion's Club.

Good friends.

Kaia's buddy.

Friends since preschool.

Jaelyn and her teacher

Jaelyn and friends

Kaia and her teacher.

Did I say finally? Here's one more photo to post through the first two weeks of June. Yep, we squeezed in a wedding too. Kellen took Kaia to her end of season party while the rest of us partied on.

More of June very soon...