Family Fun Center
Summer School Graduation
Many children spent their summer eating ice cream and playing in the sun, my children including my preschoolers, no. They spent 3 hours 2 days a week inside learning math, science and reading. They deserved an end of the year celebration before they started school again. We reached our reading for 1000 minutes goal and got prizes and certifications from the library. The preschoolers who are graduating preschool and going into Kindergarten got diplomas. The parents came for the ceremony and we had a potluck afterward. It was an emotional day for me as I lost 4 kids for preschool. With the baby being born soon I have to delay our preschool starting which is ok for most parents since we are an all year preschool. I made a yearbook composing of all the kids crafts for the parents to purchase (because honestly who kept all the crafts their kids did). I took pictures of their work and field trips and got enough for a 50 page year book. It will help me promote my preschool more. I am however trying to keep it to just close friends and neighbors so I'm not promoting it as much. It is inside our home in our bonus room so I have to keep it small. Maybe someday when we have enough saved up we could rent a place or build a school. It's a dream. I do have a website so check it out! http://www. tootletots.com/
Wild Waves Theme Park
Not that we can't do these things after school started but for the sake of enjoying our hot 80 degree and occasionally some days 90 degree weather, we went to an amusement park. Dan took my brother Mike on a 10 mile hike on the Iron Horse Trail and I took the girls to Wild Waves, Washington's biggest amusement park. We had so much fun. Reena who is tall enough to go on all the rides by herself did not feel like she was up for the big roller coaster rides but Debrie who was not tall enough really wanted to go. She is our roller coaster girl. We loved this waterpark/amusement theme park. The best part about it I think is that it's only 35 minutes from our house.
Photography
August is a big time for seasonal photographers like myself who only open up our business around this time for people and their Christmas cards pictures. I have many aspiring photographer friends that we've traded sessions with. I have never paid more than a small tip for these friends on our pictures the last several years since I picked up photography. This time my friend Aryn Dupree who is learning the art of photography asked if we could be models for her portfolio. We got dressed in what we were wearing that day for church (minus Dan) and went out for pictures. She did a great job and I enjoyed celebrating her birthday on the day of our pictures. The following week I did a session for Dave and Kim and their family as well. Theirs turned out SO CUTE!! You can see their pictures on my photography website. http://seastevensphotography.blogspot.com/
I loved August. It was so full of fun even for a pregnant woman. I did have a few contractions after the go cart racing but other than that this has been an amazing pregnancy. People tell me I should have more babies because I have it so easy. Well, we plan on it and hope that's what God has in plan for us, too. Just waiting for my sisters to catch up so I'm not the only one having babies in the family. It is fun to be pregnant and to watch a little life forming inside you and growing. It is truly a miracle. Every where I go people want to touch my belly and that's fun, too. If I go to the grocery store, people ask if I'm hiding a watermelon underneath my shirt. If I go to Reena's school people ask if I'm hiding a basketball underneath. I do think I carry this baby differently. He's all in the front and from the back you can't tell I'm pregnant. If I wear a tight shirt you can't tell I'm pregnant looking from the front either...until I turn to my side ;) Dan and the kids are counting down the days now. Just about 2 more weeks to go. Hopefully he won't be late. If he's anything like his sisters he will come a few days early, but hopefully not as fast as his sister Debrie. No more natural childbirth for me please.
