The Great Strides Walk

By Caroline. The Great Strides Walk was very fun. I got to hold up my sign and I got to pass out water bottles and bars to the walkers. I got to have my own bar and my own water bottle. I played on the playground with Amelia and Marisa. And we had a barbeque lunch. The end.

It's GREAT to be EIGHT!

Margaret is officially eight now! She had a big day, starting last night when we made cupcake cones to take to school today. She was the special VIP in class, got to pass out her cupcakes to her classmates and select teachers/staff, have a b'day party with Melissa and Caleb and Caroline after school, a playdate with neighbor Kate, and then a birthday dinner at Red Robin tonight, followed by presents at home. Phew! I'm exhausted and I'm not even the birthday girl.

Memorial Day Camping

Here are a few pictures from our camping trip to Sequim Bay State Park this weekend. We went with our friends, the Housers, and had a great time. We lucked out on the weather (until Monday morning when it drizzled a bit). We spent Saturday exploring the campsite and rocky beach by the campground. Sunday we drove to a nearby county park with a much better beach--it reminded me a bit of the beaches out Chuckanut that I used to go to with my family as a kid. We spent all afternoon just enjoying the sunshine, playing in the sand, flying kites, wading, and checking out the seaweed and beach critters, including the find-of-the-day: two fighting lizards! Back at the campsite, Karena and I tried out our newly acquired dutch oven cooking skills--turns out we're naturals :-) Throughout the weekend, we baked corn bread, a birthday cake for Margaret, and lasagna, and they all tasted GREAT! The girls all seemed to enjoy themselves, got along well, and never once complained about being bored!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Margaret had a homework assignment to make a campaign poster for class president. They aren't really having an election, but they were learning about campaigns and the importance of a good campaign slogan and promises, etc... Margaret created this priceless treasure. We're definitely keeping this in case she runs for office one day.

In case you can't read it, it says:
Just M.A.D. about Margaret Allison Doyle!
I like Brussel Sprouts.
I like Home.
I like Tuck Everlasting.
I like pink, blue, purple, and green
I like GOD
I like the Beach across the street.
I like Target
----
I will pay your taxes!
I will have a day for children to come to the White House.


Not to be outdone, Caroline made a poster for the Great Strides charity walk that she and her Daisy troop are going to be supporting in a couple weeks. They're going to be at the 1/2 way point handing out water and snacks and cheering on the walkers. Caroline wanted to make this sign of encouragement to take that day.

Enjoying the sunshine!

The girls had a great time out in the sunshine this weekend. Starting on Friday evening, they ran through the sprinklers and played outside most of the weekend, with a few breaks for birthday parties and helping Mom shopping (and, oh yes, how could I forget, haircuts?!). Saturday morning we all went down to the beach for a lovely coffee/tea/hot chocolate hour. Jeff and I read the newspaper while Margaret and Caroline explored the beach. We even watched a family of deer wander down the creek to the mouth of the inlet. Very cool. Today the girls set up their art studio in the driveway and had some nice painting time. They didn't try to sell any of their masterpieces this time, like they have the last few times they've done their art outside...

Mother's Day

Gettin' everything ready, with a little help from Dad...

Breakfast in bed for ME!

SLEEPOVER!

A couple weekends ago, Margaret & Caroline's bestest buddy Chloe spent the night for their first sleepover here at the house. Margaret had stayed at Chloe's earlier this year, but this was their first time hosting a friend. They all had a blast, down at the beach, playing in the fort across the street in the park, having dinner together, and watching a movie. Surprisingly, they didn't try to keep us up all night. It went so well that we're all really looking forward to Memorial Day weekend when our family is going camping with Chloe's family up at Sequim Bay State Park. Here are a couple more pics from the sleepover.

Mother's Day Tea

Today was Mother's Day Tea at Caroline's kindergarten class. What a treat. The kids sang to us, served us strawberry shortcake, and presented us with special books, cards, and decorated flower pots.

The teachers read each student's book out loud while the Mom and child stood, revealing each kids' thoughts about:
their favorite thing about their Mother ("she always has hugs and kisses to give me"):
when their Mother looks prettiest ("when she wears her best outfit");
the funniest thing about their Mother ("she tickles me");
when they have fun together ("when she takes me to Baskin & Robbins");
what their Mothers like ("to give hugs and kisses");
what they don't like ("to yell at me or Margaret when we are being naughty");
their favorite TV show ("Sopranos");
what special thing they would give their Mother ("a hug and a kiss");
and what they would say "Thank You" to their Mommy for ("having me as a daughter").
As you might imagine, some of the responses were truly hilarious--like the kid who said his mom looked her prettiest when "she is going out to the bar."