Beach trip

Chris left for Minnesota yesterday, for his second session of summer classes to complete his Master's degree. I meant to post every day while he's gone...I'm already behind. (Surprise, surprise...it's not like we've been great at posting regularly for the past, oh, 6 months.)

Today we went to the beach in Edmonds. It was supposed to be part of our co-op summer day camp we've been doing this month, but we had to adjust plans. Matthew seemed to have picked up a case of stomatitis, which I conveniently didn't see until we got to the park. The boys were pretty sad that we weren't going to get to play, so we headed up the beach to the ferry dock to play in quarantine instead. We had a fun time on our own...

Quick message to daddy...

Daniel documented the ferries coming and going.

Here comes one!

It took Aaron a little while to get used to walking on the sand. 

Silly faces! (While Aaron tries to take pictures...)

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Yesterday our sweet little Matthew turned three years old! He is such a joy to our lives...our little class clown. He is always looking for ways to make somebody laugh, and especially loves playing with his brothers. He definitely looks up to Daniel, always wanting to be able to do whatever Daniel does. He is very sweet with Aaron, helping him get things and even sharing coveted toys with him. Matthew is still very much into cars and trucks, and has been known to sing the theme song to "Fireman Sam" anytime he sees a fire engine or helicopter go by. He is Mr. Independent right now...he wants to do everything by himself and is really good at letting us know what he wants. The whole "I'm leaving you if you don't start walking with me" parental ploy doesn't work with Matthew, he enjoys being on his own anyhow.

Here are some pictures from Matthew's various birthday celebrations.

Something new...a birthday tribute on the mantle.

A couple weeks ago we had a circus birthday party for Matthew. Here's the ringmaster with his assistant...I mean, brother.

 Daniel tests out the ring of fire.

Mad rush on the clown-faced cupcake cake. [Thank you to Fr. Jordan, Matthew's godfather, for getting the cake!]

Matthew received some super-cool camping themed gifts!

Love all the boots!

This might just be the cutest picture EVER. Matthew checks out a friend's owie, very concerned that she may need a band-aid.   Melt. My. Heart.

Yesterday's birthday breakfast--smiley face pancakes!

 No birthday is complete without birthday brother wrestling.

 

 The circus party may be over, but these guys are still clowning around.

 So excited for cake!

Making a wish.

 Biggest bite ever.

 Hmm...Daniel has a big bite too.

 Where are they learning this?

Oh. That's where.

Are those PRESENTS???!!!!  

[I wish this photo wasn't blurry...the pure joy on his face is unbelievable.]

 Notice the frosting-less cupcake...

 This boy is very much into cars. Here's one from Mommy and Daddy.

Matthew always wants to use Daniel's binoculars, so Daniel's gift to Matthew was his very own pair!

Happy Birthday Matthew! We love you so very much!

Spokane Weekend

We left town a couple weekends ago to see Chris' cousin Trevor graduate from Gonzaga University. We head east of the mountains often to visit friends in Zillah, but this is the first time we'd traveled farther than that as a family of 5. It was quite the trip. All things considered, the boys did pretty well. Aaron did not like being confined in his seat for that long, but we did our best to take breaks so he could move around. We weren't in Spokane for very long, but we had a wonderful time celebrating with Trevor and the family and spent a little time exploring the riverfront before heading back home.

 Marching in.

 Super happy graduate!

 A rare photo of us.

 Daniel and Aaron don't seem to share Matthew's enthusiasm for pictures.

 Whee! Aaron loves slides, and this big radio flyer wagon slide was the coolest!

 Hanging out under the wagon.

 Three boys on the stairs.

 Three boys on the slide.

 Three boys on blocks. [BTW, I have the utmost respect for people who photograph children, especially multiple children in one shot. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get everyone looking at the camera, nicely, at the same time.]

 Things started to get silly.

 And sillier.

 Matthew running with the Bloomsday runners...the wrong way.

 Hmm.

 Being Mother's Day weekend, the boys all took pictures with me. By this time, though, only Daniel was in the right mood to smile. Thanks, Daniel, for making me a mom (and for smiling so nicely in this picture).

On the way home. This kid was tuckered out.

Yikes

It's been awhile...as usual, I suppose. We are busy busy busy here. Thankfully, it's been a good kind of busy, though today Aaron is sick. Boo. We've had some amazingly nice weather lately and have been able to spend quite a bit of time outside.

 Airplane!

 The water table returns to the backyard.

 Making cappuccino. (They are their father's sons...)

Heavy lifter.

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone a happy Easter!

The Fam

Daniel

Aaron

Matthew

Our risen Lord!