Author: Denise

2019 South Whidbey Island Fair

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The kids and I have been going to this tiny little fun fair for years now, always on the opening Thursday (it only lasts 4 days!), and ergo, without Dwayne.  This year, we just couldn’t make it during the week and I promised the kids that I would take them regardless.  So Dwayne got to jump on the Crazy Train and head over for the day.

Once we bought kids their ride bracelets, we really only saw them when they were hungry.  Which meant Dwayne and I got the day together, meandering through the livestock barns and exhibit halls.  One of our favorites was the juggling arena, where Dwayne and I learned were taught how to crack a rope to make it knot itself.  Unsurprisingly, Dwayne had a knack for it.  Just as expected, I didn’t.
We met up with friends, and saw an amazing elephant quilt, but I was tickled by something far less interesting: what kid 4-H-ers said was their rabbits’ accomplishments.
Winner of the Pee Pee War
Being a brat
Being hard to take out of cage
Loudest water drinker
Squeaks a lot when he hears plastic crinkling
Made us believe she was a guy for so long
They are ready to Instagram their future children!

An Oddly Satisfying Chore

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Wesley wanted to earn more money, as he is eyeing lots of expensive ($20-40) toys.  When he begged for extra jobs, I gave him a doozy!  Pressure washing the back stairs is way wetter and dirtier than regular pressure washing, as the stairs love to back splash you in the face at nearly angle. But well worth (Wesley’s) effort!

Rooftop Rave

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When we bought our house over 16 years ago, I loved the space and Dwayne loved the potential of the yard. We dreamed of kids playing down by the stream and climbing trees and playing in the large basement and the tiny hidey hole.  Neither of us thought that the garage roof would be THE attraction.  Some kids are too cautious to climb out the kids’ windows or up the side, but all kids are fascinated by running all over the top.  Wes has informed me, nonchalantly, that he has jumped off to the grass several times. Just as nonchalantly, I decided not to freak.

Party at Remlinger!

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Dwayne’s work party was held at Remlinger Farm again this year–great location, even if we had 50 shades of rain that day.  Piper loved the petting zoo, especially this mara (related to a capybara), and the joey that never played peekaboo, though we were assured he existed in Mama Wallaby’s pouch.

Wesley likes all things fluffy.

He also likes all things fast and slippery, so inflatables that have been turned into water slides by the weather are just the thing.

Kyla likes the way Wes thinks!

 Two plus….
 

 Two Equals….

  

….FIVE!

Creative Mode

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Piper and Wes love making things, which, in addition to regular screen addition, accounts for their love of Minecraft Creative Mode.  But that mode occasionally extends beyond the screen.

Here, Wes makes himself more armor, to go with the entire armory he has created out of garage scraps this year. 



Piper made Kyla a purse for carrying around her tablet.  As with our best ideas, they don’t always work for their original purpose, but Kyla has found it perfect to carry her flip phone and bandaids around her easily.  Both have come in handy for her!

Friends at the Cabin

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Our friends needed childcare for a day, so I had them drop E & I off at the ferry and I picked them up on the other side.  They made up my more normal number of six kids to take to the lake and beach.  Lots of fun to see them jumping in over and over.  I thought I had raised water babies, but these two take the prize!

 




  Down at the beach, Piper and Wes covered a tree branch in clay… and I really like the affect!

  

Kyla made her own sculpture by using every single Duplo in the cabin.

March home!

The weekend ended with a visit from my brother’s family and Wesley’s favorite cousin!  I think they eventually got out of the swing.

4th of July 2019

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Down to the Maxwelton Parade, for what is now officially Too Many Years. We got crowded and we got candy.  But, we also got some cute family shots. The first one is repetitive, but Wes is smiling, so I can’t just delete it.   


Later that evening, we invited some of our neighbors over for ribs and company.  It’s really our first time using the pergola, with it’s lights, fire pit, and swings–and Dwayne and I loved it!

Join us some time!

Freedom Festival!

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I think we’ve gone to the July 3rd Freedom Festival in Freeland since we our first July at the cabin, six years ago.  This time, I only had 4 kids with me, and actually got to hide out in my little beach tent reading for a while, which is lovely.  
I like that the kids ran around loving the games, the beach (Wes and Abigail got soaked early and thoroughly, of course), the food, and of course, the face painting.  My menagerie!

The 5 Little Pinkies and the Big Bad Kitty

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This is the cat who didn’t catch the mama mouse that was living upstairs for weeks. 
 This is the insulation Mrs. Mouse used to make her nest IN THE MUFFIN TIN under the oven.
 And these are the 5 little babies she birthed in that muffin tin.
Denise: DWAYNE!  Something happened that’s YOUR FAULT!

I actually took care of the problem while Dwayne pretended to scold the slacker cats.  And an exterminator was out the next week. I think we’ve trapped about a dozen of them now, mostly in the garage and Secret Hiding Place.   

Zoo Day

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 We celebrated the first official day of summer vacation by dropping Wesley off at camp, and taking Grandpa to the zoo.

I took and deleted a ton of pictures, because I really don’t need more butterfly pictures or blurry lemurs.  But boy, was I smitten with this Bear’s attitude!  Rock on, Grizzly.