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.

Wedding Prep

On Saturday morning, several family members came over to the house were staying out to help us prepare the food for the wedding reception.  I'm so very thankful to have family who would help us out!

Deb teaching Kate how to cut celery.

Mandy washing cutting boards as we wrapped up.  Can you imagine cooking/cleaning with that view every day?

Julie, Aunt Diane, and Grandma Great chopping up fruits and veggies.

Heather pitching in to help out too!

Wedding Weekend

Today was the official start of the wedding weekend, where I whisk Mandy off her feet to a destination wedding on Orcas Island.  Mandy and I have known each other a little less than two years and now we’re going to get married.  We’ve both been somewhere like this before, but of course this time is different, and it is a new experience for Sean and Kate.  I am deeply in love with this woman.  I know I want to marry her, and it is a surreal feeling knowing it is going to happen in a just a few more days.

I have been off work since Tuesday afternoon finishing the last minute details, but the morning was still a mad dash to get everything packed while Sean and Kate were at school.  Mandy borrowed her friend Lynn’s minivan and we managed to pack it to the ceiling leaving little room for little people with all the food, wine, decorations, clothes, sleeping bags, stuffed animals and other paraphernalia necessary for an up and coming family of four and 80 or so party guests.

One of the items we left behind

Mandy and I picked Sean and Kate up at school at around one o’clock and headed for Anacortes.

Sean and Kate packed in the car.

We were hoping to catch the 3:40 p.m. ferry, but it was not to be, at least for me.  Memorial Day travelers backed well up the hill from the ferry dock, so Mandy, Sean and Kate hiked down to meet Mandy’s Dad (Papa Dave to the kids) while I stayed with the car and waited for the 6:30 p.m. ferry.  I used my extra time to make some calls to Chris Hays, my best man, and a few brothers, who were planning on coming up Saturday morning.  Mandy and the kids got to spend their afternoon at the house where the Carrolls, Rydmans, and Mitchells were staying for the weekend.

Kate enjoying a little quiet time 

 Sean and Kate hamming it up for the camera

 Sean, Kate and Mitch on the porch swing

It was approaching dusk when I reached the island and made my way to pick up Mandy and the kids.  The driveway to the house where the Carrolls, Rydmans, and Mitchells were staying was steep and the heavily laden front-wheel-drive minivan would not make it up the hill.  Tired, distracted, or just inept, I managed to back myself too close to a tree.  I was stuck.  Fortunately for me, a plethora of Mandy’s relatives were there to help.  Cyndie and Steve Alto were right behind us with some snow chains, and Dave, Debbie, Bonnie, Joe, Jeff, Mandy and one rather surly (and unrelated) neighbor all helped to empty the minivan and get me towed out.  Yet again, on this night, I am so impressed with how kind Mandy’s family is in any situation.  Up at the house, I ate some dinner sitting next to Kate and talking with Julie, Bonnie, Joe and Jeff.  Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves.  These people will be my family soon, and I’m pretty happy about it.