Ode to the Fourth

If I could use one word to describe our time here this past year it would be...BUSY. There is so much to see and do that we dare not say "no" to any of the opportunities. Of course, I like to get the kids out of the house as much as possible. This past weekend which started on Thursday for me, has been quite the same.

I got up early and took the kids to Lisa's house for an afternoon to go horseback riding. The kids did great. Ethan was a little concerned about being stung by nettles, touching the electric fence, horses biting him, dogs biting him, going the wrong way on the trail, ever getting to eat again, and getting lost from me, but he eventually relaxed and even went with Lisa through the trail on Miss Daisy. Lisa will make a cowboy out of him soon enough. Valerie loved it and did great with remembering all she had learned from her riding lessons in Arkansas. We will be going back soon, I hope.

Friday we went with my sister, the girls and I, to the street scramble at Gas Works park. We were a tad distracted so we missed out on a lot of points but it was fun just walking the streets of Seattle, and looking at all the beautiful homes. We celebrated the Fourth at my mom and dad's house with fireworks, burgers, and good company.

We spent Saturday and Sunday camping at Dash Point State Park. It was our second attempt and all went well, minus some kid scrapes and a couple of fights. We all slept in a three-four person tent and manage to not be on top of each other. The kids met some interesting friends, went to the beach and got muddy, stepped in some doggy doo, roasted marshmallows and weenies, rode razors around, and spent family time with their Aunt's and Uncle's. Thankfully the campground was only 45 minutes away from our house. I had each kids scrubbed clean and in p.j.'s 10 minutes after we got home. Now we are just being crazy and recouping.

Last night I had to do the dreaded weigh in at WW. I actually lost 0.6lbs, making it a total weight loss of 80.2. I am starting to see some light at the end of this tunnel.