Summer's End

Labor Day was chilly and felt just like a fall day in Spokane, so I guess it really did mark the end of summer...which is kind of lame since we really only had 2 warm months- no one's garden did very well this year- but on the up side, we didn't melt with heat in our non-air conditioned house, and we didn't spend a million dollars going to the pool...so I won't complain any more!

We took Nana and Papa to Greenbluff on Labor Day and found a farm that had a late crop of raspberries!!! So Yummy! Laynie was my best picker!

Addison was my best eater...





Then we walked over to the peach orchard and picked there...right before this picture Laynie held 2 peaches up right at her chest and said "Look! 2 big ones!" Kelly and I thought that was pretty funny...

These peaches were SO good! I made freezer jam, cut a bunch up and froze them for smoothies, and peach crepes for breakfast. Delish!

See what I mean? Delicious!

Then we played at the farm's park area...yeah, I've still got it!

Underdog daddy!!!

Papa's got it too...

And Kelly....

And Addison!!

Even Hailey had a fun turn on the bar!

And then it was off to Pig Out in the Park at River Front park! We actually ate some lunch too, not just ice cream!

But faces with ice cream on them are much cuter than faces with lunch all over them...Hailey has both :)

Kelly tried to eat the clock tower for lunch!

And of course we played on the big red wagon!

Thanks for coming mom and dad! It made Labor Day so fun!! We love you!!!!

I HEART SEATTLE!!

This post is way late, I know...but just for the record, WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME IN SEATTLE! We spent the first day downtown, eating fish & chips, visiting Pike Place, and relishing all the memories that are always abundant when I visit my home :)

Pike Place is a difficult place to keep track of 5 children, thank goodness for some extra sets of hands and eyes!

(The afore mentioned hands and eyes) Casey and Katalyn were the life of the party...and certainly the favorite aunt and uncle that day!

Dear Fish and Chips on the waterfront: I love you.

Ferry boat.

Emily's girls-camp tiara really made this outfit, don't ya think?

Okay, on to our 2nd day...the beach!!! and not only did the kids get to play and hang out with their cousins, I got to see Jaime!! YAY!! It was so good to see you Jaims! Hopefully every summer will bring us to Sea-town at the same time!

Laynie and Ella's favorite game: roll in the sand, then wash off in the waves!

I had to put this one in cause Aunt Becca was so impressed with Addison's throwing arm! His rock went farther than hers every time! Time to sign him up for baseball I guess!

Day 3 = Seattle Science Center!! It's fun to go to a place you haven't been to for 20+ years and realize, it's almost exactly the same!!

Addison trying uncle Bill's hat on...

The crazy mirror...

The touching tide pool...

The N.A.S.T.Y. Madagascan cockroach...yeah, Hailey HELD it!

Laynie on top of a...giant grub? larva? not sure really.

Yes people that's me, like 100 feet in the air on a weighted bike! sweet ride!

Hailey fitting in the circus box.

It's a little tighter squeeze for mommy.

And the famous fountain...we when first sat down the fountain action was coordinating with Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit"- so Seattle!

60 Years and counting...

My Papa Bob and Grandma Lucy just celebrated 60 years of married bliss! and nearly everyone one of their posterity was there to party with them! Of course Lake Cavanaugh was the venue...did you ever think we'd fit almost 45 people in there? we did.

We played partied hard, ate too much, played minute-to-win-it, swam, skied, bingo-ed, hot-tubbed, etc. It was SO FUN!!
A little Pajama-beach-marshmallow-roasting session was definitely in order...

With a view like this makes it even better!

Addison loving the lake!

and he loves his Aunt Mimi!

Making scones for breakfast- SO YUMMY!

And a little jog with my sistas!

Of course Kelly enjoyed a lot of this...

And he also (shock) enjoyed Hunger Games!! (I made him read it)

P.S. I finished Mocking Jay yesterday...what did you think? I was slightly disappointed, but I guess that's because I'm such a happy-ending type of girl.

The whole Hickman clan! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for such a wonderful legacy! I love you!!

CELEBRATION TIME ...come on!!

Here is my big 7-year-old right before his party- in fact he instructed my dad to take this picture... Again, a big thanks to Steve, the best neighbor ever, for constructing the lovely blue-tarp canopy...I thought we'd need it for shade, which we did, but it also came in handy when Addison was opening up presents and the sky decide to open up too, dumping rain for a good 15 minutes...but thanks to Steve, we all stayed dry, happy, and OUTSIDE!

Addison was dying for a pinata this year, but I was dying when I saw the price! So, Aunt Mimi and I tried our hand at paper mache! It didn't work so well for our first 2 attempts, but the 3rd time's a charm! The kids painted and decorated it, and Kelly strung it for the kids to hit...

And hit it they did!, or should I say hit it HE did...Addison was the only one who got to swing at it before it broke and the pandemonium began!

This was the best I could come up with for a "Lego Cake" also at Addison's request.

How did he get to be 7 already?? and SO handsome!

After opening these legos up, he promptly disappeared into his room for at least an hour building this contraption...

Only later did he discover that some of his other presents are also fun!

I got pink toes for my birthday! (the other ones are Mary's)

And I also got to eat my favorite meal CAFE RIO PORK, or if you live at our house and are trying to get the kids to eat, you call it Root Beer meat. Such a yummy dinner was followed by an even yummier cake- Chocolate Ganache SO DELICIOUS! Thanks Deena!

And so many kids for share my birthday with!

Like Happy Henry,

teenage Laynie, (what is she even doing?)

And the whole group doing the traditional Ditto leaf throwing ritual-

JUST KIDDING, there are really no rituals in the Ditto family, but doesn't it look like it could be?