Drake's Beach

A couple months ago, my friend Mandy and I took the kids (sans Paige) to Drake's Beach for the day. My family has been going to the beach for years. Almost always on Mother's Day and whenever else we can. It holds a special place in my heart and memories. It was such a great day. I didn't have my camera, but I did have the video camera and captured this great video. Selah just makes me smile and laugh. Mandy brought her Canon Rebel so whenever I am able to snag those pics (they are GREAT!) I will. Or, you could go find them on her blog at www.teamheilner.blogspot.com. Look in her July archives. Anyway, what a wonderful day at the beach, followed up by the tradition visit to Taco Bell at Cordelia Junction. Happy and tired at the end of this storybook day.

Energy and Joy

I just downloaded a bunch of video from our video camera. Here is a video from Jalama beach, back in July. I love the sheer joy on Ry's face. And the energy. Oh, to have the energy. He had already been doing this for some time when i took this video.

tahoe

Over Labor day weekend, we were invited on an impromptu overnight stay at the Dyce's cabin (Heilners)... It was a great time and so nice to beat the valley heat!

Ryland and Colby played in the river for several hours on Saturday!

Birthday cake

This is from way back on my birthday, August 28. Ryland and I made my birthday cake and then he wrote the words with frosting. Pretty impressive, as it is hard for me, and adult to write something legible in frosting! :)
Happy Birthday Mom 31

clown nose

I know it is blurry, but it was the best one I could get for some reason. My camera is temperamental when it comes to getting shots of Selah. She moves so much! Anyway, all morning she had been playing with a half an easter egg in her mouth so that it looked like a clown nose. Just had to post it. :)

football golf

Morning play time. Putting around the house in a football helmet. Enough said.

Letter to Mr. Turner

In Ry's kindergarten class, they have a mailbox that the kids can write mail and it is read to the class at the end of the day. This was the first time Ry chose to write some mail. The only rule is that there must be some writing on it.... I was pretty impressed (as usual) that he wanted to do this...although, his favorite part was putting the stickers on. :)

Selah's handywork

Selah seems to be taking after her brother in that she likes to play with his cars. Or maybe it is just what is available to play with! But I found this cute...that she piled the cars into the Little People playhouse.

Birthday Boy

5 years, quite the milestone. The whole hand. He is one amazing little man who I often think is much to old to be only 5. Five years ago that our lives changed dramatically. That his shiny spirit burst into the world ready to find all it had to offer him. He has embraced our world, bettered our world, with his charm, his smile, his humor, his love. Love you, my baby, my Ry -Guy.

For Ryland's birthday this year, we had a small pool party at our community clubhouse. I don't have many pics of it yet, just because iI wasn't the one taking the pictures, and I haven't gotten them from my friend yet. But i will try and post them when I do...

Ry started school this week and the class mascot goes home with a child every day. Surprise! We just happened to get him on Ry's birthday! :)

I know it is blurry, but my stinkin' camera can't seem to capture her smiles NOT blurry. hmmm. i HAVE to figure that one out. how cute is she?

Soccer

Ryland started his first organized sport. Soccer. Yay! He loves it, and is quite comfortable. maybe too comfortable - kind of a little troublemaker sometimes! But it's been really fun to watch and we start games next month so I will keep you updated!

Selah Bear

This picture cracks me up. She already really likes to look at books. But, I don't know if you can tell, but she hangs her pacifier out the side of her mouth. It reminds me of how people hang cigarettes out the side of their mouths... she's just relaxin', readin', and chewin' on that paci. :)

First Day of School

This week was huge for The Davii. Ryland started school, Monday, August 10. Kindergarten. My baby started kindergarten. He started soccer on Tuesday. Turned 5 on Wednesday. The whole hand, as he puts it.

He did great. I think he was a touch nervous, or maybe that was me.

Laundry

Lately, Ryland has had this strange but helpful fascination with doing laundry. "I really love doing the laundry," he says. Which is great for me...he loves to change the load (saves my back!) pour the soap, push the buttons and then sit and watch it work. The other day he said, "Don't do any more laundry until I get home from school!" He even ate dinner one night sitting in front of the washer (no, this picture was NOT staged)! He will make some woman very happy one day!

Jalama Beach

Okay, so, it has been FOREVER since I've posted anything. So much has been going on! So, for this post, I am just doing a bunch of pics so that I can get on to more posting! My family has been going camping to Jalama Beach for the last several years. We didn't make it there last year...but this year we did - and what a great time! We had our mansion of a tent plus a raised aerobed so we were really quite at home. Ryland LOVED the whole thing...from movies in the car on the way there to the beach, throwing rocks, the hot cocoa, the cousins, the sports, the burgers...and Selah really seemed to enjoy herself as well....

Gymnastics try out

A few weeks ago we joined Colby and Paige at their gymnastics class for a trial run...Really, we were just filling our long summer days, but Ry had so much fun doing it! And, it is always a good idea to get the little boy energy out...out of the house! I didn't get any actual pics so here are a couple videos.

I had some real "proud mama" moments last week. Ryland participated in a soccer camp - his first real, organized sports program. He will be in the local soccer league beginning in August and this was a great way to get him started. He LOVES to play soccer and really learned a lot of great skills this week! I must say, he is quite a natural! I am so proud - I played soccer all growing up and can't describe how fun it is to watch him play now!

On the last day, the kids were encouraged to bring dress-up clothes and the coach had to wear the items....the kids had a great time, and Coach Mark was a really great sport!

Coach Mark didn't end up wearing the wig we brought, so Selah wore it instead! Gorgeous hair, Selah-Bear!

The camp was run by Challenger Sports and they bring British coaches that play semi-pro in England to teach the kids. I was so impressed by them and how well they interacted with the kids. It was so funny, too, because by the end of the week, the kids had picked up a bit of the accent. :) I must say that I was a little nervous about it because we didn't know what to expect,

but this was such a great experience and we are so happy we did it!