Water Sales, Trampoline's, a Barnyard Beat and Round Lake

About a month ago, Ty got this idea that he needed to sell something. After i picked him up from school he walked around the house trying to find something to sell. I talked him through a few of the items he wanted to sell. Then he decided he wanted to sell water. We had a few extra water bottle lying around from my Birthday party a few weeks before. He wanted to set up a table and sit out front of our house and sell water bottles for a dollar. I told him he was on the right track but he should talk to his Dad when he gets home from work. Matt had a long crazy work day and wasn't super ready to hear about business plans when he walked in the door. Ty explained his business proposition and Matt launched in to a lesson on Supply and Demand. He said no one would by water just off the street because they can walk in their house and get a drink. Ty got a bit upset and went up to his room. I spoke a little more about it to Matt and immediately he felt bad. He took a breath and headed upstairs to talk to Ty again. After a teeny bit of coaching, Ty decided that he wanted to sell bottled water at one of the local running trails. It was about 55-60 degrees and I think it had been a bit rainy, but he still wanted to do it. So Matt loaded up our little card table while I helped Ty make a few signs. We put ice in the cooler and the water bottles in and off Matt and Ty went. I took the girls out to dinner and got some take out for Matt and Ty. On the way to the trail, Matt is telling Ty about the probability of him selling any of the 8 waters that he had. It tookk some courage from Ty, but everyone that walked by he said, "Water Bottles for one dollar!" Matt set up a chair about 15 feet off, so it was just Ty. 

The girls and I dropped by to bring the boys some food. When I got there Matt said "Oh we'll eat at home, we're almost through" I thought he had maybe sold a bottle. He sold SEVEN! The kid was SUPER stoked. He actually hit the jackpot. A bunch of ladies that go to our church have a running group and just so happened to be finishing their run. One of my friends made sure to take a picture with him and post it on Instagram. Ty was over the moon excited. 

This picture was taken from afar, the following Thursday. He sold 8 again that day...he even brought my iPad and played Rocky music for the people walking or running by. He is always looking forward to Thursday so he can go sell his waters.  

 The most precious part of it all, is on the first day Matt asked him on the way home why he wanted to earn money. Ty said, "For a house." Matt told him it was okay, he didn't need to save for a house, that was his job not Ty's. Matt said, think of something you really want to save money to get... what would that be? Ty said, "Dad I want to buy a house." I think he has heard us talking a lot about down payment money and wants to help. Wow, sometimes I wonder how old my 5 year old is... 

Also, at Spring break we got that Trampoline. I set it up and it has been played on rain or shine every day! 

 Two weeks ago was Ty's Musical, "Informance". It was the barnyard beat. The boy that was supposed to be a donkey was sick that day, so Ty was asked to do his part too. Ty loved it. They sang songs, talked about animals and did little musical skits of sorts. 

 Ty's original part was just the baby chick. He wanted me to make him a full costume. I convinced him this Yellow and Blue striped shirt would do the job credibly. (Phew!) 

 The girls were a little crazy in the back row, but Grace was content just looking around. 

 This was Ty's part in the skit where he and the other chicks were supposed to be sleeping. Then when the mom and dad went away they would job up and talk/sing "Get up wake up! I'm not tired you're not tired!" repeated. Emma can now quote it perfectly since Ty said it so often at home. 

 Ty also got a speaking part introducing the Turkey, he said "Turkey's are friendly and can sit in your lap, they can even purr just like a kitty cat!" (I think that line is bogus since I've never met a nice domesticated Turkey...) However Ty memorized it and read it fearlessly. 

 We're lucky that Dad works close enough that he was able to take a little early lunch and come to the Informance. (Honestly Matt thought it was a special type of torture but was there to support his boy, not for entertainment value) 

 In other news, our little Gracie Baby is getting bigger and doing fun things! Look at her face, she's so pleased with herself. "I CAN SIT ON MY OWN!" it seems to say. 

 The weather this month has been perfectly spring-ish. I good mix of sun and showers. This day was so lovely we went on a walk at Round Lake with Tess and Ann. I made the mistake of bringing the double stroller, which doesn't fit through narrower portions of the trail. I don't think the girls minded just going a little ways and playing. Next time i'll bring the hiking backpack. 

 A flower... 

 For ME?

 I think it is so lovely here in the PNW. It was the perfect day for a little walk. I love that we are ten minutes from this beauty. 

We wished we brought some bread for the ducks! Next time... 

More Shenanigans to blog about from the month, but it's time to put this girls down for naps! 

Spring Break and Easter

We picked up my parents from the PDX Airport on Friday and drove down to their house following them. They just got back from their Central European Vacation to Prague, Budapest and Vienna. To say that Matt and I were jealous is an understatement. We LOVE to travel and were SO BUMMED to miss this trip, but we decided a down payment on a future home is more important in life right now. Saving for things is hard!

Anyhow, like I said before, Matt got me a cool DSLR camera. It's the most basic of DSLR's but that I all I need. I did a little fiddling, but I need to read up on it way more and start working on my skills. Right now i've been shooting mostly in Auto mode, which isn't what one is supposed to do with a DSLR. I'll get there!

On our drive down on Friday I took it out to try it out for a second, I think I got some good shots.

Oh how I love that guy. HA!

 (you know what drives me nuts? When I STRAP MAYLEE IN AND SHE PULLS THE BUCKLE DOWN AND STICKS HER ARMS OUT!!!! Grrrr. I promise, I know how to buckle properly and tighten it. She gets stuck all the time... Grrr again) otherwise, cute girls.

 Ty in the back.

 Sleeping Gracie

 Looks about right for Spring Break.

 Selfie with an adorable photo bomber.

We did a lot of hanging out at my parents. We are a-okay with that too. It was conference weekend, so we had the opportunity to hear from the Prophet and Apostles of our church deliver some fantastic talks! That reminds me, I wanted to go back and read one a week. I need to get on that! 

Anyhow, Easter morning the kids, Grandma and I dyed Easter eggs. 

The Easter bunny comes to our house while we are at church normally, but since we are able to watch General Conference on BYUtv we didn't leave! When did the Easter Bunny come then you ask? He came while the kids, Matt and I walked across the street to snap a few darling Easter photos. We got the kids all bathed and dressed up the headed out for a while while the Easter Bunny could do his thing. This was a funny photo shoot. I mean 4 kids 5 and under, its gonna be funny!  Imagine Matt hopping around like a monkey behind me, making all sorts of noises and funny faces to get a 7 month old (that day! 7 months old! My youngest is SEVEN MONTHS OLD!) to smile. HAHA I had me laughing pretty hard just listening to him. 

 EMMA PUT YOUR LEGS DOWN WE DONT WANT TO SEE YOUR UNDIES! (the whole photo shoot it was so great :)

 SO close to all 4 smiling.

 Matt was done after about 5 minutes, so he decided to help out by holding Grace... HAHA

 Single shots (I had those necklaces special designed for the girls to match their dresses. They LOVED them. I am sure i'll do it for more holidays. My friend has an ETSY shop, it's called Danny's Girl Designs and they are so cute, durable and fun for the little ladies)

I told the kids to say, "Easter Bunny!" Maylee posed perfectly.

 This is Em yelling EASTER BUNNNAAAAYYY! Matt and I died laughing... quite the spunk in that one.

 Got a quick look at a smile.

 The sweetest boy on the planet. (I can say that since he's my only one)

 Ruffles and rolls for days on that one. Oh, with some cheeks to match!

 "Okay Mom! We're done! I think the Easter Bunny is here!"

 I promise, i didn't pose them. They really do cross the street holding hands and running all adorable like this. I just happened to catch it. So glad I did. It's one of my new fav pictures.

 Dad says, "Look for cars, okay no cars? Go!"

 Posing again, perfectly like a princess, so I told Emma to sit down and I would get one of each of them. (The Easter Bunny hadn't left yet so I had to distract!)

 Emma's response was, well, less than thrilled to take more pictures.

 Whew! Grandma came to say that the Easter Bunny just hopped out the back door!

 There is Gracie Baby.

The kids raced inside to find their Easter Bags. Then they started hunting for the hard boiled eggs inside. The kids were happy campers with their Easter goodies. (Thanks for the help with that Grandma and Grandpa!) 

After this, we ate lunch and settled in for the last session of conference. The English's came over to watch it with us and played Conference Bingo too. See all the prizes on the piano? It was a fun time. 

After Conference we had more friends, the Kings who my parents went on their trip with, and Lucy Dunn and Brian Berger over for dinner. The Kings smoked the Ham. It was DELICIOUS! Afterwards, the grown ups went out back and hid 190 filled plastic eggs for the kids to find. The kids anxiously waited in the living room. 

 The Dad's looked at trip pictures.

 As always it was fun to see them scrambling to get eggs. My mom went youngest to oldest. 

My mom put money (Quarters and a few dollar bills in various eggs) in them so the kids were excited to find that out! 

Easter was lovely, while we were chatting with everyone Heidi told us that Luke broke his arm getting off their trampoline, and that Hannah had broken a legs falling off the trampoline, so they took it down and were trying to give it away. The person they gave it to hadn't come to pick it up for a month. I said, "Well, if they don't come to get it then we would LOVE it!" Mike said, "Sold!" HA! So Matt and Mike snagged my parents truck and loaded up the dismantled trampoline into the back and they even threw a bike trailer in the back for good measure. (SWEEEETTTT) Matt had to work on Monday so he drove my parents truck home that night. 

We stayed Monday-Wednesday at my parents though. We didn't do a whole bunch. We mainly went to kid time and played at home. 

Ty's great idea on Tuesday night though was so go bowling. So, we went bowling! 

My mom did a killer work out that morning, and he buns were sore! So she didn't bowl very well. 

 I handed my mom the camera and asked her to take a picture of me, you know, for proof that I was there. She ended up taking about 30 pictures in 20 minutes from all different angles. It was so distracting to have paparazzi that I totally botched my last frame!

Last but not least, Ty has officially entered his boy childhood. My mom was re-potting a plant and there was a little froggy inside. Ty had never even seen a frog in real life. It took some coaxing, and some serious bravery on his part but after about 10 minutes he was holding his new pet "Ribbit". He told me that Ribbit loved to snuggle in his hands. 30 minutes later he was sad to put him in the bush to find a new home and let him hop away. You can bet I made sure his hands were washed well before he touched anything else.