My First Grader

I almost screamed when I looked at this picture...How is it possible that I have such a big boy? Doesn't he look old? Today was Addison's first day of first grade. He was so excited to go back to school! Mr. O'Doughty is his teacher and Addison loves him already. Is it just me, or is it crazy that Addison has only had male teachers in his elementary career? Whatever it is, Addison loves it!

Another Room done....almost....

Kelly was in California training a new guy, so I thought I'd surprise him with a new bathroom!! (Okay let's be honest, it was all for me!) Anyway, I scoured my picture libraries hoping to find a picture of this room BEFORE it was beautiful, but no such luck! and why didn't I remember to take one for the before and after shots? I guess I had too much to think about playing single mom AND home-remodeler all at once! So, for those of you who never saw this bathroom, it had a sink that the Jr. High must have given away for free, leaky pipes, a dingy-off white paint on the walls (no bead-board of course!!), a towel bar that fell to the ground every time it was touched, and the UGLIEST light fixture I have ever seen! So now I love it- and I say it is done...almost...because I'd still like to do the floor; any more trips out-of-town babe?

This is the picture and saying I chose for the wall...I have to admit Addison and Laynie were bummed that it wasn't their face in the frame, but I just couldn't get over this smile!

Harvey Family Fun!

Don't you just LOVE Family reunions??!! Here is a picture of a lot (but not even close to all) of the Ron and Rose Harvey descendants. Ron and Rose are Kelly's mom's parents...and they had 7 kids! And all of their kids followed in their footsteps having 5-7 kids each of their own! and many of those kids have started having kids...wow, that's a lot of kids.

And here they are, Ron and Rose! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Harvey for being great examples and raising wonderful posterity!

Here is our little family at the family talent show...we are demonstrating how mom (me!) supports our family! Yeah, some families put a lot of effort into their talents...ours was a little last minute and only took 1-minute, but it was a hit!

Activities were plentiful at the Bear Paw Family Camp! Here is the marshmallow-pretzel tower building contest! You'll notice that Addison and Nate are together in this and every picture! They never left each other's sides!!

See what I mean? Here they are playing a little tennis with Awesome aunt Blayre!

We swam....if you can still call it swimming when you have a life-jacket AND an inter-tube.

And we... just teasing-

Hailey was obviously a little bored a that moment? Who nose? ha ha! (wow, I'm getting a little cheesy!)

This is how Kelly spent most of his time...are you just dying to see the footage of Harvey Family Fun??

We had a Wonderful time with countless cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. We can't wait for 2011!

Thirty-one and Six!

August First is a big day at the Ditto house! Addison and I BOTH celebrate our birthdays! and celebrate we did this year!! Addison told me that his party was "the best party of his whole life!" and my day also ranks right up there as one of the BEST birthdays of my life! (that says a little more than Addison, since I have a few years on him!!)

We painted this sheet to hang up at Addison's party-the kids loved this project and I think it turned out pretty cute.

Addison really was a great birthday present for me those 6 SHORT years ago! I can't believe he's getting so big!

BTW- Thanks to my dad for taking most all of these pictures! My parents and sister Emily drove from Seattle to Spokane to be with Addison and me on our birthdays! THANKS guys!!

Even though it wasn't Hailey's birthday, she had a great time too- She went swimming with the kids in the kiddie pool (we HAD to do something to cool off, it was 100 degrees that day!) and she loved all the balloons, attention, and especially the cupcakes!

Doesn't Kelly look GREAT in an apron!! I really think he should try it on more often! Kelly mastered the BBQ at the party and did a terrific job!

The old 'sprinkler under the trampoline' trick...another attempt at staying cool on such a HOT day!

Addison asked for Batman cupcakes, so even though they are not really the caliber of cake that I love to try out (okay, they're just plain boring!) They made him happy, so that's all that matters!

Addison got quite a few presents (which he informed me is his favorite part about birthdays)- his favorite present was a robot from mom and dad...sometimes I think dad thought the present was for him though! He has had just as much fun with it as Addison has!

A few days before Addison's birthday he said "Mom, do you know what I really want for my birthday?"

"No, What?" (fully expecting the an answer like 'Backugan' or Spiderman' etc.

The answer: "A card full of dollars!"

Wow, that's what I would want too buddy!

Incidentally, the next day his Primary teacher sent him a birthday card with $1 bill inside. Addison danced around the house for a long time chanting "It's just what I've always wanted!!!"

UP, UP, and AWAY!

Kelly TOTALLY surprised me on the morning of my birthday and took me flying!! He met a SUPER nice couple through work who have their own plane, so he arranged with them for a beautiful flight over Spokane and Coeur d'Alane!!

I sat in the driver's seat and I FLEW the plane!! and I LOVED IT! so, when we're rich and I get my pilot's license, I'll take everyone for a ride on their birthday!

This was my view as we flew over Lake Coeur d'Alane! and I thought we were just "going out to breakfast" (what Kelly told me...) He scores MAJOR points for this surprise, not only was I TOTALLY surprised, but it was a wonderful experience and will be such a fun memory!

I also got my hair cut that day, AND Kelly got me an ice-cream cake!! So, what could've been better? I can't think of anything!! (Okay, maybe if like ALL the people I love were there to celebrate with us...but we did have quite a few!)

Now that Addison is six, he can do scary things like jump off the high dock at the cabin and swim under water! He is loving chapter books lately- in fact Aunt Emily gave him the Chronicles of Narnia for his birthday, and he's super excited to start that one...(we'll see how that goes, it might have to wait a couple more years). We love you Addison and are so proud of you! Thank you for being a sweet brother and wonderful son!

Laynie had a rough day on Addison's birthday because it wasn't HER birthday! With every present, balloon, and cupcake her pout was a little more dramatic- but hey, December is just right around the corner! Laynie is signed up for a ballet class in the fall, but we have yet to find a preschool! Ahh! I need a miracle for that one to work out!

Hailey is a full-fledged walker lately! She cruises, and it still catches me off guard how fast she can get into trouble! She loves to talk and sing. I was trying to teach Primary on Sunday and Hailey was there with me "singing" her part of the lesson- LA, LA, LA!!! The kids loved it; me not so much. I know I have always written or talked about how silly my babies are, but Hailey takes the cake! She is sillier than anyone...so silly that she laughs at herself! But we sure LOVE her cute personality and the way she makes us all laugh!