Our Family: June 2011

Everstein

6/21/2011 | by Unknown

So last night I tell Evey to get a book to read as I am preparing her breathing machine. So I am like Evey, come on. She says, "I can't find it. The special poem one Daddy reads." She pulls out 'A Light in the Attic' by Shel Silverstein and says, "This is not it." So I go over there and get 'Where the Sidewalk Ends' by Shel Silverstein. I say is this it? She says very matter of fact, "Yeah, Everstein."

We have no idea how she knows the author other then one time I was reading 'The Giving Tree' and said, "hey this is the same author as your poetry books, Shel Silverstein." So cute the little things they pick up.

Projects

6/20/2011 | by Unknown

We (and by we I really mean James) have been busy this spring working on the exterior.

First, we converted the double doors to a picture window and moved the random stairs over around the side of the house. So now the deck/grill is accessible from the front of the house.

New Window

New stair location with gate. It is all up to

code and permitted (way to set a good example honey).

He even installed stair lighting...looks pretty snazzy

With the help of Grandpa and Lala we created the garden bed

under the stairs there and to the right of the picture

Future project: Turn the area in the middle to a path

Herb Garden

Veggie Garden

I had to relocate to the deck cause the other site wasn't getting enough sun

Cucumber, Tomato, Bell Pepper and Zucchini

I am starting small to see how we do this year

See the little tomato?

My Birthday present: Let me refresh what my birthday present was last year. (A lot of work). So this year I asked for walls for the front garden. I am pretty sure next year, James will be off to Alaska or out of the country on my birthday.

Before

After

New lighting on the pole and house

It looks amazing, honey! Thank you also to Grandpa and Lala for helping us finish it up.

Wordless Wednesday

6/15/2011 | by Unknown

Spring Show

6/13/2011 | by Unknown

Evey's school does a winter and spring show. The kids just get on stage with their classes and sing several songs. It was cute and fun. I loved seeing Evey getting excited to see her friends outside of school. Austin was a good boy and clapped for Evey. We went out for ice cream afterwards. It was a fun night.

So they all sang really went just not together...he he

Memorial Weekend

6/13/2011 | by Unknown

Memorial Weekend was fun. First stop Lowe's...Evey built a plane

Austin had to pick up some tools.

After church on Sunday, we went strawberry picking and grabbed some lunch. It was really really hot so that made it a little less enjoyable but I think the kids enjoyed it.

Oh these are so yummy, yummy!

We had a BBQ, cul-de-sac style. Lot of yummy food and fun!

He will be trying out for the Blue Man Group soon

Hmm...is there any left?

That's okay cause I found a beer

Monday the kids played in the pool and had a Tapas picnic

Kauai, Hawaii

6/12/2011 | by Unknown

Kauai was amazing. We made a short stop in Texas to pick up the crew. The 8 hour flight to Hawaii went very well. The kids napped, there were lots of hands and lots of activities. The kids did wonderful. We got to Kauai and stayed the first night in the fantastic Grand Hyatt. Such a beautiful hotel. It was just fun to explore the place.

The rest of the week we had our own home "The Orchid", which was perfect. Beautiful in every way. Everyone was able to spread out and relax. It was nice to have a kitchen to cook meals. There was a beautiful pool. The house was walking distance to the hotel and beaches. The kids had a blast. Austin was fearless as usual...jumping off the wall into the pool, going under and holding his breath. Evey learned how to go under and hold her breath as well.

We explored the island. We drove up to the "grand canyon of hawaii". We went to several different beaches. We saw turtles floating in "turtle cove." We saw 2 endangered monk seals resting on the beach. Of course the vegetation is just fantastic. Everything is lush and flowers...really just fantastic. The top of Mt. Waialeale is the wettest place on earth, which is probably why there were waterfalls in every direction. We took a helicopter ride to see the whole island. I am not going to ruin it by trying to describing how fantastic is was. We saw the waterfall from Jurassic Park and the Na'pali Coast (breath taking).

I think we all really enjoyed the trip. It was just nice to be away from the grind with family. Lots of good family time.

Thank you so much Grandpa and Lala for a fantastic trip. We all had a blast. Evey is still talking about her "Evey pool."

Pictures are all on Shutterfly here

Here are some videos from the trip

Bouncy Horse