Summer Arrives in Washington

It has been kind of strange coming from Louisiana, where it felt like the middle of summer, to Washington, where summer hadn't even started yet! I was getting kind of worried until I realized that summer hadn't officially started yet. We had a few nice days, but still chilly enough to need a sweatshirt in the mornings, especially since Ethan spends so much time outside with his "Papa".

Grandpa and Ethan both share a love for popcorn, so Grandpa decided to pull out the popcorn popper and show him how to REALLY make popcorn!

Ethan loves to help with watering the plants in the yard every day. He even takes a little sip himself while he's at it! Nothing says summer like drinking straight from the hose.

The arrival of summer also brought the Kowallis family reunion (Tristan's mom's side of the family). We had a great time playing outside and spending time with family. It didn't feel like summer, but the weather wasn't bad.

Cousins playing in the sand box
This truck actually belonged to Tristan when he was little and Ethan played with it almost the whole time!
I can't get this picture to turn around, but it was just too good to not post it. When we left the reunion one day to come back for a nap, I handed Ethan a cookie. When we got home (about a 10 minute drive) this is how I found him in the back of the truck...I guess all the action from the reunion and all the playing with cousins wore him out!!

The last night of the reunion we had a luau to kick off summer. There were tons of fun activities for all the kids including this sawdust treasure hunt and minute to win it for the older kids.

In the last week or so the weather has really gotten nice. I find it funny that I have flip flop lines on my feet for the first time in years and I've been living in Louisiana where it's so hot for the last 4 years. It took coming home to Washington for a month to get the tan lines. We love the weather, and while others are sweating, we are enjoying it lots!!!

One morning when we were out playing in the backyard Ethan decided he wanted his lawn chairs up inside the tree fort part of the swing set. So Papa, of course, had to help him out!
Getting comfortable!

It has even been warm enough to pull out the slip and slide! I thought it was funny that he wanted to use the umbrella to go under the sprinkler part of the slip and slide!
Finally getting brave and getting wet!

We are having a great time ringing in summer!

Father's Day--2011

I was excited for Father's Day this year since this is the first Father's Day since we've had Ethan that Tristan wasn't working. On top of that, we were here in Washington with my dad, too! So I think I got a little overzealous in my planning...but nevertheless, I think the day turned out great.

Tristan didn't want a cake this year, so I decided to make him a fruit bouquet. He saw the wonderful one from my parents that I got for Mother's Day and thought it was pretty neat and I decided it couldn't be that hard to make. Well, I wouldn't say it's easy, but it was good enough! I found a link with a free printable banner and cake decorations and went to town!

Here's what was waiting for my dad and Tristan when they got up!

Ethan went to wake up daddy and take him his handprint poem.

I don't know what was up with Ethan's lip in this picture. There are three pictures like this and in all 3 his lip is sticking out like that...he wasn't sad, just being silly!!

I was glad to get to spoil my dad a little this year, too!

My dad's favorite cake is German Chocolate. So I started baking! It was a lot more complicated than I thought it would be, but he said it turned out well! At least I tried!

I buddied up with my good friend, Kelly, for a Father's Day treat for Tristan and my dad. I decided that a great Father's Day gift for Tristan from Ethan would be a trip to a baseball game. Ethan had never been to one, so it was a fun memory, too! Kelly had a connection so we got a cool package deal for the Thursday after Father's Day. Before the game we got to go down on the field and get our group's picture taken in the dugout (I don't have a copy yet, but Ethan was melting down, so I'm sure it's a GREAT picture...) We got hot dogs, chips and a drink and Tristan and my dad also got a baseball cap...Here is Tristan modeling his!

Ethan did pretty well. He really liked it when they played music in between batters. Here he and Anderson are clapping to the music!
Spending some time with Grandpa

We also got to put a fun message up on the LED screen for our special dads...Thanks, Kelly, for helping make Father's Day special!

Trying to catch a T-shirt
On our way out we managed to sneak a picture with Rhubarb the Reindeer. Ethan was fascinated by him!
It was such a blessing to get to spend Father's Day with Tristan and my dad this year. I truly am grateful for the wonderful dad I have and the wonderful father Tristan is!!

The Olympia Airshow

The Olympia Air Show is one of the things that signals the start of summer fun in Washington. This year we went out with my parents and brought a lunch. We figured Ethan was old enough that he would enjoy seeing the airplanes and helicopters!

I loved how he just layed on his tummy like a big boy and started chowing down!

Waiting for the show to start and taking Grandpa for a walk!
Despite the fact that we were there to see airplanes and helicopters, Ethan still managed to spot tractors across the field! Luckily, Grandpa was willing to take him over for a closer look!
Enjoying the beginning of the air show as a family

Watching for the airplanes and helicopters with daddy

Can you tell who the pilot is? Tristan brought the radio so he could listen to the pilots communicate with air traffic control.
Lately Ethan has been really into kissing the baby. We caught him on camera giving his little brother some love!

Watching a plane flying low overhead
Look Grandpa!!!
Listening to the air traffic control with his dad on the radio
We had a great time at the air show and Ethan now has a new love for things that fly as well as those that go on the ground. Looks like Ethan may take after his dad and have a love for flying!!

Ocean Shores

Tristan's sister was in from out of state with her 3 boys so we decided to take a Bernard family trip out to Ocean Shores. I was excited for Ethan to see the ocean, since the last time we took him it was raining and we never even got out of the car at the beach! The weather was perfect and we had a great time. Since all of us were busy chasing kids around, we didn't get any family pics--which really stinks! But we did manage to get some good shots of the kids playing!

Exploring the beach

Splashing in the water
Walking through every possible pool he can find!!!
I think Ethan was the first one to fall in to the pools of water. He handled it fine, though, and wasn't even upset. Aren't you supposed to get wet at the beach???

Building a sandcastle

Daddy found a shell!
Getting our feet in the sand! At first, Ethan didn't like the sand on his bare feet, but he got used to it and was running around in no time!

Headed down the beach with his truck!!

Ethan finally figured out that if he put the dumper up it made a convenient handle and made it easier to push!
Blake and Ethan aren't that far apart in age, so they usually ended up sticking together. It was fun to watch them play and run on the beach together...it was mostly Blake chasing Ethan around, but they still had fun and got along great!
It has been really fun to watch Ethan get to know his cousins and to spend time with family. We are looking forward to more trips to Ocean Shores now that it's so close to home!!!

Heading Home

Tristan and I have been so blessed as we have been living in Louisiana, and have truly started to feel like it was our home away from home. Our goal, however, has always been to move back home or closer to home and both of our families. We decided that we would move at the end of October after our newest addition was born. About a month ago, Tristan had a change in his work schedule, which led us to decide to move to Washington at the beginning of June rather than at the end of October as we had originally planned. So we kicked into high gear and I started packing boxes. We already had plane tickets to come home at the beginning of June for a 2 1/2 week vacation, so my goal was to be packed up completely by the time we left. It was a busy couple of weeks and I really did get almost all of it done--almost!! So we arrived here on June 9 and Ethan and I will be staying. Tristan will be flying back down at the end of the month and will make the long trek up to Washington with the moving truck. It is definitely bitter-sweet, but we truly are so excited to move back to our friends and family in Washington.

I was really nervous about flying with and almost 2 year old. I was worried he would get all cooped up and grouchy. But he ended up doing just fine and loved all the sights at the airports we visited. In Dallas we had a 3 hour layover, which could have been excruciating. Thankfully, they had lots of entertainment for our little one! They had a great little play area that kept him entertained for at least 45 minutes!

When he got bored of that, he found lots of cool windows to look out and other "toys" to play on...He even charmed the man driving the handicapped cart around by waving and smiling at him. When we explained how in to cars he was the man insisted on giving us a ride on the cart to our train. I'm sure it was the ride of Ethan's life...he was all smiles the whole time. Then we got on the Sky Link to go to our gate and that was another fun adventure for him. Tristan even ended up going back later and riding it around the airport just for fun with him.

We were glad to arrive in Washington after a long day of flying. Ethan did an amazing job staying in the seat with us and entertaining himself. He didn't even get out of the seat to walk around once! It was still a long flight, but it was as good as we could have asked for.

The next night we decided to BBQ at my parent's house to ring in the Washington summer. My dad has been busy garage sale shopping to get his house ready for us to live there for 2 months.

A lady gave my dad a little bounce house for free, so my dad set it up as part of the backyard fun!
As soon as my dad found out we were moving back to Washington he got to work on putting up a swing set for his backyard. Ethan got lots of use out of the sand box!

Starting to look like a Washingtonian!

Trying out the slide
I have a funny feeling that this new backyard is going to get a lot of use!!!

Summer Fun Begins!!

As if the temperatures weren't enough of a sign that summer fun had begun in Louisiana, we have been enjoying some of the joys of summer:

Our friends came to visit from Lafayette and we decided to head out to Tickfaw State Park and enjoy the splash park! Ethan loved every minute and the weather was perfect for enjoying the water!

Another fun part of summer is that corn is in season! Ethan loves eating corn off of the cob! Yummy!
Despite the heat, we have been having a good time enjoying the fun that summer brings.