Summer Shows - Enumclaw and Meeker Days

This summer Windmill Lettering participated in a couple crafts sales - Enumclaw and Meeker Days. They were both fun, and it is nice to get our name out there.

At the Enumclaw one, there was a booth for kids to take their pictures as bible characters. Here are the boys dressed up -

In Enumclaw, they said they had no security at night. This was our first show that had that. So instead, we supplied our own security in the form of Jeff and Josh sleeping the night in our booth on the cement. They officially voted Jack and Mike for next time.....

This was our set up for Meeker Days in Puyallup.

This was a nice show and was going along just fine, until the last day when the heavens opened up and we all soon looked like this -

Homemade Pizzas

This was a fun activity I did with the kids over the summer -

We got pizza dough and made out own pizzas. They got to shape the dough, which for my kids was the funniest part. Josh tried to make a platypus and was genuinely disappointed it didn't turn out actually looking like one.

The fruits of their labor

Canning

When given the opportunity to purchases some boxes of peaches this year, I jumped at the chance. I grew up enjoying canned peaches and knew my kids would love them too.

This year I canned 2 boxes of peaches, and 1 box of nectarines. It was nice because it was a manageable amount to do all in one day. I ended up with about 40 jars of peaches for my family to enjoy all winter.

I would have to say - we already have one big fan!!

At the same time as the peaches, we also got a box of tomatoes. I have never canned tomatoes before, but we wanted to try salsa. Jeff found a simple recipe online, and we were off.

This -

Plus this -

Became 2 dozen jars of yummy spicy salsa!

First Day of School

School starting this year was a big new change for our family.

Sarah started HIGH SCHOOL!! She left Meeker Middle School and is now a freshman at Stadium High School.

For those that haven't seen it - these are some pictures of the school. It was also used in the movie "10 Things I Hate About You"

Along with high school comes starting seminary. She now has class at the church every morning from 5:45 am - 6:35am. She then heads straight from church to the bus stop to go to school. So far, this has been pretty successful so we hope that continues. Add dance 3 times for a a week and it makes for earlier nights and a tired girl.

This was also Sarah's first time ever to not be in uniforms! She was VERY excited about this. This is her on the first day. When Jeff asked her why she was wearing flip flops her answer was simply "because I can".Josh is now enjoying his last year in elementary school. He is in 5th grade now and was trying to pretend to be sad school was starting, but he is a big old faker. He was actually excited to go back.

Cub Camp

Jeff is a Webelos leader for Josh's cub scout troop. Earlier this summer they had a cub day camp.

The theme was "Mad Science".

Their group were the Nuclear Scientists -

Josh and Jeff had a blast the whole time with all the classes, and cool science experiments.

Fife Police Visit

Earlier this summer, we were driving through the city of Fife where I used to work. I saw a police car next to me and waved to the officer because I knew him. I was explaining to Ben that I used to work for the Police Department.

He was born while I worked there, and I stayed until he was about a year old. At that point, graveyard just became so hard with a toddler, and Jeff had recently gotten a new job that allowed me to stay home full time.

So, even though my other kids remember me working for the Police, Ben does not. I asked him if he would like to go see a police car, a jail, and a real police officer. He was thrilled.

We went and visited the dispatch center, and saw the jail on the cameras. Then a very nice officer gave Ben a little tour of his car, showing him how to turn on the siren, the lights, and even let him talk on the radio to say hi to the girls in dispatch.

Thank you Officer Fleming!

He was in heaven!!

Zach wanted to get in on that radio action too!

New Kids on the Block

If you knew my sister growing up, you understand her obsession with the New Kids on the Block. She was in love with them - mostly Donnie Wahlberg, but really with the group as a whole. My poor dad spent more than one night camped out on the sidewalk for tickets for her to go see them.

When we saw they were coming to Auburn, we knew we HAD TO GO. Keri invited her friend Christine and I invited my friend Amie and we had a girls night out.

There were not a lot of people there to begin with -

There were some crazies!!

Keri and Christine

Keri and little Kayli at her first concert!
We had a really good time, I actually liked it a lot more than I thought they would - and my poor kids are still having the after effects of it with me playing their CD in my van quite often.

4th of July fun in Bonney Lake

We had a fun 4th of July this year - celebrating out at the Sirrine compound in Bonney Lake.

Pam had a bunch of fun team games planned, and we had lots of hanging out with family and letting the kids play.

Since fireworks are not illegal in Bonney Lake - we certainly couldn't do things half way -

This was the pile in the back of Pam's truck.

This was a toy that the Lutz family found somewhere that was just screaming to be lit up.

Forks revisited

Windmill Lettering was hired to supply one of the big stores in Forks with vinyl items for their store. We had such a big order, we decided to drive out there to deliver it. Sarah had not been out there before.

Here is Pam organizing just a portion of it -

We had a very long, but fun day!

Laura, Sarah, Michelle, Josh, and Edward
Outside the Cullen house
Dr Cullen's parking spot
My boys seem to find things to climb everywhere - this was at the Cullen House
Bella's house

Baptism Day

After the wedding in Twin Falls, we were headed the next day to Yakima.

Our niece Kelsi Button was getting baptized.

Here are some fun pictures from that day. We love you Kelsi bug!