How Can It Be?

Littlebit will be starting preschool this fall. Wasn't I just taking Lovey there and Littlebit was a baby?

Tonight was the open house at Littlebit's school. All day she was talking about going to school. She is so thrilled. I thought she was going to be my one that was going to cling to me. She has alway's been Momma's girl, but lately she has started to branch out. It definitely helps that she is familiar with the school because Lovey went there and she knows one other girl already.

She picked out a dress to wear and let me put pretties in her hair. She couldn't stop smiling and talking about school. We were one of the last families to leave because we couldn't pull her out of the classroom.

Tuesday

Today I have quite the long to-do list. Well, it's only long because I try to get it all done in the 90 minute quiet time. Which I think the kids are out growing, but I am clinging on to. Updating my blog was one of them because if I don't, my mom asks why I haven't updated it lately. Sometimes I have nothing to say... Or I am too lazy busy to go downstairs and get the camera to put the pictures on the computer.

I need to:
Change Littlebit's swim lesson time - check
Call and register Littlebit for dance lessons
Register Lovey for soccer - check
Gather and label all of Lovey's school supplies
Sharpen 24 pencils for school (really??? Do all 24 need to be sharpened for the first day???)
Plan the meals for the week (I need some inspiration)
Make a grocery list
Dust
Sweep/Mop
Find the kitchen counter (It's there somewhere)
Clean out the pantry (The chaos in there is bothering me)

Now really, I'll probably just go downstairs and read a book. Okay, Mom, blog updated - check!

Zoo

One of the items on our summer to-do list is going to the zoo. We decided to make a trip up there yesterday. Big Daddy had to work, so I took the kids by themselves. (My the zoo is expensive!) I packed lunches for us so we could spend the day there. And spend the day there we did, we were there for over six hours! Good thing Lovey was our guide.

The first place we went was the aquarium. It was dark in there and Littlebit tried to run back out, but being the mean mom that I am, I picked her up and forced her to go in. She then told me that it wasn't scary at all. We went to the touch tank and for the first time, the kids actually touched some of the sea animals. We saw the baby tigers and the snow leopards too. Then it was time to come back to watch the divers in the shark tank.

I bought the kids the fun pass, so we fed the Budgies. I don't have any pictures because both kids freaked out when the birds flew over to their sticks, so I ended up feeding the birds. Then it was time for a camel ride. I was afraid that they would back out of this too, but I was so proud of them that they tried it. They had so much fun that we had to do it again later.

After the first camel ride, we decided to see the rest of the animals.

The kids and E.T., the walrus.

Trying to see the otters.

At the reindeer, Littlebit started throwing a fit. I told her that this was a reindeer and might know Santa, and if she didn't stop throwing a fit, he might tell Santa. I know, mean mom, but she stopped - at least until we were past the reindeer.

We also rode the carousel. A lot. Littlebit wanted to ride all of the horses on it and after each ride she would pet the horse and thank it. So sweet.

This was Littlebit's favorite. It's name was Lillie Belle.

Lovey told me it was a homerun day of fun! I thought so too.

Camping

Last weekend, we took the kids camping at Lake Crescent. We only had two three day weekends left before Labor Day, so even though we had a 30% chance of rain, we decided to go for it.

It was cold on the drive up there. It's August and only 58 degrees. Brrr... By the time we got there, the sun had come out and it started to warm up. Hooray. After finding a site (there were only 5 left) and setting up our tent, the kids wanted to go swimming in the lake. Brrr... I brought life jackets because if the weather held up we were going to take a ride in my dad's boat. I made them wear the life jackets since I was not going swimming. Lovey was disappointed because it made it difficult to swim. Littlebit didn't last very long in the water because it was so cold.

At about 5am, we woke up to rain on our tent. It was just a little drizzle, so we decided to pay for the next night of camping too. We went hiking to Sol Duc Falls with my mom and went we came back, we discovered that it must have rained a lot while we were gone.

There was water under our tent and the chairs were full of water. We decided to pack up the tent and end our camping trip early. I tried to be a good blogger and take pictures of the watery mess, but I got in trouble for not helping pack up. Oh well.

Here's the mess on the tarp. You can't really see it, but it is covered in water.

Big Daddy pouring water out of the chair.

Now we have everything set up in our garage to dry. When our neighbor saw the tent in our garage, he laughed and asked if we were camping in there. No, we just have bad luck camping. This is the third trip in a row that we have been rained on.

Yum...

I'm always on the look out for new recipes and lately have found quite a few winners.

I recently tried Muffins that Taste Like Donuts. It's like eating a cinnamon and sugar sprinkle donut. I think next time I would make them in the mini muffin pan as they were a lot to eat.

We also had Garlic Butter Crusty Bubble Bread. Oh, my! It is delicious. I have made it numerous times and oh, boy, it is yummy! Mmmm...Just thinking about it makes me want to make some more. I usally substitue this Boule recipe instead of the bread recipe that goes with it.

A few of our recent favorites have come from Helsing Junction Farm, which is where we get our CSA. Every year when we get arugula in our box, I cringe. It has such a peppery smell and the taste is not a refreshing taste that I expect when I eat greens. This year I was determined to try it again and with their recipe suggestion, we enjoyed it. Even the kids ate it and it was so simple to prepare. Wash and dry the arugula. Chop into one inch pieces. Toss with olive oil, sea salt and a some lemon juice. That's it!

We also tried a Baked Risotto recipe. This recipe called for peas. I hate cooked peas, but this called for snow peas, so I was willing to give it a try. Big Daddy loved it! This kids enjoyed it too and I thought it was pretty good. Still had the cooked peas in it, but it wasn't so bad. I would make it again.

Three Hours A Day

This week the Littlebit and Lovey are off the gymnastics camp. Littlebit is there in the morning and Lovey is there all day. I can't believe Littlebit is old enough to go to summer camp, but then again she will start preschool in just over a month. How can she bee so big????

They are so excited to go to camp and I am excited to have a little time all to myself. What will I do???? Ha. The time is easily filled up.

Monday: I ran errands. Target. Costco. Library. I was able to be as fast or slow as I wanted because it was just me.

Tuesday: Our new washer was delivered in the morning, so I spent my time doing laundry. Whoo hoo! I also cleaned the bathrooms. Ugh. I HATE cleaning bathrooms. After enduring my two least favorite chores, I pulled out my sewing machine and whipped up a pillowcase dress for Littlebit too. I haven't used my sewing machine in months and wondered if I still new how. Apparently not because somehow I sewed my index finger. It's okay, but it hurts to type. Leave it to me to do something like that.

Wednesday: I spent my three hours to myself at work. I usually work in the evenings and switch cars and kids with Big Daddy, but decided to go in this morning instead. Big Daddy was able to ride his bike to work then. I listened to a book on my I-pod while I worked and in the car. I stopped at Trader Joes and Target on my way to get Littlebit. I thought I was going to be late because it took me 20 minutes to get on the freeway from Target. I just new I should have gone the other way. It was a good thing I wasn't late because Littlebit was in funk today and was crying for me while she got her shoes on. She is really tired, but of course she is playing instead of napping right now.

Thursday: So far I plan to go the market. If I go by myself, no one will ask for a cookie. They had two last week. Maybe I will have a cookie though. Mmmm... chocolate dipped coconut macaroon... Maybe Big Daddy will meet me for coffee.

Friday: My last day! I'm not sure what I will do. Oh the possibilities! Catch up on scrapbooks? Sew? Bake? Read?

More Visitors!

We were so excited to have more visitors last week. My brother, sister-in-law, and nephews were at our house from Thursday until Saturday! My mom even came to stay too.

Thursday afternoon, they met us at the beach. The tide was out and it was muddy, but it was perfect for looking for shells. The boys had never been to a beach before and they left with quite the beg of shells. My cousin and her two boys (2 1/2 and 3 weeks) met us there too and the kids had a great time playing. All of the kids got dirty and wet (except Lovey, but he doesn't like to be dirty). They loved digging in the mud and it was a beautiful day at the beach.

The next morning the girls enjoyed some shopping at Nordstroms while the boys took the kids to the children's museum. They quickly found the sand and dinosaurs and started playing. As if we hadn't played dinosaurs enough. By the time we got back from shopping, they were in the pool in our backyard.

Saturday we went to the Country Cider Mill to enjoy some apple fritters and doughnuts. Yum!!! They are the best apple fritters! Lovey led us through the maze they had their and then we walked around to look at the animals.

 Walking to the other side of the farm.

Holding her bag behind her back, so the goats wouldn't steal the food.

Littlebit loved having her aunt help her feed the goats.

This goat knew how to bring the food up there and as soon as we walked over, he started up the ramp.

Riding the small carousel after looking at the animals.

We were sad to see them go on Saturday, but so happy that they could come stay with us for a few days. Lovey is already planning our trip to their house.

Littlebit saying goodbye to her cousin and uncle.