Graduation Day

We are so proud of our Kya...and so happy she doesn't have to suffer through anymore virtual/remote/hybrid senior year.  It was rough.  But thankfully we were able to celebrate with a beautiful graduation ceremony.  It was a wonderful day filled with happiness...and sunshine!

I thought the balloons were such a good idea, but I could barely get one picture before the wind took them out!

I loved the outdoor ceremony! 

Thanks Mike, for the bunny ears on an otherwise beautiful picture:/

Strange that I now have two kids out of high school!  Crazy how fast it all goes...

There's something about graduation day that makes me very emotional.  Both times I dropped my girls off in their caps and gowns at the school to meet them at the ceremony, I teared up.  I just can't believe they are done being kids.  I know they still need me and will still be around, but it's not the same.  It's very bitter/sweet (or as Summer calls it sweet/bitter) and it pulls at my mama heart strings.  

We are so proud of you Kya and excited to see where life takes you! 

Build your own Prom 2021

 Kya did her own prom (since the school was not able to do a traditional dinner and dance due to covid).  It turned out to be; getting dressed up for pictures, then into their swimsuits for boating and a BBQ.  Kya had a great time...and I got my pictures, so I guess it was a success, even if it was unconventional.  

This year has been a lot about trying to find new ways to do things without feeling too disappointed.  I think they did a great job...and possibly had more fun than if they had gone to the traditional prom!  Kya looked stunning.

The church also held a Mormon Prom...no dancing, but they did have dinner and games!  It was the first time in over a year that many of these youth were able to get together.  Mormon Prom is for all youth 16 and older...but as soon as they mentioned bringing a date, Tyson was out.  He did agree to pose for a couple pictures before the girls left though:)

Summer is Seven!

All Summer wanted to do for her birthday was swim...for someone who is too scared to put her head in the water, she sure does LOVE to swim!  We had a perfect afternoon at the lake and Summer was in heaven.

She requested crepes for breakfast:)

The cake was my idea.  I had seen pictures of cakes like this and have been wanting to try it, so I thought this was the perfect chance.  I think it was just chocolatey enough for our chocolate lover:)

We went to Idylwood Park on Lake Sammamish.

Summer at 7 years old

-loves swimming (in her life jacket)

-loves animals...even snakes and lizards!

-has a major sweet tooth

-super picky eater...but when she loves something, she'll eat a ton of it

-loves Minecraft...and watching youtubers playing Minecraft

-getting better at reading & loves Pinkalicious books

-learning to ride her bike without training wheels, but is still pretty scared 

-favorite foods are mashed potatoes, popcorn, hamburgers, smores

-loves playing with the kids' friends (Max and Jake are her favorites...oh and Phoebe!)

We love our big 7 year old!  I am so excited for the year ahead...hopefully it'll be full of lots of new friends, learning, fun adventures, and be MASK FREE!!  

Peonies always seem to bloom on Summer's birthday.  I remember when she turned 1, a house on our street had a huge peony bush. I wanted to knock on the door and ask if I could take pictures with it, haha.  Now we have our own!  Hopefully one day it'll be just as big as the one I remember.

Summer's New Best Friend

Along with the pandemic came the cancellation of pretty much every extracurricular activity.  So as things begin to reopen, we have had a chance to "re"decide what to sign up for.  When I asked Summer what she wanted to do, she surprised me and said "piano".  I thought I better jump on that (since she usually says "nothing") and luckily, I know the absolute best piano teacher around.  After the first day, Miss Amie was Summer's new best friend:)  

Someone who gives you their undivided attention, sits on the floor and plays new games with you, has a room filled with games and toys!!  What's not to love??  Summer is in heaven:) Amie is the best!

Stormi Dash Poop-foot Emonts

 I'm not quite sure how it all happened, but somehow the kids ran with the whole "getting a kitten" idea.  Before I knew it, we were driving to Kent to meet a Frenchman about a kitten.  All he really told us about her was "she's a fast one" and then handed the box over!!  

About Stormi

We named Stormi in the car on the way home because she looked like a storm cloud (sometimes we call her "storm cloud").  The middle names came later...Dash, because she is the fastest kitten EVER, and Poop Foot because, well, she had poop on her foot...twice.

She didn't meow for at least a day when we got her.  I thought there was something wrong.  She was also scared of everything and everyone.  

She was so tiny and skinny.  She didn't seem to be eating anything so I tried some canned food on day 2 and she gobbled it down!!  I felt so bad for not trying it earlier.  She is absolutely obsessed with all food!!

She is super fast, playful and jumps like a flying squirrel.  She climbs the curtains and our legs.  She jumps up onto the counter and then on our backs.  She jumps on Callie constantly.  She steels Callie's bed.  She purrs so loud all the time.  She snuggles on our necks.

She is obsessed with food, Callie, danger noodle (or any toy) and trying to get outside.

We love our new little addition.

Missing it all

The US/Canada border has been closed for over a year now.  

I've missed so much time with my family...including precious time with my dad before we lost him.  

This past weekend I missed my niece Amanda's wedding.

It's hard to put into words how I feel about the whole thing.  We moved to Washington 8 years ago to be closer to family.  Never did I think a pandemic would keep me from spending time with them...and never did I think I would lose my dad only 7 years later.  

I have not been able to mourn alongside my family.  

I have not been able to visit my dad's grave.  

It's all been so hard for me.  

"I wonder what Piglet is doing, thought Pooh.  I wish I were there to be doing it too"

May {Birth} Days

I remember growing up, my dad telling me about how in Finland they celebrated "May Day" on May 1st.  It was a celebration to welcome the warmer weather and finally say goodbye to all the snow and cold.  Since moving from California (where "seasons" just means slightly warmer and slightly cooler) I feel like celebrating every May 1st just like they do in Finland.  The flowers are starting to bloom, the grass is lush and green, the weather is warming up and summer feels like it's just around the corner...not to mention, we get to celebrate Mother's Day, my birthday and Mike's birthday all in one month.

So here are our "May Day" celebrations:

The Flowers

I wish all flowers would bloom early spring and stay in bloom until the end of the summer!  But some of my favorites bloom right around Mother's Day...and just a week or two later, I planted my bedding plants.  I just love this time of year!

My lilacs

Mother's Day

This is the second year in a row that the border has been closed, so I wasn't able to spend Mother's Day with my mom.  It left me feeling a little grumpy, which meant I wasn't the greatest company.  But at least I got to talk to my mom and I didn't have to make dinner.  What more can I ask for??  Being a mom is hard sometimes...but I am so grateful for the beautiful souls I get to "mother" and the amazing mother I was blessed with.

For some reason taking a picture with me and the kids is the most difficult task of the year!

My Birthday

Ever since turning 40, I really haven't "enjoyed" my birthday.  I am grateful for friends and family who call, text and send gifts...it all helps me feel special and less sad to be getting another year older.  We didn't get to do anything too exciting this year.  The weather was crummy and everyone had to work.  So we just did dinner at Olive Garden and Costco cake. 

Mike's Birthday

Mike's birthday was on a Sunday this year, so we celebrated the day before.  We checked out a new burger place (Stack 571) and got poutine burgers!!  Then we headed to an escape room with the big kids(my first one ever), and came home for cake.  It was a great day. 

Hobby or Addiction?

 I have always loved to shop, but in more recent years it has become somewhat of a therapy (which I'm not sure is helpful), but in even more recent months (since covid) I'm somewhat concerned it has turned from a therapy, into an addiction.  

When I'm feeling down or frustrated or just need to get out of the house, I head to the store.  It is typical for me to pass some free time at TJMaxx or HomeGoods.  I'll squeeze in a quick trip to Target on the way to pick up the kids or I'll take a detour through Michael's on the way home.  At Christmas time I tend to go a little bonkers and have to give myself limits on spending and the number of gifts I buy.  But, it's all fun and harmless right?  

When covid hit and everything shut down, one of the ONLY things that I could still do was shop.  I couldn't see my friends, I couldn't visit my family, I couldn't go out for dinner, I couldn't host or attend any parties, I couldn't go to book club or bunco...heck, I couldn't even go to church!  BUT, I could still go shopping (and even when the stores were closed, I could shop online).  My weekly outing to the grocery store became my excitement for the week.  The amazon packages coming to the door were like a bright light in a pretty dark reality.  

That brings me to today, fourteen months after covid shut everything down.  I came home with 3 bags...one filled with 4th of July decorations, one filled with towels and mats for my bathroom, and one filled with another swimsuit for Summer (and a puzzle).  I think it was mostly the 4th of July decor that made me begin to question my shopping habits--haha, I'm Canadian for goodness sake...and honestly, how many swimsuits does a 6-year-old need?  

Oh dear.

Maybe I need an intervention.