Kelsee Gets a Medal

Today we were invited to the school because Kelsee had been nominated for an award. We did not know what for. She received one of three awards for her class for the month for her great attitude.
After we got home from getting Kody later that day, she was standing at the door yelling at us to get out of the car. Kody asked her how she got an award for good attitude. She said, "I have a good attitude at school just not at home....get out of the car now!!

THE 3 B'S

This past weekend we could not have had it any better. BART, BASEBALL and BEARS! It was so fun having Uncle Bart come to visit. Of course I could not let him go without seeing my favorite spot. Little did I know the excitement that would follow. It was a little chilly at first but a gorgeous day! As we came up the hill a couple was standing at the top and motioned for us to be quiet. There was a little black bear just down the hill eating the huckleberries. He ran off before we could get a picture. We walked just a little further when I saw movement down the hill from us. So not only did we see one bear but TWO! This time I was able to get a picture because thank goodness this one did not decide to follow us down the path. He was to busy trying to eat. Karlie did not freak out either. She just hid behind Bart.

Later that night we went to the Mariners- Athletics game. Bart is a huge Oakland fan so he planned the whole trip around when they came to town. It was a lot of fun. The Mariners actually won 10-8. We got to see quite a few homeruns and Bart got to pound on the wall.

We got to see two games!

The Mariners won again.

During the second Kayla had won a baseball hat. She was sitting on the edge and Kelsee knocked her hat off and it landed down on the field. Luckily in between one of the innings a security guard threw it back up to us! Kelsee won a big foam mitt and then next morning I found her using it as a pillow. We had a great weekend and it was so fun to have Bart stay with us. It was hard to let him leave.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KODY!!

I am a little behind but I cannot believe Kody turned 15 on September 11. Time really does fly. It really seems like yesterday. He had quite a day. He made varsity on the Cross Country Team, which was exciting! Then we saw him for about twenty minutes before he went to team yoga and dinner. He came home after everyone was in bed...but me! So presents had to wait another day.

He is going to kill me for this baby picture..but he is just so cute!!




Seahawk Tickets!!

Then we went out to eat and were all too full for cake so it waited one more day....

At 15 he is still very cute and such a great kid.

Our Own Personal Bear

If you have not already noticed I am fascinated with Mt. Rainer. It is incredible. On Saturday September 6th I talked the family into another hike. This time the only bear we saw was Kelsee who threw a huge fit because she did not want to go on a hike. We found a trail that we did not have to pay to get into. By the time we got on the trail it was about 5pm. We still got in about 4 miles though.


We got to see two small lakes.

It was such a gorgeous day!



Then as you round the corner of this mountain trail about 2/3 through the hike, right in front of you is..... my favorite site Mt.Rainier!

Too bad the sun is directly above it.

I fell behind the rest of the group to take some pictures and was walking down the trail thinking how peaceful and beautiful it all was....when all of a sudden Kody jumped out from behind a tree! Of course he thought he was pretty funny when I screamed!!I love this picture of Kayla!!

THE FAMILY PICTURE

Kelsee needed a family picture for the first day of school. Well, we have not had one taken in quite awhile (she was probably three). Just a hunch, but I figured that one would not work. I found one but it needed some help. After about 2 hours of work, check out what Den came up with. After all that work, he did not save it. I had to scan it in from a paper copy that was made. Anyhow, I was pretty impressed. I guess this is when the fact of being new comes in handy. Do you think anyone will be able to tell? (Ha Ha)

D Day

Tuesday was the D (dreaded) day for me. It was the kids first day of school. First of all we had a really fun summer together and I love spending time with them (don't get me wrong there are moments I don't but they are few and very short lived.). Second Kody started Seminary. We have to get up at 5:15 am. I am so not a morning person. Kody said it is not right to have to get up before the sun is up. But he does realize that it is for a good purpose. The first day was really hard for me, having the kids start a new school year in a new school knowing virtually no one. They were so brave, I couldn't believe it. I stood outside and watched them through the window (the girl's classes are right next to each other) until Karlie could not take it anymore. Then I so wanted to drive to the high school and check on Kody. I resisted the urge knowing I would just really embarrass him. It became worse when Kayla came home and said it was good except at recess she had nobody to play with. It broke my heart. The good news is after 4 days of school things are progressively getting better. The kids are making friends and Kody is getting stronger everyday. (they don't have lockers, so he has to carry around all his books and stuff all day long). To Den's dismay Kelsee (in 2nd grade) has already had a boy ask her to be his girlfriend. She was pretty cute about the whole thing. I think we are all glad the first week is out of the way. Kody and I are looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow (he is already asleep on the couch.)
Once again I earn the Mother of the year award. NOT!! I took pictures of the kids on the first day of school and now can't find them. For some reason I am not surprised.

A "Beary" Exciting Time

On Saturday August 30th we loaded up and went to Mt. Rainier park hoping to get a good close up view. It ended up being the coldest day yet, it even snowed a little on us. The girls freaked out going up the winding narrow roads at 6210 feet. We were at the base of Mt. Rainier and would not have even realized it had we not known it was there.We decided that we paid good money and no matter how cold we were going to hike. Karlie did not like that idea and cried (very loudly) all the way up to the first overlook. Then her and Den had a battle.

If you did not know better this would look like a real sweet bonding moment between father and daughter. If you could see their faces truth would be told.

After the battle ended we headed up the trail.

Kody and Kelsee were a little bit ahead of us. All of a sudden Kody stopped and said, "I see a bear." Him and Kelsee were both so calm that I thought he was kidding us. Sure enough about 30 feet in front of them was a black bear.

We quickly turned around as he started to follow us down the trail. Den was so excited to get a picture of the bear that he could not hold the camera still. So this is what we got.
As we got further down the trail the bear took a detour down the side of the mountain and the cars down there got awesome pictures of him. I guess though that we got the best ones in our mind. It was exciting and a little scary. I had made fun of Den for straping on his big hunting knife just to hike the hill.....

Later we had a picnic at the bottom of the hill and afterward the sky started to clear up. I made Den drive back up the road (the girls were not happy) so we could possibly get a peak at Mt. Rainier. It was a small break in the clouds and within minutes it was gone again.
Kelsee and Karlie do not want to go on another hike anytime soon!