Road Trip 2012 Part I...

~Road Trip USA~

The above picture if one of my favorites.  It's taken at 4:00am and shows the excitement of what's to come.  Look how happy they are!  Look at the fresh sleep still on their faces!  Look how thrilled they are to show off their VERY OWN GUM!  It's a very special memory of mine; taking this photo.

Some 80 odd hours in a minivan. I know, some of you are droning.  I did too when the thought of driving to Seattle (and back) first crossed my mind.  Jim and I have made this trip many times in the past.  But never with kids.  Those were the early marriage days when we were still in our 20's and could function well on only a few hours sleep.

{for the record this was taken on the trip; we're well into our 30's!}

This was a whole different ball game.  And friends, I would do it all again.  The driving part of the trip was so much more fun than I ever thought it could be with kids.  Once we got into the groove of spending hours on end in the car we all kind of settled into our spots. 

Jim drove

Ella Jane made her peace and gazed out the window

Sara drew and drew on her white board

Matthew read or watched a movie

They all napped...a lot

Jim and I drank coffee

I gazed out the window

 {I love the affection of Sara; she scooped Ella Jane right up}

 {She loves her white board}

We stopped at rest stops for lunch.  Lunch was always the same; peanut butter sandwiches with a fruit or vegetable and raisins.  Except here.  We had just stopped at a bakery and are enjoying a cinnamon roll.

{Ella Jane on the little slide her daddy used to use when he was in elementary school} 

{We love the country.  My three kids walking up to their auntie's house} 

Oh the things my kids got to experience! 

They loved the river whether it be walking, swimming or stacking rocks. 

They spent endless hours with cousins older and younger painting nails, riding bikes and poking the fire with sticks when we camped.

 {we called family along the way and handed the phone to the kids to help pass the time}

 {Multanomah Falls}

{Lots of hotel time}

{can you do this with your body?}

We were able to spend a lot of time with both sides of our families and introduce our kids to things we simply don't get here in the Midwest.  Like cool summer mornings and evenings, a cold river, and the ocean!

More to come with Part II.

Preschool...

Our very own Nanny McPhee...

Hey all!  It's been awhile yes?  ~

Well summer happened, and then school happened, and along the way life happened.  And then, well, Nanny McPhee came to visit. 

See?

 She's still here too.  That little tooth seems to be just hanging on.  And because many of the blogs I read are posting about loose teeth, I thought I might as well jump on that bandwagon too!

Now if only this little McPhee could get the kids to behave without whining and pick up toys without complaining, well, we'd be in business.

We have a theme for our school year.  For about two years now (usually when we go to the pool) I remind the kids; be brave, try new things, and know your limits.  Really, that advice could apply anywhere in life.  While my kids love the pool in the summer I wouldn't say they are little fish by any means.

You know what I mean.  There are some kids that just take to the water.  They love it.  They put their heads under at an early age.  They want to jump off the side over and over.  My kids have not been like that.  (Although I will say that Sara has loved jumping off the side and what a surprise to see an adventurous Gunn in the water)

Anyway, I got sidetracked.  We were talking about being brave.  Every year our kids start new grades and everything is new for a bit.  We all have to be brave those first days/weeks of school.  This year is no different.  But it's a turning point for us of sorts.  The kids are a gaining much needed independence and the confidence that naturally follows. 

Yes, I think it's a big year for these midwestern Gunn's.

Be brave friends.

"Mom, it's too hot..."

Well, yes, to say it's hot here in Midwest would be an understatement.  High temps. and heat indexes of low hundreds can make for some interesting days.  We have a kiddie pool on the deck that we use every year but this week has been the exception.  Unless it gets fresh water everyday (which doesn't happen) the water just heats up to much and then it's more like a hot bath than a refreshing dip.

The girls have actually been out in it in the morning time when the sun hasn't hit the deck yet and  it has proven to be a nice distraction from the heat.

We ventured to the city pool today and even that was warm.  Like, too warm.  But it was cooler than playing outside and better than being inside.

How do you beat the heat?

Two weeks ago Matthew and I built our own sprinkler using directions from Family Fun.  The kids have enjoyed it and the nice part about sprinklers right now is that the water is always cold!  So, no sitting in luke warm water.  Bleh.

This picture refreshes me.  It was taken last week when the water was brand new so that water Matthew is dumping is cold!  As I was cleaning up the pool I was dripping with sweat and wondered why I was trying so hard not to get wet.  So I didn't have my swim suit on, who cares? Certainly not me when it's this hot out and I'm in my own backyard!  Ahhhh, how refreshing it was to douse myself with the hose.  I can still remember it.

It's 6:42pm and still 97 degrees with a heat index of 103.  That's hot.

Here is Matthew measuring pipes for me to cut.

Doesn't this look like fun?  Ours is quite wobbly and 9 times out of 10 someone goes rogue with one of the pieces and has a spray fight.  I'm not sure if that makes any sense but it has taught me to let go of my expectations when it comes to kids and playing.  If they are still having fun, even though it's not how I thought it would be it's okay.  

Really it is.

And with that, I'll say goodnight.  It's time to get these tired kids ready for bed!

In your face...

I love summer for this reason alone.  You can run through the sprinkler and not get cold.  It's hot here in the midwest!  Our days almost always include water, whether it's at home or the public pool.  I love that this is a part of my kids' childhood.

Last week Ella Jane spent her afternoons at camp and this week it's Matthew's turn.  It's such a nice way to break up the combination of kids.  It's just the girls for the afternoons this week and today we decided to be outside with our homemade sprinkler.

Instead of running through look what they wanted to do instead...

Hope your summer is off to a great start!

Editing...

Now that Picnik is gone I've been looking for a new photo editing website.  Picmonkey seems to fit the bill so I'm having fun trying out a few new things.  Kind of goes with the overall sense of change, yes?

When it's not too scorching hot we bbq and lately while were at it we roast a marshmallow too.  Summer at our hosue usually involves a swim on the back deck or if the kids are really lucky, a trip to the local pool.

I like these pictures because it captures a lot of how we spend our time.  Our back deck sees a lot of sun (more so since we cut down two dying trees in preparation for a backyard redo) and while I love an afternoon swim I especially love watching the kids take an after dinner swim in the shade but still surrounded with warm air.

Ahhhh....

But then we have to wrangle them up for bed and that usually doesn't go as smoothly.  :)

A new look...

I'm trying on something new here.  I like change and I don't at the same time.  I rearrange furniture when I'm restless for something new.  I like that kind of change.  I don't really buy new clothes until I need them. I've gone shopping a few times to get some short sleeved t-shirts but haven't found any I like so as a result I just wear tank tops.  Isn't that funny, that I don't have any t-shirts?

Anyway, so there is a new look here and I'm trying to get used to it.  I think it may just grow on me.  Let's add a photo and see how that goes.

Mmmm...what do you think?

Four and a new baby bird...

 

We had Sara's party today with a few of her friends.  Who knew you could do so many things with a noodle?  I sure didn't.  These ideas came from the May issue of Family Fun magazine.  I changed it up a bit because I had younger kids but really, the possibilities are endless!  We tossed bean bags through these holes.  Big kids can toss javelines.

And look who hatched sometime this morning?  In between activities we checked on our newest little baby bird.

More active, outside fun...

Lemonade after all that running around.

Celebrating four.

Taking a break from the chaos that is a birthday party to capture ourselves.

Happy Birthday to our girl.