Welcome Amy Grace

On August 8th, we welcomed Amy Grace into our family at long last.  She was born at 6:52pm at Providence in Everett, weighing in at 8lbs 6 oz and measuring 21 inches long.

We were admitted into the hospital very early that morning (about 4am, I think) and spent the day with Steve and Debbie encouraging Mandy through her labor process.  About 1pm, Mandy made the decision to get an epidural and by 2pm both Mandy and Steve were napping to recapture some strength for the final push.

After receiving the epidural, we started to see a few dips in the baby's heart rate, especially when the nurses tried to roll Mandy onto her left side to keep the epidural working effectively on both sides. Due to the dip, they started having Mandy wear an oxygen mask.

Debbie was starting to get anxious for Boo (the name we used for the baby before she was born) to make her grand arrival, so she staged this photo for us.

Because Amy had been overdue and the amniotic fluid had shown signs of meconium, the medical team included a NICU unit who would quickly care for Amy if there were any complications presenting at birth.  After about an hour of pushing, our little girl finally joined us.  She didn't cry right away, but once they got her a little cleaned up, she made her presence known and passed the rest of her tests with flying colors.

Welcome to the world, baby girl!

Christmas Party, by Sean

This Christmas season we whent to a Christmas party. It was so much fun. I had fun playing with the  cusons.and playing cards with grandma.I had so much fun getting to open and handout presents. I had  so much fun playing with Wiley and his stomp rockets. I had so much fun playing Fetch with OLLY. Wiley  and I took turns stomping and catching rockets. I had so much fun at the Christmas party and I even declared a  Mary christmas  and happy new Year toast.

Pumpkin Patch, by Sean

Today Mandy, Dad, Kate and I went to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins.  I scored points in the beanbag toss game and I felt great and awsome when I got my points and won a free pumpkin.

I saw a whole bunch of pumpkins to choose from. Some were big and some were small and some were totally green and some were squashes.

I saw a tracktor in a field.

I felt rilly awesome and I had tons of fun!!!!!!  It was rilly rilly awsome.  The lady at the counter remembered me from last time  It was rilly, rilly, rilly awsome!!!!!!  Tons and tons and tons of pumpkins!!!!!!

 

First Day of School

Sean and Kate started school on Tuesday, September 2nd this year.  Sean is entering 5th grade at Utsalady Elementary and his teach is named Mrs. Sarah Oldow.  Kate is starting at a new school for 3rd grade at Twin City Elementary.  Her teacher's name is Ms. Lynn Devora.  Before they left for school on the first day, I interviewed both kids about starting another year.

Sean's interview

What are you most excited about for 5th grade?

Well, I'm really excited that I get to be a representative for the kindergartners on how to behave at school.

What are you most nervous about for 5th grade?

Pretty much nothing, because I had a back to school bash and I have had plenty of time to practice it.  I am little nervous but not that nervous because I had time to practice it earlier.

What is your favorite subject at school?
Social studies because I get to learn about native Indians and how they did stuff back then.

What is your favorite free time activity?

My fave free time activity is playing multiplication war with my friends.

Who are you most excited to see at school?
I'm really excited to see Emma Floyd because she is my really good friend.

What new thing are you excited to learn this year?

I'm really excited to learn some more 5th grade math and reading and all of the back to school adventures that I'm going to have on the first day.

What are you going to tell people about how you spent your summer?

I'm going to tell them that we lit off floating lanterns and stuff.  And that we went to Spokane and how I had a picnic and cookout and mom's house all on one day.  I went to Grandma camp, which was bird themed.  I have a bird feeder to prove it and I went to the Audubon Society, which is a bird hospital.  Good thing they have the Audubon Society.

Kate's interview 

What are you most excited about for 3rd grade?

I am excited to meet new friends.  I have already met Willa and she will probably be a good friend.  And I am excited to learn new things in school.  And I am excited to have a nice teacher - Miss Devora.  She seems really nice.  And I am excited that Willa sits at my table and that Elias will be my partner. He lives in Thunder Ridge.

What are you most nervous about for 3rd grade?

Being in a new school and learning all the new ways because I don't know how it's going to work.  I don't even know if I can remember where my classroom is, so I will have to be with Noah and Matthew to find out.

What is your favorite subject at school?

Well...  I like a lot of things.  I like science, math, art, reading, and social studies.  I like doing math with calculators, and we have calculators, so I assume we are going to be doing some of that.

What is your favorite free time activity?

Drawing and coloring and writing stories.

Who are you most excited to see at school?

I've got a lot of friends. I know boys named Jonah and Dominick from HipHop and Ben and Kai from Josephine's.  And I know Noah and Matthew from last year in class.  And I met Willa at the open house.  And I am excited to meet Kamryn, the other girl that is my age.

What new thing are you excited to learn this year?

Well, I don't know what will new.  I am excited to be writing in a binder and working on a laptop.

What are you going to tell people about how you spent your summer?

I am going to tell them that I went to Spokane to visit my uncle John and I got to have a sleepover with my cousin Daylene and my second cousin Kaylene and my third cousin Claire.  Actually, my second cousin Claire.  She really is my third cousin, but people will think that I am doing it in order.  We went on lots of field trips to lots of interesting places.  And we got several cookouts and bbq's at my mom's house.  Bill's dad came over and so did Grandpa and JuJu.  Also I got to have some fun at my Dad's house, making lunches today, and I am excited for the first day of school.

Mariners game for Autism Speaks

We learned about a fundraiser for Autism Speaks that involved going to a Mariner's game, so we decided to jump right in.  We both tickets for all 4 of us and also invited Debbie and Dave to come too!

We had great seats for the game just above the outfield along the 1st base side.

Steve modeling the new hats we received as part of the fundraiser, while Kate enjoyed the baseball game.

Deb and Dave 

Sean modeling his noise cancelling headphones.  His shirt says "I'm just here for the pizza"

After the game, the kids had an opportunity to run around the bases.

Sean and Kate down on the field along the foul pole in right field.

Sean crossing home plate

Kate crossing home plate.

Lemonade Stand

Sean and Kate had wanted to have a lemonade stand since the previous summer.  On one summer day, the weather and our schedules combined to make it possible.  The kids set up on the corner of the road in front of our house, which sees a reasonable amount of traffic. 

How could you resist kids this cute?

They made $8.00 selling lemonade,

Note that they even provided helpful tips on where prospective clients could park.

Fathers Day Foot Golf

For Father's Day this year, Bonnie organized an outing of Foot Golf in Tacoma.  It was the first time we had ever heard of the sport, but everyone was game to try it.

Kate practicing her soccer skills in the parking lot before starting the golf round.

Sean finishing a practice pass in the parking lot.

Julie wanted to make certain that Molly want the "Most Fashionable Foot Golfer award"

Rachel and Kate practicing their "Putting" before starting to play for real

Aunt Mandy loves to practice upside down tickling with the Mitchell kids.

Molly decided to partner with Mimi for the back 9.

Mandy teeing off.

Wiley hit the wall before 18.

Right at the end of our round of Foot Golf, the skies opened up and we made a dash to get under cover.  Despite the rush to our cars, most of us were soaked through.  We went back to Bonnie and Joe's house to have lunch and find dry clothes.