Sword-Fighting Cousins

There's nothing to do but hang on a fence and look at an empty park

I have an idea...Let's sword fight!
Genevieve, I can beat you one-handed

Well, okay, maybe you have a few skills

Oh man! She got me in the gut!

That's it...I will not let this girl beat me

Don't mess with Damian

I had this fight from the beginning

Don't ever under-estimate a girl!

Kentucky Family Vacation

My parents, siblings, spouses, and all the kids went back to visit my mom's family that live in the southern states of Kentucky and Alabama. This is not your ordinary family vacation to a state on the Pacific border, rather, this is a vacation to the heart of the South land. And we love it! I mean, not many Dairy Queens in Washington sell fried green tomatoes!

And I can promise you that your grandpa is not as goofy as mine! The Adventures of Grandpa Chandler - AKA Papa (said with a southern twang.)

We stayed at my aunt and uncles house on a highly impressive golf course. Their backyard was part of the fairway and the entire #16 green. Jocelyn, Mikayla, and Genevieve out on the golf course waiting for their daddy's to come by.

The kids trying to escape the 94 degree weather with 95% humidity. It was insanely hot!

The girls enjoyed the amusement park (other than the scorching hot sun beating down.) The timing was perfect since school wasn't out so there were NO lines for anything! It was a lifesaver! Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures at either of the 2 water parks we went to. That is where they found themselves in their happy place, going down slides repeatedly for hours on end.

Sam and I with our girls and the grandparents

My mom and dad with Grandma and Grandpa Chandler. I love these people!

Uncle Mike and Cindy have become known as the biggest child spoilers EVER! And we wonder why the kids love them so much!? Unfortunately, the kids are coming home to a new schedule with new rules and a decrease in junk food and pop consumption!

They are also coming home with wallets, purses, jewelery and other acutramal. Jocelyn is now sporting soome newly pierced ears and about 176 different pairs of earrings to wear as she pleases. Genevieve is going to wait until "next time" to pierce her ears. :)

Amy and I argue repeatedly over who is Uncle Mike's favorite niece. We will let the picture do the talking! :)

My mom had a very memorable trip this time. Her mom is starting to show signs of Alzheimer's and it was important for them to share some good memories together, before the disease progresses and further. Goodbyes are always hard!

What has the world come to?

I took my girls by McDonald's on the way to Kids Castle for Genevieve's end of the year school party. We had just finished with Jocelyn's party with juice and snacks but I knew they would want something more substantial before playing. I ordered 2 kids meals...something we don't do on a regular basis...or ever...but I thought it was a special day, so what the heck! :)

After I placed the order the voice through the drive through speaker asked what they would want to drink with their meal. Since they just finished a juice box, I replied, "Just water, thanks."

Can you guess what his reply was?

"We don't offer water with the kids meal. It is only pop or juice."

I laughed out loud. "You can't give water?"

"No, we don't offer water with the kids meals."

"You mean, you can't put water in a cup, but you can put pop in a cup?"

After a long silence and heavy sigh he asked me to wait a minute.

He came back to say that no, as a matter of fact, they couldn't give water, but I could purchase a water bottle if I would like.

I have never been so disgusted in my life! They are forcing sugary pop and juice on kids!

And yes. I got them water bottles.

Genevieve Turns 5!

5 years ago (and 1 week...because I am a little behind in blogging) my first daughter, Genevieve Grace was born...on her daddy's birthday! She was, and will always be, her daddy's best birthday present ever! :)

We had a birthday dinner at home with the 4 of us and they got to share Grandma McCoy's "Good Stuff" dessert!

Genevieve had a birthday party a few days later and invited 7 friends to her "Balloon Party."

We played a variety of games including "Pin the ribbon on the balloon." All of the 5-6 year old girls thought it was pretty funny when the blind-folded girl had a hard time finding the wall with the balloon. The party was FULL of little girl giggles and laughter.

Even Sam took a stab at trying to pin the ribbon in the correct spot. All of the girls thought he was so funny because he pinned it way too high! ;)

We used 2 helium tanks worth of balloons!

The girls feasted on their cupcake balloons

Genevieve opened lots of fun presents
And after the party, Genevieve got to spend the night at her cousin Mikayla's house. I'm pretty certain she had a good 5th birthday! :)

A 5 year old's prayer

My mom woke up today with Laryngitis. The girls saw her today and asked me what was wrong with her (They call her YiaYia.) I told them that she lost her voice. So tonight, Sam put the girls to bed and did their prayers with them. I went to their room to say goodnight and Genevieve told me that she needed to say another prayer. In the most perfect posture with her eyes shut, the entire prayer, she says:
(In a VERY dramatic tone): Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on your servant YiaYia. (Super deep slow sigh) May her voice come back. (Another deep, slow, dramatic sigh). And may she find her voice. Amen

Bloomsday 2011

Sam and I participated in Bloomsday, a 12K race in Spokane, Wa. It ended up being a beautiful, sunny day and we both enjoyed the race a lot! After completing the 7.5 mile race, Sam informed me that we only have to do 18 more of those miles to complete our marathon we are doing in October. Somehow, that wasn't very inspiring. :)

To celebrate, we feasted on beer and burgers with our excellent hosts', Ruth and Josh!

A windy run

So I am powering through my run today that I don't want to be on in the first place because of the 20+ mph winds. However, I skipped a run earlier this week due to the wind, so I am determined not to the let the wind win my battle. The first half is perfect. I ran with the wind. In fact, I think the wind pushed me because at times I felt like I was flying. The second half has brutal! Extreme wind coming straight at me. Unfortunately, that is the only way back home, so I have to power through it. I felt like I was pushing a brick wall for close to 2 miles straight. I could feel the people passing me in their cars laughing at me as I make what feels like zero progress forward but yet looks like I am putting out 100% more energy than normal. As I turn the last corner and see my finish line only 4 blocks away, I feel comfort knowing what I had accomplished. I also noticed a little old man, probably in his 70's, running directly in my path, about 1/2 a block in front of me. I catch up to him, only about 3 feet behind him, but realize I don't need to try passing him because my finish line is so close. Unfortunately, this little old man, didn't know that I was directly behind him when he blew a snot-rocket that was caught in the wind and forced directly into my face! I have never been more disgusted!