Gee, it's great to have a man around the house...

Clint arrived and was put to work. I try to pretty much keep things under control around here, but it sure was nice to have Clint do the extra stuff this weekend. After staining the fence, killing the weeds, planting the groundcover, fixing the garage door, making Sunday dinner, and of course gracing us with jalapeño poppers, he still had time to give the kids some special attention before they start school next week. It was a nice weekend and we certainly look forward to our next one together. Hopefully, there won't be as much stuff to do...but, I doubt it.

Shot records, birth certificates and other fun stuff.

When you send a child to school, it takes nothing short of an FBI investigation to make sure all documentation is present and correct. I just want my 6-year old to learn some math, does it really matter if he is who I say he is? Nevertheless, here I sit filling out a large paper with many lines for all the various shots he's had in his life. I believe in some places it is called a shot record. Here however, a shot record is insufficient. I must transcribe, onto said paper, names, dates and doses of these shots. It's a bit of overkill since I am fairly confident that they have a newfangled invention known as a copy machine present in the front office. I will do my duty, however, and spend the next hour deciphering crazy medical handwriting and lingo so I can send my children off to get an education. Wish me luck!

Having a 'cue.

As in, "Barbecue," not "Barbeque," as some witty and cleverly illiterate restaurants have led us to believe (I'm sorry, I can't help myself). Yep, we had an end-of-summer barbecue for church at a park nearby and I am so glad that Clint was able to make it. I was starting to worry that people at church might think he was all in my imagination. It was nice to do a little meet and greet and get him in on the grilling action. Clint totally thrives at manning the grill, so he stepped right in and got to work. There were lots of people there and the food was great. Excluding myself, there are some amazing cooks in our new ward and that brings joy to potluck situations. Fun night for everyone!

Cambo, parked at the drink station, on refill 27 of the night. She was totally diggin' the do-it-yourself nature of the drinks. A bath was definitely in order after all that stickiness.

Slackertown, USA

Yes, I missed yesterday's post. Point and jeer if you must, but I will do double duty today! Yesterday afternoon we picked up Clint at the airport and spent a little family time together. A friend of mine, with six children of her own, volunteered to watch our kids so Clint and I could go out on a date. She's a saint, this one. With adoration and gratitude, I accepted her offer and we went out! Dinner at a delicious place on the waterfront, and then a movie. Clint conceded to seeing Julie and Julia, which I thought was a pretty good movie (one inappropriate word notwithstanding). It was great to go out without the kids and spend a little time with the hubs, since he's been gone for a month. A lovely evening. Many thanks to the sainted mother who offered her assistance when clearly she didn't have to. Now, I simply must buy pounds of butter and get cooking...Bon Appetit!

Pack Man (pun fully intended)

Gavin had a BBQ with his new cub scout pack and was doing great at fitting right in. The kids have made so many friends and I am super glad we decided to move up here early. Logistically, there are definitely some disadvantages, but socially? A+

"Free Day" at the fair

I took the kids to the fair today. It was advertised as being free before noon. We headed over right after swimming lessons around 11:30 and waited in the craziest long line of cars for an hour before we parked. Needless to say, it was after 12:30 when we finally arrived at the ticket counter. Luck was smiling on us though, as it was also free military day. Thank goodness, because tickets were ridiculously overpriced. I knew that the fair would probably cost me some money, but I tried to stay as free as possible. This is what we did with no money exchange involved:

ride on a bus (from the lot to the entrance and back)

win a free pen and/or band-aid holder

sit in an airplane

blow bubbles

play with a marionette dinosaur

look at sheep, cows, dogs, etc.

learn to crochet...well, sort of

get two balloon swords and a flower

And, for a small fee, eat some tasty funnel cake. Mmmm, delicious.

So there you have it, a day at the fair without [much] money can be loads of fun. And no, we didn't ride a single ride...unless you count the bus.

And the winner is...

Garden Spot! Remember a few months ago when I polled you all to see what color to paint my bedroom. The green won...by a lot. So here it is, the green bedroom!

Nada lada enchilada

That's what we did today. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Zero. I vowed to stick to my pic-a-day promise, so here we are. Playing on the floor. Perhaps tomorrow will be more thrilling.

Gorilla what?

The kids really wanted dessert after dinner, but I am currently sans eggs. Not that I am opposed to them , I just don't have any. What can you make without eggs for dessert. Well, hmmm, jello? Nope, takes too long. Ice cream? Another item we are without. Cookies...without eggs? I found a recipe, but baking 2 dozen cookies just before the kids go to bed doesn't bode well for my diet. If you say, "self-control, Erin" then you clearly have never met me. Then I remembered the glorious taste of no-bake cookies. I actually had some last week and thought, "These are so good, I haven't had them in forever." So I rustled me up a recipe and got to work. The quick oats were proving to be an elusive ingredient. I have loads from my food storage, but I had kept that in the garage at my last house and our garage here is not unpacked yet. (Clint's domain) I told a very distraught Gavin that I would just look in the garage and see if maybe I could find the right box. His hopes were low, but the first box I looked in held those oats. Gavin and I whipped up the tastiest batch of no-bake cookies in minutes and just had to wait for them to cool. Gavin looked at them on the counter and said, "I've had these before at Cub Scouts. They're called Gorilla Poop." I thanked him for that bit of information, but I think we'll stick with "no-bake."

Oh, and BTW, if you want one, you better come now, because I am making no promises about their overnight survival.

What a Saturday

ACT I

SETTING: Lowe's Home Improvement Store; Kid's Craft Clinic

MOOD: Excited and yet, slightly disappointed

CAST: Mommy, Gavin, Carson and Cambria

(The scene opens at 10:05 a.m. 5 minutes after the "Kid's Clinic" began. There are a bazillion children in line and all cast members are at the very end of it.)

CAMBRIA: Mommy, do we have to wait in line?
GAVIN: Yes, Cambria, we HAVE to wait in line.
MOMMY: Gavin, that's not very nice.
CARSON: Yeah, Gavin, that's not very nice.
MOMMY: Carson, that's enough.
CAMBRIA: Yeah, Carson, that's enough.
MOMMY: [frazzled] OK, we have to wait until other kids are done to go in, but we won't even do that if you can't talk nicely.
GAVIN, CARSON and CAMBRIA: OK


(The line moves fairly quickly and all children have come to their senses and are now entering the craft room.)


GAVIN: I can make my bus all by myself Mom, I don't need your help.
MOMMY: OK, that's great because I will probably need to help your brother and sister.

(The cast receives the school bus kits and find their seats. They build the buses and, with only a few finger smashes, they are nearly complete)


GAVIN: Mom, I didn't do this right can you take it apart so I can fix it.
MOMMY: I don't think so, let me look at it. [looks at bus] No, I definitely cannot take it apart.
GAVIN: I said I needed your help!
MOMMY: I'm sorry Gavin, all I heard was "I don't need your help."


(After much ado about nothing, the buses were finished and everyone was acceptably pleased with their bus. Overall, a successful trip.)

ACT II

SETTING: the little playground across the street; birthday party

MOOD: Woohoo, party!

CAST: Mommy, Gavin, Carson and Cambria (and various neighbors)

(The scene opens at the playground where there are many friends and neighbors getting birthday party stuff ready for Cambria's friend, Ruby. There is food, water balloons, cake and presents and everyone is having a wonderful time.)

ENTIRE CAST: [singing] Happy Birthday to Ruby, Happy Birthday to you!
RUBY: Thank you for the gifts.
ENTIRE CAST: You're welcome!

(Ruby finds a stroller in her garage and pushes Cambria around for 30 minutes. The cast plays for several hours and wishes the day could last forever.)

good call

Gavin's former piano teacher was great. We loved her teaching strategy and what she expected from her students. At the end of the schoolyear, she gave each child a gift for what they had accomplished over the year. Gavin said they got to choose between 50 pieces of candy or a $15 gift card to Cold Stone. Seriously? She said most of the kids picked the candy. Instant gratification is the name of that game. Gavin, however, exercised much patience and got the gift card. Wahoo, free ice cream day for us! It was fabulous and we have enough for 2 or 3 more visits! Well done, my wise child, well done.

Playgroup awesomeness!

What a perfect day to go to playgroup, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the kids were driving me nuts... Forgive me, as I digress. The plan for playgroup was to meet and play at the Bremerton waterfront park. We had never been there before, but it sounded nice. I had to convince the kids for three days that it was not a water park, but a park near the water. We arrived to find a plethora of fountains and water and children in swimsuits. Dang, egg on my face. My kids looked at me as though I had committed a huge offense and they were not impressed. Having no swimsuits with me provided quite a challenge. Should I stay or do I go? We stayed and begged, borrowed, and stole extra parts and pieces from the good ladies from church. Who, by the way, I really don't know all that well yet. I love my church! The kids had a super great time and are in love with the Harborview Fountain Park. That's the real name.

After water fun-ness, we were made aware of a little safety fair on the boardwalk nearby. We headed over and, though most of it was lame, there was a fire demonstration that the kids will talk about forever. The firemen started a fire, much like a gas stove, and the kids each got to use the extinguisher to put it out. Even Cambo joined in the fun. What a great idea!

Cambria's girly-licious room

I finished up Cambria's room a few nights ago and thought I would share with you my joy of painting. Renting a home can be so boring because you are stuck with whatever paint is on the walls. To that, I say, "No thanks." Anyway, here's her room.

Her name was supposed to be randomly hung, but the letters are bugging me, so I may have to adjust them.

A picture a day keeps the blogblock away.

So, I've had a bit of blogger's block for the last month or so. Things have happened, but I haven't really dedicated time to sharing them (nor have I taken any pictures). I decided if I am going to have anything to blog about, I better take the camera with me. So here we go on our "pic a day" journey. I will take my camera with me and take pictures, even if we do nothing special, I will still post a pic (or two) from that day and blog about it. There is a certain member of our family, who shall remain nameless, that will appreciate this daily glimpse into our lives here in Port Orchard. So without further ado, your picture for today:

I think children in goggles look hilarious, in a ridiculously cute sort of way. Cambria was such a perfect model for the cuteness that is "girl in goggles." Love that little swimmer!

I had to add this one too because it further validates my conclusion of hilarity.

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor hail...

...nor sketchy 1987 Toyota Celica. Yep, that's our mailman. Complete with his fancy little post office uniform and official mail truck. What the heck? I was a little concerned when a random man opened up our mailbox and proceeded to sort and drop mail into the boxes. clint went up and asked him if he needed to have a uniform or anything. He said, "No, we don't have to and we get paid for gas." Oh, well, if they are paying you for gas, then carry on. Odd, that's all, just a little peculiar.

Holy Heatwave

When someone moves to Washington they hope and pray that it doesn't rain on the day their household goods get delivered. Apparently that is a horrible way to move in and happens quite frequently. As luck would have it, it was a sunny day for our move-in...a VERY sunny day. Seattle and the surrounding areas had new records set last week for the insane heat. It was the worst moving in/unpacking week ever. The weather is usually rather mild, so A/C was not even thought about when we were putting things together for our house. Man we wish we had it. We were not prepared for that, after coming from a week of 60 degree weather in Monterey.

Washington...we have arrived.

When we travel, the hotels we stay in must meet our criteria in order to be considered as an acceptable option. The criteria are as follows:

a. cheap, but nice

b. breakfast included

c. easy access to the room

(although we inevitably get put at the last room on the highest floor with no elevator)

Our Washington hotel met these criteria, AND gave us the added bonus of being right on the beach. Now, Washington beaches are different from California beaches (i.e. grotesque amounts of seaweed and sludge and all that accompanies low-tide), however, the kids enjoyed it daily and the maids who vacuumed our floors and cleaned our tub loved it too!

adios amigos

Our friends invited us over for dinner on our last night in CA. We got to spend the evening with super friends that we will miss!