Messes

Entrepeneur

Lucas crossed a rite of passage of childhood:
Opening a lemonade stand. He wanted to expand it to include food. At first, he thought he should have healthy things like apples and carrots (because isn't that what your children would buy from a food and drink stand? You know mine would), but we convinced him that those might not sell so well. Instead, we went with homemade chocolate chip cookies and flavor ice. Business was pretty good, especially after he took it upon himself to walk over and inform the men working on re-mulching our neighborhood playground that they could refresh themselves at his food and drink stand. What a salesman!

Incidentally, the words on the sign are representative of how it felt to be outside that day. And the looks on Gabriel's face are representative of...well, of Gabriel.

Preschool Graduation

Last month Gabriel graduated from Little Hawks Preschool. He went to a nearby high school, where the program was run by a licensed adult and taught by students enrolled in the school's early childhood development class. We had a rough start to the schoolyear, but we all persevered and, in the end, I think he had a fun year! Here is the happy graduate. They all received awards, and Gabriel's was "Mr. Firepower".

Gabriel and Jedidiah ("Jedi") became good friends.

After the "ceremony", they had a beach-themed party with boardwalk games. McKay loved being a part of that action.


Mr. Firepower after a stop at the face-painting table.

Bumper Stickers and Stuffed Animals

Driving in the car yesterday, Lucas says,
"Mommy, stop texting me!"
M: "What do you know about texting?"
L: "On the back of that car it says,'Tell your mom to stop texting me.'"


Nice.

This morning, Gabey says,
"Mommy, I don't love Mr. Piggy anymore (Mr. Piggy is a favorite stuffed animal given to G by Uncle James when he was a baby)."
"Oh, why not?"
"Because I have to do too many chores and I don't have time to snuggle with him (this after feeling put upon because he had to make his bed...as he does every morning)."
(stifling a chuckle) "Well, I think he knows you still love him, and you can snuggle with him at night."

A few minutes later, G comes downstairs carrying Mr. P. Crying, he says,
"Mr. Piggy is too old and we have to give him away!"
Where did this come from?
"We don't have to give him away! He's fine."
"He has a hole!"
"Well, I can sew it up with my needle and thread."
"Nooooooooooo!"
Whoops. Never mention needles to G.
"It's like he's going to the doctor and getting stitches!"
"But he's too old and we have to give him away!"

By this time, G is beside himself.
I don't know where this came from or where it's going, but wish me luck.

I Found a Pirate Sleeping in my Bed

It's been fun...

...having the Scott and Brooke Rasmussen Family live near us for the last 8 months. They moved to Arlington in October for Scott to begin training as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department (as Lucas puts it, he works for Obama). We have loved having them here and took advantage of spending a lot of time with them. Over the last couple of weeks, before they left for their first post in Africa, we did a few final hurrahs. We spent Memorial Day together in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Always fun at the beach! Uncle Scott was the only adult brave enough to go into the COLD water.

Filling up with sand.

McKay was digging in the sand...
and flipped some on Gabey just as I took this picture of him and Linc.

Tadders and Mackers were content to play in the sand.
The cousins also did sleepovers -- one week at our house, the next at the Rasmussen's. Below are the attempts at photographing the 4 boys -- Lucas, Lincoln, Gabey, and Tad -- the morning after the sleepover.

The Monday before they left, we met up at a spray park in Arlington. I first saw one of these a few years ago when visiting my friend Angie in Meridian, ID. What a great idea! There are fountains and splash buckets at the park. It's free, and the water part is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
We wore the kids out.


McKay was having a wonderful time in the water.We were sad to say goodbye and miss them already. We're excited for what's ahead for them and look forward to hearing all about their adventures!

Natalie and McKay

"McKay, I just love you so much!"

--Cousin Natalie