More from the headband addict

They look neat all lined up like this. The red crocheted one is my favorite. It is so soft and comfortable for Reagan.

Alyssa's headband was hard to photograph, but it looks pretty on her. The only problem is that it is a little thin for her hair, and slips off easily. She would do better with a wider headband, I think.

This satin headband is reversable and very smooth and shiny.

My fave fuzzy headband!!

That may be a little extreme, but I'm very into making headbands and hair things for girls right now. Here are a few more I have made. They are still not exactly what I'm striving for, but I'm getting closer. I gave crocheting another try, and had greater success this time around, so I was very happy to complete the crocheted headbands. What does everyone think so far? Be honest-but not too honest:-)

Lake-time again (FINALLY!!)

We have only been to one lake up here-the name escapes me-but it is located in Maple Valley and we love it. It is scenic and convenient with lifeguards in the summer, grass, sand and water, and close bathrooms (very important if you ask me!).

We made our first run to the lake on Friday. The weather was perfect and the kids didn't want to leave.

Alyssa tells us she wants to go to the lake every day that "Mr. Golden Sun" is out. That's what she calls the sun-so cute!

Matthew said the water was cold, but not cold enough to stop the kids from taking a swim!

Mike and Alyssa.

Reagan kicked back in her stroller-literally-we could not keep those little feet down! When Mike finally took her out of the stroller and put her toes in the water, she got very excited and began kicking her feet in hopes that he would put her in again. When he did, she just hung there with her head down trying to get as close to the water as possible. She is such a funny baby:-)

Grillin' and Chillin'

Our neighbors, Dan and Amy, had everyone over for a Barbeque and Marshmellow roast lastnight, and we had a great time! All the kids were in smore and marshmellow heaven once the firepit was lit!

Amy, Kenna and Me

Wave smores in front of her face and she will smile all you want!!!

More yummy-ness.

Reagan sat on this blanket the WHOLE time, if you can believe that, completely content with graham crackers and hot dog buns crumbled all around her!

We're going on a bear hunt (we're gonna catch a big one!)....

.....We're not scared!!

Lines from a book I read to the kids all the time :-) I happened to catch something black out of the corner of my eye this morning out our dining room window and turned to see a bear roaming the edge of our backyard. I picked up my phone and dialed my neighbor, Kenna, who answered and when I said there was a bear in the backyard, she ran to the window and said "two bears in the backyard!" We both snapped some photos before they wandered into the next yards. At first I thought they were two bear cubs, but it seems that it might be a Mother bear with her one cub. We think they may frequent our area, especially given the bear trouble we had last Fall. August and Alyssa were home to witness them, and they were so suprised!

We did it!!

A creek we passed on the trail.

Such a deceptively easy looking path-if only the whole hike were this easy!

Alyssa early on in the hike, before that little smile turned upside down-this was not easy for her, but she did it!! Great job, Alyssa:-) Mommy and Daddy are proud of you!

Mike and Reagan posed at a creek we passed. Mike not only had Reagan in the front pack, but a very heavy backpack on his back. He is the fit one, so we thought him best for the job!!

This was at the beginning of the hike before everyone knew what they were in for!

Reagan and Mommy at the top-her first hike at just 10 months old. Such a big girl!

Although difficult to judge from this picture, this rock is a cliff that drops off-the kids are posing just feet from the edge!

We were so happy to reach the top-see the trees and mountains below us?

What is it exactly that we did, you ask? We took Matthew, August, Alyssa and Reagan to Little Si and we hiked to the top of it!!! It was amazing-I was soooo proud of my kids for completing the hike, and the views from the top were awesome. The top was a cliff, so it isn't something you would want to do with a child who runs off, but our children did great. The hike is 2.3 miles each way, which may not sound like very far, but when you are scaling round a mountain and dealing with many steep areas, it was quite the hike. I would recommend this hike ideally for August's age and up, but our little Alyssa was a trooper. The scenery is breath-taking and something I really can't describe, other than it feels like you are traveling through a forest lush and green with moss and plants and trees and rocks towering above you with tops so tall you can't see them. Too cool! Hike it if you ever get the chance:-)

Memorial Sunday

On these beautiful sunny days, not too many places top the beauty of where we live! Check out the mountain.

On the look-out for trees at the Mount Si Nursery-Alyssa blew bubbles along the way.

Reagan is pointing out the tree she thinks we should buy (and wearing her headband I made for her).

The kids loved the koi pond at the Nursery. I'd love to have one of these in my backyard!

Cool picture, I think!

The tree we had to have! It replaced the ugly thing that stood before it. Mike and the boys dug out the old tree-like thing and put this beautiful green-leafed Japanese Maple in its place. We like the difference it makes, and the boys enjoyed helping.

The second red-leafed Japanese maple we bought for the backyard. Such a pretty tree being watered by a pretty girl:-)

The third tree we bought today was an apple tree (see it to the right). Matthew is digging the hole for it in the picture.

Home-made headbands

Alyssa wanted to make sure her band was photographed too after I got some pics. of Reagans.

Alyssa's headband is reversable, but only one side was photographed.

These bands are reversable-so the band on Reagan is shown on one side, then the other, in the pics.

These are my first two trial headbands, just messing around with the idea, but I'm going to make some more, and I'll post my progress!

Two more pics....

Taken in our backyard, this photo session was so much fun! Alyssa struggled when it came time to take her picture, but that's the way it goes with kids!!

These are the only two pics. I've seen from Monday, but I'll post more when I get them. I copied these from Catherine's Facebook page, so they aren't as large as they would be otherwise, but you get the idea!

Such Expression...

I wanted to share a few more pics. from the photo shoot with Catherine. Reagan was so funny trying to impress her-she was wiggling around and dancing, which is super cute, but probably challenging when trying snap photos. Her camera was set to a (I don't know photography talk) fast shutter setting or whatever made her able to capture these despite her movement. Cute, cute CUTE if you ask me!!!!! She was wiggling so much that she fell over!!

Pictures from the talented Catherine!

Peace to all. Love, Reagan

My little cowgirl. What a difference these props. made in the photo!

This is a photo she applied a technique to, just for fun! It is the same photo as the first one:-)

We got together with Catherine Jacola (Indy's Mommy) on Friday to do some test shots with the girls, and this was what we got! Catherine takes the most amazing photographs due to her passion for photography and natural sense for what looks good, and I feel so fortunate that we get to be some of her "practice" subjects!! These are wonderful, and I can't wait to get together again on Monday!!

Also...for Ashlee...

?????????????????????????....I found a little something for you too, and I'll get it in the mail this week:-)

More Garage Sale Finds!

A cool clock for me. $5

Robo-dog wags his tail really fast and is loud, all for 50 cents.

Pom-poms for Alyssa. 50 cents.

Perhaps the coolest and most popular among the kids, this keyboard with microphone. I admit, I was cutting up the playroom floor with some cool beats and sounds on this baby! ONLY $2.

Sooooo....it all started out innocent enough...we packed the kids in strollers and on bikes and set off to cruise the neighborhood, enjoy the sunshine, and partake in one of life's "free" activities of enjoying being outdoors. I lectured before leaving the house that we weren't, as in absolutely WERE NOT going to bring a bunch of other people's junk into our home (garage sale weekend, remember!) when we have enough junk that I don't know what to do with. Two hours later we were carrying home whatever we could, and I had to send Mike to round up the rest. Worst part is, and I know you will not believe this (must be my Dad's influence playing a part here), but, I, yes I, was the one doing all the purchasing. I was like a woman at a shoe sale, I tell you! I was so excited!! I had to stop looking-that was the only way I could control myself. Really though, we found some great items for the kids and they loved being able to come home with some cool new finds just by walking around our neighborhood.