Monday, March 11, 2024

Big Tree Trail

I found the cutest little hike in Kitsap County.  It is called big tree trail.  Ok so it might be more of a trail than a hike as it is only about a mile long.  I didn't measure.  But it is in this beautiful old growth woods just a few minutes away from my house and the path leads to the biggest tree around.  I've been twice now.  Bob and I went at night once in the dark with flashlights and now one time during the day with the kids.  I could see going here more regularly when we just need to be outside for a little bit.





Friday, March 8, 2024

Snow Day

We've gotten a little bit of snow here and there this year.  The kids had a few two hour delay days and even one day where we got a couple inches and school was cancelled.
We had a good time playing in the snow.


I love how the trees look after it snows.


At our property the ice froze down into the dirt.  I love it when ice does this.  It looks so cool.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Family Time

I know the game is not new but our family has been really into playing the Settlers of Catan game.  We usually play it on Sundays.  There are usually tears and someone is mad, while whomever is winning is happy.  I never seem to win while Bob wins a lot.  We have the expansion pack and the kids even 3D printed me my own pink pieces and stand to keep them on. 
I took this picture of my oldest and youngest brushing teeth together.  They will live together the least amount of time and Beatrix will probably not remember any of it.
We have a zoo membership this year so I try to take advantage and go whenever we all have the day off.


Things are starting to happen on the property!!!!  We have the well in and are finally getting permission too clear the land.
The kids all help, but Scarlett always volunteers to help and she really likes it.  Bob said she wasn't really using the chain saw, but she does drive the tractor.
It is excited to finally start when we have been waiting for permits for over six months.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Jump Start

About a month ago Beatrix started a new school. She now goes to Jump start.  It is a full day program to get kids ready for kindergarten.  She rides the bus with Calista and Leon in the morning and then she goes from there onto another bus to her school.  She does the same thing in reverse to come home everyday.  We loved Beatrix going to the Learning Ladybugs school at my friends house, but her going all day like this is really a lot easier for the family.
The shirt that she wore on the first day is a shirt that I used to wear when I was younger.
At first she was nervous but we went to a practice day together and so after that she was just excited.  A friend from church was also in her class and when she realized that she was very happy.  I wonder if part of her was scared that they wouldn't speak English at the new school.  
The next picture is from the practice day.
I love that Beatrix and Calista both use the Japanese backpacks.  I walk with them most mornings to the bus.  The days that I don't I worry a little.  They have to cross our neighborhood road.  It isn't busy, but ever since Calista got hit by a car I've been very cautious.  This walk to the bus is still a million times safer than the one we had in Sasebo.  Here we have a sidewalk and it is only about a quarter of a mile.  Leon is pretty good at keeping an eye on the girls.  I'm trying to train them really well though because Leon will be at a different school next year so these two will need to walk by them selves occasionally.
So far things have been going great.  She hasn't been complaining about school and she told me she likes it.  I have noticed she gets upset extra easily after school and is more on the grumpy side but I think that is just her adjusting to being at new all day school.  It is a long day for someone her age.




I'm glad the school district has a program like this for kids.  I would have loved it when Tucker was little and I even looked for something similar.   Preschools in our area can be more than what many families can afford.  This program is funded by the district.  Beatrix did have to qualify to go so we applied and she took a test.  They want to help the kids who need it the most so the children with the lowest scores got in.  That being said, I think most of the kids who applied got in.  Not many people know about the program.

Anyway we are really happy with it and so far Beatrix has been loving it.

 

Monday, March 4, 2024

Beatrix's 5th Birthday

My baby is five years old!  She was so excited for her birthday she was pretty much bursting at the seems.
If you ask her what she likes or wants her go to is usually cake and ice cream.  She also likes to watch TV and will ask for Cocomelon, not that she gets to watch very much.
She is very much a youngest child and still gets mad if Calista every tries to sit on my lap.  She is always trying to be silly and to get us to laugh and think she is funny.
Beatrix has been making friends at church and school and that is fun to watch.  
Sometimes she has nightmares and will be screaming in the middle of the night.  When we go in to help her she sometimes yells at us and tries to kick or hit us.  It is not very often though.  She doesn't like it if she wakes up and finds out the the older kids are up  and didn't wake her up. 
She is pretty messy and is learning to clean up after herself.  


Happy Birthday Beatrix!

Friday, January 12, 2024

Utah New Year's Eve

The drive from our house to Arizona is long.  A total driving time of 24 hours without stops.  Luckily my brother lives in Utah which is almost halfway and he let us stay at his house both ways.  It was so nice to get to see his family.  On the way home it was New Years Eve so we stayed at their house two nights and spent the holiday there.  Another one of my brothers and his family came so it was a big party.
The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins.  In the top picture you can see a Christmas village.  It was at Mary-Anne's mom's house and it was really cool.  There were so many houses and figures.  She even had a scavenger hunt set up.  In the below picture you can see the girls putting make up on the boys.  I'm not sure what that was about but they really were enjoying it.


Their neighbor put on the biggest neighborhood fireworks show I've ever seen.

We had a blast!

The drive in general was not bad.  We had some dense fog at points but other than that the roads were clear.  The kids did well and we listened to several audio books including a few from the "Wings of Fire series."  Tucker pretty much finished his mandatory driver's permit hours and was getting pretty good at freeway driving.

It was a great trip.  I'm so glad we went even though we spent four days in the car.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Talitha's and Ghost Town

While in AZ we spent most of our time staying at my parents place, but Talitha and David also own a home down there.  We drove out one day to their house; it is really nice.  I didn't get very many pictures but they have water in their backyard and we went kayaking.  
After dinner we drove around and looked at Christmas lights.  I think I saw the best home displays I've ever seen.  This first one was amazing.  They had a floating space Santa and giant blow ups coming out of their second floor. 
They also had a walk though with tons of more blow up decorations to see.

Another day we went to the local ghost town.  It is pretty much a tourist attraction but it used to be a real town.  It has been this fun ghost town for a while though.  I remember going as a kid.


They have a show where they do a pretend gun fight on the street.  Calista didn't like the noise.  I remember it seeming a lot more real when I was a kid.