Summer 'N' Motion Wk. #2

{ Coffee Table: plus 2, Baylee: minus 2. )

Last week's saga continued as Baylee got an infection in the gums causing her flu-like symptoms. After a ridiculously unnecessary trip to the ER demanded by the dentist, we then called in for reinforces with our babysitter friend to pull the front teeth in question. Dr. Swanson and Kendall were gracious in taking us after hours and said we made the right call by removing them. Baylee was more upset that she didn't get the yellow "teather thest" Charlie received earlier in the day after he got one of his molars pulled and instead given a pink one. Of course I kept asking her what it was she wanted because the speech with no teeth is just too adorable! 

The fevers, nausea and tooth pain was immediately gone after the two front teeth were removed. 

Now to wait a few years before the adult ones grow back!

{ Water babies. }

With the weather already showing how hot it can and will be this summer, I caved to the best $97 spent so far this year. Mind you, the expense of filling the pool is probably triple the actual cost but no price tag can match the lack of boredom and arguing between children. The teen expects to have no splash floating sessions with the preschooler while Myriam has turned into a fish. The girl mastered the snorkel and has done nothing but switch from suit to suit. If this pool doesn't last to next summer, it's still worth it for the peace, laughter and hours of kids getting along. 

{ Road trip }

Charlie left Thursday evening with Grandpa Doug and the family to Salt Lake City where Tim will meet up early this next week, and myself Wednesday evening. It's been 15 years since Tim won the International Barbershop Convention and it just so happens to be in the same location this summer. Charlie and Uncle Ryan have the awesome opportunity to join their dad's on the big stage too! Just wait until you see Charlie all dressed up - such a stud! This weekend he was traveling through Yellowstone Park. Pretty jealous of his time on the road! I do miss him. 

{ Hydrate. } 

I've been working on upping my water intake when I realized I had already consumed 101 ounces of water before dinner time. It was a long night...

 { Graffiti doors. }

Addison not only mocks my stick figures but her ability to freehand paint all this puts my chicken scratch to shame. Myriam's bedroom has no space for the enemy to enter with all this TRUTH declared on her walls!

 { Happy 60th to Judy }

Fail. I sent Tim the reminder text to wish his Mom happy birthday, but the catch is I was a day late...as were all the other kids too. Tim quickly hopped in his truck for an impromptu surprise at her birthday bash Saturday night! Good thing she still loves us!

Well, week two is ending with a pool surprise clean up but aside from that, it's been a refreshing, much quieter week. Tim and Addi are still fighting some jet leg which makes bedtimes and wake ups either really late or really early. Still out of sync they are.
I had another "fun" workout with the Elements team running and working on strength training. Takes work and a lot of sweat to achieve those goals!

Time to plan this next week... won't be so calm. Stay tuned!

Summer 'N' Motion Wk. #1

{ School's out - another year with a fantastic aide. }

Myriam had a full week before catching up with Addi and Charlie on summer vacation. Once she was done, we immediately began the fun! Our first stop was Summit Trampoline to bust out some crazy and take advantage of small crowds. Of course, the kids were ready for treats which made Edaline Ice Cream in 

Fairhaven the perfect tasty treat. 

 { Jumping beans. }

 { The training continues with the team. }

I'm so proud of this here group. Many of them are new to trail running and doing amazing. Some minor injuries they're working through but this team is dedicated to making the fall race a success. Hoping we can get our entire team (13 of us) together on the trails soon! When most of the team are project managers with jobs across the country, it makes for a true challenge to get everyone in the same spot at the same time!

 { Father's Day with Papa }

Since Daddy was out of country on Father's Day, we decided to spend the afternoon at my parents. The picnic never moved out of the front yard while big kids took to the bike jumps, playing basketball and others sneaking popcorn next to Papa. 

 { Greater Vancouver Zoo }

Shhh... She's Off to High School!

 

How did this even happen? 

My Mama heart is still walking our oldest to preschool with her hand tightly laced between mine. 

Her voice not yet confident then to share with others, yet friendships grew, play dates existed and then Addison's first graduation from preschool. From there we began our journey with Meridian Parent Partnership School (Mp3) as we home schooled for seven years before entering Ebenezer Christian School in grade seven. 

Jeff Caraco was our SLPC (Student Learning Plan Coordinator) for all but six months of our time at Mp3. We started as an off campus student where each week Teacher Jeff would call and check in with Addison. The first year was rough - usually the call was Jeff talking and myself in the background encouraging any conversation. Over the course of years having weekly phone calls, Addison eventually started to share more about her week at home telling Teacher Jeff what she had learned and answering any other questions he asked. We spent countless hours with Explode the Code, Spelling Workout, Daily Grams and Math-U-See along with many other text books that spread across our dining table and homeschool corner at home. 

Launching Success knew us by first name as we often came in for more supplies. 

For the last couple years of homeschooling, Addison (and Charlie too) transferred into campus students attending the Mp3 campus twice a week. A brief break for me but also a challenge for the kids to interact with other students and teachers. This is when we began to see the incredible change burst from our sweet Addi as one of her favorite memories from mp3 was giving her TED Talk. 

From not speaking a word in two years of preschool to giving class speeches, we as parents could not have been more proud of the many accomplishments. 

#ncctkjustusmarriagegetaway ... Just Us

{ Always my Hubs. Always his Wife. }

 

{ May 3-5, 2019 }

The Just Us Couples were welcomed back in La Conner, WA, this year with lots of sunshine and hospitality as almost 50 couples connected with each other, learned about their personalities and focused on marriage while playing, laughing and relaxing with others. We are incredibly blessed to be apart of a church that supports marriage between man and woman AND makes an effort to invest into marriage. I heard multiple times how peoples cheeks hurt from laughing all throughout the weekend. 

My only request of the couples this year as volunteered MC, was to set aside the hard stuff - the parts of marriage that had them stressed, fearful, nose deep in self-help books or buried deep in counseling. To remind their marriage how to laugh, connect with others and remember to have fun. Marriage is HARD WORK! 

The Just Us Getaways are to bring the fellowship and connection back into marriage, as well as connecting with other church couples. It's always fun to see the hands go up according to what service they attend since many sit on opposite sides of the church. Numerous times over the weekend we heard of new budding friendships and connections being made. 

The Just Us Team saw that as a win!

And to give you insight into who attends, we had the youngest couple being married just under two years, to the oldest couple just celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! 

To best explain the weekend, I thought I'd just show you the belly laughs that were had and highlights from our 2nd Annual Just us Couples Getaway!

{ Follow #ncctkjustusmarriagegetaway to see more of the fun! }

{ Mark Warren hit it out of the park once again speaking into our 

personalities and how they affect our relationships. }

{ The Mix & Mingle B-I-N-G-O game proved success again resulting in peeps learning new things about each other, but also winning sweet prizes too! }

Our community once again blessed our couples with many donations for door prizes, game prizes and the coveted 1st place Amazing Race prize of a two-night stay at Semiahmoo Resort! Thank you to every business that greatly blessed so many couples. 

Shout out to Wood's Coffee for providing the caffeine all weekend long as well! 

{ Amy and her sweet tooth talents gave couples a punch of energy before the Just Us Amazing Race. }

 

 

 { We asked couples to dress up as noticeable couples... these were a few but clearly Joseph, Mary and sweet Baby Jesus won the Best Dressed prize to Jo Fish & Creativity! }

{ That's right. Shower caps, shaving cream and Cheese Puffs were just one of the Race Detours couples had to participate in. Blindfolded rubber band guns were another entertaining Race Challenge. }

 { Grooms had to locate their anniversary date while the brides sat in silence. Not sure which was harder! They later had to find their brides birthday while brides blew a bubble to connect the two dates. We had 29 couples participate in the Amazing Race! }

{ My Love & I on our Channel Lodge balcony before live streaming church and sharing in worship with all the couples. The Just Us Team debriefed at Whitey's BBQ making it now tradition to 

end our time together before heading home. }

Cupcakes & Cider

Today was a good day. 

The kind of day that allowed Myriam to play hooky from school and do all things Auntie's favorite with Papa and Nana. From hiking at Lake Whatcom to dingy rides in Bellingham Harbor, playing at parks and lunches at the Web Locker... all things that brought joy to Auntie Traci. 

Today would have been my sister's 40th birthday. 

And as crazy as it may be, I wanted to remember and celebrate the day my mother gave birth to the oldest daughter; my big sister. 

A day that no mother will forget. 

So, we did just that. My parents played, the kids sang the birthday song, we ate cupcakes and gathered as family to remember, laugh, catch up and have reason to toast the life we all loved so much. I imagine my sister beaming with pride seeing family join together with reason to party. 

I caught myself smiling randomly throughout the day reminiscing over childhood birthday parties and all things celebratory. My sister was the best when it came to birthdays and honoring people. Gifts for no reason, confetti in cards and every gift having reason or connection to what that person adored. 

She never was without thought or concern for others. 

A gift she gave to all that had the blessing of meeting her. 

Happy 40th birthday sister. 

{ There are decades of memories on the water. }

{ Cupcakes & Cider }

 { Mom & Dad... they celebrated well. }

{ Even our flower girl came to celebrate today! }

Ah Chew... Bless You

The symphony of sneezes are in full swing in our home. The itchy nose where you just can't seem to reach, watery eyes and repeat sneezes are the first indicator things are ready to burst into color and sounds of lawn mowers becoming the normal outside back ground noises. 

It appears all of us, to some extent, have been fighting seasonal allergies and getting 

worse with every year passing. 

Even with the annoying symptoms of allergies, we still find time to play. 

The ladies have had a few days of fun together exploring Boulevard Park, feeding the ducks at Whatcom Falls, catching up on homework while the younger two burn energy off at Perch & Play, rolling down hills at the "Red Park" and meeting the needs of our taste buds with gelato and bread sticks. There's also been fitting room fashion shows which is quite comical I may add. One of those years where Addison has shot up resulting in nothing working for summer attire, Myriam not quite tall enough to fit Addi's hand-me-downs and Baylee on her own needing a few fill-in items to prepare these princesses for summer. Thank goodness not all will be teenagers at one time or we'd need to find some money tree seeds somewhere. I love watching each relationship grow, challenge and inspire the other. 

A while back, the ladies were playing together and one made the remark, "Hey, we all have a different Tummy Mommy." Hearing that made my heart stumble a bit, but also soar, knowing God knew our family dynamics long before I was ready to step into this role as Mom to all three. There are frustrations, struggles, joys and lots of laughter with each one. Each daughter has something special about themselves making them unique in their own way. Having these special girl dates makes them that much more special simply because God saw each of them needing one another. 

{ Fairhaven Explorations }

 

{ Whatcom Falls & Cornwall Neighborhood Red Park}

{ Morning running buddy. }

Research & Play

{ LaConner Town Tour March 23, 2019}

My partners in crime. Researchers with a sweet tooth. 

While Charlie was playing basketball at the Tulip Tournament in a tight gym with limited seating, the little girls and I went west to complete the final details for the Just Us Amazing Race coming up in May with NCCTK. 

As part of the Couples Getaway, the team and I reconstruct a mini version of the TV show game throughout LaConner, WA, while executing Route Info, Race Challenges and Road Blocks all to get to the final Pit Stop. 

Myriam & Baylee were my assistants tasting treats, taking lots of pictures, posing in front of statues and taking in all the sunshine on this Saturday covering over three miles of ground. 

We even managed to take in some glorious daffodil fields as the "joy" spread across multiple fields. 

My heart was full. 

Some days can be extremely challenging, stressing, and trauma driven, but this day had

laughter, connection, sweet words and play. 

My sweet ladies and I all needed the research party and play!

{ The girls were loving the selfies. }

{ Spring sass soaking up the sun. }