Griffen's New Skill

So on Saturday we decided it was time to challenge the little Griff-ster and try him out on two wheels.  Dean took him over to the school and took off the training wheels and off he went riding his bike in the field.  Here are a couple of videos.

Then on Sunday, Dean was gone for awhile and the boys said that they were going over to the school to ride bikes.  I figured that Griff would take his scooter as his bike still had the training wheels off.  (I was stuck at the house with a sleeping little one).  They were gone for a little while and then came back for a snack.  Then they went back over a couple more times.  After the third time they came in the house VERY excited and told me that Griffen had taught himself how to get started on his own!  When Dean got home we all headed over to see the kiddo show off his moves.

I think we've found a future Tour de France winner ;).

Our Summer So Far...

has been VERY busy. Well, I guess with five kiddos in the house there is no other way for it to be. I don't know when our summer schedule ended up so full. It seems that when we first started looking at this season, we had a blank calendar and then the next thing we know, every other weekend someone, if not all of us, is gone and there are appointments and outings scheduled all over the place. Thankfully the busy schedule has been mostly full of fun things.

As every summer for the past sixteen years has started, Royal Family Kids Camp was the kick off. The only exception being that I wasn't actuallt at camp this year. Things were just too crazy with working and adding the extra two kiddos to the house. I did help plan Breakfast Club again this year but then passed it off to someone else to "run". I sure did miss being there this year but it also felt great to take something off of my very busy plate.

We headed down to Longview for the 4th and spent time with my parents and saw some of Dean's family. We camped out at Lake Sacajawea most of the 4th and really enjoyed the fireworks show. All of the kiddos were SUPER tired by the time we got back to my parents' house at 11pm.

Playing some Uno while waiting for the fireworks.

Jake wearing his special fireworks glasses

Griffen "Wow, these things make everything 3D!"

We've been sticking closer to home when we are in Bellingham as venturing out is a pretty big chore although we are getting the hang of it finally. We have had fun playing at the park across the street and having friends over for barbeques. We also spent an afternoon at friends who have a swimming pool (unfortunately I didn't take any pictures there). That afternoon ended with a double bonus of all of the boys being more comfortable in the pool and Griffen even puttering around with his buddy, in their lifejackets, all by themselves!!! He is getting so big and tackling big things this summer. He even just accomplished another thing today but I will save that for another post.

Setting up their race

Playing at the park

Swinging in the backyard

A boy can't swing without his keeping his sword handy

Last weekend we headed back to Longview for Dean's grandma's 80th birthday. It was a fun time to celebrate with her and we got some yummy pizza that we can only get in Longview. Once again I failed to take pictures.

Austin just finished up a week at Fircreek Daycamp.  He had a blast with his friends and was very excited that this year for the sleepover night he got to go out to Camp Firwood.  He also brought home a souvenir from camp.  He got stung behind his knee, right where it bends.  Ouch!!! 

Well, there's a lot more in store for us for the last half of the summer. Stay tuned more more adventures of the Hendricksons.