Everything Austen

Click on this cute little pic to find out about a fun Austen Challenge at:

Stephanie's Written Word

To participate not only do I link her to my blog, but I commit to doing 6 Austen related things in the next 6 months. (click on the colored/big words for more info;)

This is my plan:

• Read Emma - I've never read this before so I'm really enjoying this right now :)


• Watch Emma - I'll probably watch the Gweneth Paltrow version as this is the version that's playing in my head as I read the book. I'm forcing myself to NOT WATCH IT until I finish the book.


• I also want to watch Clueless. I've seen this movie a few times before. Just a few months back I caught part of it and I realized - "Hey That's EMMA!" So I want to watch it after I finish the book.


• Read The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love. I interrupted my Emma read for this book. I read it Monday and Tuesday this week. It's a Young Adult book so it was a really easy read. Cute and fun. I had a hard time not picturing the sisters in their Austen era gowns and houses though.


• Watch Pride and Prejudice - This is always and all time favorite. Five hours with Colin Firth?? What's not to love. (even if... or should I say especially if... you know what movie I'm talking about you're going to want to click on my P&P link!)


• Read Pride, Prejudice and Zombies - This is so intriguing to me! I love the idea of a rewrite with zombies! Who woulda thunk it?

I think think it'll be a lot of fun and great excuse to get to do some reading and watching of Austen Stuff.

I learned about this challenge through my sisters blog: The Little White Attic. Who is a great Austen afficianado and will be hosting her own blog giveaway on Friday so you better go check her out.

Weekend of FUN

We had a great time this Fourth of July weekend. With relatives visiting from Utah there were plenty of cousins and craziness.

Here are the little ones settling down for a movie after playing outside in the sun.

We went to Pike Street and fought the crowds at the Farmers Market. Lucky for me Josie fell asleep in her stroller and slept through this madness.

Reese loves feeling grown-up and was always curious about where we were on the map. Here we're waiting for our turn on the monorail.

Our 4th of July party was a blast - as always. The boys start the day with a trip to the reservation to get fireworks. Then we all gather at my sister's house and watch with amazement while sheilding our eyes from falling ash.

Josie was scared of the fireworks, but soon she stopped shaking with fear and was content just to NOT leave our laps.

Mom = Boss

I love summer. I love the freedom in my schedule. I love the sun and playing in the water. I love it all.

Yet...
I was not looking forward to the kids coming in and out with a horde of friends and me left cleaning up their messes.



I decided I was going to get more control.... because I am the boss after all.

Summer rules:
At least 1 job everyday (kitchen, living rooms, etc...)
Clean room every morning including make bed
Get laundry ready for wash
Read every day
Math practice every day
No friends before 10 a.m.
No friends before jobs listed above are done



This has REALLY helped! Every morning the downstairs is looking pretty good. The morning can start to seem pretty long when friends start coming to the house at 8:30 a.m. That frustration is gone. Last summer, my kids really lost some of their mathematical facts when school started again...I refuse to let that happen this year. They're learning responsibility and time management. So far it's working out great!


One thing I haven't figured out yet is sleepovers. I haven't let them have them yet. I told them summer just started and I wasn't ready. So I've got to figure out my rules for sleepovers and then I'll let them have some.

They're pretty good at getting it done. But I find they work the best when I give them this list like this one. I've started making myself these and the boxes bring a smile to my face every time I check something off. And what is really great is sometimes I'll do my run in the morning with Josie and give Ash and Reese their lists. Then when I come home, their jobs are done, they're happy and ready to call friends and go play for the day!

I luv being the boss!

A weekend away from home :)

We spent this Father's Day weekend in Spokane. I'd only briefly stayed there before and didn't see any of the sights. So I was excited about this trip and getting to play. We visited Rich's dad who lives in Couer d'Alene and my sister who lives in Spokane.

We visited Riverfront Park where we played on the giant wagon, rode the gondola, and fed the ducks.

Josie was nervous about the gondola ride at first. This picture is of her taking shelter in her dad's arms while trying not to see too much of what's outside the gondola. She soon got over it and had a great time pointing at the water.




More pictures on the gondola.

We had Father's Day brunch at the Davenport Hotel in the Isabella ballroom. It was so beautiful and so delicious. The girls spent most of their time dipping fruit and marshmallows in the giant chocolate fountain.

These blocks are also at Riverfront park.

The Davenport Hotel was lavishly built in 1914 and is amazing to see. We stayed in the new Davenport Hotel Tower which was very nice, and still fancy enough that Reese cried when it was time to leave. (Since we've been home she has been paying Rich paperclips to be her servant.)

Rich and Ash at the Safari Grill in the Davenport Hotel Tower.

More pictures from our Hotel.

We had a great time and hope to go back soon!

AFV

Yesterday my girls were out on the playset playing America's Funniest Home Videos. This included falling down slides, flipping out of swings and falling off the rings. It also included bloodied knees for Reese and a black-eye for her best friend. Too bad I wasn't videoing.

Favorite t-shirts

I got a new t-shirt today...and it's the best kind. The kind you earn by doing a run. I did another 5k today. You can read about my last one here.

As you may know I've changed the way I eat and drink and am feeling a lot better than I did last October. I've lost 18lbs since then and shaved 8 minutes off my 5k time!

Although I find the 5k's fun, I'm doing them in preparation for my Sprint Triathlon. It's in August and I'm so so so excited about it! It's the Wunderwoman triathlon in Spokane. 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, 3 mile run.

Josie's Birthday

On Sunday, my little baby angel turned two! I can't believe how fast she's growing up.



Here she is just shortly after she was born held by a tired looking dad with Reese taking pictures. The girls had put present bows on her hat and blanket.



This was taken the morning after our Memorial Day campout. Rich had taken the grill shelf off the BBQ so he could get the pancakes going and Josie thought it was a seat.



The girls picked out this water mat for her birthday present. She was timid at first but soon was laughing and dancing in the water.

Happy Birthday Josie....I love you!