The Ingebretsens

The comings and goings of the Ingebretsen family.

Happy Summer!

Img_1703
So this is a really funny moment because it was actually right after quite the argument.  They can really get upset at each other.  I asked them to hurry and get together, thinking I could distract them.  It actually worked quite well. In the end, these two are really great friends to each other.  They are different in a lot of ways and I hope over the years they can recognize them and appreciate them about each other.  I am so excited to spend lots of time with them this summer.  The past 5 days have been so great. 
My favorite memories of the past week have been, well, the last day of school for sure.  Quite a few families from George's class met at a nearby park.  It was a gorgeous day and lots of others in the area had the same idea.  There must have been 30 mini vans lining the street.  It was such a fun feeling to have so many people all celebrating and hanging out.  And then after that a friend in the neighborhood invited many of us over to her house where total there were nine boys eating otter pops and playing in her blow up pool.  It was that great summer feeling at its best.  And I was so grateful my boys got to play with everyone.  So that was Tuesday.  Then wednesday we went to Oliver's last soccer class that I already mentioned below, although I failed to mention that since George was out of school he got to go with us.  Oliver on the way said, "Mom, thanks for inviting George to come."  It was so cute how excited he was for George to see him play.  Then Thursday of this past week we went with friends to Mukilteo Beach.  I had heard from a friend that her kids had brought bikes to go get ice cream while they were there and so we did the same.  And it really was so fun for the kids.  We played at the waterfront for a couple hours and then the kids rode their bikes over to Ivars for dinner.  There was a long board walk onto the water where we sat and ate.  It was so picturesque I couldn't believe it.  Everyone was in such a great mood as well which always makes such a difference.  I felt so lucky to be there with the kids.  I can't wait to go back with Robby.  I asked George if he was having a great summer so far, and he said, "The best!"  In fact today he drew a picture that was labeled "sumr rools."  So cute.   

 

George's Erector Set

Img_1686

So George got this erector set for Christmas and it is just recently that his ability with creating things has really taken off.  I have been really impressed with the way he works and the way he thinks about things. He is not one for following the plans and instructions it comes with but he loves coming up  with his own.  He is quite creative and and loves inventing.  He called this his "flying car." 

Oliver's last day of soccer

Img_1698

On Oliver's last day of soccer I had told him he could finally pick something from all the many tempting toys you can get there. With his quarter of all the things he could pick he of course picked this to be super silly. This kid cracks me up.  

I didn't have a picture of Oliver on his last day of preschool.  But it was only a few days before this picture on his last day of soccer.  He has grown up so much this year I can't believe it.  I appreciate so many things about Oliver.  He has done really well with preschool I have been so glad that he has had that this year.  He takes a lot of pride in having his own thing.  He loves to tell George about the kids in the his class and things he does there.  In fact at the beginning of the year I was just remembering how they would play this mane game back and forth every where we would drive.  Do you have so in so in your class?  Back and forth with each other.  So cute.  Anyway, as this year closes and I realize that Oliver is going to be without his playmate till 3:30 every day next year it makes me pretty sad for him.  I am glad he will have his preschool three times a week for a few hours in the morning.  He has made some great little friends and it has been a great place for him to make a little corner of his own in the world.  His teachers were so good to him and I am so grateful for that.  Way to go this year Oliver!  I am sure proud of you.

Happy Father's Day

Img_1654

On our way home from Chelan we stopped for lunch at this BBQ place that we have wanted to try for a long time now, right outside of Monroe.  And we are so happy we did!  It was delicious, friendly, and a great time for the kids.  

Img_1655

One bus is where they cook all the yummy BBQ and fixins and the other bus is set up for you to eat inside.  The boys gave Robby their gifts and he opened them while we were on the bus.  They were so excited to give Robby their gifts they had made for him.  Oliver gave him a framed picture he had made at school out of popsicle sticks and the picture was of him dressed up like Robby, glasses, t-shirt and computer in hand.  It was adorable. George gave him a painting, a card he had written of things he loves to do with Dad (cuddling while watching TV, talking about Science etc.)  It was really fun to have the kids know what Father's Day is all about.  

 


Img_1656

It was really a blast.  The kids wanted to know when we could come back!

 


Img_1659

After lunch we headed over to the nearby reptile zoo.  We all agreed reptiles and BBQ on bus is an odd combo but super fun and oddly fit maybe because they were both a bit quirky.  

 


Img_1669

 The boys were super into holding the snakes.  They were very friendly.  And as Oliver says, "Snakes feel weird."

Our Trip to Lake Chelan

Img_1636

This was a darling blueberry farm near Lake Chelan.  It is a barn like building that they turned into a really fun family friendly restaurant.  The breakfast food was so yummy and it felt like you were at a big family dinner.  We kept thinking that it must have been the initial inspiration for Cracker Barrel.  We went there for the morning of Father's Day.  It was so fun.  

We had a great trip with the Fillmore's.  The kids had a blast.  They loved all their time in the hot tub and I have joked since we have been home about going out back to get in the hot tub.  I think because I just keep wishing we had one.  With our slightly chilly weather throughout the fall, winter, and spring I have to admit I think it would be perfect.  Anyway, here I go again.  

We swam a lot at the indoor pool, ironically, on Saturday.   I knew Janie would get chilly with the subtle wind.  But the boys loved swimming all together.  I  would love to go back to Chelan when our kids are older and we can rent a boat and go tubing etc. on the lake.  The lake is beautiful, the air is quite a bit warmer.  We also loved playing games in the big grassy area in front of our condo.  A luxury we don't have to enjoy so much here in western WA very often.  Our grass rarely dries out here at home enough to play on without having wet feet or muddy shoes.  The boys second favorite thing about our trip was the night before we left we played on the grass.  We played tag, tried to do cart wheels, wheel barrow races and running all around!  It sounds simple but I think those are always the times the kids love the most; when everyone is engaged and playing together. 

The day before we left George said, "Tomorrow is going to be a bad day."  I was totally mystified.  I asked, "Why?" He said, "because we have to go home."   I am so glad the boys had such a good time.  It is the best feeling when you know your kids are enjoying themselves and you are making that happen for them.  Only second best to actually being the kid and doing all the fun!  J/k.  No, I really saw that on this trip though.  I think because we were with our good friends so we were doing things like having dinner on the patio and sneaking good desserts while the kids were in the hot tub and distracting them so they wouldn't see.  So funny to be on this end of things.  Really fun though!!!!!  We had a great weekend.

Our Trip to Lopez Island

Img_1575

Grandpa Russ, Grandma Carol and kiddos!

 


Img_1588

All of us Ingebretsens, bed head and all!

 


Img_1590

I had such a memorable time with Jane on the ferry from San Jaun Island returning to Lopez to stay for one more night.  She was so happy and mellow.  And the view was just so gorgeous.  Grandpa Russ and I were talking about what a beautiful part of the country this is.  I feel lucky to get to see it!

 


Img_1606

This is Oliver on the Ferry.  It was super fun because we had the ferry mostly to ourselves.  We admired the Lopez baseball team who had just been playing Shaw Island for their little league game.  You could tell that the ferry was their play land and they were very familiar to the workers as well.  They played with a tennis ball throwing it up to kids on the top and back down to kids on the bottom and they would all yell "overboard" when someone missed catching it.  I have to admit I think Island life seemed pretty appealing!  

Lime Kiln Point

Img_0911

This is one of our favorite places to go on San Jaun Island.  We left from Lopez Island in the morning and it was a direct ferry ride of about 45 minutes.  Lime Kiln Point is on the far side of the island (only about a 10 minute drive).  We go every year hoping to see Orca whales but every year the rangers there report that they were there the day before.  But one day I will see them!  In the mean time though we still have so much fun here.  The boys and Robby climbed and explored these rocks looking for tide pools and finding lots of hermit crabs, regular grabs and sea anemones.  There were lots of people passing us in sea kayaks while we were there.  When the kids are older I would love to sea kayak here.  I think it is a whale watching tour actually.  Because it was group led which is more appealing to me than solo.  You can also rent mopeds at Friday Harbor where the ferry arrives at this little place called Suzie's Mopeds.  So if any of you can, do it!  (Hint, hint...Adam and Tess!)  And for those of you that have little ones like us we will see you there in 10 years or so, when our kids will be old enough to go and do it together as a family!  

Practical Joke

Ok, so before I forget I have to write the funniest thing that happened last week. I kind of gave it away in the title. So just imagine I didn't call it that. I should have named it "Suspicious activity?" or something.

I was at the park last week with a friend and her boys when we got back from a ride on a trail with all the kids. I went to the car to get their tennis stuff they wanted to play with. I just paused in awe. The car was backed up into the parking space. I do not ever park that way. I knew that I had just been to the car right before we went on the trail to put away the tennis stuff in the car so that no one stole it while we were gone. So I knew I had just been to the car and gotten into the trunk facing me. And the car was totally turned around. I was totally stumped. The story gets funnier when I walk over to a neighbors house who could see my van from her drive way. I knew her son had been out playing basketball and maybe could have seen something. So the mom answered and yelled up to her son but hardly waited for a response from him before just kind of shooing me away. I mean, I can see why she thought I was crazy, "Did your son see anyone drive my van, return it the the space but back into it instead?" Anyway, after about 20 minutes or so of bewilderment I called Robby. I said, "Honey, the strangest thing has happened..." before he started laughing and said, "Ann, it was me. I came to the park to say hi on my way back from the store but couldn't get a hold of you or see you anywhere so I thought it would be funny." He told me he had all these things planned out to say but when he heard the panic in my voice he had to say something. It was hilarious. And honestly I was just so relieved to have a logical explanation for such an odd occurrence. I thought it was pretty funny. It kept the boys talking for a while for sure.