What an amazingly fun and busy week we've had. I have taken more photos this month than probably the last three months combined. Now comes the daunting task of going through them all to delete the bad ones.
Cooper is actually the one who had a lot going on this week. Tuesday he had a bike trip to Matsqui Pool for a swim and a BBQ lunch. It was quite a long way to ride (took about 1 1/2 hours). I met them at the pool in my car to watch them swim and have lunch. Him and his buddies had such a great time in the pool. Then after scarfing down a couple hotdogs (I wouldn't let him have a third) they mounted their bikes again for the long trip back to school. I knew they were going to bike past our house on the way so we hung out in the front yard waiting for them to come by. I had my camera ready but he never came. Finally one of the mom riders yelled at me to say "Coop felt barfy, he's riding in one of the escort vehicles". Maybe it was all that pool water he can't help but swallow mixed with the hotdogs - good thing I stopped him before he ate that third. By the time I got up to school to pick him up he was okay and just seemed excited about the day.
Wednesday was Sports Day. Cooper and Hudson both woke up with such bad allergies. Coop's eyes were almost swollen shut. I loaded him up with everything I could think of and hoped for the best. Hudson soon cleared up ans was ready to go but I continued to worry that Cooper would even be able to enjoy the day. This is always such a fun day that they all look forward to and Cooper was in tears thinking that he wouldn't be able to go. But he pushed through and by his third or fourth event all the drugs took hold and he really cleared up.
This year we had three participating so for Tony (who took the morning off), Nana, and I the day is spent jumping around the school field trying to find all of them in their events and trying to give them all equal time. They all get assigned to a team color and they all got blue which was good when it came to who won. Everyone was equally happy. This was Coop's first year participating in the afternoon events (only for grades 4 & 5) and he had a lot of fun. Hudson went back to his classroom for a movie and Reagan and Tag hung out with me and Nana. Tag did so well just going with the flow and watching all the action. He seemed to manage to always be in the right place at the right time as far as treats went. He ended up with popsicles, suckers, watermelon, and who knows what else.
Tag always a faithful spectator - sometimes more interested in his sucker than anything else.
By the end of the day they were all so tired. Everyone was in bed with lights out by 7:30. I wasn't too far behind.Today Cooper's class with about 4 or 5 others were going to the Cultus Lake Waterslides for their year-end field trip. For the last couple of weeks I had been tossing the idea around to pull Hudson and Reagan out of school and take all the kids and join Coop up there. I knew Reagan would have some frineds going because other Moms were doing the same thing and then yesterday we found out that one of Hudson's friends was going too. And since H and R had nothing really very exciting happening for their last day of school we decided to go. The weather yesterday was so great so we were looking forward to a great day. This morning we woke up to very grey skies and cold wind but it was too late - the decision had already been made. We walked Cooper up to school to get on the bus with his class, went to H and R's class to let their teachers know they wouldn't be there and get report cards and then we walked back home to pack the van with our picnic lunch. When we got there the buses had just arrived and we all flooded through the gates. The kids wasted no time stripping down to their swim suits and running to the slides. The Moms all huddled with coffee cups and our kids beach towels wrapped around ourselves. It was cooooooold! Despite the cold and the small patch of rain the kids didn't complain (can't say as much for the moms). I strapped a lifejacket onto Tag and he was off. Usually he would just hop between the two hot tubs with an occasional stop on the kiddie slides. Hudson spent a lot of time with him and so did Reagan. Coop was off all day with his friends doing the big rides. The school bus left at 1:30 but the teachers brought the report cards so we took Cooper's and stayed for a few more hours. Coop and a few girls from his class were the only ones left so they grabbed Reagan and rode the big slides over and over again until we finally headed home at around 4:15. Hudson and Tag stayed back in the hot tub and were quite happy.
Reagan was shivering so hard in this shot she kept dropping her cracker.
It was such a fun last day of school and I'm so glad I decided to take them all. A great kick off to summer. And summer is finally here - I have the sunburn to prove it. :)Tomorrow we stay in our jammies with no where to go and no lunches to pack. Yipee!
This 'skip-it' wa a gift from Nana and a big hit. It didn't take her long at all to get the hang of it.
As I tucked her into bed we talked about the day a little and how she had such a fun day doing all the things she loves. Being with her friends & family, playing outside (her absolute fave), having her big cousins visit, eating ice cream (another fave). She had an absolute joy of a day and I don't think anything could have been better for her. I was amazed at her ability to handle all the excitement with such calmness - not one tear all day. I was really proud of her and I can't remember any of the kids birthdays that I have enjoyed as much as this one. I think over the years I have sometimes let all the choas and busyness of the day take over and I forget to stop and enjoy the day with them. I was very conscious of that this year and it was so much better.
4. Reagan's birthday eve. Cupcakes are baked and frosted, goodie bags are filled and presents are wrapped. She is very excited and just a couple of minutes ago wondered downstairs saying that she is too excited to sleep. I really hope her day delivers. She so deserves it. Still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that she is 
Yesterday afternoon we just sat out on the deck and soaked it in eating watermelon and ignoring the fact that it was dinner time and I had nothing to eat. So eventually we headed out to get some take-out.
My handsome boys
It was a great day and the kids were troopers. Such a great memory, for Reagan especially, the fancy dress and fancy hair-do. She didn't want the day to end.
which always turns into wrestling.
Love this one of Tag pulling up is pants
