Road Trip...More Ashes...

After spreading 1/2 of our dad's ashes in the Skagit we headed up the next day to Lake Chelan for the weekend to meet up with all of our cousins (on dad's side) and they all brought some of their dads' ashes as well.  We all grew up going to Lake Chelan camping every summer and knew that all three Hay guys loved it there and really wanted to put them back with each other in some sense.

My sisters and one of our cousins Nika headed to Leaveworth earlier in the day to hang out and shop and enjoy the Bavarian town!  I haven't been there since before I had kids and one of my sisters had never been there that she could remember, so it was a great excuse to go!  We had a blast!  I forgot how cute that town is and how much fun it is to just go from shop to shop!  We acted like total tourists and it was awesome!

After living up Leavworth, we headed for Chelan.  Our other two cousins Amy & Melissa arrived later that night and so did Shauna's boyfriend (who drove up from CA).  The next day our aunt/uncle rented a pontoon boat for us all and we headed out onto the lake.  The weather was perfect!  Little windy...but ironically as soon as we found a good spot to spread some ashes the wind completely died down - it was absolutely silent.  Not one other boat out there, not one gust of wind...nothing.  It was eery and awesome all at the same time.  We said goodbye to our dad's, cheers'd them (is that even right, haha) and tossed them overboard together again.

After a toast of champagne after and a little more boating we headed off to the winery to do some grape stomping!

It was absolutely the perfect weekend!  It was sad, but it was fun and great at the same time!

Ashes

After our dad passed away in July my sisters and I decided that we would reconvene on his birthday (9/24) to spread his ashes.  My dad always LOVED his birthday and partied pretty good every year on it...he made sure any and everyone knew it was his birthday (wonder where I get it from!).  We knew this would be the perfect day to spread his ashes.

Our dad loves eagles too (the bird not the team or the band)!  So after a little research I found a spot along the Skagit River that was a natural conservatory for eagles - apparently eagles mate in December so that is when you are more likely to see a lot there...but we weren't waiting until December!  We know he's there and when the eagles do come out, he'll be there!

It was a very long drive out there - I had no idea where we were going...but had the good ol' GPS, so we were good.  It was a good drive for just the 3 of us and I think it gave us all a little closure that we all were longing for.  We spread probably 1/2 of his ashes there...

All I Want for Christmas is my...Two Front Teeth...

Zane lost his two front teeth this week...our neighbor friend Leah lost hers too!  The tooth fairy has been very busy on this block!

The first rule of Fight Club...don't talk about Fight Club!  A friend of mine replied to this photo with that - cracked me up :)

Nurse Anne

We are so unbelievably blessed with our school nurse...she cares for Zane (and the other kids) like he's one of her own.  She always has a smile on her face and never have I seen her the slightest bit stressed out.  She loves her job and she does a great job at it.  As Zane gets older he needs the nurse less and less - he takes on more and more on his own and his teachers do a great job of helping him when needed.  At this time the nurse really only has contact with him if he needs a pump change while at school.

Every year she has done a talk to his class, reads a book (Taking Diabetes to School) and lets the class ask her and Zane questions.  This helps with the kids understanding what goes on with Zane during the days and why he gets extra snacks and juice when the other kids don't.  It also helps so Zane isn't bombarded with questions from his friends at other times during the year - everything is answered up front.  I have never been to her presentation...but thought it would be fun to listen in one time, so I made it a point to go today.  I'm glad I did - it was cute to listen to his friends and their questions.  The most popular ones asked every year (I'm told by Zane and then heard them myself today) are:

1. Does it hurt to poke your finger? Zane says no.
2. Hold old were you when you got Diabetes? Zane says 3 (and he's right!).
3. Can I get Diabetes too? Nurse Anne says that it is very unlikely that any of them will develop it, but that they absolutely cannot get it from Zane (and she's right).
4. Can I see your pump?  Zane is always willing to show it off :)

Such a cute group of kids!

Mountain Biking

Our good friend Daniel is an avid mountain biker and asked recently if he could take Zane out on a couple hills.  Of course Zane was beyond excited to accept that offer and we love Daniel, so had no problem with them going!  This day couldn't have gotten here soon enough for Zane.  Luck would have it that yesterday one of our neighbors who too is an avid mountain biker offered Zane a full face helmet and it fit him perfectly!  We were sure that Zane would get way too hot wearing this, but he insisted...he wanted to look like the real thing!  I asked Daniel to take a few photos out there and he was nice enough to oblige...he also took some video!  I couldn't ask for more!  They made it back in one piece, no low blood sugars and huge smiles on both of their faces!  Zane is already asking when he can go again!

Alexander Apple Orchard

Today was a great day for pickin'...pickin' apples that is!  We have two apple trees in our backyard and they were overflowing with ripeness!  The kids picked and picked and picked.  After giving plenty of bags full to the neighbors, we still have 5 bags left over.  I'm guessing we'll have some apple pie and applesauce coming our way soon...if the fairy every comes back from her strike :)

Park Date {w/Landon}

Zane wanted to stay home and play with the neighbor kids while I went to run and grab Landon from school today! It was nice to have a little 1:1 time with Landon and hit up a new park. This park is pretty neat because it's right in the middle of a big open field with cows roaming (not by the play structure of course) and a beautiful view of Mt. Si in the background!  I love living somewhere that is the perfect mix of country and city!

A sign of a good day - dirt!

{Pre-K} First Day

Landon-Man had his first day of Pre-K today - he was so excited to go back!  Landon is at the same preschool as last year.  Crazy to think it's his last year of preschool and next year he'll be off to the big K - but I'll try not to think about that right yet...we don't need me crying 12 mos in advance!

Landon's big obsession these days (and has been for awhile now) is Paw Patrol - everything is about Paw Patrol...the funny thing is...he thinks it's all real even though it's a cartoon.  He has already decided he's going to have a Paw Patrol Birthday party...I asked him where he wanted to have the party and he matter-a-factly said "The Lookout"!  I was confused at first, but then watched an episode with him and saw that that is in the show...I tried to explain to him that we cannot really go to the Lookout - he isn't standing for it!  Anyway, I digress...the reason I bring up Paw Patrol is because he was decked out in it from head to toe for his first day...even his undies (not pictured) are Paw Patrol and he couldn't have been happier about it all!

I love you so much little man!

The Night of a Lifetime {Dream Team}

Zane was chosen (don't ask me how...his dad just knows some magic I guess) to be a part of the Sounders Dream Team this evening - OH.MY.WORD - this was definitely the night of a lifetime and one he'll never forget and most likely never get to do again.

Every MLS game each team walks out with a kid - they walk out hand in hand and stay out there until the National Anthem is over.  Usually these kids are part of the Boys & Girls clubs...Zane is not. Again, I don't know how Josh was able to get him this opportunity, but I am so glad he did!  They treat these kids like kings and queens (so I hear...Josh was the one there with him).  The "Dream Team" (as they are called) get their own locker room, stocked with a uniform to wear out to the field AND KEEP, they get to go out on the field multiple times, see behind the scenes stuff and just have fun living their dream!  After the game they of course received tickets to watch the whole game!

Zane walked with Tyrone Mears and claims that is one of his favorite players - works for me!

When Zane got home, he was grinning from ear to ear...just kept saying "it was awesome" over and over!  I love it!  What I love most is that they had photographers there taking pictures...some with real big boy cameras and some with iphones, but either way...I get pictures and that makes this mama a very happy camper!