Playing in the Rain {Sunday Snapshot}

We are going through a heat wave here in the Pacific Northwest.  Along with the heat came thunderstorms and heavy rain.  Rain so heavy I can only remember one other time in my (almost) 42 years that it rained so hard in June.  Right in the middle of cherry season. :(

 

At least someone enjoyed the rain.  Cara got a ladybug umbrella for her birthday on June 3rd.  She was super excited to take it outside and use it since we really don't get a lot of rain around here.  We live in central Washington, which is pretty much desert.

 

It was wild because she was in her wading pool just a few hours earlier.  Look at the flooding out by the fire pit!

Cara certainly discovered the flooding by the fire pit, but soon decided that the water there was too muddy!

She's a kid that loves just about everything!  Glad she enjoyed the storm. :)

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Tonsils Out

A had her tonsils removed this morning.  She's been having problems with her tonsils getting infected multiple times since she was about 6 years old.  And when I say multiple, I mean 3-4 infections a year.  She is even now lactose intolerant from taking too many antibiotics for her tonsil infections.  We finally switched her family doctor in December and her new doctor immediately referred her to an ENT specialist, who also agreed that the tonsils needed to come out.  We had to schedule A's surgery for when school was out for the summer and today was the day!

 

Here she is in the waiting room looking a little nervous:

 

Getting all dressed up in her hospital gown and pretty yellow socks!

A was most nervous for the I.V.  She got a little teary-eyed and nervous when they put it in:

My sister is a nurse in the surgery department, so she came in to see A and calm her down a little bit:

Her whole surgery took about 20 minutes from going under anesthesia to the doctor coming out and telling us he was finished.  Her surgery started at 11:07 a.m. and I signed her check out papers at 1:00 p.m.  This picture was after surgery.  She had already swallowed a pain pill, eaten a bowl of applesauce, drank apple juice, and eaten ice chips.  She did amazing!

The sweetest part was that the nurse told me the first thing A said after she came out of the anesthesia was, "I want my mommy."  Awe...I probably won't get that from my 18 year old for much longer.  I'm just so happy it's finally done and that she won't have to worry about tonsil infections anymore!

Aaaaaannnnddd...She's Done!

Last night was A's last dance recital, and, according to her, the last night of being a kid.  When I asked her what she meant by that, she said it was her last time doing something she had done since she was little.  Well, when she puts it that way, I guess she's right.  K-12 education:  done.  4-H:  done.  Dance:  done.  Other school/community activities:  done.  This last recital was her last "kid thing."

 

People keep asking me if I'm sad, and I can honestly say no.  When you are in the midst of all of the craziness of juggling the activities of all three kids plus work, I'm more or less relieved when I can check another thing off the list.  However, when we drop her off for good at WSU this August, I will most likely cry the entire 3 hours home. :'(

Dance Recital Dress Rehearsal 2013

Tonight was dress rehearsal for A's last dance recital and Cara's second dance recital.  They always practice the finale first and have all the little kids practice their dance numbers first.  That way the little ones can go home as soon as they're done.  Since I had a senior and a Kindergartener, I get to stay for the whole thing...

 

Here is Cara doing the "Y" for YMCA, the finale song:



 

I have a picture almost identical to this one from last year.  Cara gets so excited to dance she can barely contain herself! :)

A's group dancing to one of their dance numbers.  She has 5 dances in this recital.

So excited for tomorrow's recital!

Three Year Referral Anniversary

Today was Cara's three year referral anniversary, and I wanted to take some pictures.  I had to coax her down off the bars on the swing set, which wasn't terribly difficult to do once I promised her it wouldn't take very long.

 

On most nights before we go to bed, Cara wants to hear the story of her referral and our trip to China to get her.  She never gets tired of the story.  She loves to hear how I was in the shower on June 22nd getting ready for work and A bursts into the bathroom to say Daddy had called and told us to get on the computer.  She loves the part about me opening up the email and clicking on the picture of, "the most beautiful baby in the whole, wide world."

She was looking at her referral picture in this shot and said, "Awwww...I was so cute!"  And she was and still is!

Cara's signature pose! :)

Happy three year referral anniversary, Miss Cara.  We love you all the way to China and back!

Bubble Chaser! {Sunday Snapshot}

Cara got a bubble gun for her birthday a couple of weeks ago, and let me tell you, that thing gets tons of use.  It sits out on the patio table next to a bigger container of bubble mix for refills, and it gets played with almost every single night.  This morning cousin J came over to play, so B took him out in the yard to play with the bubble gun.  Boy, was he excited!

 

J took his bubble chasing very seriously...

I think he must concentrate better with his tongue out! ;)

He chased and chased for quite awhile...

I think J might need his own bubble gun!

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YVCC Graduation

This last Thursday night was Yakima Valley Community College's graduation.  A graduated from Zillah High School a couple of weeks ago and then graduated with her AA from YVCC.  She is wearing her high school cap and gown since she is a running start student.

 

A receiving her diploma:

It's a big deal to be able to graduate from high school and community college at the same time.  A LOT of work!  Now she will start at Washington State University this August as a Junior.  So proud of A and her accomplishments! :)

First Boating Trip of the Summer {Sunday Snapshot}

Today was the first time we were able to take the boat out on the Snake this summer.  A and T went tubing, but it was pretty cold in the water.

 

Cara wanted to go tubing, too, but she only went for a few minutes because she was scared.

Then T went by himself, and J did his best to toss him off the tube. :)

Someone was super tired by the end of the day and fell asleep driving the boat with Daddy.

It was a great day and hopefully one of many more this summer.

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A's Graduation {Sunday Snapshot}

A's high school graduation was Friday night.  Since this was my first time having a child graduate, its safe to say I underestimated the amount of work that goes into graduation and the grad party, especially since we also celebrated Cara's sixth birthday this weekend, too.

 

A got to receive her diploma from her grandpa, which was super special. :)  He gave me my diploma, too.

 

Was so happy J went early to get a good spot in line.  We were in the front row and I was able to capture this amazing shot.

And this one.  So fun!

And special moments with friends.

And B was able to take this shot.  I'm hardly ever in photos. :)

All three of my sweet loves:

 

I thought I might be emotional over the whole thing, but I really wasn't.  The ceremony was short, the speeches were great, and I think it will be a beautiful memory for A.  I know, however, I'm gonna bawl like a baby when we drop her off at WSU in August!

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