We love Grandma & Poppa Dick

Thank you for letting us come down to visit! :)

We love you!

Special time with Grandma & Poppa Dick

My beautiful family!

We were very fortunate to be able to spend a week with my mom and Dick. The kids (especially me) love to visit them! Grandma (aka my mom) loves to spoil the kids and always has her cupboards stocked with their favorite things! She's great about keeping them occupied by playing games with them. Each of the kids had special one-on-one time with either Grandma or Poppa Dick. The kids love to play poker with Grandma. Even Carter played cards with her...Old Maid & Go fish. Poppa Dick is tumbling some of Ayodele's special rocks he found on a hike at Red Rock in Las Vegas, so he spent a lot of time with Poppa looking for new rocks and examining his new shiny rocks.

When we weren't playing games inside because of the weather, we were either at the beach or at the pool! They took us to three different beaches while we were there. The beach by their house is fun because we can walk to it and play for as long as we want! We went to another beach with beautiful tide pools. We saw lots of crab, sea anemone & even sea lions. The last beach we went to the kids had fun digging big holes in the sand and playing football.

The kids had a great time! Thank you Grandma & Poppa!

Our princess, Sade!

Ayodele loved spashing in the waves!

Derek & Sade... friends at last?!?

Crab in the tide pools...

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a terrific Independence Day! We got a late start in the morning since we spent the night before waiting at BOOM CITY for their HUGE firework display that ended up starting at 1am. It certainly was worth the wait, but boy were we tired!

The morning started with fireworks! Yes, the kids lit several fireworks even before breakfast was eaten! Dele had to DJ a party in the afternoon so I asked him to do all of the fireworks that I (as an overprotective mom) would not like to do alone if he were to not make it back from the party. The boys thought it was great! I distracted myself by going to help Heather, my cousin, set up chairs for the parade downtown Arlington. It was so weird driving down the main street lined with hundreds of empty chairs waiting for the parade - ours being among them!

After we finished our first round of fireworks and got everyone ready, we headed over to my cousin's house for a BBQ. We had such a great afternoon visiting, eating and watching the kids play on their huge water slide! Dele was with us for a while before he had to leave for his party.

The kids had a terrific time sliding down the gigantic water slide! It was very fun watching all of the cousins play together!

After a wonderful BBQ, we all headed downtown to the parade. It's been a long time since we've been to a parade and how much fun we had!!! The kids weren't so sure, but once the candy started being thrown at them, they decided parades were pretty fun!!!

Derek is hoping to make the football team this upcoming year in Arlington. He's been going to the weight room twice a week to lift and play some ball with the others. Last Thursday, they asked for volunteers for the parade and he didn't sign up. As the float rolled by, the guys recognized Derek and hollered at him to jump on the float with them! Wow... who would've guessed I'd have an Eagle in my house?

After the parade we went home to finish our fireworks. Derek had gone to BOOM CITY with Jeff and got a huge amount of very big fireworks! He could hardly contain his excitement! He put on quite the show for us. The kids did some sparklers and I tried to remain calm so I could enjoy the show!

The beautiful sunset from our neighborhood definitely helped keep me calm and enjoy the evening! Thank you, Derek, for a great fireworks display! It was awesome!

Another Day at the Stilly

We spent another fun day at the river on Wednesday! This time Jeff joined us! We took a lunch and lots of snacks and spent almost the entire afternoon enjoying the sun and water! Kayode loved swimming in the pool of water we found!
Sade played with the boys, looked for periwinkles and just enjoyed being outside!

Ayodele decided to get as wet as he possibly could! He took the buckets they were using for collecting rocks and critters and dumped bucket after bucket of water over his head!

Today Dele and I took the kids down to the Stillaguamish River to hang out and play. We found the most perfect place. We had to cross the river a little, but we ended up on a bank in the middle with a pool of water just about 2 feet deep for the kids to swim and splash around in! They could swim, splash, collect tadpoles or baby fish (not sure which) and crawdads! How fun! :) Derek and I went to the other side of the bank and skipped rocks and had rock throwing contests. Basically, we were the only ones there and it was terrific! The kids can't wait to go back. I think we'll be going again Wednesday... something to look forward too!

Gosh... so many things have happened...

I cannot believe it's been over a month since I have last written something here or left pictures memories to go back and see. I need to improve in this area, as I so enjoy going back and looking at pictures of things we've done. Even if this whole blog ends up being only for me, I love it still the same. Hopefully others are enjoying the pics of the family and all that we're up to!

Let's start with the very beginning... we did indeed move! We moved into the very best house on the block! We're living with Jeff & Carter and there is still enough room for the big kids to have their own rooms! This is our new house!

Dele arrived a few days after we moved in and he loves it just as much as we all did! The house is still not as I'd like it, but I try to remind myself that settling in takes time! The best thing about it is that the kids are constantly outside playing! We live on a coul-de-sac and there are tons of neighborhood kids. They are always running around, riding their bikes and playing on the play set in the backyard!

There's even a basketball hoop out front that Dele and Derek play on quite frequently! Derek really wants to make the team this year, so Dele's trying to prepare him! Here's a few pics of them playing ball... they (especially Derek) don't like it when I'm taking pictures of them... they say it's distracting! Whatever!

The kids seem to be adjusting to being in Arlington all right! Ayodele was placed in a "Continuous Progress" class with a teacher that my dad hired when he was a Principal in Arlington so many years ago. It's a great program and it means Dele will be in the same class next year with the same kids and same expectations. He's made some great friends already and loves his class. They did a really cool Solar System program at the end of the year! Dele did a great job and even learned most of the songs! Dele's peeking behind the boy in front with the red/white striped shirt... :)

Sade actually loves her school. The first time since Elementary School!!! She's going to try out for the Volleyball team, maybe Cross Country and the Jazz Choir next year! She's going to be very busy, I just know it! The choir did a concert the last week of school and it was fun for me to be back in Arlington at a school concert! The Jazz was great! (Sade's in the 4th row, 2nd person from the right)

Oh... forgot to mention my birthday! Probably the best one in years!!! Not only were we in a beautiful home with my husband and kids, but my mom, Dick and my grandma surprised me by being here after work! They made me a wonderful steak dinner and bought my favorite Chocolate Mousse Royale Birthday Cake from Baskin & Robbins! Yummy!!! Dele even cut me some beautiful roses from out garden!!! (They're a little wilted because I forgot to take a picture on my birthday! Oops!)

I finished my long-term sub job in Marysville teaching Music on the 16th of June and Derek's last day was the same day! I'm so thankful I had a job while I did, but hope and pray that something good comes up for next year! Since I was already out of school, Dele and I helped with Ayodele's Field Day which was the 17th... his last day of school. We all walked up to the school and helped for a while, then got to spend the rest of the time with Ayodele so he and Kayode could play games! What fun we had!

Derek's ready to go to Arlington. He's been going to weight lifting twice a week for football all ready! Wednesday he got his Driver's Permit, so watch out world... Derek's driving! I took him out yesterday and had to dig my nails out of the side of the car... today was MUCH BETTER!!! I even let him drive me to Haggen to get a treat! :)

The last thing and then we'll be all caught up for now... today Dele woke up and took us all Strawberry picking! Too much fun! The kids ate more than they picked, but we did get almost 10 pounds of berries! Yummy! Of course, they're almost all gone all ready! I guess we'll just have to go again! :) We're counting the days until we can go blueberry picking... that's our favorite!!!

Summer's here and the kids are loving it in Arlington!!! What more could we ask? Until the next time...

We Are Moving!!!!

WE ARE MOVING!!!!!

Finally!

About 2 weeks ago we found "The perfect house!!!"

Called the owner, went and looked at fore said "Perfect House."

Fell in love with house!

Called Dele and told him we had the perfect house!

Filled out all required paperwork and waited...

and waited...

Got the phone call that we got the house!

YEAH!! YEAH!! YEAH!!

Called Dele to tell him we got the perfect house!

Dele ready to leave Las Vegas!!!

Dele can't leave Las Vegas because car carrier not available.

Waiting!

Owner wants to meet Dele before he gives us keys!

Still waiting...

Dele gets carrier, loads truck, loads car onto carrier...

Car too big for carrier!

UGH!!!

Owner wondering when we're moving!

Still fixing things in the house!

Dele finds auto transport for car...

Waiting...

Owner decides to have us sign lease without Dele for now.

Jeff picks up lease and returns signed lease next day!

Auto transport falls through...

Dele still in Vegas!

UGH!!!

Waiting!

Jeff & I go to the perfect house today to get keys and do walk through!

Still waiting for Dele!

Moving Jeff's stuff today!

Hoping Dele will be here soon!

Missing Dele very much!!!

The good in all of this... "It's the PERFECT HOUSE!!!"

Lots of space and lots of bedrooms!

Oh, did I say lots of space?

(Will post pictures soon!)

Kitten update...

Meet Squeaky! He is adorable! He loves to play with my hair & settle down right up next to it on my shoulder. He and Spike chase each other all evening long... they're just funny to watch! He has the most beautiful turquoise blue eyes. At this time, Squeaky is still looking for a new home!

This is Spike! He, too,
is quite rambunctious! He has beautiful blue eyes! He loves to play with Squeaky and cuddle up with you when he's tired! Spike and Squishy are going to go home together!

This is Squishy. She was named Squishy because when she was born, her faced looked like it was squished in and her nose was flat, not pointy like the other kitties. It was how we told the white kittens apart. Now, she's become the most beautiful kitten of all... she looks just like her mommy, Mayleen did when we got her! Squishy loves her mommy, but because we're not sure if she uses the litter consistently, we had to find her a new home! Squishy loves to sleep with the kids, so she will be greatly missed!

Minnie... the kitty we planned on keeping all along!
Is going to a new home. She's going to live with an old High School friend of mine! :) She doesn't use the litter box, and with us going to a new home, we can't afford to take her with us... so... my wonderful friend is willing to train her and take her! How lucky she is to have a wonderful new family!

Midnight and MJ are the lucky ones who get to stay with us and their mommy! (As long as daddy agrees to keeping 2 kittens!) Both kittens are fluffy balls and fun! They love to chase each other up and down the stairs and then they'll cuddle up to each other when they're done! They are so cute! I just hope we don't have too much cat hair all over the house since they're so fluffy!

We love our kitties and hope their new families love them just as much!!!

Sade's first Track Meet!

Around the corner she sneaks into 1st...
What great form...

All the way to the finish line!!!!!

Sade had her first track meet last week in Lake Stevens. I wasn't planning on going, but then at last minute decided I'd go watch her run. Unfortunately I only got to see her run the 200m dash, but lucky for me, I got to see her win 1st place in her heat! Sade ran the 100m and the 110m hurdles before I even got to the meet. She was 7th in the 100m and 4th in the hurdles. Way to go, SADE!!!