Bottom Half of June

Awesome start to summer where the kids stated "less camps and more friends time at home".

Sewing
Grandma came up and taught Jo how to cut and sew pajama pants.

Jo had a very good time and is looking forward to sewing more in the future.

Sisters from different Mothers....

Yes, Jo and Karly are two peas in a pod, sisters separated at birth. Two apples hanging from the same branch.

Day they spent mostly in the kitchen creating cake-pops. (they didn't turn out so well but were fun)

Then I found them out sunning themselves with cucumbers on their eyes. I took a closer look and there was "goo" if you will all over their faces.
Logical question, "Whatcha two doing?"

Jo / Karly: We made a facial.

Me: Out of what?

Jo / Karly: 1/2 of banana and 1tsp milk.

Me: Oh, how's it working?

Jo / Karly: Good, Mom.

It was a little harder to get it off the face.

And of course I got it all on film because, well, it was 1/2 banana and 1tsp milk.

Oh, where on-line do they find these things?

They always have a blast and are happy!

I LOVE how these two play together.

Can You See Me?

Cole started the summer out playing quite a bit of Nerf wars in the yard.

I found this get up along with other artillery and camouflage in some bushes that died out from all the trampling. I completely understand why my parents didn't have a Blooming Yard when I was growing up.

Baseball season was wrapping up and we often had teammates come home with Cole.

This day I planned ahead and had the fire pit going so the boys could eat, although Jason would have rather danced....

The garden was growing really well.

Tomatoes were out of control and overpowered my rhubarb.  The rhubarb survived the season and we look forward to harvesting more than one time next year.

I spy....

It's not the tin dog...

Xena liked the cool dirt.

We often found her bedding in the garden as well.

And happy end of June BS Groupies!

Top Half of June

Derian 8th Grade Graduation!
Jo and I met up with family to watch cousin Derian graduate from 8th grade. (Again, a baseball conflict prevented Oma and Cole from joining us.)

She looked so pretty and we were all so proud.  It's a small school with around 30 kids in her class.  It was fun to see how personal they can make a graduation celebration with these kids.

5th Grade...Ending?

Where did the time go?  The kids are heading to middle school next?  Am I ready for this?  After all it's all about me, right?

Last 5th Grade field trip was to a miniature golf course followed by pizza and video games.

The day was beautiful and warm.  Lots of laughter and awful golfing games were played by most, and they didn't care.

Graduation

We ended the fun day with their 5th grade celebration at school.

Nothing individualized, lots of chaos and signing of shirts.

Even Jo smiled while Cole signed hers.

The kids grew leaps and bounds this year and we are very proud of them and their teachers as well. Some great teachers have touched our kids lives and this year was challenging yet very special.

Bumstead w/ Cole

Swift - their @ home summer school teacher

Dwoskin w/ Jo

Jo's teacher challenged Jo this year to be more proactive in not only her own life but those around her.  She was the perfect teacher at a perfect time in Jo's life.

And the last day to school.

Remember the first day of 5th?

I love that they are excited to go to school each year!  These pictures prove they were happier on the first day vs the last day of the year.

Hold onto our hats...Middle School here they come!

June 1st Fishing with Smith Family

Jo and Mom met up with the Findtners and Smith family in Depot Bay for some family crabbing and fishing. Oma and Cole could not make this trip due to a baseball conflict.

The first evening we spent hanging out on the beach crabbing while cousin Sam and Jo did a little boogie boarding.

With a fire going the rest of us hung out keeping out of the wind,

and enjoyed visiting.

Jo fishing and Betsy casting a crab pot.

I have never seen crabbing done this way but it worked well, the Findtners have this skill mastered.

The following day a group of us headed out for some fishing in the ocean.  Jo and I armed our systems with some sea sick pills and were ready to catch our limit!

Jo's first cast and fish on, good start!

And then it was also THE END!

Jo and I go so sick that we could no longer fish and just tossed our stomach contents overboard and tried to lay down until the three hour trip was over. Yes, Gilligan's Island theme song went over and over in my head changing the words to match our fishing / sea sickness trip.

As soon as the boat pulled into the bay we were both fine again and sure wished we could handle the waves so we could fish.

Most of the family caught their limit and we ate fish for a couple days at home.

Thank you Family for a wonderful weekend and fish.

May 17th & 18th

Yes, still playing catch up on our blog and at some point it will no longer feel like work as I will be caught up and enjoy posting again with more current and fun stories.

In the mean time let me get back to what has been happening to the BS Family!

The kids had separate 11th birthday parties this year, a first for them.

Jo Party

Crimson, Karly, Jo & Simone

Jo's gift from us was a trip to paint ceramics with her friends.

This was an activity she has wanted for quite some time and now we have this beautiful ceramic unicorn decorating our home.

Back to the house for gifts and desert.

and then crashing in the living room for a night of giggling and secrets.

It was a very happy Birthday for Jo!

Cole Party

After pizza we headed out to have the party gift Cole has been asking years to have!

Paintball!

Ian, Sam, Gavin & Cole

The boys were a little nervous about paintball until they each got hit once or twice then they were all like "YEAH, AWESOME" and so on.

No fun here!

Ended the evening with a little ice-cream refresher at DQ and an over night stay.

Last thought: I found it interesting and or funny the type of gifts girls vs boys bring to a birthday party. Jo received pretty things and Pet Shops, basically the same types of gifts she has received over the past few years. Cole on the other hand got gift cards of money and or money. Guys are simple and like I guess, "Here, have money so you can buy your own thing." They both loved their days and gifts.

6th Grade Photo

Do they look alike or what?!