Cecile's Epic Garden Party

We so love the neighborhood we live in. It's walkable. It's safe. And the neighbors are great! We have multiple playmates in the neighborhood now. Our next door neighbor (literally, next door ... we the fence tree line with her) is extremely kind and social.

Every year, she hosts an epic blow out party. Every other year, it's a themed party. Last year, the theme was 'Mad Hatter' so everyone came with insanely creative hats. This year, it was an off year so no theme - just cute clothes. The kiddos look forward to her party every year because, in addition to amazing catering complete with waiters, she always puts out a dance floor with a DJ so the kids can dance the night away. 

For Chris and I, we love the opportunity to have a fancy semi-date night while the kids run around with the other neighborhood kids, staying safe and within eyesight, while we have conversations that last longer than two sentences. It's a win-win and we're so thankful that Cecile does this party every year to encourage community and conversation. 

Fishing for Bass on Lake Samish

It's summer which means all of our free time is spent on Lake Samish. And our dock is a mecca for fish. So, what's a family to do?! We learn to fish! 

Yay! Jamisen caught his first fish of the season, all thanks to a very pro bass fisherman. One of our dear friends and Erik's friend, Tag, also gifted the children with their own fishing poles. It was QUITE a reel-in experience and the kids loved learning to fish. Lily was right in there, getting her own fish and gamely trying to reel it in before requesting help.

Lily is *so* funny. She is my late night gal - she stays up late and sleeps in. This is a problem during the school year but not during the summer. I've taken to mostly just corralling her in her room and calling it good, figuring that she'll scramble into bed when she gets tired. She talks to herself, sings to herself and 'reads' to herself, telling herself fantastical stories, better than anything in her books. This usually works and I find her, conked out, with a variety of toys, books, stuffed animals and random household things strewn about her bed. I take them all out, cover her up, turn off her light and partially shut the door. Tonight, I tried to short cut the process and load her into bed with a variety of everything she might need to keep herself occupied, including four books. As I left the room, she dropped the books neatly beside her bed stating, "Mommy! You know I can't read!"

Last night, Chris was gone so Lily conned herself into sleeping in my big bed in the master bedroom. Um ... I pity the partner she eventually ends up with because she talks in her sleep, she sings in her sleep, she moves around (a lot!) and, when I told her Dad all of this this morning, he added in that Lily also grinds her teeth. Winner winner chicken dinner for that girl (yikes! let's hope she grows out of these sleeping habits).