Marina - the BIG fish!!!

The local pool only has classes for kids 5 and over - but you can hire one of the lifeguards to teach private lessons to your younger kids. We decided that would be great because Marina is a big fish...she loves the water, is very confident and while that is nice for the most part - it makes us nervous sometimes. She is very tall and can touch with her tippy toes in most shallow ends so then she really thinks that she is totally fine.

Floating! Big accomplishment for level 1
Mr Sean - a great HS junior that we'll hire again next summer - hopefully for both girls - was great to have one on one instruction

Happy Birthday Marina

Our little Marina is 5! Wow - talk about time flying - she seems so grown up!

Don decided to turn into a cake lady and made and decorated the cakes. It's hard to see but the 3 big ones on the tray were purses and soooo cute.
Sorry Malia - I know this isn't a great pic - just the only one I had of that side of the table. :)
Like I said, Don was the cake lady - I decided on his first job to not request writing - so I took care of the wording with this sign. :)
Marina enjoyed every minute of her birthday party and before she went to bed last night she said - "I'm going to dream about my birthday party" - too cute!

I would not be a good mom to Marina if I didn't include a craft at her party. She lives for crafting - in fact she carries around a book of 365 craft ideas everywhere and everyday. It's a rare day that a project isn't pointed out to me. Unfortunately we haven't made time for many so we decorated purses at her girly birthday.

FYI - Paige - 3 1/2, Hudson - 20 months, Cadence - 5 weeks

2nd Tri

Well, after not learning our lesson back in May, Rob and I signed up for a 2nd Tri. Evergreen Lake Triathlon took place in Hudson, Illinois (If that's not a coincidence I don't know what is). It was a tremendously rainy morning, and we wondered if they might cancel it. The rain made it a little soggy for the cheering section, but it was cooling for the "athletes" as long as they took it easy on the corners with their bikes. Overall it was a great day. Does it seem crazy that we put on our wetsuits to stay dry before the swim?

Check out Rob's account of the race at Prairie Pandemonium.

Rob and I warmed up in the lake for the swim and when we got out, the ladies had found us! What great timing after a crazy 4:30 AM wake up. The spots on the camera lens prove what a beautiful day it was for the spectators - but they were tough when the going got tough and stuck it out for us!! Nothing is more motivating than three little kids shouting "doe daddy doe"

Where's Waldo?

Soaked and Exhausted - but ready for the bike!

Taking off on the run after a wet 24.8 miles on the bike.
We had the best cheering section in the whole place! Cutest at least :)

Enjoying the post race cuisine :)

Mom and Dad with the kids and Don 3

All six of us!! The kids were such troopers to put up with our nonsense.
The girls went up with Don to claim his 2nd place age group prize (A cowbell)

The Stickel Six celebrating a successful day at the races.

Helping Grandpa work!

Grandpa set up an office in the basement so that he could still work while they were here. We also used his babysitting services. Cadence looks so comfy...she slept there for several hours. It didn't seem to slow him down too much.

Meeting Aunt Sheila

Grandma & Grandpa Stickel and Aunt Sheila came last Saturday and stayed a week to help with Baby Cadence. Aunt Sheila loves being an auntie 4 times.

Cadence's 1st Sunday

Of course the clearest picture isn't really the best one...so that is why I'm posting 2 pics. Cadence looks like...."oh my word...what have I gotten myself into?!?" We have very confident "baby holders" in our house - but we don't think that she is convinced that they really know what they are doing.

Paige & Hudson with the classic "cheese" face.
It was no small feat to get everyone in our house presentable yesterday....especially with time enough to take a quick picture of the occasion.

For those that are wondering - 1/2 of the pillow that Amanda sent me for my birthday is showing above the kids - it's quite fitting - it says

"What's so great about peace and quiet anyway?"

Meeting more Washburns!

Brian, Michelle & Lindsey came to meet Cadence over the 4th. It was so much fun - the kids loved having their cousin over to play. Marina, Paige & Lindsey all enjoyed the fireworks and Gma & Gpa stayed and babysat Hudson & Cadence.

Aunt Michelle
Uncle Brian & Lindsey