Letting the Captions Say it All. . .

Blueberry Fields

Annamarie emptied out the berries to put the box on her head.  Typical Kid already!

Gigi leads the way

 

We found a nest in one of the berry bushes.  Amazing.  You can tell how tiny they were in comparison to the blueberries.





Carter is always up to something.





 "Popi's Boat"
an afternoon with the cousins

Annamarie's First Ride

sweet cousins

Travis, Tyler, and Camden... Popi wasn't easy on these kids!

Her favorite thing:  Waving



Gigi & Popi with the grandkids



 The Fair



Checking out the sheep

LOVE this picture of Carter.

 Washington Park

Travis and his mini-me Carter

First time on her own

Determined Tyler on a horse

 A Night in Seattle

visiting a lonely Aunt Janna (Zan's in England)



Anna discovered why her brothers love throwing rocks.  Aunt Janna had to keep piling them in front of her to toss.  The best was her proud chuckle after every throw.

Aunt Janna took us up to the house they just bought on the Sound.  We couldn't go in... but enjoyed the view.  Wow.  Very happy and excited for you guys!



That night Janna and I walked in to see the boys sleeping like so.  We separated and walked back in to find....

still touching.  Remind me of when they were infants and shared a crib.  All swaddled they got a hand free to reach out to the other.



The boys were AMAZED by the market.  All the fish- oh my.  Notice behind them the one being thrown.  Probably not a good idea to show them but we made it through with little damage down.



Then came "the shark" oh my.  People gathered around to watch these two- they kept going up to pet it and the fisherman behind the counter pulled a string to make it move.  I even screamed the first time.  a sight.




Off to the Aquarium!





Aunt Janna with Carter (left) & Tyler (right)




classic.
(Tyler is the octopus)



Carter and the Octopus

 Gigi's with Cousins

I don't know why but it's "Gigi's House" and "Popi's Boat"

Lani, Anna, Carter, Holden, Camden & Tyler

Gigi pushing Carter on the swing- they love it cause she pushes HIGH!

They all took turns on the swing.  Here are the other three as Gigi was pushing Tyler.  They cheered her on screaming and dancing yelling "Go Tyler" over and over again.  They enjoy each other too much.

This ends in a big dogpile of course



Carter in Blue / Tyler in Orange



 And then there's Anna 

She has turned into such a blankie girl.  it has to go everywhere with her.  I can barely sneak it to wash it.



Convinced she's a big girl- she now gets in the chair and colors with the boys.



Quote of the Night

After a story and prayers tonight in bed, I was sitting with Tyler "petting his head" to sleep and he says:

"Mama, can I have a hug . . . and some chicken?"

The boy loves chicken.

A Perfect Morning

Everyday I need to get out of the house with the kids.  It's a must.  Not just for them- but for me. . . but truth be told, it doesn't always go well.  And I always get looks from people, cause to say the least- we are kind of a circus.  But this morning is one of those that leaves me with a smile- just feeling so lucky.

It was simple.  We got in the car with nowhere to go.  The usual.  And I left it up to two toddlers.  So of course it was the patented "OH Please Mama" that Carter always says (it's that "oh" part that always gets me) that makes me give into the request for the zoo.  I bit my nails the whole way there wondering how this was going to go... and sit smiling now (after petting each of their heads asleep for a nap- again another just wonderful moment) to say it was a perfect morning. I loved it.

Sitting enjoying some lunch  (Tyler/Red Carter/Navy) and NO, I did not realize I put all my kids in stripes till I got the camera out.

 

Carter sat forever with the same goat.   Adorable.



Anna's first time seeing the sea lion up close.  They are gorgeous.

Who does he look like? (minus the graham cracker) . . . I just can't nail it but this picture so reminds me of someone!

They screamed like girls then laughed every time the sea lion came around and up close to them. 

Sharing Fizzy Water.  Why are they holding hands?  No idea, but it was cute!

We sat with the crocodile (one of the boys' FAVORITE animals) for over a half hour.  No joke.

She was nervous about touching the goats so she just walked up to all of them and started talking her little language to them.

We had a beautiful visit with Great-Grandma a couple weeks ago.  She is truly a remarkable lady.  The boys were in heaven with the animals, and Anna and Grandma shared some sweet giggles and smiles.

On Great-Grandma's porch.  Tyler on left/Carter right

Looking like a natural.

The 4th

As always- a fun and crazy 4th at the family and friends this past weekend.  

Everyone loves a Popi ride

Tyler

Exploring the caves

 



Gigi and Carter at the bonfire

Waiting for the Parade (Tyler Left)

Let's Get this Thing Started!!



Tyler



Gigi and Tyler proud of their castle

4th night at our neighborhood firework party

Strawberries, Swimming and Shiners . .. Oh My!

A month of firsts for The Mack Pack.  We have spent many mornings in the strawberry fields picking our desserts, the boys started their first swimming class, and Annamarie got her first shiner (from the coffee table-not the boys thank goodness).  Here are the classic pictures of the month:

not looking too bad- but the black eye hung around over a week poor thing.

First Strawberries and the boys screaming that they want one- as I tell them "not till I get a good pic" . . . if I did you would be seeing it :)

If only "Crocodile Rock" was blaring in the background this picture would have been complete. (Tyler)

 

Annamarie's first time at the "Fountains" loving her outfit.  She is seriously too funny.



Carter at Very First Swim Lesson



Too cute of my Tyler