Kai's first day of kindergarten

We can't believe this day has finally come. It was a long wait for Kai.

I hope he is having as much fun as he anticipated. I can't wait to have him back and hear all about it.

Art

Asha has turned into our photographer. She takes the camera out to the yard and takes beautiful pictures of nature. She also takes a lot of pictures of me, which has been a different experience all together. I try to be accommodating and do my best at posing for her. It is only fare after all the modeling she has done for this blog.

We started getting raspberries this week. A handful a day and just enough to eat on the spot and enjoy. Asha took the following two pics.

Jerome, Asha, and Kai enjoyed a fun art camp in Moscow with cousins. Here is Jerome rinsing out the dye of the tie-dye shirts.

I am impressed at how pretty they turned out.

The summer fun continues.

Jerome's Birthday Party

This was the best birthday party, ever. Jerome planned and executed all the activities. He and Asha cleaned the whole house and decorated. Scott bought the pizza and I made the cake. Instead of running around, I really got to enjoy the party.

Here is Asha putting the last minute touches to the table. She worked so hard for her brother.

Everybody enjoying the food after a big water balloon fight in the yard.

The boys worked on one of the presents.

Niece Jennabee came and watched Quinn so I could enjoy the party. She is an angel sent from Heaven, and we love her.

Jerome is starting middle school in August. I feel old.

Summer, finally

The high is in the seventies, finally, and we are immersed in summer fun. Water park, pool, beach (Snake River), parks, sleepover, and a visit to the university creamery with cousins. Jerome and Asha have been working hard with house work and caring for the little boys to free up my time for such fun activities. It has been a blast.

I had never thought Kai and Quinn looked a like, until I saw this picture taken today.

Jerome, Asha, and Kai took swim lessons. It was Jerome and Asha's first time, and they loved it. Here is Kai with his instructor.

When an 11 year old has all afternoon to spend in the yard with his knife, this is what he comes up with. "Don't worry Mom. I only cut off the dead branches." he assures me.

Today was Jerome's 11th birthday. Since Scott is gone all week to Japan on business, we had the family celebration with Scott's side of the family last Sunday. Here he is with the big chocolate trifle I made.

Oops, wrong order. It took a while to light up all 11 candles.

I will try to take some pictures at the next water activity. I am usually busy chasing Quinn while making sure Kai is alive, so never remember to pull out the camera.

The reason I haven't been sewing was that...

I have been painting. There is no surface left of the old in the two kids' rooms. It took almost a month since my painting time was limited to nap time and late evenings. Kids taking turns getting sick didn't speed things up either.

The bed and side table came from Spokane via Craig's list, a great find.

This desk could also use a new coat of paint, but that has to wait for another Saturday.

I added a couple shelves for Asha's clothes and knick knacks.

Home projects

We had a productive Saturday. We planted 64 trees, 60 Thuja trees along the driveway, 3 apple trees in the front yard, and a maple tree in front of the house. Scott's dad and brother-in-law Bryan came to help us early in the morning, and it wasn't until after noon that they got all of them planted. What a job! We couldn't have done it without their help! Here are three pictures to show you the before and after. The car is Bryan's.

This is what happens to your spices when Scott takes charge of the kitchen. He didn't let me color coordinate them, either. They are alphabetized.

Scott also built a fence on the side of the house. I will report on that as soon as we clean up around it.

More pics from the reunion

No sewing around here nowadays. Just potty training and laundry.

I got some pictures from my brother's camera, so I am going to share a few with you.

The first is my parents with their 13 grandkids.

Front row left to right

Max(T4), Caryn(Y1), Erika(T1) with Maile(Y2) on her lap, Ison(Y3) on Grandma's lap, Quinn(M4) on Grandpa's lap, Emi(T2) with Kenji(T5) on her lap, Asha(M2), Sho(K1), and Ayumu(K2)

Back row left to right

Jerome(M1), Mia(T3), and Kai(M3),

My parents with the kids. Most of the time they were in the pool playing.

I wish I got a pictures of that.

Our vacation house had a nice grass yard, which led to this beach.

This year we tried dance night per kids' request. My dad out-danced all the kids.

The happiest kid on earth

Thank you, Mom and Dad for the best vacation!!